A big thank you to everyone who came to my recital last Friday! I think the program was very well received, and the variety was fun for the performers and the audience! A particular success for me was staying in character for "What is this Feeling"--always a challenge because I have to pretend to be mad at my wonderful friend Amber! I don't know how many times we cracked each other up during the rehearsal process, but fortunately there's nothing like an audience to help keep you focused! David Chavannes and I have so much fun with Poulenc's "La courte paille," with it's playful changes of mood and tempo. And I feel like my relationship with Fleming's "Confession Stone" is just beginning...I hope this piece can be in my repertoire for many, many years to come!

My recital is just 8 days away, so my life is very full of practicing! I'm really excited about the dramatic depth of Robert Fleming's "Confession Stone," which follows the life of Christ through the eyes of his mother, Mary. I haven't experienced motherhood myself, so I am drawing on memories of my younger brothers and cousins to put myself into her life. Fleming's setting is a particular challenge because there are frequent changes of tempo and dynamics within an otherwise simple texture. There are also places throughout the cycle that allow for rhythmic freedom and rubato, which is fantastic as a performer but also places a significant responsibility on the shoulders of David and myself. I'm excited for the performance but also glad to have a little more time to refine everything!