Annah's Junior Recital

 Annah is a junior (actually, with all her credits she is officially a senior) Vocal Performance major at SIUe, and gave her junior recital tonight. What an honor it was to be in her audience and see and hear her incredible performance. She has worked so hard through a really ridiculous and difficult few years, and it was such joy to experience her performance!!!

Annah's voice teacher, Dr. T, gave a lovely introduction about Annah. She has been the best blessing about Annah transferring to SIUe and changing her major to performance. She is a phenomenal teacher and support to Annah, and we are so thankful Annah gets to study with her!

The recital was in Abbott Auditorium in the library on campus, which is such a nice place to sing!

Annah wore the lovely dress I wore in her Uncle Travis' and Aunt Erin's wedding in 2001 along with a sparkly taupe shawl I crocheted that happened to match it perfectly. She looked so beautiful!

Annah's accompanist, Nancy Mayo is a fabulous professional, who Annah says is amazing to work with. Annah's was about the 18th recital she has accompanied in the past few weeks, and I heard her talking about accompanying violinists and flautists on the convocation recital this morning. I think SIUe keeps her very busy, so Annah is extra grateful to be able to work with her.

I can't even express how it felt to experience Annah's performance. Of course, she made me think of performing my own recitals 20+ years ago, and even sang one of the same pieces and studies out of many of the books I used in college. I also know how hard she had to work to pull off a performance like this, with such difficult music. 

Really, though, I am just in awe of how much her voice has grown while studying with Dr. T. these last 2 years. She sang with such control, expression, confidence, precision, clarity, and beauty. She was truly absolutely incredible. 

Annah's program was very difficult and included four languages. Her coloratura work on the Handel was so clean and lovely. Her German has really gotten good, and I loved the Schubert set. I did four pieces by Debussy on my senior recital at Capital, and I hold that as kind of a pride point that they're probably the most difficult thing I ever performed. Annah sang all six of the Debussy Ariettes oubliees, and she made them seem effortless! I was not familiar with Ricky Ian Gordon, but her final set was so touching and the perfect way to end her recital. It was all I could do not to sob with tears streaming down my face the entire time, but I couldn't see if I let the tears come and I was recording video and didn't want to be heard sniffling on it! Dr. T. told Annah afterwards that she had given a graduate level recital, and I wholeheartedly agree. She was incredible.

FaceTime Cello Recital

Sylvia's teacher, Dr. Ransom, has kept up lessons via FaceTime during the COVID19 shelter-in-place order, and today she hosted an end-of-semester FaceTime recital for her students. 

It was quite a bit less nerve-wracking than a recital in-person, I think.

 Sylvia played Bach, which I love to hear.  I just cried watching and listening to her, thinking of all the things she has missed out on these past couple months.  

I'm so glad Dr. R made sure this recital happened. 

I just love to watch and listen to Sylvia play. 

Cello Recital

After such a difficult semester with her wrist tendonitis injury, and so many months of not being able to play cello, it was such a pleasure to see and hear Sylvia play in recital tonight! 

Gram and Krampa were here too!

Dr. Ransom and her husband started the "Friends and Family" recital program off with a sweet and lovely duet of Smile by Charlie Chaplin.

Sylvia played the Allegro from Concerto in B-flat Major by L. Boccherini. It is an incredibly difficult piece, a lot of which is played in thumb position.  Over-practicing this piece is how Sylvia developed tendonitis, and she was afraid she wouldn't get to perform it. When she was in occupational therapy, she wasn't allowed to play at all for a couple months, then it was very limited as she started to ease back into it.  She has only had 2 lessons with Dr. Ransom since returning to playing, and Dr. Ransom has been so pleased with Sylvia's recovery and return to playing. It is an answer to so many prayers that Sylvia was able to perform at all, and even this piece, tonight!

So proud of our girl!!!

Violin Recital

Annah played in her teacher Sharon Chung's studio recital today at Presser Hall at IWU.  Sharon had all of her students line up to make sure their violins were well-tuned before the recital.

 As Annah was waiting in line, I looked over the recital program and noticed she was performing at the end. A wave of emotion washed over me, as I realized she was the "big kid" now--not the little one playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  She caught me crying as she came back down off the stage.  I just don't know how it happened so quickly.

(She was just this kid...!!!)

Annah had a lovely performance. It took some convincing to get her to play on the recital today, as she has had SO much going on lately, and exams are this coming week. She said preparing for a recital is stressful, but once her teacher told her she could play the same piece she played for solo/ensemble contest, she decided to do it.  I am so glad she played!!!  She said she was too, and that she had fun!  She amazes me.

Sharon and all her students who played today

Sharon is a wonderful teacher, and Annah really enjoys her lessons with her.

Though I sure don't play perfectly, or even all that well sometimes, I'm so grateful Annah still wants me to accompany her.  I'm incredibly thankful for the blessing of making music together.

Cello Duet

Sylvia played a Vivaldi cello duet with Ava today on the ISU School for the Fine Arts Recital.  They did a lovely job, and I was honored to accompany them!

Violin Recital

Annah's private violin teacher, Sharon Chung, held a studio recital recital today! It was the first of Sharon's recitals that Annah has been able to play on, and it was held in the beautiful Westbrook Auditorium in Presser Hall at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Sharon, tuning her students' violins to the piano on stage before there recital...

The idea of the recital just came up a couple weeks ago, and Annah wasn't sure she could prepare the piece she was working on by this time, with everything else she has going on for the end of the school year. So, Sharon had her pull out a piece they had worked on last fall, and Annah was more at ease about performing that.  

We just decided on Monday that I would accompany her.  It was so nice to rehearse and perform together.  We've come to the point where Annah and Sylvia are both playing challenging music on their string instruments, and it's not so easy for me to accompany them.  Or, at least, I don't play their pieces as well as I'd like to be able to.  But, it makes me feel so honored that they still want me to play for/with them.

VIDEO:

I think Annah had a lovely performance!

Sharon and Annah, after the recital

We are so grateful to Sharon for her patience with Annah's busy schedule, and especially for the skills she is helping Annah create!  She is a fantastic teacher!

Cello Recital

Sylvia played a solo in the ISU Community School for the Arts Spring Semester Student Recital today, and did a fabulous job.

While Annah and Caeden stayed at church for Beacon Youth Band lunch and rehearsal, Sylvia requested lunch at Moe's.  Jeremy met us there and bought.  Then Sylvia and I went to Kemp Hall to get ready and warm up in the performance space.  We found seats on the front row, while [you can almost see] Jeremy and G'ma Sandi sat in the top row way behind us.

Sylvia asked me to accompany her.  I am definitely not as good as the graduate assistant who would have accompanied her otherwise, but she really wanted to have practice time with me on her piece.  I'm so glad she asked me to play for her.  I didn't play perfectly, but she played so very well, and we had a good time rehearsing and performing together.  

Most importantly, Sylvia was happy with her performance.

I am incredibly proud of Sylvia for her hard work and love of playing her cello!

After we talked with Jeremy and G'ma Sandi following the recital, the hall had cleared, so I asked Sylvia for a quick picture on stage with her cello.  She looked really beautiful today.

As I looked back at this photo, it made me think of the song I sang for Sylvia at her baby dedication, Beautiful Little Girl, by Cheri Keaggy.

Beautiful little girl, discovering all the world.
I wonder what she'll be, will she take after her Daddy or me?
Careful to hold her hand, and help her to understand
how much we love her so and how much we'd like to help her to grow...

Into a woman who loves her Maker and who knows what she's living for,
so that nothing can harm or take her from You.
For a woman who loves her Maker has a quality you can see
that will certainly mold and shape her into the woman she's meant to be.

Beautiful little child adorning a lovely smile, eager to learn to fly.
There's almost nothing she wouldn't try.
Lord help us do our part to give her a Godly start.
Teach her what she must learn and guide her until she's ready to turn...

Into a woman who loves her Maker and who knows what she's living for
so that nothing can harm or take her from You.
For a woman who loves her Maker has a quality you can see,
that will certainly mold and shape her into the woman she's meant to be.

Beautiful little girl discovering all the world.
I wonder what she'll be, serving her Maker faithfully.

After the recital, Dr. Ransom complimented and encouraged Sylvia about how beautifully she played.  She also said it is really fun to watch the two of us play together, and that we look like twins.  When I watch the video back, I can see that we do move with the music in a similar way.  It is such a blessing to make music with my girl!

And, I am so thankful for Dr. Ransom's wonderful instruction and care for Sylvia!  

We were tired this morning, but not too tired for pictures at church.

Jeremy bought this jacket for the girls to share, and it is just so 1980's to me!  

They both look really cute in it.

Sassy Sylvia

We love our friend Marissa!!!

This afternoon, some of Dr. Ransom's private cello students and her family played a recital at the Blair House in Normal.  

The residents who attended were very appreciative.

String Project Recital

Sylvia played her cello in the String Project solo recital this evening.  

She did a lovely job.  It was also the first time she's had an accompanist other than me, and she was fortunate to have a great one.  I myself couldn't play the piece; I'm just not cut out for Saint-Saens.  

Always super proud of this girl!

String Project Recital

This beautiful girl played her cello in the String Project Solo Recital this evening!  

Can I just say how proud I am of her?!  Sylvia did what I think would be one of the most nerve-wracking things in the [junior high] world this week!  Last week, when Dr. R suggested she try to play her piece by memory for an "audience" before the recital, Sylvia asked her band director if she could play in class.  Mr. M allowed her to play at the beginning of band on Monday morning, and Mr. R brought in all of his study hall to listen too.  That included most of the junior high kids.  I really can't think of anything that would be more scary than playing in front of the very peers who criticize, tease, bully, and pretty much mentally and emotionally torment you every day!  I think she was so brave to do it!  

As she would tell you, she was very nervous, and it wasn't her best performance ever.  But, she did it!  She did play well, and she made it through the piece by memory!  And, excepting one envious girl who decided to give an unsolicited and uneducated critique of every moment of Sylvia's performance, Sylv said she received several nice comments and compliments throughout the day on Monday from  kids.  I told her that if she could play in front of all her junior high peers at school, the recital would be a piece of cake in comparison.  She agreed.

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The String Project recital includes elementary and junior high string players who are private students of String Project teachers. Most of those teachers are ISU music majors--some working on bachelor's degrees, some master's.  Sylvia is fortunate to study cello with Dr. R, who is the director of the String Project program. 

I was happy for the privilege to accompany Sylvia on her piece again.  While no one who performed this evening would say they felt they had a perfect performance, we were so glad Sylvia played confidently.  I think she did a great job!

VIDEO: Danse Rustique

After the recital, Sylvia wanted pictures with her cello friends.  Her friend Yvin's little brother wanted to be in the pictures too!  So, Caeden was very happy to jump in so we could get a picture with both little brothers.

Sylvia and Yvin are so glad to have become good friends through String Project!

The girls convinced their fellow cello friend Sidney to join the pictures, and Dr. R hopped in too! Such talented and wonderful cellists and people!

I can't even explain how thankful I am for Dr. R, for String Project, for these friends, and for Sylvia's cello playing experiences!  Seriously, Jesus and her cello are getting her through 7th grade!  

"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered." - Psalm 71:23

Honors and items of the week

'Tis the season

Annah put the colored lights and garlands on the upstairs Christmas tree last week, and lights in the kids' rooms.  Caeden and Sylvia finished decorating the tree with all our favorite ornaments. We just love the glow of the lights at night! Annah and Caeden like to have the lights on while they fall asleep, but Sylvia does not--She says it keeps her awake.  So, I turn them off when I go to bed.

It did take me a while, but I finally got our real tree decorated too.  It looks basically the same every year, but I love it.  The past couple years I have waited too long to look for tinsel icicles, but went to Walmart and looked and looked until I found them tucked in one box among the Christmas decorations. They were only $.78/box, so I bought 10 boxes and will have enough for the tree for the next 4 years too! I know I'm weird, but I think the tinsel really makes the tree come alive because it moves when people are in the room (just from the breeze of people moving around) and the reflection of the lights. I think the tinsel icicles complete our Christmas tree.

On Wednesday evening, Sylvia played on the String Project recital. She played Chanson Triste, which is a Tchaikovsky piece written in tenor clef. (Click this link if you want an explanation of tenor clef. I didn't even know what it was until I learned it while studying music in college!)  

Sylvia's teacher has been telling the other cellists how great she has been doing, and I think Sylvia may have felt a bit of pressure from them.  She played with great expression, but did have a memory slip-up. She stopped and asked her teacher where to start, got back on track and finished well.  She was pretty upset, but her teacher came up to her right away after the recital and told her, "You played so beautifully!" Another lady (I'm not sure if she was a musician, a parent of someone else who played, or why she was attending the recital.) also told Sylvia that she really enjoyed her performance because she played with such expression, and she could tell from the moment she sat down that she really loves to play. 

I am really proud of Sylvia for playing such a difficult piece, for learning and making great progress on her instrument, for continuing after a mistake, and most of all for making beautiful music (not just playing notes).

We found out Friday afternoon that she was chosen to play her piece again on the honors recital in January.  She was surprised, but is really excited to have another chance to perform the piece.

We really like having the house decorated for Christmas.  This year I added lights to the garland on the mantel.

Jeremy brought home leftover Dunkin' Donuts coffee the same night I bought egg nog.  It's going to be a gooooooood coffee week!  

I saw this collage on Facebook and just cracked up and had to share it!  We love Monsters Inc, and always laugh at the character Roz and mimic her voice.  The thought of Trump as Roz is just too hilarious... "I'm watching you Wazowski, always watching!"

This evening, I dropped Annah off at 4:30 for her violin lesson, Sylvia off at the CPA at 4:45 for rehearsal before her concert, and Caeden and I went back to wait for Annah to finish her lesson.  We read in the car, and he was not happy when I surprised him with a selfie. 

We went to get Jeremy at work, and he took us to El Porton (BEST Mexican food in town!!!!) for supper.  As he sat down, an eagle landed on his head!

It drives Jeremy crazy hanging in its traditional spot on the kitchen door, but the cookie sheet advent calendar I made 8 years ago is up and counting us down to Christmas.

Caeden was scheduled to wrestle in the Fisher tournament today, but had a really upset stomach last night and was white as a ghost during Sylvia's concert.  He still wasn't feeling well this morning when Jeremy was getting ready to go coach his team in the tournament, so he stayed home.  He finished his book and tried to take it easy all day.

Caeden and Sylvia and I tried the new game that Krampa and Gram gave the kids for Christmas.  We played a Christmas song version, and decided Spontuneous is pretty fun.

 I bought a spritz maker a few days ago to make some for the church Christmas open house, and Sylvia spent a few hours today making Spritz cookies to take to her friends at school. 

Now that his first concert is over, it's time to get the drumsticks out!