How very good and pleasant
If you have never read Psalm 133, stop now and do so. I'll wait.
Go on...it's only three verses.
I had not spent much time with this particular song of David before this past Friday when it was used as part of an Ordination service. The text was set for guitar, solo and choir by a friend of mine who is, simply put, a phenomenal musician. I have spent the past four days reliving the strains and words from Friday evening. As I have done so, I believe I have come to grips with what has made this summer the most difficult I have ever experienced.
I spent the Spring semester in perhaps the closest community I have ever been in--16 of us experiencing a new place and a new culture together. And then to return "home" to a place nearly devoid of regular interaction with friends new and old. I am so ready for this new year. This final year. Just like the first time around, this is another opportunity to realize myself.
So bring on the papers and reading. Pile on the grad school and scholarship applications. Throw down the gauntlet of challenges. This will be a year of facing these things in the company of friends.
Traveling can be Hostel
So, I am back at it again. Looking for a hostel where I can crash for a night. My roommate has warned me against hostels in the US, but my new-found travel courage (thank you semester in Europe) says: go for it man! This trip, however, is not to any truly exotic place. Instead I am looking for a place to lay my head in Minneapolis. That's right, the Grad School Tour '07 has begun! First up, The U. For those of you who are not from MN, or haven't seen
Miracle, "The U" is the University of Minnesota, and it has quite the Choral Conducting program. I am hoping to drop by this Saturday, if they can accommodate me, to check out the place and talk with some folks.
And stay tuned Ithaca and Ann Arbor, the Tour is planning stops in your neighborhoods as well. Who knows, Seattle, you may get lucky too.
All of this, however, is merely prep work for the back-up plan. Option 1 is a Fulbright Grant to the Hochschule für Musik "Hans Eisler" in Berlin. A year with Prof. Dr. Weigle, the artistic director of the Berliner Philharmonikerchor and former artistic director of the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker is the top plan. However, this requires a knock-out application and quite a bit of luck. We'll see how it goes.
For now, it is back to my friends at hostelworld.com and expedia.com. Who will win the rights to be the official airline of Grad School Tour '07? Guess you'll have to check back later.
Bis dann.
