Current.

I’ve just returned from visiting with friends this weekend. It was great; it had been way too long since I last saw them. Now comes the unpacking part. I think in the last 2 weeks I’ve actually filled all the pieces in my luggage set.

My brother moved to Brooklyn yesterday. He’s interning at Mishka NYC this summer, working on some of their advertising campaigns. Boy, the kids do grow up fast.

Now that I’ll be home for a bit, I need to catch up on what’s been going on in the world. There are news feeds to read, emails to write, and I’m really eager to start editing a big bunch of photos and video clips I shot this weekend. I also haven’t picked up the cello in ages and have been feeling a wee-bit cranky over it. On the down-side, I had a bit of a run in with persons of the undesirable sort this weekend, too, but maybe I’ll save that for another rant. I’ve got better things to do.

Why playing the cello ROCKS…literally.

The following video, titled A Cello Rondo, was performed and produced by Ethan Winer, a wonderful cellist. There are 37 cello parts–from the main melody to the percussion–and each is performed using only the cello. The video is fun to watch, but even better is Mr. Winer’s creativity and style. Hats off to him and his crew for an enjoyable performance!

Catching Up

Hi folks, sorry for the extended absence. I’ve been feeling more introspective than usual lately, which means a lot of fast and furious scribbling in my written journal but not much on the blog. I also managed to catch a yucky cold last week, and that has slowed down the mental progress a wee bit While I go sip on some homemade chicken soup, here’s a quick recap of what’s been going on:

• During a visit to my advisor’s office a few weeks ago, we concluded that I can graduate in December!!! Woo hoo! I’m really excited and much of my attention has been absorbed with what comes next. My future prospects seem limitless, as deciding on what to do is both liberating and daunting. Being about the business of a having a career that has meaning and purpose is important to me. This begs the question, what exactly do I want? And how do I fit that into a reasonable goal? All circumstances point towards being absolutely clear on the answer and not being afraid of going after it. I predict more entries on this subject will follow.
• In my last entry I wrote about big plans for volunteering at the local hospital, but so far nothing has happened on that front. I had an interview last week Friday with the volunteer coordinator, but wrote it into my calendar as happening THIS Friday (doh!). I didn’t realize the discrepency until last Friday when I was in an airplane cruising at about 35,000+ feet above and a couple thousand miles east of Denver. Oops. Fortunately for me, the coordinator was very understanding and has re-scheduled my interview for two weeks hence. Whew.
• I’ve broken down and decided to purchase a car. I’ve been in Colorado for a little over 4 years without one, but the time has come. My schedule is so tight nowadays that the additional 4 or 5 hours I’ll save by driving to work/school a few days a week instead of riding the bus will be wonderful. This means more time at the gym, playing the cello or doing whatever else makes me happy and sane Ahhhh, sigh of soothing relief.
• A little over a week ago I had the pleasure of visiting the Stiles African-American Heritage Center in the Four Points area of Denver. It was an amazing visit, and I am eager to return and foster a closer relationship with its founder, Ms. Grace Stiles, and her community. I also made a quick tour of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library just 2 blocks away and was blown away by the rich history of the Four Points area. I regret that I’ve lived in the area for so long and have not connected with the community–and now, I’m preparing to leave it! I have the wild idea of interviewing several members of the Four Points business community and making a documentary as a testament to their acheivements and as a record of my experience there.
• Another tip of the hat goes to Denver for a wonderful spot in town called the Mercury Cafe (thanks Micah!). The decor, wine and food were awesome! I highly recommend the place to anyone who is looking for an eclectic, subdued dining atmosphere.
• Due to popular demand…well, okay, just one person’s comments (smile)…I’m working on adding a book review page to this blog. I’ve had the pleasure of reading several really good books lately, many as selections from a couple of book clubs I belong to. Stay tuned for that.

That’s it for now. I’m so happy to see the sun shining bright in Colorado again, so I’m gonna go out to get some fresh air. Have a wonderful day, everyone!

It’s Over.

The semester is over. Whew. I experienced my first restful, full night of sleep in days on Wednesday night. We’re talking peaceful, solid, deep rest. I’m feelin’ good.

I also feel happy about the feedback I got from a professor I came to really admire during the semester. When I mentioned to him that I considered enrolling in one of his advanced classes next year he told me, “My class always has a seat open for students of your caliber. Please come and fill it.” I was really pleased to hear that.

For right now, I’m off to find other noble pursuits, like practicing on my cello!

My Wonderful Cello…

I have fallen in love with my cello. My very first cello. It’s been mine for about 4 hours now (I brought it home from the luthier’s shop today) and I can’t stop looking at it. And picking it up. And wiping away the dust that accumulates on it every few minutes. It’s a Knilling 4/4 solid wood, with a beautiful, deep walnut-brown finish. The sound is amazing and I love playing on it, which totally makes up for the fact that I can’t grow long fingernails anymore. Ha ha!

L’Incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea)

Last night, I saw Central City Opera‘s production of The Coronation of Poppea (written by Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi in 1642, directed by Ken Cazan). It was very good! This was my first visit to the House, and I was really pleased by the size and sound of the place. It’s small, and therefore intimate and fun. The company players were fantastic, as the production was presented more as a play than a standard opera. The acting (facial expressions, body language) was good, and the voices even better. The leading male voices (Amore, Nerone, Ottone) were written in the castrati style, and it was really interesting to hear. The political and social dynamics of power, usually associated with masculinity and deep, thunderous voices, are turned upside down by the high, feminine sound of the castrati voice. The irony goes deeper, even, when one considers that all the power of Rome was handed to one woman, Poppea, because of Nero’s unyielding lust for her. It is very clear that Love (Amore) is ruler of the day. Ultimately, to make room for Poppea as his new bride, Nero exiles his wife, Octavia (Ottavia), who in an especially powerful scene sings farewell to her family, her friends, and her country. “A-A-A-Addio…” she laments from a broken and defeated heart.

During opera notes before the show, I learned that this opera is one of the earliest written in the Italian Baroque era, within about 50 years of opera’s first appearance in Italy. The orchestra (conducted by Nicholas Kraemer) featured period instruments, such as the lute and, of particular interest to me, the viola de gamba, or “viol of the leg”, which looks like the cello. The name “viol of the leg” was given to distinguish these instruments from the aesthetically similar, but distantly related, viola da braccia family, or “viol of the arm”, which we know today as the violin group of instruments (violin, viola, cello and double bass). The gamba instruments come in various sizes, just like members of the violin family, but are all played while being held upright and typically have six or seven strings.

Overall this performance experience was a delight (two thumbs up)! Cheers to Central City Opera for putting on a great show.

Hello world!

So cliche! But yes, hello world. My name is Kim and I come in peace…oh wait, wrong speech. Hold on a sec… Hello world. My name is Kim and I am new to the whole blog thing. It took me hours just to choose this page design, but now I think it’s cool. I’m a college student, so naturally I am in constant search of new and interesting distractions. Like the opera. Tomorrow, I’m going to the opera. Or playing the cello, which I’ve just begun taking lessons on. I also LOVE to dance and watch sci-fi movies. Well, not at the same time, of course. And don’t get me started on wine. I bottled a case of the homemade variety for the first time last weekend. Fantastic. Anyways, there are a lot of things to do and see from where I’m standing. So, here we go!