Hello everyone!
Since the last Charleston post, it's been crazy over here with music related activities! I love that I get to do what I love, with people that I love, while traveling and seeing different parts of the world!
After Charleston, I flew straight to Cleveland to reunite with my Meadowlarks. This was our first season venturing into the world of chamber competitions, and we had 2 days to get ready for the biggest one in the United States, the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition!
Those two days were absolutely crazy. We had 2-3 coachings per day, and played 12+ hours a day with one another to try to get ready for the performances... After the 2 intense rehearsal days, we drove to South Bend, IN for the competition!
The absolute best part about Fischoff was the people we got to meet along the way. Not only did we get to play for the judges, but we also got to meet all of them afterwards for some feedback (and these judges are like... gods of the chamber music world). We also had the opportunity to share our love for each other, and for the music, with the incredibly receptive audience for the Fischoff soiree at the Sabato's house. The audience was so warm, and the hosts--the Sabato's--were seriously amazing! We are so glad to have met and have been 'adopted' by the humans, horses, dogs, and cat alike. We love our South Bend family!! =)
Another incredible thing happened at Fischoff that really touched our hearts, and that was the fact that Maureen and Roger came all the way from Chicago to cheer us on! We met them here in Boston because their nephew is Sam, the violist in my string trio, and I was so incredibly touched they came all the way out to Indiana to see us. They were like our adoptive parents for the weekend, and I can't tell you how comforting that was for us -- so many warm fuzzies all around! I can't wait to see them again in Boston when they come visit! =)
After the competition, we drove back to Cleveland and celebrated with some awesome food at L'Albatros!
wow.
People have always told me that Cleveland is a foodie city, and if more places like this exist, then I can totally get on board with what they mean! The burger, duck, and the pork belly salad were all. incredible.
After the whirlwind of a trip in the midwest, I flew back to Boston for a few days for the Phoenix Flight! I've mentioned before how I've been a part of this team getting the orchestra off of the ground for the past year, and it was so incredible to see this last concert of our first season come to fruition.
Of course, I love the concept, and I feel that I'm playing with some of the best musicians of our generation in this orchestra. The Boston Globe gave us a pretty rad review as well, and I'm excited to see where the next seasons will take us!
But again, my favorite part of the group is the people in the orchestra. I know, I know, I'm starting to sound like a broken record over here with my love for the peeps in my life, but what can I say, I'm surrounded by pretty awesome humans! I've known a few of the members in the orchestra for many years (like Matt, the conductor, and Christina, the bassoonist. We go waaayy back to our high school years). However, I've gotten to know even the folks I've met either at this concert or at the last one a little better, and I am just so happy to have the chance to play with all of them in Phoenix! Such amazing musicians with such big hearts =)
My favorite photo from the night with my stand partners, Zenas and Abby!
A few hours after the Phoenix Flight concert, I flew out to Houston for strictly personal reasons, and I left my violin behind for 2 days. I know, I know, it felt really weird to not touch my violin for the full 2 days I was in Houston, but the break was needed I think haha.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you're having a wonderful beginning of the week so far! I'll be back with a few Houston adventure posts soon! =)
--Janny
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