First Festival

Great news!  I was asked to step in and conduct a high school festival.  For tomorrow.  Yikes!  But the good news is that the music is simple, singable, and many choirs will catch on quickly.  The music is fun, which means the day is going to be full of fun.

So, the story: I received a Facebook message from a former mentor who is now conducting at my alma mater.  She taught there on a three year stint when I was there and I was her assistant conductor my senior year.  I also met up with her when I lived in Arizona.  Needless to say, our paths cross often enough, usually for professional reasons.  I have always admired her both as a musician and as a person.  At any rate, she was supposed to lead a festival tomorrow, but is returning from a festival in Texas and her flight was delayed due to inclement weather.  She recommended me to the organizer of the festival as a person who might be able to jump in and do the festival.  So I gave him a call, and he indeed was scrambling to find someone.  So, I rearranged some plans for tomorrow and now I am heading north an hour to lead a high school festival for a day.

This will be my first festival, although I have adjudicated before.  I guess this is really happening- I have published an article, I will lead a festival.  And you know how I got here?  Sheer luck.  I happen to be in the right place at the right time or maybe I know a person who knows I'm around.  But no matter, I will capitalize on these opportunities.

On a side note: I e-mailed my professor about my absence tomorrow afternoon from choir.  We are within 10 rehearsals of a concert, so normally absences are unexcused no matter what.  However, it is for a professional reason.  I am a little nervous about his response and I feel pretty bad that I am missing (as a TA).  But how could I NOT take this opportunity?  Rehearsing a festival from noon to 5:30 and then perform in a 7:00 PM concert?  Not only is a great thing to put on my CV, but it sounds like fun.  So yes, a little nervous about his response, but I just couldn't imagine NOT taking this opportunity.

And my colleagues have stepped up to help cover a few things for me tomorrow.  And my friend Cara helped me piece together a bio for the program tomorrow.  And John cooked dinner and then cleaned up, even though it was my job, so I could prepare for tomorrow.  I am really pretty lucky to have such support.