I just watched a brief news story on ABC News' website about the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.  15 of its members have fled the county but those remaining perform as a string quartet and are adament about continuing to make music in their war-torn country.  The conductor insists that they are using music as a weapon against the bombs, and can find a ( Read more... )

I've graduated ( Read more... )

This post is actually about two days late, but I've been spreading the word bit by bit on the phone since then.

I have a job!!

I went for an interview at Nancy Shear Arts Services (www.nancyshear.com) on Wednesday after meeting Nancy when she came to talk to one of my business of music classes earlier this month.  At the end of class she said that ( Read more... )

I just talked to the director of an opera I'm going to be in this summer.  For the second season of Project Opera Manhattan we're putting on "The Magic Flute" with a Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" inspiration behind it.  The company lost money last year so our two founders are desperately scrambling for funding and cheap alternatives wherever we can ( Read more... )

As I was writing my last entry, I got completely sidetracked by reading this article about praising children.  I've often complained about how I feel we have become a society that overvalues the mediocre, but I was really happy to read that this study that was done not only reveals the potential damage of creating (and being) praise-junkies, but ( Read more... )

I have radiator heat in my apartment.

I also have two humidifiers.

Every day, as I refill the gallon-jugs on my humidifiers and try to figure out just how many gallons of water I have pumped into the air this winter (well over 100), I imagine myself as a witness to an epic battle between dry heat and cool, moist air.  The warring sides battle all day ( Read more... )

Dress Rehearsal today, voice lesson tomorrow and then my Graduate Recital on Saturday!

I'm really starting to get excited now.

Happiness is:

Not being as tired as you thought you were going to be

A clean, empty apartment that's all yours

A stranger giving you a free cab ride because the subway wasn't running (when you're running late)

A coaching full of progress and complements

Having to alter a dress to take it in from your college weight

Finding a beautiful cashmere ( Read more... )

Today, I woke up when my body was ready to--and then went back to sleep again.

When I finally did wake up for real, I enjoyed the feeling of lying in bed and watching the sun filter through my curtains, feeling the soft sheets on my skin, and eventually rolling over to grab my book and start reading.  I have nowhere to be today until 7pm.  I have ( Read more... )

According to this article sheet music of all of Mozart's works is now available online and for free!
While I doubt this will stop me from buying opera scores, I think it's pretty cool that they are trying to make the music more accessible.  Music students often pay small fortunes buying scores or photocopying music, and people not near a decent ( Read more... )