Life Again
I figure that it's time to update this thing again for the 5 people that actually read it.
So- what's happened?
1. Road trip with Brian C to NYC and back in one night to go see a chamber rock opera ("The Long Count") at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, featuring Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond as Venus. Brian's old marimba teacher was playing in the chamber orchestra, and after watching the - AMAZING - show, his teacher got us backstage, where I got to meet everyone... including a remeeting of Shara. This is how it went down:
Brian's teacher, Sam: Shara, this is-
Shara (to me): Oh, I remember you! From up in Maine!
We had met briefly at her show in Portland, October 2008, and talked briefly about opera... and she remembered me. Cue mini-freakout.
So I told her that I would love to pick her brain about string arranging and vocal technique and she said to shoot her an email and just say it's me. I then told her that it's my goal to be collaborating with her someday, pretty much in the next ten years. She basically had a "Oh yeah? Earn it." twinkling response and then Brian and I freaked out the entire drive back to Boston.
I basically want to be doing what she's doing- a crossover between "legit" singing and indie rock, collaborations with composers, actors, artists... I told her how I loved that she was breaking genre rules and combining classical elements with rock, and she said, "It's happening, more and more. We're doing it."
She is pretty much my hero. If offered a chance to collaborate with her, or Sufjan... Oh man, that's a horrible choice. I'd choose to collaborate with them both! Heh... but really... I'd probably go with Shara. Her voice, her energy, her relentless creativity... I will work with her one day, I swear it here in the glory of the interwebs.
... which brings me to:
2. Projects/Composition Lessons
I'm digging my composition lessons, which were just an elective that I had an interest in. I knew that by signing up for comp. lessons, it would force me to actually produce something, and so far, so good. I'm creating a psuedo-concept album- half rock album, half radio drama, loosely based on my relationship with Adam, set against the backdrop of Question 1. I have three songs completely in the can, one song 75% done, the beginnings of three other songs, and plans for about 4-5 others. I love the vibe I have going with Sonenberg- intelligent discourse that brings to light what works and doesn't work about my pieces, and great insight about the greater work as a whole, while still being laid back and not overly academic (which is why I CHOSE to do this as an elective!). If I were trying to write more "legit" pieces (art songs, choral arrangements, instrumental works), I'd want it to be more theory based and all about analysis... but this is perfect for the direction I'm going in my projects. A lot of the time, our conversations turn to:
3. Question 1
My parents voted yes. However, they now both support civil unions, which is HUGE for them. This is the first campaign of any kind that I have volunteered for, and it was an amazing and humbling experience. I have met more incredible, supportive, passionate people as a result of this campaign than I could have ever imagined. Yes, we lost this vote, but I'm still miles ahead of where I was this time last year. This got me off the bench, and that's a win. I also loved protesting with:
4. The Roommates:
I love them. They're great. We're a motley crew, all at different places in our lives, and I love it. We are a sitcom that is not yet filmed. These people keep me sane. Be it racquetball with David, video games and awkward turtling with Rob, or Emma's hilarious and endearing stories about her day, I am still going pretty much directly because of these people. They also came to support me when I sang in:
5. Haydn's Creation
Three performances of this with two different orchestras in three states was tiring, but a great experience. Merrill auditorium was a musical highlight for the year (which, with this year, is impressive). I can't express how empowering and humbling it is to share the stage with your private teacher, the man who literally taught me how to sing... especially considering that he pretty much has the voice of God and has worked with all the best singers/conductors/directors in the world. Malcolm Smith, I cannot thank you enough. Wherever I go in my career, it will be thanks to you. Which brings us to:
6. Wherever I go in my career:
Auditions and applications are coming out of my ears. I have 5 Young Artist Program auditions before 2009 is over, and I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing post grad. Odds are leaning in Boston's favor.
The big news on this front I got a callback with the Santa Fe Opera for their Young Artist Program on Friday, of:
7. This week:
Car repairs today, lame. But on Friday, I take the bus from Portland to Boston at 5 am, get on a bus from Boston to NYC, do my callback for Santa Fe, get on a bus back to Boston, go see a one-man show with Brian C, have a little fun on the town (but no drinking), crash at his place. Then, Saturday, train back to Maine and Graduate Showcase Recital that night (hence the no drinking Friday), where I will perform "Che Gelida Manina" in public for the first time (it's the big tenor aria from Puccini's La Boheme, complete with a high C, wish me luck!). Then, conducting my choir on Saturday, and then driving up to Corinna to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with the family (it's the only time Kat could come up from VT). I've been fighting off a bout of melancholy this week, so as busy as this weekend is, I'm really looking forward to seeing people, places, and things to get me out of this mini-funk.
Whew! As you can see, busy as ever, but having a heck of a year!
Other stuff briefly:
Saw Crucible in Boston last Saturday, it rocked. I got to see Lori, Dana, and Armen this weekend in Boston, and crash with Lori, which also rocked. Family is doing well, even if we are having awkward discussions about same-sex marriage, haha. Nothing happening on the dating front. Stayed up til 5 am Monday into Tuesday with Rob to watch the meteor shower... which was sort of a bust, but still a fun time. The band Grizzly Bear is among my current jams, as well as Vaughan Williams' "On Wenlock Edge." I may be going to Alabama for New Year's to visit that whole crew...
Love you all, you guys rock.
*clink*
So- what's happened?
1. Road trip with Brian C to NYC and back in one night to go see a chamber rock opera ("The Long Count") at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, featuring Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond as Venus. Brian's old marimba teacher was playing in the chamber orchestra, and after watching the - AMAZING - show, his teacher got us backstage, where I got to meet everyone... including a remeeting of Shara. This is how it went down:
Brian's teacher, Sam: Shara, this is-
Shara (to me): Oh, I remember you! From up in Maine!
We had met briefly at her show in Portland, October 2008, and talked briefly about opera... and she remembered me. Cue mini-freakout.
So I told her that I would love to pick her brain about string arranging and vocal technique and she said to shoot her an email and just say it's me. I then told her that it's my goal to be collaborating with her someday, pretty much in the next ten years. She basically had a "Oh yeah? Earn it." twinkling response and then Brian and I freaked out the entire drive back to Boston.
I basically want to be doing what she's doing- a crossover between "legit" singing and indie rock, collaborations with composers, actors, artists... I told her how I loved that she was breaking genre rules and combining classical elements with rock, and she said, "It's happening, more and more. We're doing it."
She is pretty much my hero. If offered a chance to collaborate with her, or Sufjan... Oh man, that's a horrible choice. I'd choose to collaborate with them both! Heh... but really... I'd probably go with Shara. Her voice, her energy, her relentless creativity... I will work with her one day, I swear it here in the glory of the interwebs.
... which brings me to:
2. Projects/Composition Lessons
I'm digging my composition lessons, which were just an elective that I had an interest in. I knew that by signing up for comp. lessons, it would force me to actually produce something, and so far, so good. I'm creating a psuedo-concept album- half rock album, half radio drama, loosely based on my relationship with Adam, set against the backdrop of Question 1. I have three songs completely in the can, one song 75% done, the beginnings of three other songs, and plans for about 4-5 others. I love the vibe I have going with Sonenberg- intelligent discourse that brings to light what works and doesn't work about my pieces, and great insight about the greater work as a whole, while still being laid back and not overly academic (which is why I CHOSE to do this as an elective!). If I were trying to write more "legit" pieces (art songs, choral arrangements, instrumental works), I'd want it to be more theory based and all about analysis... but this is perfect for the direction I'm going in my projects. A lot of the time, our conversations turn to:
3. Question 1
My parents voted yes. However, they now both support civil unions, which is HUGE for them. This is the first campaign of any kind that I have volunteered for, and it was an amazing and humbling experience. I have met more incredible, supportive, passionate people as a result of this campaign than I could have ever imagined. Yes, we lost this vote, but I'm still miles ahead of where I was this time last year. This got me off the bench, and that's a win. I also loved protesting with:
4. The Roommates:
I love them. They're great. We're a motley crew, all at different places in our lives, and I love it. We are a sitcom that is not yet filmed. These people keep me sane. Be it racquetball with David, video games and awkward turtling with Rob, or Emma's hilarious and endearing stories about her day, I am still going pretty much directly because of these people. They also came to support me when I sang in:
5. Haydn's Creation
Three performances of this with two different orchestras in three states was tiring, but a great experience. Merrill auditorium was a musical highlight for the year (which, with this year, is impressive). I can't express how empowering and humbling it is to share the stage with your private teacher, the man who literally taught me how to sing... especially considering that he pretty much has the voice of God and has worked with all the best singers/conductors/directors in the world. Malcolm Smith, I cannot thank you enough. Wherever I go in my career, it will be thanks to you. Which brings us to:
6. Wherever I go in my career:
Auditions and applications are coming out of my ears. I have 5 Young Artist Program auditions before 2009 is over, and I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing post grad. Odds are leaning in Boston's favor.
The big news on this front I got a callback with the Santa Fe Opera for their Young Artist Program on Friday, of:
7. This week:
Car repairs today, lame. But on Friday, I take the bus from Portland to Boston at 5 am, get on a bus from Boston to NYC, do my callback for Santa Fe, get on a bus back to Boston, go see a one-man show with Brian C, have a little fun on the town (but no drinking), crash at his place. Then, Saturday, train back to Maine and Graduate Showcase Recital that night (hence the no drinking Friday), where I will perform "Che Gelida Manina" in public for the first time (it's the big tenor aria from Puccini's La Boheme, complete with a high C, wish me luck!). Then, conducting my choir on Saturday, and then driving up to Corinna to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with the family (it's the only time Kat could come up from VT). I've been fighting off a bout of melancholy this week, so as busy as this weekend is, I'm really looking forward to seeing people, places, and things to get me out of this mini-funk.
Whew! As you can see, busy as ever, but having a heck of a year!
Other stuff briefly:
Saw Crucible in Boston last Saturday, it rocked. I got to see Lori, Dana, and Armen this weekend in Boston, and crash with Lori, which also rocked. Family is doing well, even if we are having awkward discussions about same-sex marriage, haha. Nothing happening on the dating front. Stayed up til 5 am Monday into Tuesday with Rob to watch the meteor shower... which was sort of a bust, but still a fun time. The band Grizzly Bear is among my current jams, as well as Vaughan Williams' "On Wenlock Edge." I may be going to Alabama for New Year's to visit that whole crew...
Love you all, you guys rock.
*clink*