Goosey Loosey

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

My roommate Ryan performed "King of New York" from NEWSIES at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you happened to be watching, he started the number and had a cigar in his mouth. It was pretty cool. Everyone we know is wicked excited to have NEWSIES transferring to broadway.

My Thanksgiving was quite nice. Ben and Leesh are in town, so it was a roommate gathering for sure. We had so much food and so much fun making the food, it is one of the better experiences in my life. I did have to go to work at World Yacht, which kinda put a wrench in the day, but I am glad to have a job that pays the bills.

I played with the string quartet I sub with for a proposal. It was really funny! The girl hit her fiance and then took the ring without even hearing a question...then the whole family came out! Woof. It was an easy gig for money! :)

GO SEE THE MUPPETS!

Just for your enjoyment (what the two people who read this ha!), I have had "Turkey Lurkey" from PROMISES, PROMISES! stuck in my head for about a week and I want you to enjoy it as well. Here is the link to the Tony Awards performance. The red-head, Donna Mckechnie, is crazy. She whips her head and spins her arm so fast!! It is pretty enjoyable, and who does not like Burt Bacharach. Oh, and an fyi, I haven't found a version of the song that has as MUCH energy. I hope you enjoy.

I hope you Turkey Day was as marvelous as it could be!

Oopsies

I have been so busy I have not updated my blog in a long while. Also, I got a 5-year journal, where you write a sentance or two everyday, so it seems like I am keeping up to date with things, but not to the WHOLE WORLD! Let me look at the highlights of the past couple of months:

Summer is now over. We had the official first snow fall of the year on October 29!! It was a blizzard, and some people in VT and CT still do not have power. It snowed three inches in Central Park, but Westchester (only an hour away) recieved 14!! Pretty crazy. It is the earliest snowfall since the Civil War. That was only 150 years ago, but it is still a long time! Everyone here is blaming it on Global Warming/Global Climate Change.

I moved into a new apartment with some buddies from CCM. I love it and it is the first time I have had an apartment where I can decorate and make it "home." It is really cool. IT is in Long Island City, so though it is not Manhattan, I am SO close to everything. It takes ten minutes on the train to get to Times Square. Brilliant! Even when I lived on the UWS, it took 40 mins and I had to deal with the overly crowded 1 train... Here, in LIC, I have the 7, N, Q, R, M, and E all within five minutes of my house. Pretty sweet deal there.

I am taking lessons from Stephanie Baer at NYU and am involved with Karen Ritscher's masterclasses at NYU/MSM. I am very blessed to be able to still progress in the viola even when I am not at school. I love the teaching style of both these teachers. They blend well together. It is also really cool to have masterclass with a different instructor because you get different view points on the same thing. Some how, this seems to work. I like it. They are also VERY kind, which I need. Kind words of encouragement work much better for me than distain.

I have a lot on my plate involving the literature I am playing: Reger G minor suite (learned and almost all memorized!), Bach Cello Suite 4 in Eb, Paganinni Caprice 5 (ouch!) and Bartok Viola Concerto. I have this pretty cool practice regime where I practice several times throughout the day instead of in one chunk. It gives me time to accomplish other things, and I do not get frustrated as much. Also, it gives me time to think about what I accomplished, and what I still need to get done. It really adds up. An hour here and a half hour there makes four hours go by!

I observed the pit for Wicked in September. Suprisingly, the orchestrations make the score. The viola part is SICK, and Kevin was really cool. It is always great to get insights into how people scored the gig and their background. So far, almost everyone I met has gone to MSM or Juilliard... is that saying something?

Speaking of scoring, I went to the 802 Theatre Musician Meet and Greet (I had a rehearsal, so I only was there for the greet). Jonathan Tunick spoke, as well as other musicians and BIG SHOTS, and it was so nice to hear I am doing everything correctly. Practicing is your job until you land your gig, you take any gig you can even if it doesn't pay, you are a nice, dedicated person and you hand out cards like mad! Check check check check. Pretty cool. Jonathan Tunick said something that stuck with me "Your goal should be to play at the highest level possible, just like a basketball player." Makes perfect sense to me. You take pride in what you do and everything is an opportunity.

I participated in a Workshop of a new musical entitled Folk Wandering. I am not really at liberty to discuss all the deets of this work, but I am sticking with the project and we have a public reading of it in December. It should be really great. I think the message is quite good.

I played with the New York Chamber Players. It was a fun gig where I got to meet some great musicians and play the master concerti. It really helped me remember that I do indeed like classical music. I had been turned off for so long while being at school. The spark is back.

Now, onto non-music related things. I went to Sleepy Hollow! It is so beautiful. The bridge is no longer there (thanks to the Rockefeller's modernizing the city), but the Old Dutch Church still stands. I have pictures, but no way to upload them, so I will add them later. The cemetary is brethtaking, especially in autumn when the leaves change.

Wishful drinking, Irene

This summer has had a lot of ups and downs.

Where did I leave you off? Oh, yeah, my Mary Martin obsession.

Since then, I have done a couple of cool things. I played for a Red-Cross benefit concert entitled Wishful Thinking (reminds me, of course, of the Carrie Fisher show Wishful Drinking...correlation?). It was nice to meet people and an enjoyable evening. It was fun to play some nice tunes and do it for a good cause!

I also had the chance to observe The Addam's Family. I am really grateful for this because the show has just announced it is closing. My opinion is the show is very fun, from what I could hear. The one cool thing about the score is the orchestrations are HUGE and unique. I like how the genre changes from song to song ie. Tango to Dixieland Band. Once again, it just enunciates the want and NEED to play for shows. It is just not something I like, I have this deep rooted passion for it. I am slowly getting more and more tired of classical music. Granted, I will always have a deep love for the masters, but I am finding it more laborious than enjoyable. Commercial music is very much apart of this ever changing world, and, to put it frankly, it is so much more fun. I am so happy when playing commercial music, and to have voices and lyrics with the music adds a deeper texture.

I am playing in a band with the lead singer Elisa Lovelie. I really enjoy playing for her. From what I can tell, she is a great singer. All I know is I enjoy jammin' with her. Will she go somewhere? Who knows, but I am here for the ride.

I am not opposed to anything, as long as I have fun. If it sucks and I want to shoot myself, eh. It has been nice, see you later.

Hopefully there are more updates to come.

I am moving Sep. 1 into an apartment on the 7 line. Literally, ON the 7 line. You look out my balcony and I can see if the train is coming and make it there in time. It will be nice. Alas, it is only for a month, and then I will have to move again. On that note, I will be moving in with Ryan and Jo Moe. Should be pretty cool. I am glad I will have a place to live with people I know. It makes it much more bearable.

I survived Hurricane Irene and the Earthquake that shook us all up. To be honest, I was much more scared in Cincinnati in May, was it, during the Tornado. I am blessed nothing happened. It was a WEEKEND though. winky wink wink

Also, I have seen a plethora of movies and entertainment.

I saw The Legend of Julie Taymor, most commonly known for The Lion King on B'way, Oedipus Rex in my 803 class and the debauchery called Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark. It was one rump, riot of a time. It was an extended, 90 minute parody, but I enjoyed myself. The cast was fierceas and there were a couple good songs.

My friend Isaac Dayley has a production company called Silent Street Productions. I saw their off off-broadway production of Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare. The concept was interesting and was done in a modern, post-rapture way. It was VERY bloody and the material is so meat and potatoes heavy. It was long, but great. I enjoyed many of the performances and the concept idea seemed to work (especially since it was the day before Irene hit, and none of us knew how bad (or not bad) it was going to be). Here here. I want more.

I have a lesson with Stephanie Baer on Thursday. I couldn't be more excited (though maybe a bit more preapred).

Kelly Clarkson's new single is "Mr. Know It All" great as well as Bab's new cd What Matters Most

Blueberry Pie

I had a revelation tonight I want to tell you about. I feel it is a novel idea, but I am sure R&O thought of it when they were writing or some scholar has already made note of it, but the personal revelation was quite cool.

I am reading a bio on Mary Martin and saw a picture of her as Nellie, so I listened to "A Wonderful Guy."

Here is my revelation:

Nellie Forbush is upset with Emile de Becque. This is made obvious by her song "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair." Even later, when
Emile kisses her, she get's upset at the cat calls from the girls and doubts herself. Because of her anger, she is confused of her true feelings. Nellie's real discovery comes during the course of "A Wonderful Guy."

The song begins in a minor key. The angst is made apparent by the percussive, staccato interjections by the orchestra. This minor section comes across as very abrasive as she proclaims she does not like Emile. Then, you hear a silver lining occur in the words "Fearlessly, I'll face them and argue their doubts away..." She becomes open to the idea as if she is asking herself "Wait, why am I so stubborn?" Her heart begins to flutter as the orchestra leads into the up beat waltz meter.

"I'm as corny as Kansas in August" is Nellie's girlish, singing way of blushing. The music naturally starts to lilt and one just pictures Nellie sway
side to side as a smile grows larger and larger on her face. The music seems to swirl, climaxing when she sings "I'm in love..." in a metric, typical 4 + 4 cadence stating "I'm in love" 5 times. Nellie is so filled with joy, she can no longer sing and has to dance (ie, the natural progression). Well guess what, dance break.

As Nellie calms down a bit, the dance "slows" allowing Nellie to sing again. The women join Nellie in a supportive, making-fun-of-her-because-she-is-so-fickle kinda way.

Now comes the really cool part. Unlike the previous, guessable 8 bars of "I'm in love..." the music drops down in orchestration and dynamic. The waltz slowly builds alternating Nellie, girls, Nellie, girls. Now, we, as the listener, expect "I'm in love" only 5 times. When the "I'm in loves" continue, it is rather shocking. We expect it in 4 more bars, equaling a very natural 12. But, the excitement/orchestrations/dynamics grow as Nellie can no longer hold it in and R&O give us 4 more bars, equaling 13 statements of "I'm in love" which culminates in an exciting, brassy, full orchestra, rip-off-hat moment. Nellie is in love a wonderful guy.

I might be way off, but this is what I think.
You can listen to Mary Martin sing the song here

What a week

I have had a great week.

Monday, I went and saw Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at the HBO Bryant Park Summer Movie Festival.

Tuesday, I had a masterclass with the Shanghai Quartet followed by their concert. Their concert was breathtaking, especially Schubert's Death and the Maiden. The beginning of the second movement was where the real magic began. Their

understanding of the "Lachrymae-esque," choral was sensational. The colors they were able to achieve blew me away. At the end, does Death win over the Maiden? I have heard both sides of the story. Personally, I think Death has one last trick up his sleeves. The Tarantella was pristine! Crazy good, and they used such little bow on the shoe-shine stroke. So good.

Wednesday, I was able to sit in and observe the pit of Book of Mormon. I met Entcho, a crazy-awesome violin player. We talked about instrument makers, quirky pictures in Musician magazine (for 802 members), his improvisations of the score because the string can never b

e heard in pieces like (Haf Ta) Man Up and Spooky Mormon Hell Dream. It was really great to see all the professional musicians in action--how perfectly they played every single note, how one person is talented enough to play 10 different instruments from flutes, recorders, oboes to two types of saxes and more flutes, how jokes are played and the environment is fun. Anyway, I learned a great deal about perseverance and never giving up. All it takes is one good contact to change everything.

Thursday, I performed during Fresh Ground Pepper's Lay Miz which was a hodge podge of different acts interpreting the musical Les Miserables. To start off, it was on Bastille Day. Anyway, I opened the show with a solo viola arrangement I made from the nine minute material called "Prologue." I really enjoyed the arrangement I made, and it made the audience laugh. That was awesome. I have heard chuckles during my playing, but laughter is one I have never heard when playing a solo. A great change, most definitely. There were some amazing numbers. I thoroughly enjoyed this guy play Stars in a "douche-bag" arrangement on the guitar. He had a great voice. Also, the dance troupe that interpreted Bring Him Home... I was blown away by that number! It was creepy and sacrilegious while being very religious at the same time. It was beautiful. At the end, to bookend the show, I played an arrangement for violin solo I made of "Turning/Beggars at the Feast/Wedding." I loved how I made "Turning" into false-harmonics. Such a great, spooky touch. The whole event was a great success.

Friday, my quartet finally performed Brahms! I have enjoyed studying with Marion Feldman the Brahms A minor String Quartet. What a great, complicated work. I have really enjoyed getting to know the notes, the dynamics, the syncopations and the idiosyncrasies of Brahms. He is much like Bach. Also, both are EXTREMELY difficult. I feel like I played well, which is all I can ask for.

Saturday, I did a short recording session for Joe Moser. It was a short little piece, but I am happy to get back into recording.

BANG!

And the week of stress has begun!

Note: I am not complaining.

Day 1, Saturday: NYU "Works in Progress" Concert. Brahms A minor quartet Mvts. I and II. Played like [insert explicative]. Bang. There goes self esteem. Arrange "Turning, The Wedding and the Beggars Feast" from the musical Les Miserables into a captivating 4-minute piece for solo violin. The material from the "Prologue" for solo viola was much easier.

Day 2, Sunday: Finish the piece for Fresh Ground Pepper's Lay Miz. (my only day to relax!)

Day 3, Monday: String quartet rehearsal 10-3. Coaching with Marion Feldman. Master class with Shanghai String Quartet? Maybe meet up with friends from BYU...

Day 4, Tuesday: More Brahms rehearsal 10-3. Coaching with Marion Feldman. Master class with Shanghai String Quartet? Lesson with Stephanie Baer (YAY!) at noon. Shanghai String Quartet concert.

Day 5, Wednesday: Even more Brahms rehearsal 10-3. Coaching with Marion Feldman. Run over to 49th and the Eugene O'Neil Theatre to sit in/observe the Book of Mormon. (AH!)

Day 6, Thursday: Penultimate day of Brahms rehearsal 10-3. Coaching with Marion Feldman. HAPPY BASTILLE DAY!! Run over to Brooklyn, The Irondale Center, for Fresh Ground Pepper's Lay Miz tech and performance (I have never played solo material for 200 people before...)

Day 7, Friday: Last day of Brahms rehearsal 10-3. Coaching with Marion Feldman?? Performance of Brahms--let us hope it goes better than day 1.

take a chill pill

I just found out The Perks of Being a Wallflower is being made into a movie. I looked over the casting and foamed out the mouth. I am really excited for this. The book is remarkable. I thank Lisa (via Tyler) for letting me read it. Honestly, it really did open my eyes and change my opinion of a lot of things... one of those you know.

Through the eyes of New York Magazine, I am elated and anticipating the "lo-fi pleasures of the proudly old-school, hand-drawn Winnie the Pooh. Less a reboot than a calm return to the solace of the Hundred Acre Wood, the film should play as soothingly as Xanax." I am ready to pop that pill and chillax.

Last night, my roommate Frances and I watched the film adaptation of Michael Cuningham's A Home at the End of the World. My only other experience with Cuningham's works is the movie The Hours, which the book the movie is based on won Cuningham the Pulitzer. It is really hard to explain the feelings I got when watching A Home... Though the movie is depressing and heart-breaking, I left feeling warm and pleasantly nostalgic of my life.

What is love, how is it defined and what are its boundaries?

Love should be open and free-willed, not labeled or extreme, as seen in A Home... The main character loves everyone and would give his life to them if they so chose. However, all the other characters need a label of what "traditional" love is and are unsatisfied otherwise. I cannot imagine all the people I love to die or leave me. I would not be able to have the life viewed in the film.

E-string

I have been here in NYC a week. It seems like a lot longer--maybe that is because I already know how this city works or maybe the fact I ride the subway at least 2+ hours a day visitng friends and such. I am really grateful to have a nice place with REALLY chill roommates here in Washington Heights. I have come to realize over the years that roommates make or break a living situation. When you have good roommates, it is nice to come home and just slump on the couch. This is much nicer than trying to avoid your roommates and locking yourself up in your room all night. ie. my apartment in cincinnati...

I have already had a couple of neat experiences that I am not really at liberty to talk about until they actually happen! I am pretty excited though (more about that later).

Why is Brahms so difficult! Out of all the composers, I struggle with him the most. I look back on when I played the E-flat viola sonata in my undergrad and remember how much I struggled with the "character" of Brahms. I mean, not to boast, I have heard people who play the character FLAWLESSLY but are reals out of tune. I listen to my recital and for the most part, I am in tune, but I sound so timid and shy. Brahms really shattered my confidence level, and it has taken a long time to overcome that! Anyway, it taught me a great deal. Back on track, I am learning the Brahms A minor string quartet. At first, I was a little bummed this would be the quartet I'd be playing, thinking it was not that challenging (especially after playing Beethoven Op.131 at CCM), but after practicing, I am in for an uphill battle! Come on little salmon! It is SO awkward. There is no good fingereing for the opening measures and throughout the entire four movements, you have to contorte your hand. Why Brahms? WHY?! It is fun though. It gives me something to work on.

On that note, I am learning the Franck Violin Sonata, which I love, and it has been great. Also on the summer list of things to learn are Bax's Fantasy Sonata for Viola and Harp, Schubert's Arppegione Sonata (can you believe I haven't played that...) and Beethoven's Spring Violin Sonata.

[Insert a Bill and Ted movie title here]

So, I woke up in the city that doesn't sleep. Hoorah! It wasn't in my own place though...

Helene and I drove the 12 hours from Cincinnati to New York via West Virgigina (one more state off the 50 list), Penny and the Jerse-ster. Also, though quite crowded, it was fun to drive through the Lincoln tunnel. It reminded me of fifth grade and my obsession with that little-known disaster movie called Daylight. Man, that movie is good. However, as I see it now, there are many similarites between this Lincoln-Tunnel-Explodes flick and Poseiedon Adventure. Why do my favorite characters always die because they get hypothermia or die a water related death? Poor Shelly Winters.

I am very blessed that my car did not get broken into with all the crap in there (and a TV). It is all empty now, well, it is now full of groceries, an ironing board and my N64, but you get the point.

I am in Connecticut at my parent's house for the last time. They are moving all the way back to Arizona near Tucson. It is funny how things come full circle or the fact my family always leaves when I move near. Austyn and D are also moving with their fam back to Utah so D-dawg can go to graduate school at BYU. SURPRISE!

I am excited to be in New York and to see where my dreams take me (doesn't everyone say that?). I would like to get a job to help the time pass before NYU's String Quartet Program, but I feel the three weeks from the end of June to the middle of July will cause companies to not hire me. Maybe I should just stick to the plan and practice viola and slave at violin! Should call for a most excellent adventure!

It tastes like soap but it doesn't take like soap

I have always had a thing for artistic movies, but I have this new fascination with "crtierion" films, putting them on mute and watching them with different music. It is great to put on an LP and see how the indie/alternative music lines up with the motion on screen. Do we look for connections or is there an inner drive that aligns all the different arts? It is fascinating. All music seems to be comprised of beats. Dance also seems to be comprised of rhythm. Motion therefore has to have a inner rhtyhm/beat as well, otherwise all three art forms of visual, movement and auditorary would not be able to seamlessly align. I was watching Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake and had Regina Spektor's Begin to Hope on. Very crazy how well they worked together.

It's raining, it's pouring

Midterms are over! Hallelujah.

I hate school. Is that really wrong of me to say? This quarter, however, is much more interesting in the world of classical musician classes over here at CCM. I have two teachers who have heavy accents and crack jokes. It is nice to look forward to a class at 9a in the morning (Do I look forward to it, or am I just a good student who enjoyes watching youtube videos of Bel Canto singers and trailers for Wagner operas?). My theory teacher, Dr. Sam Ng, is hysterical. He makes learning about counterpoint fun and the art of crafting fugues not dull.

It really sucks to be in school for another month when your undergraduate colleagues have been out for several weeks. On top of all this, it is raining almost everyday. April showers should bring May flowers, but so far, it has brought more rain. I enjoy recieving the one sunny day here and there. It makes me appreciate the ability to feel the warm sun. Let's just throw a little optimism in.

My recital is coming up. I have had a couple roadblocks (namely some rough lessons), but I have held my own and practiced with more concentration so I can give the best recital I can. Granted, I never perform a recital without flaws, no one does unless you are Hillary Hahn (but she even says she messes up), but I want to represent myself well.

The Ligeti is completely learned. That piece is very difficult, and SOUNDS difficult. It pays off!

The Rubbra is mostly learned, I just still need to find a pianist...hopefully sooner rather than later. This piece is passionate and beautiful--something the viola repertoire desperately needs.

I go to New York tomorrow. I am SO excited. More about that later.

For sure

I am for sure giving a recital May 29 at 6P in 3250.
I am for sure going to New York City at the begnning of June.
I am for sure doing NYU's String Quartet Workshop.

Things I am not sure of:
Am I going to stay in New York after the summer?
Am I going to get into IFCP?
Am I going to get a job in New York?

I did hear back from IFCP. I am at the top of the wait list. wah wah. That is alright. I will see in a couple weeks.

Takács Boosts

Today my quartet played for the Takács Quartet. The masterclass was very uplifting and a great experience to have professionals compliment our playing. The things they had to say are very helpful and encouraging. I am not one to boast, but it is ALWAYS reassuring when you have positive interactions with musicians. So often I spend hours alone all day correcting myself, getting mad at myself or becoming frustrated. I work hard and go to lessons where teachers tell me things I need to correct. It is always a fix-this-fix-that mindset. So, when someone gives me praise for my playing and only comments on musicality, it is a pat on the back and a morale booster!

On another note, I have still not heard back from IFCP. I am starting to wonder if I ever will.

I am 95% sure I am choosing to go to New York for the summer, especially after today, even though I have already been convinced. The NYU String Quartet Workshop seems to be a wonderful idea, as does working in the city trying to make some connections or at least LEARNING about what I need to fix in my playing/how to break into the scene.

The last of my MT friends left for New York. It is already weird and the usualities of my day have changed... I cannot wait until I see them again. I am still happy, which is always a good thing. The anticipation of a reunion is keeping me chugging along. Luckily I am giving a recital this quarter so I have something to keep me focused and to keep my free time down to a minimum (that, and I am actually doing ALL the reading for my history class! Wow, I myself am even impressed at that one).

Even more updating

I turned Aspen down. It was difficult to do, but in the long run, I feel it was the right decision. It is sad that I will not be able to spend the summer with Chris Koelzer in the mountains of Colorado making music, but I will survive (at least I hope I will). Aspen is just way too expensive. Even with my scholarship, and after fees, I would still have to pay about $2200 just for tuition. Throw in housing, transportation and food and I have one expensive summer. I could look at it as more school, but I am already paying a lot of money to go to CCM.

Two members of my current string quartet are going to Spoleto. It would be VERY nice to have an opportunity to still play with them (maybe even throw in a piano and make it a quartet). I am just torn in so many ways. I would love to go to Italy and play Italian opera with native Italians coming to see it. For $1000, I would be able to be there for a month with housing. Granted, I would have to pay for food and other travels that I decide to take, but what a steal, ya know?

I heard back from NYU. I was accepted into the string quartet workshop. I have yet to hear about scholarship.

I am still waiting to hear from IFCP. I have called, left a message and even emailed. Hopefully I will hear back soon. Until then....
__________________________________________________
--Update April 1, 2011--
IFCP prcoessed my check!!

Musical Festival Update

Sunny, warm and exciting spring break has come and gone and I am starting to hear back from the summer music opportunities.

Aspen let me know that I recieved $1300 for the program. This is a decent amount of money (especially since I gave a pretty bad fellowship audition and my video was not as stellar as it could have been--aka the Hoffmeister, which sucks because I was forced to use the same audio for IFCP and NYU).

Spoleto FINALLY got back to me. I was very surprised to see I did not get the fellowship there. I thought my audition was great. Granted, whenever I feel I nail auditions, the outcome is never as I predicted. I recieved the CCM Spoleto Scholar which means I have to pay $999 for a month in Italy (including airfare but excluding food).

I have yet to hear back from IFCP or NYU. Granted, NYU's due date for material is April 1 so I will not hear from them for a while. IFCP's is March 15, but I have not heard from them, neither has my check been processed... I emailed them to make sure my material was recieved. If something happened and my material did not get to New York on time, I will be very sad, but everything happens for a reason. N'est pas?

There is my short update! I am not writing anything off or making a decision until I hear back from all four. I was allowed an extension of my decision for Aspen (the decision was due March 21). Hopefully Spoleto will allow me to delay that decision as well.

50th post

Today I applied for NYU's Steinhardt Summer String Quartet Workshop and Mannes' Institute & Festival for Contemporary Music. Both are in NYC and are right after each other. IFCP is middle June and NYU's is end of June into the beginning of July. NYU's conflcits (by five days) with CCM Spoleto. This can pose a problem, but as of right now, I have not been accepted into anything. It would be nice to go BAM BAM BAM and do all three. We shall see what happens. Waiting game. Doesn't it always seem like we play the wwaiting game? "When will my life begin?"

These two New York summer opportunities would be very vauleable not only to progress me as a musician but to also give me another reason to be in NYC as I try to land a job.

______________________________________________
I recieved an email telling me I have been accepted to Aspen.
--Added March 09, 2011--

L'oiseau de feu a.k.a the bird of fire

Last night was CCM's concert of Stravinsky's The Firebird and Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 in C minor, "Organ." I have been really blessed recently in the music I have performed. I have played some of the music which is most religious to me. With last weeks performance of Beethoven 6 an Appalachian Spring, all I would need to play is Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe and Debussy's Petite Suite and I would be in heaven.

The concert went very smoothly. There were parts of the Firebird that blew me away, but other parts, I prefer the performance I did with BYU. Isn't it always the case though? You grow, you learn and you reflect. Great experience.

The Organ was SO loud and the part where the organ enters in the second movement is BRILLIANT. Then, the piano duet takes over as the strings sour with the melody...there is nothing like this. If you have seen "Impressions de France" at EPCOT then you have heard the part I am talking about (though I do not like their usage of Daphnis et Chloe, but that is a horse of a different color). It was a fun concert. It has been a while since I have performed a "fun" concert. Mark Gibson seemed to be thrilled while he was conducting, which always makes the performance that much better.

Nothing else is really going on in my life. The quarter is quickly coming to a close which is both good and bad... The inevitability of people leaving is something I NEED to think about, but do not want to have to deal with. Oh well.

There is still no news on Spoleto or any further development on Aspen. Right now, I am leaning more towards NYC. We shall see, as always.

Bromide

In reference to a posting I had a couple of months ago, I found a perfect quote in The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand:

"'I was thinking of people who say that happiness is impossible on earth. Look how hard they all try to find some joy in life. Look how they struggle for it. Why should any living creature exist in pain? By what conceivable right can anyone demand that a human being exist for anything but his own joy? Every one of them wants it. Every part of him wants it. But they never find it. I wonder why. They whine and say they don't understnad the meaning of life. There's a particular kind of pepople that I despise. Those who seek some sort of a higher purpose or 'universal goal,' who don't know what to live for, who moan that they must 'find themselves.' You hear it all around us. That seems to be the official bromide of our century. Every book you open. Every drooling self-confession. It seems to be the noble thing to confess. I'd think it would be the most shameful one.'

'Look Gail,' Roark got up, reached out, tore a thick branch off a tree, held it in both hands, one fist closed at each end; then, his wrists and knuckles tensed against the resistance, he bent the branch slowly into an arc. 'Now I can make what I want of it: a bow, a spear, a cane, a railing. That's the meaning of life.'

'Your strength?'

'Your work.' He tossed the branch aside. 'The matrial the earth offers you and what you make of it...'"

And All That Jazz

I ended up not getting the fellowship for Aspen. Frankly, I am not all that surprised seeing as how my audtion went. I am not really sad by it either, just blasé. We will see if I get a scholarship or anything of that sort. At least I have other options...hopefully. More of that for a later time.

In between performances of Le Nozze di Figaro, a couple of weeks ago, I was able to see Ashley Brown in concert with the Indianapolis Symphony. Of course, me being the Ashley lover that I am, I really enjoyed her performance (and the ten different outfits that she wore). My favorite numbers were, of course, Feed the Birds, Le Jazz Hot, Ring Them Bellars, When You Wish Upon a St and So in Love. Of course, she sang many others (Just in Time/With a Song in My Heart, Smile/Make Someone Happy, A Disney Medley (including Part of Your World, I've Got No Strings, Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo, He's a Tramp (oh her belt was fab), A Friend in Me, I Know You, A Whole New World, etc), a Love Medley (Someone to Watch Over Me, All I Ask of You, People Will Say We're in Love, It's Wonderful and My Heart is So Full of You), Defying Gravity and ended with My Funny Valentine, which had an appearance by Eddie her dog). Her voice is so clear, so intune and so effortlessly beautiful. One of the best concerts I have been to. The Orchestra was also great. I was sitting in row D, so the strings were a little quiet, but it had that "Show" quality sound that I love and adore. Well done Ashley. I cannot wait to see you in Roman Holiday and some of the other projects that you have coming your way!

There was a Jazz Night over at the Lodge on Clifton Ave over the weekend. There is nothing like people dressed up in shirts and ties lounging around listening to Ella and Frank Sinatra. What a classy event.

I was in a performance tonight at the St. Francic De Sales Church on Madison Ave. The program included Appalachian Spring (Original 13 Player Chamber Version) and Beethoven 6. The concert went really well and in the space, appeared and sounded breathtaking. There is nothing like playing such religious music in a glorious church.

"There's going to be a wedding."

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO opened and closed. It was an intense weekend of playing many notes without much resting during the show (thankfully there is the pianoforte to add some comic AND physical relief). It all is worth it, though, for the last penultimate, gorgeous melody. The singing was very professional and Annunziata's conducting really allowed for the tempos to push and the action on stage to flow correctly. Here are a few production photos:

Another audition

I had my CCM Spoleto audition on Monday. It went extremely well. It is always nice to have uplifiting auditions to boost the moral. I had to play Bach Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor Minuet I & II, Strauss' Don Juan and Mendelssohn's Scherzo. I played the excerpts much better than I did for the Aspen audition. Granted, it has been a month since Aspen, but I also had to play more of the excerpts. The Bach was the best that I ever played it. I am really happy with how things turned out. Now, I just need to wait for results. I need to wait until I hear back from Spoleto and Aspen before I can really assess what to do this summer. I have my wants but I am also being pulled in different directions via friends, academics, career and relationships. There is not really a point in stressing out about it until I know which offers lie before me.

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC has run and closed. It is a great show and stark reminder of what I want to do for my career. The singers are going to go far, as is Anthony DeAngelis(the musical director). Michelle Berkowitz and Anthone have been nominated for ACCLAIM awards. Yay for both of them. It is a little surprising that John Riddle and Carlyn Connolly didn't get nominated or Ryan for his sets, but whatever. One cannot control critics. It was a great production. Snaps for everyone across the board.

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO rehearsals are underway with tomorrow being opening night. It is selling really well (almost completely sold out). I am under the stage in the orchestra pit, so I cannot see the set or Hailei Call's Wig/Makeup design, but I do know that the singrs on my track are sick. Sick sick sick. It is a great opportunity once again to play for this show. We will see how it runs.

Isn't it rich

Here are some photos (that I stole from Ryan Howell, the scenic designer) of CCM's studio production of A Little Night Music. It is such an amazing score and I am greatful to be playing with such brilliant and talented singers. Highlight of my 2011 year thus far.

Finally

I am so happy right now. Once again, I had an amazing lesson with Dr. Carroll. What is going on? I should not be having this much success...I am so not used to it.

It is official. I now have my entire rep chosen for my first Graduate Recital at CCM:

Sonate pour alto solo--Ligeti
I. Hora Lunga
II. Loop
V. Lamento
VI. Chaconne chromatique

Concerto in A for Viola and Orchestra, Op. 75--Rubbra
I. Introduzione quasi una fantasia
II. Molto vivace
III. Collana musicale

It is going to kick some serious trash!

Intrigue

I read some quotes today of a discussion involvin Jesse Green (moderator), Nora Ephron (author), Frank Rich (columnist), Jonathan Tunick (orchestrator and EGOT winner) and George C. Wolfe (director) of which are the greatest musicals. Very interesting discussion. The results are a three-way tie for first place--Guys and Dolls, Gypsy and Sweeney Todd. Followed by The King and I and then West Side Story. The rest of the top ten are Carousel, Porgy and Bess, Show Boat, A Chorus Line, and Sunday in the Park. Anyway, here are the quotes:

"A musical is what happens when text collides with motion collides with song collides with spectacle. And spectacle can be the human heart; it doesn’t necessarily have to be a helicopter crashing. You can go see ballet in its purity; you can go to a recital to hear music by itself. But what the American musical does so thrillingly is bastardize these forms into something that is exhilarating and compelling and deeply moving."

"I also respond when two worlds that don’t belong together end up together. That’s why the musical could only have been born here: New York is all these little countries sharing a city. All the different rhythms of those different communities is what made the American musical possible."

Granted, I am not as sophisticated as these people and am not as well versed (aka seen the shows), but I have a top ten that is completely biased, though I do have some that align.

Sweeney Todd, Carousel, A Little Night Music, Grey Gardens, See What I Wanna See, Wild Party, Sunset Boulevard, Dear World, Gypsy and Sunday in the Park with George

Tonight 53 women share a dream, not a husband.

So, it is now the third week of the quarter. Really? Where did the other two weeks go?? Oh wait, I think I have an idea...

I have been spending most of my time practicing for the Aspen Fellowship audition that was yesterday. If you ask me why, the only reason I can come up with is forced practice on something I do not want to spend time working on--ie. Don Juan and Mendelssohn. The intensive situations I put myself in has bettered my preparation technique, audition situation and overall, has furthered my capabilities as a violist.

So, how did the audition go? I played the excerpts the best I had played them in succession without stopping. That is a nice acomplishment. My Bach was eh. Not bad, not amazing. I had a couple unclear chords, but my musicality was nice. Hoffmeister was great until page three when I completely missed a shift. Woof. Overall, I am pleased because I focused my attention on the excerpts and that is what I played well.

This summer, I have three options:

1- Aspen
2- CCM Spoleto in Italy. The audition for this is in Feb with the conductors of CCM. Should be a great audition (especially after Mark Gibson's comments to me). It would be fun to go to Italy for six weeks for free. Hopefully I can get the fellowship for that as well. It requires...drumroll...Don Juan and Mendelssohn. No brainer there.
3- NYC. I would have June-basically October to make connections and really see what it would take/what I need to be able to play for shows. With connections, drive and commitment I have, hopefully I can at least score some subbing gigs. If that were the case, I technically wouldn't have to graduate from CCM. However, I would still be enrolled here just in case it doesn't work out or even try to AD at Juilliard with Kawasaki. This is just an idea, an if per-se. What is the purpose of graduate school? GET A JOB!

So, life here in gray Cincinnati is great. School is wonderful, as is the viola. Friends are still awesome, even if they are sick. Makeup class is going well where I have a "beautiful forehead" (which raises questions to the reasonings behind my self conciousness...??). Durocher is still great and continutes to make me happy. Hopefully this continues. The trend is still going strong. I will keep my fingers crossed.

Miss America was a hoot. Did you see the so called "talents"? Did you hear the awful introductions? What a hot tranny mess.

9 degrees and 20 mph winds

It is amazing to me how one event, or a collection of people, can really change an outlook on life.

This past week, I have been really happy. It is not my usual, "Blake-always-has-a-smile-on-his-face." It is more of a "this-is-the-awesomeness-that-life-should-be" kind.

Without tests/assignments/grades getting in the way, this quarter has started off with some positive occurances (what a STARK contrast to the beginning of fall...enough said):

1-I am the violist for A Little Night Music. Check--on my list of scores to play before I die. Also, the production is going to be very well done with an excellent cast, apparently. I saw some of the wigs today, and they are just breathtaking. So stunning. I cannot wait to see the costumes (poor Anna...) and the set (go Ryan!). Should be great.

2- Durocher.

3-I am playing for Le Nozze di Figaro. Granted, I have already performed Mozart's crazy, too-many-notes bravura, but it will be nice to play it with a crazy budget and even crazier singers.

4-I am taking intro to makeup with Hannah. Kelly (Kaitie's mother) is teaching the course. Let's see how awful I am--hopefully I will not be written in the books like Fran.

5-I had an amazing first lesson with Kawasaki. Since when does he crack jokes and smile the whole lesson? Also, one lesson on Ligeti's Hora Lunga and he says move on to the next movement. QUOI!?!

6-I picked up Don Juan and, after some hard practicing and a little bit of luck, am now taking the Aspen Fellowship Audition. Christopher Koelzer, why do you influence me to make decisions that stress me out? Thanks for always having faith in me.

7-I have great friends.

8-Durocher. This deserves another iteration.

So, that is basically my life in the first week. I am really hoping that my optimism and euphoric state continues. It is so great when things are, well...great. It is something to look forward to when times are like the weather, bleak.

Objectivst

"When one experiences the kind of pure happiness that is an end in itself--the kind that makes one think: 'This is worth living for'--what one is greeting and affirming in emotional terms is the metaphysical fact that life is an end in itself."--Ayn Rand