Sometimes we really need to just run through things, over and OVER. This is part 2 of this video from early February.
These kids are AMAZING. One of the highlights of my trip to Denmark.
I am finally in Austin rehearsing with Conspirare for our upcoming trip to Copenhagen, Denmark. I am LOVING it. Everything about it is just so inspiring: the repertoire, the friends, Craig Hella Johnson, charming Austin, etc.
I just love the way CHJ speaks about music. He has an incredible way of explaining musical concepts and ideas with images. The images are so diverse and descriptive, and he manages to come up with them on the spot! I started writing some of them down in rehearsal, so here is my collected list. I’m sure there will be many more to come before our trip is over! (And probably many of these won’t make sense out of context, but they are still really interesting!)
“Like a duck under your heel.”
“Like standing at the [ballet] bar, doing your leg lifts.”
“Sing one duple per pigeon.”
“Just beautiful only.”
“It’s good, anyone would buy it, but let’s make it better.”
“The way you’re singing - it’s an interesting color, but I’m not sure what purpose it serves in this moment.”
“Up in the cheekbones.”
“More sexy Arabian.”
“The energy isn’t just here [pointing to his belly], it’s all around us, and we get it from each other, too.”
“Like the full Berlin Philharmonic cello section.”
“Sing it with no beard.”
“Like a marionette theatre.”
“Cotton ball weight.”
“Like cotton balls, but right in time.”
“The inner workings of a Swiss clock.”
First, the summer began with Houston Grand Opera’s “Opera to Go!” performances of Sleeping Beauty. Our three-and-a-half month run of shows ended mid-June.
Photo set of production photos
YouTube video
On June 8, I put together a service of music at my church, Ecclesia. It was great to be able to lead in worship there. I also created a multidisciplinary work called “Pulse” that we performed in the service, including my music and poetry, a short film, a dancer, an actress, and full band. Photographer extraordinaire Thomas Campbell documented the event for me.
Photo set from Ecclesia service
Before leaving Houston, I managed to schedule a photo shoot with a great photographer in Houston. His name is Robby Homes and I was so lucky to get on his schedule.
Photo shoot by Robby Holmes
In mid-June, I hopped a plane to Phoenix and met up with my dad and brother for trip to Colorado and Utah. We explored the areas around Four Corners, including Durango and Arches National Park.
Photo set from Colorado and Utah
Next, I managed to rush back to Houston for a few days to spend time with Abby. I <3 Abby. 
I have spent the past three weeks here at the Oregon Bach Festival. It’s be a great experience singing great music with great musicians: St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion, B Minor Mass, and Haydn’s Heiligmesse. Working with Helmut Rilling is really a very special experience - he’s an incredible musician. And we also got to do a concert with Garrison Keillor of “Prairie Home Companion.” I am about to leave right now to go perform our final performance of the St. Matthew Passion.
Here’s a video of me singing a part of the St. John Passion
It’s also really beautiful here in Oregon! I’ve had the chance to visit the Oregon coast and some other pretty places.
Photo set from the Oregon Bach Festival
Tomorrow I go back to Houston for a couple days before heading off to Denmark with Conspirare!
Member of the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and Orchestra are showing their support for presidential candidate Barack Obama with T-shirts that say “Baroque” Obama.
:: My blog has been severely ignored as of late! So much has been going on. My summer of travels and adventures will surely put me back on the blogosphere. ::
Each summer, I like to post an outline of my plans for summer travels, performing, and general activities. Because I live in Houston, Texas - the home of crazy furnace hotness - I do whatever possible to leave during the hottest months of summer. Here’s the breakdown of this summer’s intinerary.
1. On June 13, I finished my final commitment with HGO “Opera to Go!” and got on a plane that evening to Phoenix, Arizona.
2. From Phoenix, I drove with my dad and brother to spend a week in the Four Corners region for some outdoor time and family bonding. We stayed in Durango, Colorado and went hiking, spelunking, and horseback riding and took a steam train to Silverton, Colorado. We also visited the ancient cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde and camped in Moab, Utah. The last part of the trip was some hiking and exploring in Arches National Park in Utah. The trip was incredible! I have posted a whole photoset on Flickr. Click here to see my pictures.
3. After a brief trip back to Houston, I hopped a plane to Eugene, Oregon. I am now currently spending 3 weeks singing at the Oregon Bach Festival. I am singing in the wonderful Festival Chorus, under the direction of Kathy Romey. I also just found out today that I will be doing a little bit of solo work as well in the Bach St. John Passion, which is exciting.
4 . After I finish here in Oregon, I will make another brief trip back to Houston before I spend some time singing again with Conspirare. This time, our group will be traveling to Copenhagen, Denmark as a participant in the World Symposium on Choral Music. We will present a couple concerts at the festival, as well as interacting with choirs from all over the world.
5. After returning to Houston from Denmark, I will have a couple weeks to pack up my apartment and get ready for my move to Phoenix, Arizona. This fall, I will begin a Doctorate of Music with a concentration in Interdisciplinary Digital Media and Performance at Arizona State University.
6. But before I actually make the move to Phoenix, I will travel with Abby and her family for some beach time at Jekyll Island, off the coast of Georgia. I will then spend a few days in Austin, Texas for some more rehearsals with Conspirare in preparation for our next concerts coming up in the fall. Then finally I will actually drive out to Phoenix to get relocated.
Whew! I am really excited about this summer!
Wow, there’s a lot going on! I have a whole list sitting here on my desk of things to blog about. Coming soon!
Here’s a few things that are feeding my brain/soul/inner self lately:
*”I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument while the song I came to sing remains unsung.”
- Rabindranath Tagore
*Truth
Poem by Michael S. Glaser
Truth is as mysterious as God.
and as sacred.
It sustains and kills.
It is always dangerous.
* This video on YouTube. When I watch this video and receive this information as it is presented, it makes me feel like a very small part of a massive world. If you are curious about how our crazy world works, you should see this video.
*”Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
- Leo Tolstoy
*Going to an Astro’s game tonight at the invite of my N. Then the following conversation over ice cream. Among many great moments from the evening, I told him a story about something that happened to me and he said, “I know what you mean. It’s like being at some crazy awful party and then the CD skips and everybody says, ‘Hey, what the @#$%&!?’”
* This clip from the movie “Enchanted” just makes me laugh.
Houston Grand Opera’s contribution to the 2008 Houston Art Car Parade. That’s Liam Bonner sitting inside the mouth singing!
