Project On Hold

The decision was made recently to put Harmonic Patina on hold for about a year until our members are more available to make it work.  I am saddened by this, but am the first to acknowledge that projects have to flow and when you are repeatedly coming up against conflicts, there's no sense in forcing it.  We all have other places to focus our energies currently, and hopefully we can revisit the idea later with renewed zeal.

Meanwhile, rehearsals are underway for DeCantus, I am working to increase my wedding/funeral repertoire, and the Quartet is learning more new pieces for the Homecoming Weekend at Presentation.  I am quickly drowning under all this sheet music!  I am definitely in need of a new organizational system for my music, but, besides the obvious space issues, I don't know where to begin.  Should I file strictly alphabetically? By language? By season? By style? So many pieces cross genres that I'm constantly pulling them out and putting them back in different places.  Any ideas, fellow musicians? How do you organize?

A Cappella, Baby!

I was contacted last week by Harmonic Patina director, Laura Adams, concerning the possibility of upgrading my participation in the group from swing to full time vocalist. There has been some shifting lately as we lost one member, and another is traveling for an undertermined amount of time in the Fall, so they are bringing me in and reforming as a 3W, 2M balance. For the most part I will be jumping in on the Tenor 1 line, whether as written or an octave above. I also will be singing lead on a couple songs, and we are adding Black Horse & the Cherry Tree to our repertoire just for me!

I am excited about the possibilities, looking forward to rehearsal tonight, and ready to buckle down this summer to get ready for gigs!

Hope to be posting performance info for Harmonic Patina soon!

Opening!

Tonight is the preview performance of Sound of Music at Lakeshore Players Theatre.  It has been a real treat getting to know my character, Baroness Elsa Schraeder, and I am ready to put her out there to be loved or hated (sometimes simultaneously) by the sold-out crowds in White Bear Lake.  This weekend will mark the end of a tech week of nightly rehearsals, and I am looking forward to being able to shift my focus to other projects again during the week.

Sore Throat

Ah, the joys of having children.  At the first sniff and nose wipe on sleeve I knew I was in for it.  My 3-year-old has picked up a cold from some unknown source.  And of course he bounces right back and I, in my old age, am debilitated.  We managed to venture out to ECFE and went for a walk around the lake today, but yesterday I had to cancel all my appointments and both of my rehearsals.  This is one of those rare cases when I am actually glad I am sick now and not next week (when the kids are in final rehearsals for Stations) or in a few weeks (when Sound of Music opens).  So I am taking this as a blessing and as another reminder of just how closely linked my health and my profession (performing arts) are.

In other news, we are switching to a monthly plan with our chiropractor so I will get to go get an adjustment every week!

Current Projects

As the weather gets warmer, I am getting busier! I am thankful, however, to have such an abundance of projects, so you won't find me complaining.

Had a rehearsal today for the Living Stations of the Cross production that I am directing again this year for Presentation of Mary.  This year's 8th graders seem up to the task and I have no doubt we will have another success.  I am relieved to have a little more time this year to put it all together.  A bit of stress as performance day approaches is inevitable nonetheless.

Tonight I'm off to rehearsal for Sound of Music at Lakeshore Players Theatre.  I have been pleasantly surprised by my character, Baroness Elsa Schraeder.