Wow! Labor Day already passed? When did this happen?.. I remember the summers of my childhood were endless, hot (nope, we didn’t have air conditioning back in 70s), curtains and windows closed to escape the heat, always a book in my hands. Vacationing on the Black Sea with the family, nothing would get us kids out of that filthy water, it was too hot! Tons of jellyfish. Beach treats. And swimming lessons from my family; being dropped into the water at the end of the pier (without a life vest!) and trying to swim back to the beach. They’d say, “If you start drowning we will get you, don’t you worry!” I hope my violin lessons are NOT like that, ha-ha-ha…
Now summers fly by faster and faster, isn't it a very bizarre sensation? We were just about to get used to a rather reasonable pace of life, and fall is making you hop from one thing to another. Augh, and awe, the life of a musician…
Welcome to the new school year, and the new concert season, everyone! Welcome to a bunch of competitions, masterclasses, workshops, recitals, and orchestra projects. The heat is still going strong but once in a while we wake up to a very long-awaited breeze of a fresh air, and yes, rain. I can’t wait for the fall, my favorite season with its vivid colors and crisp air (no early snow, please!)
It was bittersweet sending Izzy Gring, Erin Mijares, and Lydia McConkie off to college. My wonderful musical daughters (sorry, Anya) have been in the studio for eight to ten years each. Thrive and dare, you three! And, please, keep in touch!
What’s behind: If you didn’t hear it live, Lydia’s performance of the first movement of Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 by Jean Sibelius with the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs on June 1, 2024. Lydia sounds terrific!
Do you listen to the radio when you drive? I do, all the time. Two of the studio’s violinists were interviewed on our own Colorado Springs classical music radio station, KCME. Hear Stacy Bahn and Lydia McConkie’s coolest ever interviews on the KCME’s Youth Spotlight.
It was very, very sweet to hear parents, siblings, and their friends to get together to play the Back-to-School-Chamber-Music-Family-Gathering in August. So much talent! Tutti Bravi! I am feeling truly blessed by so much talent and determination in the studio, watch out for these kids!
It was a great kick-off to the season! It amazes me how sometimes a small project like this ignites all kids and adults. Now, roll up your sleeves, back to work! Students – to practice rooms! Parents – deep breath and get ready to drive (among all other things)! My deep bow to you, hang in there!
Summer was wonderful! I loved hearing from Noah-Michael Carlson and Jory Lane, the studio alums who are doing amazingly well.
Allow me to introduce to you; Noah-Michael Carlson, a 2020 grad who worked on his bachelor in Violin Performance at CU-Boulder and graduated last spring from Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. Michael is currently a fresh scholarship recipient and a Master Degree student at the New York University, majoring in Musical Theatre Composition and Writing. Composition was always Michael’s passion, I am so happy he is pursuing the dream! Check out this production, Michael did it ALL himself. He had written the play and composed music for it; he directed, managed, and cast the actors; coordinated rehearsals and played piano; and took care of all smaller jobs, like backstage tech and managing, costume and stage design, I mean everything.
Who is this 6’4” man? I do not recognize him. I surely will need a step stool to teach him a violin lesson now. Please, do not break your bow hitting the ceiling in the studio, darling.
I keep in touch with Jory Lane regularly, and if you follow the studio news, you’ve seen his name a few times. Jory Lane, 2019 studio graduate, is now in his second year at the Juilliard School working on the Master of Music Performance degree.
This summer Jory attended KNEISEL HALL CHAMBER MUSIC SCHOOL & FESTIVAL and studied with members of the legendary Juilliard Quartet. OMG! Trust my lifelong professional quartet experience, this is a darn good quartet playing! Beethoven is the hardest, and Jory’s quartet sounds fabulous.
My darlings, many other alums! Let me know how you are doing. I love celebrating your successes and having a cup of coffee when you are in town.
I am wishing everyone the best ever season and the school year!
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