Goodbye Sammy

The rehearsal starts as usual: People arriving from quarter to seven onwards, getting the rows of chairs sorted, two guys pushing the piano into position. Chatting, laughing, John busily sorting new and old music, big smiles and “Hello’s”. It is the first rehearsal after the Christmas break, the singer’s haven’t seen each other in a while, stories about Christmas are being told, where everyone has been during festive season, stories of awesome trips: around Perth, down south, up north, over east or even over sea, recalls of the fantastic new years eve (Vienna Pops) concert…and Sammy arrives with pushbike and helmet in the room as the 32 speeder is too expensive to keep outside.

However, beside people’s Christmas travel logs filling the School of Music’s walls, Sammy’s journey is just about to begin.

Sammy has been I Voci’s accompanist for two years. Our first rehearsal in 2011 was the last one for him, since he flew out to Germany the following day. Sammy wants to learn German, study, stay with a host family and surely will have a great experience in my home country. On behalf of all I Voci singers I wish him good luck, great success, a wonderful time and many unforgettable memories.

Sammy’s first and final rehearsal in 2011 started as usual, but didn’t end as usual. All choir members were asked to bring some food and drinks along so we could have a little party after a shorter rehearsal and also welcome our new singers in the soprano and alto section. It was a great opportunity to meet the new singers and talk also a bit more to the not so new singers that sit in other sections (lets face it, we usually know the people in our section better than on the other side of the row), to have a last chat with Sammy and to taste all the cake, pies, cheeses and other nibbles on the table. A small speech by John and Reece officially brought to everyone’s mind that we now lost a fantastic accompanist, somebody who would also give suggestions, play and sing along with singers even during the break and somebody who easily understood and implemented John’s instructions.

I never saw a lot of Sammy when he was playing. Sitting second row in the soprano section with the piano in front of me slightly to the right hand side, I just saw his hair-ends behind the instrument. However, he stood up regularly from his chair and then there was the big, smiling face, pounding a single note for a section on the piano key or giving his contribution to an ongoing conversation or discussion which usually ended in a funny statement and general laughter.

Thank you Sammy for the great time, the wonderful playing, the contribution to the choir and the stories you hopefully tell us, once you are back in Perth.