The Fullness of Fall

It's September and vacation is over. I had another awesomely beautiful backpacking trip in the Sierras hiking out of Mineral King. This year we based camped at Little Five Lakes overlooking the magnificent Kaweah Mountain range. I literally spent hours watching the change of color on these mountains as it went from a clear gold in the early morning to an intense rose by the end of the day at sunset. Still... I'm glad to be back doing the work I love: music. Too much time alone and I crave human interaction and I miss being the center of attention once again - performing and leading my flock of singers & students. Arranging, composing, rehearsing, teaching, directing, planning, emailing, returning phone calls, booking gigs, multi tasking and generally just being a musician again. New choral arrangements have been chosen for the six (six!?) groups I regularly direct. And in addition to the usual six, I have also taken on two more new groups this fall. Yes, I know...I am completely nuts. 

#1 The Berkeley Broadway Singers, a mixed community chorus of 70 singers (while Ellen Hoffman takes a well deserved sabbatical). I will teach the music, prep the singers for their four concerts, and conduct them in the November shows. 
#2 Stagebridge, a senior theater company. I will be teaching songs from "Guys and Dolls" and collaborating with the drama and dance instructors. This 12 week workshop will culminate in a performance for the public of several scenes from the musical.  

So, copies of all the music have been made and organized. Piles of music are all over and everywhere in my studio. Voice parts have been reviewed, tricky spots noted, piano accompaniment practiced...and I am ready to go.

In between all this, I am excited to have a new venue in Sacramento called Savanna's where I will be performing and then in December I will be back at Anna's Jazz island in Berkeley.

What a life! I have a full fall.