Spring 2006

It is amazing how fast time flies. I am currently in my last semester of my Masters Degree at Arizona State University. Each semester gets better!

This semester I am taking 10 credits...read on if you want details...

University Choir
The University Choir is an auditioned 65 voice mixed ensemble directed by Dr. Gregory Gentry (http://music.asu.edu/faculty/selectOne.php?ID=205&). Members are mostly music majors are primarily undergraduates. The University Choir performs a variety of choral literature from all periods of music history, including symphonic works, as well as shorter pieces and works with chamber ensembles. The ensemble is committed to excellence in performance, historically informed performance and a holistic choral experience. The group rehearses Monday through Thursday from 12:40-1:30pm.
Starting in the Spring 2005 semester I began singing with University Choir. This semseter I both sing with the group and am a graduate assistant for the group, which means I occasionally run part of rehearsal and conduct one piece on each concert program.


Concert Choir
The Concert Choir is ASU’s premiere choral ensemble, directed by Dr. David Schildkret (http://music.asu.edu/faculty/selectOne.php?ID=132&). The 28 members of this group are doctoral students, master’s students and advanced undergraduates chosen through a rigorous audition process. The Concert Choir offers highly polished performances of the outstanding works for small chorus, helping students to continue developing their singing, musical and ensemble skills, and working for a refined and exhilarating tone. The group performs a cappella literature from the Renaissance through the present, compositions with piano or small instrumental ensemble, and works for chorus and chamber orchestra. The group rehearses Monday through Thursday from 1:40-2:30pm.
At the beginning of the semester I decided to audition for Concert Choir, despite my persistant thoughts that there was no way I could get in - well I was wrong. This is my first semester singing with the concert choir and I love it!

20th Century Counterpoint
Where to begin? I don't like music theory all that much...but this is ridiculous. We are studying the compositional techniques of 20th century composers. Basically we study certain types of composition, such as twelve tone, serialism, set theory, etc...and then we compose music in the style of certain composers. What fun! I can't think of a better way to spend my Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10:40-11:30am. The course is taught by Dr. Jodi Rockmaker...a Jewish composer from Brooklyn...need I say more? Dr. Rockmaker is actually the saving grace of this course!

Advanced Choral Rehearsal Techniques
This class is one of those wonderful once a week classes that meets from 4:40-7:30pm. I hate this time for a class...just long enough to want to scratch your eyes and just late enough to be hungry during the last hour of class. The course is taught by Mr. Jeff Harris, the Choral director at Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ. Thank goodness for my friend Ryan...I don't know what I'd do without him in this class!!!

Choral Repertoire
Choral repertoire is a doctoral level course. There are six students in the class...four doctoral students and two masters students, including me. It's taught by Dr. Schildkret (the same guy I take concert choir with). The class is actually my favorite academic course this semester. It's a great review, plus new info, of things that as a choral person I should really have mastered by the time I leave here. This class meets on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10:40-11:30am.

We'll see how my 4.0 GPA fares after this semester...YIKES.
Check back for an update in May.

Growing Up

Having just celebrated my 25th birthday I have come to realize that years are not associated with wisdom; that growing up is not necessarily something that just happens with age. I think that there are certain events in one's life which can be forever altering and in turn forces one to "grow up", but recently I have a new philosophy about growing up. To grow up, you have to make a conscious choice to do so. There are plenty of "adults" walking around out there with the maturity of teenagers, and as long as they are content with that, then that is fine, for them. However, if you long to be independent and truly know yourself and understand yourself, then growing up is the task at hand.

I remember how exciting it felt to be 14 and starting high school. I remember how scary it felt to be 18 and leaving home for college. I remember how fun it was to be 21 and finally be able to do just about ANYTHING I wanted. I remember how wonderful it was to be 22 and graduating from college. I had my whole life planned out...down to the white picket fence and Chase and Madison. It was all laid out for me and it was just a matter of time. I felt like I had finally gotten a ticket on the moving conveyor belt of life and that as long as I didn't make a drastic move, I'd be moving along just fine. Well, drastic or not, I moved. I moved straight across the country...as far away from the laid out plan as possible.

The last two years have been a blur of life. It's been surreal almost at times. It has been the most painful time of my life...yet now sitting and looking back there were so many wonderful things that happened to me...how could it have been so awful? I was fighting against my own need to grow up. It was finally time to grow up a bit and I kicked and screamed against it...like a small child who doesn't want to leave the toy store empty handed.

A month ago I succumbed to the need to grow up a bit and let go. I let go of everything and everyone...tossed it all to the wind and hoped for the best. Someone dear to me always says "I wish I were a little kid again...life was so easy then and I was always happy". I always used to laugh at this statement as it seemed so foolish to me. I still don't think I want to return to my days of playing witches with Julie out by the water pump, but there is something to be said for the innocence of childhood.

The last week or so I have grown up quite a bit. I have learned a lot and gained clarity about certain issues which have been looming over me like a foggy doom for all too long. I am sad and I am disappointed...but I am at peace and moving onwards. I still have quite a bit of growing up to do and all in good time, but for now I am okay with just being 25.

ASU Concert Choir on Washington Post

Concert ChoirDavid Schildkret, conductor
The Concert Choir is ASU’s premiere choral ensemble. The 28 members of this group are doctoral students, master’s students and advanced undergraduates chosen through a rigorous audition process. The Concert Choir offers highly polished performances of the outstanding works for small chorus, helping students to continue developing their singing, musical and ensemble skills, and working for a refined and exhilarating tone. The group performs a cappella literature from the Renaissance through the present, compositions with piano or small instrumental ensemble, and works for chorus and chamber orchestra.

Don’t forget to check the Washington Post website on March 12 for our recordings of “Shenandoah.” They will be part of the “Style Invitational.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/05/09/LI2005050900372.html

You do have to register, but it's FREE and it's worth it to hear us!

You’ll want to click on “Week 653.” Scroll down, and there should be something that says “Report from Week 649.” You’ll be able to read the winning entries there and there ought to be a link to our recordings mentioned there as well.

YAY!!!

Papasan Chair

Happy Birthday to me!!!

On February 28th I celebrated my 25th birthday...yes a 1/4 century.

I had a wonderful day filled with cards and balloons and cakes and friends!

I hadn't really given a ton of thought about what I wanted, but I knew one thing I wanted for sure! A papasan chair from Pier 1 Imports. I have wanted one of these lovely chairs for some time now and so when my dad got me one for my birthday, I was beyond thrilled!



I went and picked it out and it's just perfect. I had a tan cushion that is corduroy.

Lilly likes it too!

Today it is raining...the first time since October 18th!!! The drought is officially over I guess!?!? Today is the perfect kind of day for the new chair...I look forward to some quality time there!

DMA Audition

Warum? Why? That's right. Why am I doing this?

Today my day is jam packed with an audition and lunch and interviews, all part of the audition process. I am applying for the Doctorate in Choral Conducting program. There is one spot and four applicants...including a college professor from Canada. Yes...Warum?

I am conducting the first movement of the Brahms' motet, Warum ist das Licht gegeben? And as I go along conducting the repeated pleadings of Why? I will probably be asking myself the same thing, why?

I have 10 minutes of spotlight time today and I am going to need all the strength I can get. I will pull from my past inspirations in hopes they will pull me through.



I am actually looking forward to my 10 minutes in front of the concert choir. This is the most talented group I have yet to take the podium in front of and I am feeling honored to have this opportunity.

Wish me luck...otherwise there's always ANOTHER education degree...


Post Audition Update:
Tuesday was a very long day, but a good one. The audition went well. I will say that it was very hard to get up in front of the Concert Choir, even though I sing with them. I did the best job I could do and we'll see if that proves to be good enough. The interview process was a bit better, as I found that much easier to talk about things than wave my hands around to produce great things.

I will know their decision the week of March 20th. I will post an update at that time.