Samantha the Procrastinator

Okay. Let's be honest. I haven't posted in a million years, not because I haven't had time - because I have definitely had the time in the past couple of weeks - but because I am so far behind that I have been avoiding even trying to catch up. At this point, I think it is probably pointless to try to recall everything I wanted to write, so I'll just do a lightening-speed summary, missing about 80% of events.

I have officially completed year one of grad school. Seriously, where did the time go?! I feel like spring semester flew by in a flurry of stress and to-do lists. Recitative & Ornamentation class was definitely a cause of lost sleep...and only when I receive my grades this week will I know how well (or not) I fared.

My jury was quite the success, with many compliments on my "lovely dress." haha! Presentation certainly matters, but I was surprised by how many jurors wrote that on my comment sheets. Thanks, professors! :) I was frustrated with myself because I didn't feel I was sounding as good as I had just the few minutes before I walked into the recital hall. However, I have learned in the past few months that my own perception is not an accurate judgment, so I must rely simply on my technique to carry me through and the guided assurance of my fabulous teacher Jayne. :)

I wasn't really nervous. Instead, I was right there, fully in the moment, and a complete sense of poise and calm settled on me; I was in control of everything and knew I was exactly where and doing exactly what I am meant to be and do. That sounds totally cheesy. It is difficult to really explain it. I have actually had quite a lot of anxiety over the past six months about the reality of exactly what responsibility this career carries with it. It can be quite a lot of anxiety, but discovering this grounding has lessened this doubt. However, I definitely couldn't breathe that day. haha! I just kept saying in my head, "Why can't I breathe? These people don't make me nervous, but why can't I breathe? Where is my full, round breathing? Maybe my spanx are too tight..." haha! Yup. That's me! ;) I took some random breaths that weren't exactly anticipated, but I was forgiven. One of the great things about developing your technique is that you begin to learn how to manage "running out of breath" and think quickly on your feet as to where you can take a breath that is mandatory in the moment but without breaking up a word or phrase distastefully.

After the jury, Jayne and I hit the ground running recital planning! YAY! Needless to say, I am SOOO excited about the music I've chosen thus far! GAH! So good! All that I will say at the moment is that my program is full of "Samantha spunk." ;) And that I am currently collaborating with a composer friend, Vartan, to sing a set of his beautiful pieces for soprano, viola, and piano. What I am feeling about my program is exactly what I hoped I would find, since I have to spend A LOT of time with this music over the next year!

Other than that, the past few weeks have been goofing off, working some (in negotiations at the moment about summer work...), cleaning, recital-going, drinking some wine after said recitals, and a handful of random adventures. ;) My roommate is gone for now, so I've had the place to myself. Ah! I won't lie...I love it when that happens. (But unfortunately, Boston rent is so insanely expensive that I could never afford such bliss all the time!)

I signed up for the free trial of Netflix...I may be getting addicted. I am watching way too much Cheers. haha! Already on season three! Oh, goodness! It's just so funny. And now, I know where all these places are that they are talking about, so it's like I'm on the "in" crowd. hehe!

My assistantship has officially ended for the academic year. The concerts were this past Saturday.

Also, my friend Gaby and I went to the Boston Pops concert last week for the Streisand songbook. So fun! They are super good! (I wish I had made it to the opening night the week before when Bernadette Peters was in town! AH!) Ann Hampton Calloway was singing. What a DIVA! haha! It was a little ridiculous but somehow highly amusing. I can only imagine the requests that she made backstage about what type of water she'd drink, etc. Oh, goodness! However, Alan Bergman was also there...the little old man stole my heart! So adorable. And he was like 80-something and still could sing fairly well. I mean, he didn't have all the pitches and such, but his tone was still pretty warm and rich. He sang this song that he wrote and Barbra Streisand had recorded:



And now, I'm off to the countryside for a week! I fly in to the good ol' PA later this afternoon. Gonna hang out with a pretty sweet 3 1/2 -year old. ;) However, apparently, the "land of dial-up" is no more...the got hi-speed connection about about a month or two ago at home. WHAT?! No more do I get my escape from answering emails and "dropping off the earth" when I go home. So this will be interesting...

I'm actually not going straight home, either...the director of my community theater from "back in the day" has asked me to stop into their rehearsal this evening to talk to the kids...a little of Q&A of sorts, so I will be going straight there from the airport. They posted about my visit on Facebook and made me sound like a rock star that was coming into town! haha! Awesome! And a little ridiculous. Guess I'm in the "big leagues" now... ;)