Where they are now: Heather and Jen

So, our last blog post was about our photo session in Vermont.  Since then what have we been up to?  Well, we thought a quick update was in order.  First, you should know that we have been faithfully meeting every week over the phone and internet.  There is much chatting and catching up but then we always move onto more official topics.  We have been interviewing composers so you all can get to know them better (look for those blogs coming up).  We have set up a twitter account (which you can also look for soon).

Heather

After our photo session I (Heather) went up to Canada to visit with my family for a few weeks.  I spent a great deal of time swimming (at least a kilometer a day—for a conversion to check here) and reading.  I read a number of fun books and the one that was my favorite was Northanger Abby thus, completing my project of reading all of Jane Austen’s novels (A project I started to redeem myself from the embarrassing Twilight binge of 2009).  Another book from my reading list that I would recommend to others was The Patron Saint of Liars, by Anne Patchett.

Eventually it was time for my husband and I to pack up and head back to Montana.  We visited the Corn Palace  in Mitchell South Dakota as well as Wall Drug, in Wall South Dakota.  Now I am back in Montana, teaching piano and voice.

I am currently sitting in rehearsal for Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” (I am playing Mrs. Nordstrom one of the Liebeslieder singers).  I am also working on Herbert Howell’s Requiem for the All Souls Concert with Musikanten Montana and a recital for January (Rameau, Brahms, Poulenc, Rachmaninoff).  I am also very excited about Diagenesis’ upcoming concert (news soon).

Jen

Let’s see… after our photo session I pretty much spent all of my time packing! I’ve moved from Boston to beautiful San Diego. It’s really that beautiful, people aren’t exaggerating.  My boyfriend, Tim, moved out with me and we decided the best way to do it was to drive.  We had SO MUCH fun seeing all of the landscape and great cities like Chicago and Denver – highly recommend.

Since moving, I’ve started the Contemporary Performance Doctoral program at University of California in San Diego. They are incredibly generous here (offering technology, scholarship, travel grants, and more) and so very reasonable. I’m very excited to start studying with Charles Curtis and to work with all of the great students and faculty here.

I’m also spending a lot of time on another blog (I know, betrayal – I’m sorry) about interior design, which is another passion of mine. My blog is insideways.com and I’ve had a lot of fun connecting with other bloggers, learning html (a little), and taking tons of pictures of pretty stuff in my apartment.

Musically, I’m working on Beethoven’s Op.69 cello sonata, Dallapiccola’s Ciaccone, Intermezzo, and Adagio for solo cello, Feldman’s Between Categories,  Saariaho’s Mirage, and two pieces by new grad student composers here. Then there’s the new Diagenesis music that’s just coming in. I. am. PUMPED. about it! I can’t wait for you to e-meet the composers via our interviews and music meet them at our concerts!  It’s going to be a fabulous season for Diagenesis.