ASTA

ASTA--American String Teachers Association is having a national convention where string teachers and students pay BIG BUCKS to come and listen/learn from the top players in the world. Pretty big stuff. The staff had the chance to pick two...count em, two students to play for Donald McInnes:
World famous violist and teacher, DONALD McINNES, is known in virtually every corner of the artistic world for his appearances with major orchestras, recitals, chamber music participation, and numerous masterclasses. His affiliation with major schools throughout the world have included The University of Michigan, the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, and the University of Washington. In 1985, he accepted the appointment as Professor of Viola at the University of Southern California (the position formerly held by his teacher, the famed William Primrose). Presently, he combines a very busy concert schedule with his class of viola students from throughout the world. He has appeared with such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Orchestra Nationale de France, Pittsburgh Symphony, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, CBC Radio Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Seattle Symphony, among many others, and his career included close associations on the platform with such artists as Leonard Bernstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Lynn Harrell, Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Tortelier, Brooks Smith, Martin Katz, Janos Starker, Menahem Pressler, and many other leading artists of our time. Mr. McInnes is also a very active recording artist who can be heard on Columbia, RCA, Deutsche Grammaphone, Angel (EMI), etc. He also introduced many new works for viola including commissions for him by such leading comosers as William Schuman, William Bergsma, Robert Suderburg, Vincent Persichetti, and Paul Tufts. He regularly appears at leading summer music festivals in North America and abroad such as Banff, marlboro, Gstaad, Ambler, Interlochen, the International String Workshop, and the Music Academy of the West. His students received the first three prizes at the 1984 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition on the Isle of Man, and more recently, two of his students won the first prize at the prestigious Friday Morning Musical Club National Competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and the CBC National Competition in Vancouver, British Columbia. Today, throughout the entire world, his students can be found in leading symphony orchestras and teaching at many of the finest conservatories and universities. In addition, Mr. McInnes is a resident member of the Camerata Pacifica in Santa Barbara, CA.


It's a pretty big deal if you get chosen. I don't want to brag? But I was one of the TWO that was chosen to play for this MASTER of the arts!!!! I'm playing for him at the convention in Santa Barbara on Feb. 20th. I'm so excited!! Anyway, I thought i would let you know. :D


Successes for 1/26:
1) Got to school and went to Math Lab
2) Practiced my viola for the conference! 
3) Made cookies with Lauren and Aubrey to celebrate her new job!!
4) Called Erin to wish her a happy birthday