Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Master classes and workshops in Sussex

MASTER CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN SUSSEX
What an amazing experience! I have learnt so much this last week and worked with some fantastic teachers and coaches such as Ameral Gunson, Penny MacKay, Richard Jackson, Delia Lindon, Andrew Robinson, Robin Martin - Oliver, Gregory Rose, Robin Bowman and Jonathan Hinden. The participants were such a nice bunch! Not only did we sing, but Monday night I experienced my first barn dance!
Our opera scene from Verdi’s Falstaff where I played Alice was a challenging but joyful experience. After our final performance at the end of the course it was also fantastic to get such positive feedback, not only for my stage presence but also for the quality of my voice, and believe it or not for my top register! This I can thank the yoga and Trager sessions for! In the beginning the thought of yoga at 7am in the morning without first having breakfast, was not a tempting thought. However as the week went by I grew to love it! This and my trager session helped me to discover a freedom in my voice that I have been working to achieve for such a long time. Now it is up to me to achieve this freedom and release on my own and to continue the work.
It was a week which gave me so much confidence, joy and even more love for music, if that is possible. I am so looking forward to all the challenges, projects, gigs and the unforeseeable future that lies ahead of me. I feel blessed and very lucky.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Sussex
Exiting times ahead! On Friday 17th of August I am off to Summer Music School in Sussex for a week 18th – 27th of August. I can’t wait to start working on the scene from Verdi’s Falstaff, the Mozart recitative class and the song classes. It is so much fun to learn new material and get new impulses especially from such excellent staff. I was also very lucky to be one of the people who received a scholarship and it was because of that scholarship that I am able to take part in the course. I have been preparing for this summer course not just by practicing my singing voice, but also by splashing around on the lovely lake “Selbusjøen” in our family kayak. Peaceful for the body and mind, you should try it! Had some fantastic weeks working as a guide at Ringve music museum and taking part in cruise concerts. Got to broaden my skills within the music instrument world and play some beautiful instruments, but also got to use some of my language skills such as German. In other words I have had a fantastic summer where I have met a lot of interesting and lovely people!
Apart from this John Mills and I had the fantastic news! Our concert tour in Holland has been confirmed, April 2007. I will tell you more about these concerts nearer the time.