A Little Break

What a whirlwind Holiday season! I performed heavily with a cappella group DeCantus at some really fun venues like the Albertville Outlet Mall and the Centennial Lakes Office Park.  Surprisingly, I was not scheduled much this season at Presentation of Mary, so once my gigs with DeCantus were finished about a week before Christmas, I found myself with lots of free time for the first holiday season in memory! I took the opportunity to enjoy some traditions with my son: decorating the tree, baking cookies, and preparing a list for Santa. We celebrated with both families again this year and the food and festivities were not lacking!

I enjoyed the break, but am itching to jump back into a new project.  I'll be auditioning for a show, I've popped back up on the cantor schedule, and I'll be making another effort this Spring to keep the website updated, do some marketing, and see what I can do to get out there more as a performer.

I love to collaborate, and if anyone is looking for another voice to liven up their act, do a duet, or use for backup if you can't take a gig, I'm interested!

Hoping 2012 is full of growth and pleasant surprises!

Still Plugging Away

Rehearsals for the Holiday Season with DeCantus are in full swing.  In fact, we are only four weeks out from our Holiday Concert, which will be open to the public. (More details to follow) 

I hosted a rehearsal for all 15 members this week in my tiny St. Paul house. We squeezed and all fit! Lola (my dog) loved the attention once I finally let her in to see everyone. Veteran members brought skirts and other costume pieces so the newbies had a better idea of what to wear.  I had my fitting for my skirt and the final stiches will be sewn this weekend.  I still need to solve the problem of aquiring a heavy cloak for outdoor performances.  Not sure if I'll be able to borrow or what.  Regardless, I will be layering! Going to have to trek out to Fleet Farm eventually to pick up some thermals.  I'm sure my husband will try to convince me to go ice fishing once I have them. We'll see...

I'm still cantoring and singing with the quartet at Presentation.  We had kind of an off-weekend last Sunday.  I received a text from our director/tenor/accompanist at 4:30 that morning that his wife had gone into labor and we would be on our own.  Our flutist stepped in to accompany, and we did what we could. I'm sure the congregation understood, but I am always dissappointed when I can't perform my best. I'm hoping we can make it up to everyone the next time we sing in November.

I'm finding a lot of my time is being spent as a mom lately, which is wonderful, but I will need to carve out some time in the near future to update my repertoire on this website as well as get a recent recording up.  I have some tidbits that were recorded live, but this old computer I'm working with doesn't have the software I need in order to edit the tracks and post them.  I'm sure there is a solution.  The trick is making it a priority.

The new translation of the Mass is looming near and will be in effect this Advent season.  I'm anxious to get my hands on the new text and specifically the new Mass parts.  I do take my job as Cantor seriously, and I want to be prepared to lead the congregation.  I just joined a 5-week Bible study that focuses on the Mass and the new translation which I can attend while my son is in school. I'm hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the Mass.  I look forward to this journey.

Meanwhile, is anyone else already tired of rehearsing Christmas carols?

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?

New Opportunity

I had an audition on Saturday that I felt pretty good about for a cappella group DeCantus. Especially having just had sinus surgery a week and a half earlier and having woken up with a migraine that morning, I thought it went well.

Apparently it went VERY well because I've been asked to join as mezzo for their holiday season! There are three people for each part, so I will be dividing gigs with my two fellow mezzos. They have about 45 songs in their repertoire (for this season) that I will need to learn (not memorize), and I will need to acquire and construct some Victorian caroling garb. They provide a pattern and material for the skirt so, does anyone know a good seamstress? My grandmother taught me to sew, but without a machine I'm pretty limited to buttons and hems. I have three rehearsals with just the newbies, then full group rehearsals start September 13th. I've got a lot of music to digest before then.

Attempted Improvements

We set up the sound system to record the funeral this morning to aid me in my attempt to get some updated sample tracks to use for this website.  Something went wonky and it only picked up my microphone and not the instrument mic that was setup to record the piano and organ.  So, if anyone wants to hear my a cappella version of On Eagles Wings... (you really don't).

We'll do better next time.

In the meantime, I need to sit down and actually order those business cards that I keep telling myself I need to get.  Maybe next time someone compliments me on my performance, I can casually slip them a business card.  Girl's gotta make a living, right?  Need to be careful of appropriate business-card-giving moments.  After a funeral? Probably not.  Working with a new accompanist?  Definitely!

I think the trick to getting jobs in this business is referrals.  I mean, we all want to work with people we know, and barring that, we want to work with people whom the people we know know, you know?

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Blessed

After Mass today, a parishioner approached me, squeezed my hand, and said, "Hun, let me tell you... Hearing your voice was the most wonderful thing I've ever heard in my life." She looked like she'd had a long life.

Once again I'm reminded just how blessed I am to have this talent and what a privilege it is to be able to share it with others and bring them joy. While I'd like to be able to make a living by singing and performing, this is ultimately why I do what I do. This is what brings me life.

May we all find renewed joy in our artistic endeavors.

A Good, Good Friday

Occasionally when singing at church, I get an opportunity to reflect upon the importance of music in worship services.  It's easy to get complacent or to unintentionally shift focus from the celebration of the Mass to the performance of the cantor.  When you have a particularly complimentary congregation, or a song that you know will really show off your voice, sometimes you slip into performance mode and forget that as Cantor you are responsible for leading the people in worship.  It's not because of any great ego (though there is certainly no shortage of that among musicians in general), but perhaps you sense the great power of your position.  The Mass is driven by ritual and tradition.  Certain texts spoken at certain times by certain people.  Traditionally as Cantor, you have the responsibility of proclaiming the Responsorial Psalm and leading the congregation in the responses (e.i. Sanctus, Angus Dei, etc.).

Performance Day Arrives!

Tomorrow are the two performances of the Living Stations of the Cross by the 8th graders that I have been directing.  The kids have really come around and are display more maturity and focus.  In other news, we have now broken TWO crosses during the last weeks of rehearsal and are still trying to find a final solution.  The problem is that we need a cross light enough for an 8th grader to carry, stable enough to lift up an 8th grader, but strong enough not to split when dropped 3 times onto a tile floor.  Our first cross which we used last year (and also split last year) was reinforced with bolts and screws, but split the entire length last week anyway.  The second split right through the middle.  So we are awaiting a solution that will last through the two performances tomorrow.  We will need to address this for next year, but at this point I just want to get through tomorrow!

Challenges of Redesign

While I am confident that this year's Living Stations of the Cross will turn out just fine, I have been feeling more stress as we get closer to our performance date.  Somehow, going into this, I had assumed that because I had directed this the year before, it would simply be a matter of plugging the new actors into the same characters and blocking and that it would be a calm experience for everyone involved.  I am learning, however, that even though you directed a show once, IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME SHOW in subsequent attempts.

Now granted, part of the stress is stemming from the fact that my expectation of just plugging people into an existing vehicle was inherently flawed and unrealistic.

Secondly, I THOUGHT I had remembered my blocking from last year, but find myself having to go back and change things to accommodate unforeseen complications.

Another Opportunity

Was asked to fill in at the last minute as a judge in the school's Solo Contest tomorrow. I was a sub last year as well. They have it set up like American Idol with three judges who each give critiques after each performance. It's always nice to hear budding talent. These students, whatever their skill level, have been practicing hard for this. It's important when judging at this level, to be supportive and constructive. I remember the many supportive teachers and judges I had in my formative years. I would like to think I have been granted an opportunity to return the favor.

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.