The Phantom Experience

By Misty L. Harris

I used to hate riding the yellow school bus. Back then we called them “cheeses.” The big kids would laugh and point at us when we pulled up to the metro. I couldn’t wait to be one of those kids on the other side! By the time that period came, I was in high school and finally felt like one of the cool kids riding the metro with my big sister! I thought my “cheese” bus riding days were over until I received a really cool opportunity to go on a school trip to see my first Broadway musical, The Phantom of the Opera in Toronto. For years, I dreamed about seeing this musical. In middle school music class, we studied it and I knew all of the music. I went home and begged my parents to go. They said yes and I was elated. There was only one concern - the yellow bus ride there. Although I had years of experience, my mother was not too thrilled at the idea.

Diva in Training

By Misty L. Harris

I was in elementary school the first time I heard un bel di vedremo from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. There were times when my music teacher would give us a break from studying notes (whole notes, half notes etc.) and allow us to sit back and listen as the notes came together to make these beautiful sounds vocal and instrumental resonating through the tape player (nope, CD’s were not in existence and there were points where the music just stopped and the teacher rushed over to flip the tape and place it back in the deck.)