Halfway there!

I've been in Toronto for the last week adjudicating the Kiwanis Music Festival, and have reached the halfway point with my one and only day off in the schedule. So far, I've ordered room service for breakfast, turned the computer on, and watched a few Olympic highlights. Before the end of of the day - I MIGHT actually leave my hotel room. Actually, a friend and I might visit the car show this afternoon, and find some big screen TVs to watch what is really a "Super Sunday" of Olympic hockey, and curling.

There is talk of a major snow storm hitting the Toronto area this week, which should make commuting to my venue a bit tricky, not to mention a schedule which will likely run late as a result of participants battling GTA traffic mixed with snowfall. Toronto has been without snow for much of this year - so even though the amount of snow is not usually worthy of concern - it is expected to be the worst storm of this season for the area.

Regular blogging to resume in early March.

Dusting off the blog

Over fifteen days since my last post - so I figured at the very least, a few updates on what's been happening in my life as of late. I have a few other post subjects brewing - so hopefully I can put them into words in the next few weeks. My apologies to my ChoralBlog contributors for my hiatus there, but I will be back soon!

The Heinrich Schütz concert I was blogging about in my last post was an incredible success, which now fulfills our commitment to mount two concerts in the 2009/10 season. At this point, we don't have plans to do another until the fall, although, most of the singers are pressuring us to do another in the spring. There is a slim chance of this - most likely it would be a small ensemble concert, or a quintet show of some kind. I plan to meet with my co-artistic director this week and see what is possible. It is a lot of work - but a heck of a lot of fun at the same time, and we are filling the void of early music in the city right now.

This week, something completely different. I'm singing in the chorus for two Edmonton Symphony concerts, featuring a reprise of John Estacio's "The Houses Stand Not Far Apart". Which, in my opinion, is one of the most exciting large scale choral/orchestra works written in the last decade - with much lasting potential. The second half of the program is Beethoven's Ninth. Quite an honour for John I think to be paired with this orchestral standard. However, I think that Beethoven would also be honoured.

Funny to think that in my 38 years, it is my first Beethoven Nine! This is my last year with Richard Eaton Singers, and although large symphonic choirs are not for everyone, I highly recommend that EVERYONE who plans to make a living in choral music should spend some time singing in one of these choirs. In the last five years, I have sung - Brahms Requiem, Verdi Requiem, Beethoven Nine, Elgar Dream of Gerontius and a few other works that can/should only be performed by a large choir. I also sang the ubiquitous Messiah performances and one St. John Passion, which purists would say should only be attempted by "period" sized ensembles. However, singing them in large choirs is kind of like riding a Moped - they are tons of fun - just don't tell your friends.

In a few weeks we'll be presenting our next concert with Da Camera Singers. An afternoon of music based on Love and Roses, suitably placed on February 14th. Trying to think up some creative marketing ideas, and perhaps some door prizes that might include chocolates, roses, wine, or all three (an a free Eulogies CD - after all, nothing says "love" like a CD about ... death!) A day after this concert, I fly to Toronto for two weeks to adjudicate some junior piano at Kiwanis. Should be a good time - yet, a lot of work, and ... a LOT of sonatinas. Look for a few blogs from my Fairmont hotel room in T.O. during that time.

Currently, I'm waiting at my house for UPS to arrive with our Amazon.ca shipment. Yes folks, we are finally getting Rock Band II for our Wii.

I'm a really really really good drummer.

Week one comes to a close

So far, it's been a great week here in Ottawa. The first full week of adjudicating is coming to a close tomorrow, and so far it's been pretty light. I've adjudicated all the choral classes this week, everything from junior choirs, through church choirs, through high school choirs and even small ensembles. Without going into too much detail, I've heard some GREAT choirs, particularly from the two art schools (one French and one English).

Tomorrow I'm adjudicating the pipe organ classes. I'm looking forward to it, but maybe slightly apprehensive. Organ was my first major, and I still play quite a bit, but I haven't been solely involved in organ playing for almost ten years now. To top it off, BOTH of my teachers from when I was living in Ottawa will be there tomorrow, and I'll likely be adjudicating their students. That's some pressure!

After that though, I get the rest of the day off, where I'll be going to this concert, and I'm really looking forward to it. Then the weekend off, and then six straight days of A LOT of junior piano classes to adjudicate!

Homeward Bound

After an extremely successful concert last night with the ESO and RES, in a program listed in this post I awoke at 3:45 am, had my caring, loving, and understanding wife drive me to the airport for a journey that had me changing planes in Winnipeg, and finally arriving in Ottawa for my two week stint adjudicating at the Kiwanis Music Festival, outlined in this post.

After a quick visit with my sister and her family, I arrived at my suite hotel, which is absolutely lovely, watched some Masters coverage, had a really deep afternoon nap, went to the adjudicators wine and cheese (which I would have missed completely if it weren't for a wake up call), and am now getting ready for an early night, as I start adjudicating choral classes tomorrow afternoon. I'm excited for the morning because my eldest niece is competing in a junior vocal class, and I finally get to hear her sing!

It should be an interesting week, especially as it is the festival where I grew up. I'll update my experiences in the adjudicator's trenches as the week goes on.

Last weekend of Winter - next season is Music Festival!

Adjudicators - get your stack of 0.7 mm pencils ready, start practicing your signature, and get your catch phrases of "Bravo! Musical Performance" or "A little slip here today, perhaps it was your nerves" ready - for the Kiwanians are getting their suits cleaned and their chalk boards washed for Festival Season!

This April will mark a very special music festival assignment for me. I've been asked to adjudicate at the Kiwanis Music Festival in Ottawa, Ontario, the city where I grew up, and did all my festival classes as a youngster. It will mark my first time back at the festival in many years, and my first time as an adjudicator, and not a contestant. I was asked to prepare a short letter for the program as a way of letting this year's competitors know what the festival meant for me, and why it is an important part of our musical education. I've reprinted it below.

The Music Festival has played an integral role in my musical education since I started taking music lessons nearly thirty years ago. By the time I was eight years old, I was registered in piano, voice and choral classes, and through the next twenty years I also found myself competing in ensembles, organ and trumpet. That I was able to get from one venue to the next on schedule is a miracle, and one for which I owe my parents a great deal of the credit! The month of April became known as “Festival Time”, and it became a way of life for our family. My parents made sure the appropriate letters excusing me from school so that I could compete were written and that my blazer was dry cleaned, shirt was pressed, and my red tie was knotted correctly.

As with any discipline, whether musical, athletic or academic, goal-setting is an important part of the process. I was very fortunate in having supportive parents and teachers who taught me the value of this experience. The festival was an opportunity to showcase the hard work and determination that I put into my daily practice. Not only was it a chance to perform in front of a live audience, but more importantly, it was an opportunity to perform for another teacher, and receive constructive feedback. Although it was always nice to be recognized with an award for the performances, this was always secondary to the experience and adjudication that I received, and the growth in my abilities that resulted.

I owe a great deal of my success as a professional musician to the skills I developed as a participant in the Festival. I was able to cultivate a strong stage presence, which not only increased my ability as a performer, but also as a public speaker, which is invaluable as a university lecturer and adjudicator. I was able to form friendships with other young musicians, many of which have turned into life-long relationships.

In the past ten years, I have experienced a different side of these festivals, as I’ve taken on the role of adjudicator. I receive so much joy from watching the rising stars who will shape the future of music and performance practice in Canada in the near future. And although you might think that performing for an adjudicator is reason to be nervous, just remember that every one of your adjudicators began just as you are now. Who knows? Maybe in ten or fifteen years’ time, you’ll be sitting where I am now.