Sweet moments and smiles...

Last night I was totally lame and spent my Friday night practicing and doing work. It was good, though. Very peaceful...and productive. I have been in such a fantastic mood! I wrote my essay for a study abroad scholarship application, got my passport-size photos done (for a sort of Hungarian student ID card), and got everything in order for my meetings with the international education lady and Dr. Mathias on Monday. I got to cross so much off my to-do list! Then I went and practiced, too! Choir has really been making my voice really "heavy" and unfocused (more than usual anyway), so last night I spent an hour or so working through it and trying my best to reverse it. For the most part, I succeeded and was sounding great! :) This morning, I awoke at 9am and feeling great. Did a little yoga and then started my music theory homework while watching some mindless television (did that last night, too). I had a make-up voice lesson today...or was supposed to anyway. Got an email and a phone call at about 11am asking if I could come at noon instead of 2pm, so I got ready quickly and headed over. However, they had an audition day for prospective music students today. I got to the conservatory with about ten minutes to warm up and then waited in the hall for Lynn. Well, they were running behind, so the last singer to audition was in her studio preparing with the accompanist. (Lynn is the chair of the voice dept., so they always use her studio. I remember being in there with the accompanist when I auditioned...oh, memories!) When they left, I went in because the door was still unlocked and made myself at home at the grand piano. I sang for about a half hour, and she still wasn't there. Then I just started goofing off at the piano. I cannot play very well, but I can muddle through some stuff. I pulled out the Robert Saari pieces again and played a little. Ah!! So gorgeous! And hauntingly so! It was so...ah!...I really do not think a word exists in the English language for the feeling. It was just...right...felt so right. Lynn finally came in at about a quarter to 1pm while I was playing parts of Rain has Fallen. I had a grand time playing around in the studio, but it was so wonderful to see Lynn. She just kind of looked at me and kept smiling. It was the whole "I'm going to Europe!" thing again (which by the way will not be getting old anytime soon!). We both giggled with excitement. :) I only ended up singing maybe seven minutes or so, but we rescheduled for during the week, and she also had me come back at 3pm because we were trying to decide between a few pieces for the NATS competition on April 12th. Again, I only sang a maybe ten minutes, but it was nice. We, of course, smiled and giggled with excitement about Europe. She gave me a big hug and said how proud and excited she was. She told me that it would be different around here while I'm away, but I told her not to worry....I'll be leaving little notes all the time (maybe even hide notes around the conservatory before I leave...hehe!). It'll be like I never left! Muahaha! Then she had to get home and see Mama Roseberry (please keep her in your prayers!). It was such a bittersweet moment. I keep smiling everytime I think back. Lynn's the best! It has certainly been quite a Saturday! It's been good. Yesterday, Dr. Ryan, my theory professor, I think found out for the first time officially that I am going to Hungary because he asked me about it later in the afternoon. It's kind of funny how he found out. Every time my friend Rachel and I see each other, we go through the whole "I'm going to Europe" spiel, and she has class with him right after I do, so... Dr. Ryan actually got to go for a week in the fall to visit. (Every year, a faculty member is chosen to go see the program in Hungary. Pretty sweet.) He was surprised to find out I am the only one going, but then again, everyone is when they hear that. I am not sure Lynn realizes that I'm on my own yet either. It is kind of sad that not more are going, but oh, well...they're the ones missing out on the experience of a lifetime! It shall be fabulous! I will be seeing where it all began...where the music I love and study was created...Ah! :)