Dear Readers & Singers,
If you want to live in a place that has the best people in the world, you need to come to Alaska. I don't know if I've ever lived anywhere else that the sense of community and "hell, we're all in this together" spirit is so alive and thriving. Sure, I've heard it said it's because we have to look out for each other in this harsh environment, but....maybe all this looking out for each other has evolved into really being wonderful people in general. So yes, I'd advise you all to move to a place where you could get buried in a snowdrift and freeze to death before anyone found you!
OK, I'm just joking, but here are a few people that need the 1st Annual Awesome Alaskan Awards:
Janet Stotts -- if you have never been to an Alaska Childrens Choir performance...YOU SHOULD. Period. I was so honored to narrate their winter concerts this past weekend and let me tell you, their conductor Janet Stotts has really done something amazing with these "kids". I say "kids" because in fact they range from 5-18 and would hate to have all those 18 year olds mad at me for calling them kids. :) Anyone looking over their handbook can see the level of commitment and professionalism required to be a member of the Choir...they are just fantastic and so inspiring!!!!
Jenna Hensley -- So sweet!!! Jenna is a returnee to Alaska and just opened up her voice studio in the same building as my studio. It's so nice, first of all, to have fellow singers in the building, and secondly, to have such a nice one! Anyways, Jenna wrote a super sweet post on her own blog about my dress rehearsal for the Anchorage Civic Orchestra. It's people like Jenna that help me to remember the important things. Oh, and if you need voice lessons, go see her!!!
Stephanie Long -- A great and wonderful friend. I just want to include her because of the great "review" she gave me. You know, the "critics" aka "experts" may think they know what's what, but just once....JUST ONCE...I wish that they would take some audience opinions. Sometimes their collars are so tight that they can't see the joy and happiness on the faces around them. Yeah...maybe my German wasn't perfect...and yeah, maybe I botched that scale...and yeah, maybe I missed an entrance or the strings were out of tune or whatever! WHO GIVES A FLYING FART IN SPACE!?!?!?!
I prefer to go by this review (hope you don't mind Steph!):
You were great last night. I always enjoy hearing you perform, and last night was very fun! You looked amazing (as always), I was thinking, I bet Steve is thinking to himself how blessed he is to be with you.
I'm not exactly savvy in what is supposed to sound which way, etc., but I liked the song with the choir the best - especially the amens at the end, and I have heard you perform the German song before (with the laughing) and I LOVE it every time I hear it.
Anyway, that's my review! I know you'll cut it out and paste it alongside the ones you get from the ADN! :) BTW, I saw you in the paper yesterday AGAIN. WTH?? You're always in the paper! :)
Love,
Steph
So there you have it. A great bunch of Awesome Alaskans. Honorable Mention definetely goes to Beth Balen for successfully conducting her first performance of Handel's Messiah last weekend. I had to mention her because I will never forget -- cross my heart I will not ever forget -- her expression at the end of the performance. It was like, "Holy shitake mushrooms I can't believe that actually worked! Now what do I do?". I thought we would have to help her down from the podium and give her mouth-to-mouth...it was so great. But Beth, did you really doubt that it would all be ok?!?!?! :) You were fantastic and a super nice conductor (especially with the likes of Diva Keene around) and we believed in you whole-heartedly!!! Congratulations on achieving your lifelong dream!
Here is a link to some pics from this performance: Messiah Pics
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