Singing Hoosiers!

I went to Indiana University's award winning Music School in Bloomington, Indiana. A fierce mezzo-soprano vocal performance major, I participated in a high energy collegiate show choir "The Singing Hoosiers" where we would sing our hearts out and dance our asses off to hear applause and get an adrenaline rush. My college experience seems much more like a reality television show then real life because I was surrounded by incredibly talented, super social, highly dramatic, and energetic performers all the time for 4 years straight. No wonder why life feels so boring now.

As a tradition, the Singing Hoosiers would participate in road shows throughout Indiana and out of state. We went on a West Coast tour, performing for crowds in Colorado, LA, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco. We visited every boring town of Indiana too. But nothing was boring with this crowd. Hotels, buses, and airfare were paid for, and a per diem was given on top of the free travel. Most audiences consisted of appreciative alumni or high school students who wanted to be us one day. It was always a wonderful ego boosting experience.

Every few weeks a performance was booked and delivered. Spreading sunshine and the gift of great music and dance to many human beings was the life! Every trip had greater expectations and awaited excitement. New soloists, new numbers to be performed, partying to take place, and another chance to have the time of your life. I can't really explain what it's like to participate in a show choir, but for all of you out there that have, it was like your experience on steroids and cocaine. That was the Singing Hoosiers, not really on cocaine or steroids (well maybe some) but just a crazy high energy group of talented drama queen divas.

Fierce.

While all memories from the Singing Hoosiers are cherished, I must write about one in particular: Our trip to South Bend, Indiana. I have to be quite honest to say I don't remember much from the actual performance, but I do remember a lot about the evening following it. We had to stay in a convent affiliated with Notre Dame with no responsible adult supervision. So what happens when you put a bunch of gay men, pretty ladies and a handful of straight men that like to party in a very vacant and spooky convent? Pure chaos.

A few broke into the parish church attached to the convent, some locked their doors and got it on. Others downed liquor and played card games. With every beer finished there was more noise and drama to be seen. Boys kissing boys, girls kissing girls, boys kissing girls, gay boys running with crosses, Britney Spears tunes belted a cappella with full choreography, and seances conducted. Outside smoking a cigarette we were visited by an angry police officer. "No Mr. Police Officer! No one is drinking, we are just a loud group of musical theatre kids. You can go home." And he did.

Hallelujah baby. Hallelujah.