I Like Today

It is very cold and rainy today and it makes me feel like we actually have seasons here...of course that will all change when it gets hot again and it becomes apparent that we actually don't have seasons at all. But I will enjoy it while I can and carry my umbrella around and wear a sweatshirt (outside!!).

Some of you may know that I've been having some headache problems lately...things got better over the weekend and I've made some (temporary) lifestyle changes...no caffeine, no alcohol, and mostly organic food. It was very fun to go shopping at Central Market over the weekend searching out all the good organic stuff (although it is a little pricey...but whatever). I'm happy to be back in business and getting things done (since that didn't happen very much this past week). Last night was an apartment cleaning, so now everything is tidy and in its place and ready to go for the week...I should make it a tradition to always clean up on Sunday afternoon/evening...its makes getting up on Monday much easier.

I saw the University of Houston's production of The Breasts of Terisias (Poulenc) and Gianni Schicci (Puccini) yesterday. Both great operas and great production with lots of stunning performances from Eastman grads (featured as leads in both operas). Its always great seeing the operas there...they spare no expense and put on huge lavish productions.

Trio recital this Saturday at 8pm in Duncan...Brahms: Trio in B Major/Schumann: Trio in D Minor....you should be there!!!

Conference Over

So after three very intense days and weeks of planning, the Shepherd Careers Forum is at last over. It was pretty cool to see all of the people arrive and be really excited about everything and have fun and do work and play/watch concerts and have discussions etc... But three full days (two 7:30am starts) with minimal breaks has its wear on you. Rachael and my big project was getting all of the food picked out and catered, and according to everyone attending, the food was one of the highlights. So I guess we did good! We decided to switch to Starbuck's coffee at the last minute too...which was a huge hit...sidenote for people hosting a conference: get Starbucks coffee because everyone will go crazy over it (and they get to carry around little starbucks cups all day and feel special). Over all I think it was a pretty great success and people seems really happy and excited about it! Things would have been much more enjoyable if I didn't have a pounding headache for three days...which may or may not be sinus related...I'll try and go to the health services tomorrow. Hope I can get rid of it soon!

Hello

Its been some time since I posted...just haven't been feeling the blog lately...hmph...I have a busy couple of days right now...this weekend is the Shepherd Careers Forum: a few students from every major music school are coming to Rice this weekend and will be watching performances by the Chiara Quartet and 8th Blackbird...they will take what they have learned from these alternative performances (and lectures) and present their own performances on Sunday in randomly assigned groups. Rachael and I are the student coordinators and have been picking up some odds and ends. If you are in the Houston area you should definitely attend the events that are open to the public!

Shamleless Concert Plug

I'm performing both of the Carter Figments for solo cello tonight at 8pm in Duncan...I'm kind of near the end of the concert, so maybe plan on being there by 8:30 or 8:45? Hope you all can make it!

The Week in O(h)M(y)T(rill)

Its a new week here at OhMyTrill...and there are several things of note happening! First of all, a very close friend of Carrie Bean (she doesn't have a website, so I can't link to her...) is staying with me for a few days. He is taking a lesson with Mr. Fischer and will be hanging around until Thursday morning. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with him for 3 days, but maybe he'll just practice a lot...

Tonight there will be a chamber music concert with Lynn Harrell playing the second Brahms Viola Quintet (with the big cello solo at the beginning)...I haven't really gone to a lot of chamber concerts while I've been here, so I should really make that change...its tonight at 8pm in Duncan.

This Wednesday is the Fischer Studio Recital (at 8pm in Duncan)...yours truly will be performing both of the Carter Figments for Solo Cello...I think I have the first one pretty well down, but the second still has some kinks to be worked out...but its going MUCH better today than it ever has, so I have high hopes for it going well on Wednesday! I think there is some Dvorak and other stuff on the program too...so be there.

This weekend is orchestra concert time...Symphony Orchestra is playing Don Juan, Dvorak Carnival Overture and Beethoven 5 on Friday and Saturday...and yours truly is playing in the Chamber Orchestra on Sunday (look for me waaaaaaay in the back...bring binoculars if you can)...we are playing Ives: Three Places in New England, Mendelssohn: Piano Concert, and Mozart: Symphony No. 36

-OMT