represented by

(from left to right) Micaela Haslam, Amy Haworth, Andrew Busher,
Heather Cairncross, Gerard O'Beirne, Rachel Weston

"This weekend had been billed as a Reich Marathon (Synergy was involved in 4 different concerts, plus rehearsals, over 2 days), but it never occurred to me that illness might add to the burden - my worst nightmare!
 
I had developed a really irritating tickly throat since last week's Desert Music concert, so thought it wise to have Mandy on stand-by for this one.  Tehillim is impossible with a tickly cough because it just doesn't stop!  I was just hoping that I could knock the lurgie on the head before the concert.  Then I developed another problem.  I hadn't been feeling well on the morning of the concert, but got to the balance rehearsal in one piece.  However, as soon as I stood up to sing, I felt dizzy and sick and just had to sit down with my head in my hands.  
 
Thank goodness that it was Stefan Asbury at the helm.  Mandy stood in for the entire rehearsal and Stefan was completely cool about it.  He knew we'd do what we needed to do and that the concert would be fine one way or another!  
 
Anyway, having lain down in the dressing room, drunk loads of water and a sugary drink, I decided I'd go for the concert.  I had no idea if it was going to be possible, and in fact Mandy sat on the stage behind me (in full costume and make-up) ready to jump up at a second's notice.  I got through You Are (Variations) with considerable assistance from Amy.  Bless her - she sang all my duet bits, as well as her own.  I just couldn't do it all.
 
Then came Tehillim.  Sugar and adrenaline did their bit to keep me upright.  However, my tickly throat came back to haunt me in the 3rd movement.  I was terrified to breathe in or out for fear of choking to death, and sang almost inaudibly.  Thank goodness for microphones!
 
I was so looking forward to this concert and it ended up being a real endurance test.  Still, it seems that no-one in the audience even noticed, helped undoubtedly by the fact that the other members of the group were in top form.
 
Thanks again, Mandy.  I couldn't have got through it without you.  Thanks too to Ann MacKay who was really kind to me in my hour of need.  Anyway, we did it!"

Micaela