TBSI

A bit awkward being away from work since I am "in training" for part of the management team, but as always in my life, musical commitments take first priority. I'm sad that I won't be going to Germany again this summer - but not devestated. As I've said to many people (who didn't really understand what I meant), I said my goodbyes last year knowing that I probably wouldn't be going back. I'm excited for my friends who will be Mozart-ing this year and I'm sure they will have an awesome time.

Last Wednesday I was at Pickering Town Centre (yeah... how many of you even know WHERE that is?!) working with a team made up of girls from all over the region to help them open a new store, and at the same time move another store into the old store's space. It required no less than a complete battle strategy but the new store looked perfect, and was ready to open one full day ahead of schedule!

Of course that left me completely exhausted and I also missed the first day of the TBSI (Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute). It has been an interesting experience for me, and I still say it's too early for me to give any comments on the program as a whole. A lot of people have been asking me "How are you finding it? Is it really intense?" and my reply is very straightforward. It's very focused (which is a great thing), but no more intense than any other music program I've done before. I do like that this one is a bit more multi-disciplinary: solo masterclasses, choral works, small vocal and instrumental ensembles, opera workshops, baroque dance class. All of these elements compliment each other nicely.

There is one element that bothers me, and it has nothing to do with the programming at all. For every other program I've ever done - OYC, NYC or FES, I've always been physically and mentally displaced. I've been in new cities, countries, with new people in completely new environments. With the TBSI, it's in my city, in my faculty of music, I know all of the staff and a good number of the participants are friends of mine already, and most of the repertoire I've sung before - so there is nothing "new" about this. In fact, considering that I'm commuting from home, it feels like I'm going to school -__-"

Today we had our first class with Jeanette Zingg and we learned the Minuet and Sarabande. It's probably been my favourite element of the program so far.

What I'm Listening To Right Now: Mendelssohn's Elias Oratorium