Update 11-14-06

Boy I sure haven't posted anything for a while, but here's a brief overview of a couple of things that I've done over the past month.

Oct. 5th was the first concert of the semester for the RVC Chamber Singers . We presented two pieces at a small dinner party at the Rockford Country Club. This went pretty well and was a neat experience, especially as I've never sang in a formal choir before.

That weekend on Oct. 7 a group of about 15 music students from RVC went out to Augustana College for a Music Educators' conference that was out there. I learned some helpful stuff, and had some great conversations during the trip out and back.

On Oct. 14 I was able to participate in a voice master class which was very good. I've been learning a lot about singing through my voice lessons, and other voice activities around RVC. Last Sunday (November 12th) the RVC Chamber Singers sang for the church service at Second Congregational Church in Rockford. We sang the anthem and the offertory, both of which were pieces that we have been working on. We also sang with the church's choir for the hymns and the benediction, which was "The Lord Bless You And Keep You" w/the Amens. That was incredible, especially as all the organ pipes were right behind us!

In the piano world I've been working with the RVC concert choir on a piece called The Lamentations of Jeremiah (by Randal Stroope). With my previous piano teacher (Mrs. Bendorf) I'm working on a Scott Joplin Rag Rhapsody with three other piano students. This piece was arranged for two pianos and eight hands (lot's of fun!). I also was able to participate in a piano master class with Dr. Glenn Utsch (I got to play on a 11' Bosendorfer grand for this!). This master class was really good, and I learned a number of things about technique, as well as a few specific pointers for the Brahms Hungarian Dance that I'm playing.

Well, that's pretty much a basic sketch of what's keeping me busy. There are a number of recitals/concerts that are coming up over the next month that should be good, but due to some construction problems in the library (which is in the same building as the Performing Arts Room) these might end up being postponed or possibly even canceled. The biggest problem yet is that last Friday a water main that runs over the Performing Arts Room broke, and flooded much of the building including the PAR. Fortunately none of the pianos or other music equipment was damaged, but there is a possibility that asbestos may have been washed out with the water. So due to health issues, we may or may not be able to use the PAR anymore this semester. Everything is still up in the air on that, but we'll see what happens.