Vox Humana Concerts

I was asked to play in a quartet accompanying a women's ensemble called Vox Humana.  It's a Saratoga Springs group that branched off when the Saratoga Springs Community Orchestra was established.  I thought the singing was really great, and it was fun to play in a quartet.  It's been awhile.  

We had two concerts.  The first was at a creche festival in Eagle Mountain, and the second was at the Assembly Hall in Temple Square.  Marcus and I made that one a date night so he could come watch :)

It was a fun Christmasy night with great lights and music.

ISSI with Chase

The Suzuki music world is awesome in Utah.  There are lots of great teachers and students, and they have a big Institute every year.  Some amazing teachers were there, including Pam (my teacher from NYC) and Carey Beth Hockett (a big group class teacher I had met in CT).  I really felt lucky to live close enough to go.

On the final day, I took Chase with me to the final concert.  Kate was playing in it, so we thought we'd get her some flowers first.

Of course Chase had other ideas...

In the blurry mess, you can see Kate and Pam

Chase did a great job trying to listen and not be too loud

Afterwards we went out for lunch at his favorite place... McDonalds.  And we took silly pictures.

It was a great day!  Suzuki + Chase.

Carnegie Hall

The main reason Marcus was relocated in May instead of January was this incredible opportunity I (selfishly) wasn't willing to give up.  My students at The Suzuki Music School of Westport (& Orange) had a concert at Carnegie Hall!  I had been looking forward to it for so long that I can't believe it is already over. 

Ticket for the CT Young Artists Concert

I took the train to the concert (as opposed to the big chartered buses coming from Connecticut)

Then we all entered through the stage doors

Our schedule

Students arriving

Tuning

Cellists

Most of the beginning/intermediate cellists (my private students are the three little ones up front)

With two of my younger students

The youngest cellist at the concert!

The group on stage - I'm the cellist facing the kids on the lower left

After the concert, outside Carnegie Hall with my dad

And with Marcus

The kids heading home

My dad, Marcus, and I took the train home by way of frozen yogurt

And Marcus had pretty flowers waiting too

What a fantastic event - so proud of all of the students!

Rehearsal

Before our big Carnegie Hall concert, we had a big Carnegie Hall rehearsal in Westport.  Lots of kids, lots of instruments, lots of music.  

Connecticut

One of the schools I teach at is called the Suzuki Music School of Westport and is located in Westport, Connecticut.  It is a really beautiful town -- makes the long commute a little nicer.  When we got the date for the concert, I thought it would be fun to have Marcus and Chase come out and see the school and the city.  Plus I normally only go from the train station directly to the school, so I've never made it downtown at all.  We were able to make the trip happen thanks to some great friends (with a car).   

We decided to make a day of it and drive out to Westport in the morning, have lunch downtown, and attend the concert.  It was a really nice trip, especially if you ignore the fact that once again, Chase puked in the car...  

Marcus really enjoyed being by the water and had fun taking pictures with his camera.

It was pretty chilly!

Check it out, an open Crumbs!  Of course we went in :)

The concert was technically in Southport, a short drive from the music school.  It was at a church there that is almost 300 years old.  It was beautiful inside and out.  Chase particularly loved... exploring.

Watching from the balcony

I had four students playing in the recital.  In between Chase's shenanigans, Marcus was able to snap pictures of three of them.  The only one missing here is Elysse, who rocked Tarantella!

Ebba is just learning to play Twinkle -- we did a duet

Jasmine played Rigadoon, accompanied by her mom on violin

Tomaso played Breval

Right after the concert we had to head back to the city.  Marcus had a Priesthood meeting before Stake Conference.  We didn't have much time to spare, but the drive was also beautiful.  It was hard to get a good picture of it while we were moving.  The trees were all kinds of amazing fall colors.  It's amazing how different it looks just an hour away.

And then we were back in the Concrete Jungle...