salience
August 18, 2010
My cousin Teresa sent me pictures tonight of her two daughters. One just turned two, the other is a few months old. So hard to believe how fast they are both growing! And did I mention they're positively adorable?
August 17, 2010
This past weekend, Ry and I headed down to Atlanta to see Sarah and Pradeep (two dear high school (clarinet) friends of mine) tie the knot. We are also lucky enough to see my parents too while we were there, even if for only briefly.
As expected, Sarah's wedding was full of very personal touches she had done herself. Not only did she do all of her printed materials (invites, programs and menus), but she also hand decorated the reception table centerpieces herself (by punching out millions of green flowers and then hot gluing them to each branch), and she painted two separate paintings. One was a mini canvas instructing how to sign her "guest book" and the other was a larger canvas where she had painted a tree. She had then cut out about 120 cloth leaves in green for the guests to sign and then pin the the painting. What a great idea!
This wedding also acted a high school reunion, I got to see so many faces whom I hadn't seen in years! (Except for those who made it to Peter's wedding last October.) I can't describe the feeling of us all coming together again: we are still very much the same, despite so much having happened since we graduated forever ago. Plus, Sarah's parents, the Strangs, were both as sweet and enthusiastic as could be. Everywhere I turned I heard, "Mariaaaaa!!!" I am so glad we went!
And now, some pictures:
As expected, Sarah's wedding was full of very personal touches she had done herself. Not only did she do all of her printed materials (invites, programs and menus), but she also hand decorated the reception table centerpieces herself (by punching out millions of green flowers and then hot gluing them to each branch), and she painted two separate paintings. One was a mini canvas instructing how to sign her "guest book" and the other was a larger canvas where she had painted a tree. She had then cut out about 120 cloth leaves in green for the guests to sign and then pin the the painting. What a great idea!
This wedding also acted a high school reunion, I got to see so many faces whom I hadn't seen in years! (Except for those who made it to Peter's wedding last October.) I can't describe the feeling of us all coming together again: we are still very much the same, despite so much having happened since we graduated forever ago. Plus, Sarah's parents, the Strangs, were both as sweet and enthusiastic as could be. Everywhere I turned I heard, "Mariaaaaa!!!" I am so glad we went!
And now, some pictures:
August 10, 2010
Columbia Summer Winds' 2010 season has ended! And with quite the flourish too: we did three concerts, one rehearsal and one recording session in the span of 10 days! Now I have about a month off from playing until Manhattan Wind Ensemble rehearsals start up for our show in November.
A list of pictures from our last three shows.
First up, our history-making performance at the Central Park BandShell (where wind band music hadn't been performed since the 1980's!). Initially we were worried that we wouldn't be able to fit all 80+ musicians up on stage, but we managed to make it work. Also, we raced against an oncoming storm to finish our show, but we did it!
Next up, our Riverside Park concert at the 116th Street Overlook. We were racing against a storm clock for this show too, don't let the sunny outset fool you. We only got through about the first 5 pieces before having to pack up. Being right on the Hudson River, the wind/sheets of rain came on quickly from the West and it was a mad dash for those of us on load crew (and our not-so-happy volunteered additions, thanks Ry!) to get everything packed up in a hurry.
(Oh the Hugh-Manatee, aka the CSW Load Crew Mascot.)
Our final and most popular performance (for the second year in a row) of the season: on the Bryant Park Fountain Terrace behind the NYC Public Library just East of Times Square.
Andy, our Music Director below, was getting married to a flutist he'd been dating for 7 years (they met when he first took over the group) the following week. As a surprise, we set up a renegade coup right before our last number (Stars and Stripes). We emailed each section the first round of the Mendelssohn Wedding March transcribed by one of our Associate Conductors from a midi recording. Everyone printed their parts at home before our last show and brought them to the performance. With no rehearsal at all, when Andy cued Stars and Stripes, we took Mendelssohn at the same tempo and you've never seen a more bewildered look! Needless to say it was a big hit!
Load crew!
Karrie and I, still going strong from our Milton days.
A list of pictures from our last three shows.
First up, our history-making performance at the Central Park BandShell (where wind band music hadn't been performed since the 1980's!). Initially we were worried that we wouldn't be able to fit all 80+ musicians up on stage, but we managed to make it work. Also, we raced against an oncoming storm to finish our show, but we did it!
Next up, our Riverside Park concert at the 116th Street Overlook. We were racing against a storm clock for this show too, don't let the sunny outset fool you. We only got through about the first 5 pieces before having to pack up. Being right on the Hudson River, the wind/sheets of rain came on quickly from the West and it was a mad dash for those of us on load crew (and our not-so-happy volunteered additions, thanks Ry!) to get everything packed up in a hurry.
(Oh the Hugh-Manatee, aka the CSW Load Crew Mascot.)
Our final and most popular performance (for the second year in a row) of the season: on the Bryant Park Fountain Terrace behind the NYC Public Library just East of Times Square.
Andy, our Music Director below, was getting married to a flutist he'd been dating for 7 years (they met when he first took over the group) the following week. As a surprise, we set up a renegade coup right before our last number (Stars and Stripes). We emailed each section the first round of the Mendelssohn Wedding March transcribed by one of our Associate Conductors from a midi recording. Everyone printed their parts at home before our last show and brought them to the performance. With no rehearsal at all, when Andy cued Stars and Stripes, we took Mendelssohn at the same tempo and you've never seen a more bewildered look! Needless to say it was a big hit!
Load crew!
Karrie and I, still going strong from our Milton days.
