I was tagged for this meme by ACB, and as much as we bloggers all HATE to talk about ourselves, here goes.....
Four jobs you've had in your life: ballet accompanist, music camp teacher, receptionist, and for a very brief time, Disney Store "cast member."
Four movies you could watch over and over: "Love Actually," "You've Got Mail," "Sound of Music," and "Mary Poppins."
Four places you've lived: Stevens Point, WI, Victoria, BC, Bloomington, IN, Pullman, WA
Four TV shows you love to watch: Sex & the City, Sports Night, Friends, Boston Legal
Four places you've been on vacation: Greece, Scotland, Ireland, Boston
Four websites you visit daily: NFCS, Dooce, Set Daily Game, NY Times
Four of your favorite foods: Saag Paneer from Taste of India, Pad Thai, Spicy Tuna rolls, and Pizza from Wallingford Pizza House (the Garlic van Goat Dome with added kalamata olives..... yummmmmmm........)
Four places you'd rather be right now: Victoria, BC (where I'll be next week!), playing cards at D&K's house, Paris, my parents' cabin on Lake Quinault (on the Olympic Penninsula)
Ok, I'm passing this on to my non-music blog friends -- Gina, Beth, and Lane, you're it! :)
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
getting in to the spirit
I've had a hard time getting in to the Christmas spirit this year. Maybe it was coming back from New York and heading right back to work. Maybe it's the fact that I still have lots of shopping to do. In general, even though I spent last weekend singing my first Messiah, and am now in full-swing carolling mode, it just didn't feel like Christmas. Until yesterday.
My piano students are having their semi-annual recital on Sunday. For the first time in 6 years, I've had to worry about a place to hold it, and with my trip to New York, it got put off until the last minute. I was looking in to churches and small halls in the area, all of which are booked the Sunday afternoon before Christmas, of course. Then one of the parents had a brilliant idea, and even called and set it all up for me. I can't believe I never thought of this before. The recital is going to be at a retirement home. My kids are excited about performing for people other than their parents. The parents (and I) think it's a great gift to give people who don't have anywhere to go for the holidays, and the home is thrilled to have us. They are handling setting everything up, and providing lemonade and cookies for the kids afterward.
.... and suddenly, it feels like Christmas!
My piano students are having their semi-annual recital on Sunday. For the first time in 6 years, I've had to worry about a place to hold it, and with my trip to New York, it got put off until the last minute. I was looking in to churches and small halls in the area, all of which are booked the Sunday afternoon before Christmas, of course. Then one of the parents had a brilliant idea, and even called and set it all up for me. I can't believe I never thought of this before. The recital is going to be at a retirement home. My kids are excited about performing for people other than their parents. The parents (and I) think it's a great gift to give people who don't have anywhere to go for the holidays, and the home is thrilled to have us. They are handling setting everything up, and providing lemonade and cookies for the kids afterward.
.... and suddenly, it feels like Christmas!
Friday, December 2, 2005
another day, another audition
Today’s audition was for the Cincinnati Opera young artist program. I wasn’t scheduled until 2:15, which gave me plenty of time to sleep in, have a leisurely shower, and a nice long warm up. Though I had planned to make Smanie implaccabili my starter this season, I have yet to start with it on this trip. Today, I decided right before I left the apartment to start with Nicklausse’s violin aria from Tales of Hoffmann. The company is doing it this summer, and I feel like it really shows my voice well. It’s not flashy, but it’s lovely, legato, and has a big high A at the end.
Cincinnati schedules their auditions 4 minutes apart, so in general, people only get to sing one aria. This was the case with everyone I heard while I was waiting. Nicklausse is about 4:30, so I figured that would be all I would sing, and they might even stop me before the end. But they didn’t. I was really happy with it, and the A at the end was great. A has traditionally been a troublesome note for me, even after my higher notes got under control, so it’s nice to finally feel like I can count on it to be there every time. I noticed that they perked up after I had sung the first few lines, and started looking over my rep list and other materials. At the end, they smiled and said “thank you,” and I assumed that was it, but then they asked for the beginning of the Rossini! I didn’t get through all 7 minutes of it, of course, but I did sing the entire first section, which has a nice balance of fireworks and legato line. Overall, another successful audition!
Now, I’m on the train to Philadelphia, where I will be staying with a friend tonight and then singing tomorrow for Lake George. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Cincinnati schedules their auditions 4 minutes apart, so in general, people only get to sing one aria. This was the case with everyone I heard while I was waiting. Nicklausse is about 4:30, so I figured that would be all I would sing, and they might even stop me before the end. But they didn’t. I was really happy with it, and the A at the end was great. A has traditionally been a troublesome note for me, even after my higher notes got under control, so it’s nice to finally feel like I can count on it to be there every time. I noticed that they perked up after I had sung the first few lines, and started looking over my rep list and other materials. At the end, they smiled and said “thank you,” and I assumed that was it, but then they asked for the beginning of the Rossini! I didn’t get through all 7 minutes of it, of course, but I did sing the entire first section, which has a nice balance of fireworks and legato line. Overall, another successful audition!
Now, I’m on the train to Philadelphia, where I will be staying with a friend tonight and then singing tomorrow for Lake George. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
