Hooray for grad school.
I forgot about this blog.
Busy semester.
Updating because
I've got a paper to write.
Then I will be done.
Productivity?
Facebook, YouTube, reading blogs.
Procrastination.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
There is no such beauty as where you belong
It's been a busy month since I moved up to Toronto. I've been slowly settling into my new apartment. I've also been doing a lot of reading, reviewing, and studying for grad school.
I wanted to get as much sight-seeing in before the semester started. Since I've been to Toronto many times, I skipped the usual spots, like going up the CN Tower and wandering through Casa Loma. I arrived just in time for Buskerfest and the Toronto Chinatown Festival. Buskerfest is a fair of street performers (carnival acts, musicians, magicians, etc.). My favorite acts were the fire performers, like FlameOz and Liqueur Flambé (violin duo who literally play with fire). I also enjoyed the aerial performances of Suspended Animation Circus, who used a giant helium balloon to hang above the crowd. The Chinatown Festival offered great food and lots of erhu players scattered along the street. That's also where I met John Finley Gilliamson, my new roommate.
I'm doing my best to take advantage of my current car-lessness. I've been doing a ton of walking around, and treated myself to a new pair of snazzy running shoes. I've also been trying out classes at different gyms, and found a Spinning class that I absolutely love... it just kicks my butt. I'm gonna stick with the Spinning, but I'm glad that the U of T Athletic Center is included in my tuition & fees, because fitness is really expensive here!
I saw this sign walking around downtown. I have a feeling that it wouldn't be called a Philly Cheesesteak if it originated in Toronto. Sorry!
My colleague and I spent an afternoon exploring the Toronto Islands. The ferry is neat, but a little pricy. The beaches and parks were lovely, and the water was declared fit for swimming, although I doubt I'll have much time for that.
We also tried poutine, french fries covered with brown gravy and cheese curds. It's really popular in Canada, but I don't think I'll be ordering it anymore.
This week, I spent a lot of time observing choir auditions. I love hearing the many different voices that make up choirs, and this was a perfect opportunity for that. It helped that I wasn't the one who had to sight-read!
I'm a little nervous, but very excited to start classes on Monday. As of now, it seems as though I only have classes THREE DAYS A WEEK! I have a feeling that the other four days will be spend doing a lot of work for those three days of classes.
Cheers!
 |
| My new "home" for the next two years. |
I wanted to get as much sight-seeing in before the semester started. Since I've been to Toronto many times, I skipped the usual spots, like going up the CN Tower and wandering through Casa Loma. I arrived just in time for Buskerfest and the Toronto Chinatown Festival. Buskerfest is a fair of street performers (carnival acts, musicians, magicians, etc.). My favorite acts were the fire performers, like FlameOz and Liqueur Flambé (violin duo who literally play with fire). I also enjoyed the aerial performances of Suspended Animation Circus, who used a giant helium balloon to hang above the crowd. The Chinatown Festival offered great food and lots of erhu players scattered along the street. That's also where I met John Finley Gilliamson, my new roommate.
 |
| John Finley Gilliamson |
 |
| JFG talking to the snail in his tank |
I'm doing my best to take advantage of my current car-lessness. I've been doing a ton of walking around, and treated myself to a new pair of snazzy running shoes. I've also been trying out classes at different gyms, and found a Spinning class that I absolutely love... it just kicks my butt. I'm gonna stick with the Spinning, but I'm glad that the U of T Athletic Center is included in my tuition & fees, because fitness is really expensive here!
 |
| Cute and comfortable, I'm content. |
I saw this sign walking around downtown. I have a feeling that it wouldn't be called a Philly Cheesesteak if it originated in Toronto. Sorry!
 |
| I don't think so... |
 |
| A view of the ferry dock at Ward's Island, with the CN Tower and Toronto skyline in the background. |
We also tried poutine, french fries covered with brown gravy and cheese curds. It's really popular in Canada, but I don't think I'll be ordering it anymore.
 |
| Poutine. A picture is worth 1,000 words, none of them very pleasant. |
This week, I spent a lot of time observing choir auditions. I love hearing the many different voices that make up choirs, and this was a perfect opportunity for that. It helped that I wasn't the one who had to sight-read!
 |
| Auditionee's viewpoint, sans adjudicators |
I'm a little nervous, but very excited to start classes on Monday. As of now, it seems as though I only have classes THREE DAYS A WEEK! I have a feeling that the other four days will be spend doing a lot of work for those three days of classes.
Cheers!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
A New Horizon
What a fantastic day! We finished loading the vans and took off, only to turn around 10 minutes later. The "Service Engine Soon" light came on in the van I was driving, so we took it to the mechanic to have it fixed. An hour and a half later, plus a Taco Bell stop, we were back on the road, determined to get to Canada! Oddly enough, the engine light came back on right away, but we decided to take our chances.
We had heard lots of stories about crossing the border, and so we did our best to be prepared. We itemized and appraised everything we were going to take over the border. We weren't sure if they'd make us take everything out of the vans to check our cargo, but thank goodness that they didn't! I wasn't nervous, since we were very careful to only bring things that are legal in Canada, but it would have been a lot of work! The Border Guards, Immigration Officer, and Customs Officials were all very nice to us.
Despite some late rush-hour traffic approaching Toronto, we quickly made it to the apartment building and I was handed my keys! It only took us about 2 hours to move everything from the vans into a second floor apartment! I'm so grateful for all of the hard work and sacrifices that my family has made for this to even be possible for me.
It's hot and my whole body hurts from sitting in a car for 6 hours then doing a ton of intense heavy lifting. I am so ready for bed!
I'll post pictures soon of the new apartment as we start organizing it.
Cheers!
We had heard lots of stories about crossing the border, and so we did our best to be prepared. We itemized and appraised everything we were going to take over the border. We weren't sure if they'd make us take everything out of the vans to check our cargo, but thank goodness that they didn't! I wasn't nervous, since we were very careful to only bring things that are legal in Canada, but it would have been a lot of work! The Border Guards, Immigration Officer, and Customs Officials were all very nice to us.
Despite some late rush-hour traffic approaching Toronto, we quickly made it to the apartment building and I was handed my keys! It only took us about 2 hours to move everything from the vans into a second floor apartment! I'm so grateful for all of the hard work and sacrifices that my family has made for this to even be possible for me.
It's hot and my whole body hurts from sitting in a car for 6 hours then doing a ton of intense heavy lifting. I am so ready for bed!
I'll post pictures soon of the new apartment as we start organizing it.
Cheers!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Leaving the note that he hoped would say more
I just returned from the final walk-though of my apartment. My parents, little brother, and I cleaned it so thoroughly that no damage or repair fees will be taken from my security deposit! Having turned in the keys and signed the last few papers, I am no longer a resident of New Jersey.
My apartment, May 2010
I thought I'd take a moment to reflect a little on my time in New Jersey, and some of the places I went while at Westminster.
Freshman year
September 2006
September 2006
My first trip to the Jersey Shore
Ocean City, NJ, March 2007
Chapel Choir
2006-2007
2006-2007
Bell Choir at Mount Rushmore
South Dakota, May 2007
Christmas with the Conductors
December 2007
December 2007
Schola Cantorum tours the Southeast Coast
March 2008
March 2008
Mahler 2 with the New York Philharmonic
Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, NYC, December 2008
Giant tam-tam at the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra rehearsal
Hong Kong, January 2009
Very excited to see the SF Bay
Bell Choir National Tour, San Francisco, CA, May 2009
Riding the Kit Carson County Carousel, built ca. 1905
Bell Choir National Tour, Burlington, CO, May 2009
My best friend baked me a birthday cake, minus the baking!
21st Birthday, June 2009
Camp counselors singing
Lutkin's "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"
Lutkin's "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"
WCC Vocal Institute, July 2009
UUCP Vocal Quartet performing at
the Mid-Atlantic UU Homecoming
the Mid-Atlantic UU Homecoming
Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor, NJ, October 2009
Singing with UUCP's Adult and Children's Choirs
Channing Hall, December 2009
Dr. Megill conducting
Lutkin's "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"
WCC Commencement, Princeton University Chapel, May 2010
Gleeful graduates
WCC Commencement, Princeton University Chapel, May 2010
Last day of my final bell tour!
Stockbridge, MA, May 2010
Getting tackled by a happy camper
WCC Solo Vocal Artist Camp, June 2010
It was a lot of fun to dig through all of my old photographs to put together this timeline. I realized that I have tons of pictures, videos, and documents lurking deep in my hard drive. Once I get settled into my new apartment, I really need to go through and sort everything.
Cheers!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
In Medias Res
The purpose of this blog is to chronicle my experiences while studying in Canada. I am an American musician about to begin graduate study at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Over the next two years, I will be working towards a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting.
A little background information:
I just graduated from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. I earned a Bachelor of Music in Sacred Music, and had the opportunity to study with brilliant musicians, musicologists, conductors, voice pedagogues, hymnodists, and liturgists.
I had a lot of really awesome experiences at WCC. I performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, and Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center. I worked with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Staatskapelle Berlin, and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. I sang under the baton of Pierre Boulez, Kurt Mazur, Michael Tilson Thomas, Christoph Eschenbach, Mariss Jansons, Gilbert Kaplan, and Helmuth Rilling. As a member of the Westminster Concert Bell Choir, I toured most of the United States, appeared in a televised documentary, and can be heard on three CDs. I also had the opportunity to spend two weeks studying in Hong Kong with one of my favorite Westminster professors.
I spent this summer as the Head Counselor for WCC’s Middle and High School Summer Camps. I’ve been on the staff for four years, and even attended the camps for two summers. My experience as a camper convinced me that this was the right college for cultivating my musicianship and furthering my education. I feel so lucky to have gotten an opportunity to share Westminster with hundreds of young musicians.
While at Westminster, I worked at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, where over the course of four years I grew both as a musician and a person. As the Assistant Director of Music, I worked with the Handbell Choir, the Children’s Chorale, assisted with the Adult Choir, and interned with the Music Ministry Committee.
I’ll be updating regularly with photos, videos, and news of my exciting exploits in Canada.
Cheers!
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