Spring adventures in Europe

New Year's 2009 - I am the receiver of some great advice while celebrating the holiday in NYC with Marilyn. At a musician heavy party, I meet Keve Wilson, the oboist for Absolute Ensemble. She tells me about Kristjan Järvi's new project, The Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic. I immediately looked it up, auditioned, and have been now been traveling and learning with the ensemble for the past 5 years.

This spring, we went to Poland, Germany and France, and as usual, the tour challenged, inspired, and empowered me! I am so fortunate to be able to work with such an awesome group! 

Highlights included a residency at the PenKrzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Luslawice, Poland - a beautiful facility where we rehearsed and workshoped the music; an intamite chamber music show at a Prince's castle near Cologne, in which whiskey was had; and an exhilarating performance at the legendary Théâtre des Champs Elysées (the site of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring premiere!) 

To top of the musically enriching experience, I was so excited that Adam was able to meet us in Berlin half way through the tour. During our few hours free on the road, we were able to do a bit of site-seeting. Then, we stayed a extra few days in Paris to soak in the culture of the most romantic city in the world!