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Gotta love those high tech labor-saving devices like the computer (well, it’s supposed to be labor-saving) and the washing machine (not high tech, but definitely high on my list). This week’s favorite is the digital piano. This morning the piano movers dropped off a Yamaha Clavinova (actually, it’s probably a Klavinova in this case:)) for

(Yes, it’s a word:)) Don’t ever let anyone persuade you that language study (and, to a certain extent, a natural and intuitive facility with languages) isn’t critical to a singing career. This should fall in the “duh” category, but I’m surprised how often I meet people on both sides of the footlights who underestimate its

Orpheus officially kicks off on Thursday, but I’m ecstatic to have Orpheus stage management and music staff already in the building. Running a small company is great because it affords the opportunity to continue to dabble in being on the production side of the business. During the winter and spring, my inner music director and

Still on a bit of an unintended blog slow-down. I promise to be back soon with something approaching enthusiasm. Meanwhile, I’m resorting to parasitic blogging… In the absence of any original or critical thinking on my part, I’m pointing you elsewhere: Go here for the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s online multi-media review of the Curtis Orchestra –

The scene shop is up and running, putting Orpheus on its feet. Costume shop not far behind. The set model photo above is courtesy of designer Martin T. Lopez. Stagecraft is where the magic of the theatre truly remains for me. I know too much about the music sometimes – hard to stop from over-thinking

Apologies for the week-long hiatus. I tried to post a few times but wasn’t able to find my voice, as they say. I’ve addressed a lot of different topics here, but this blog, unlike many others, has never been an extremely personal vehicle. Well, personal maybe, but not private. So I couldn’t find a way

We were deeply saddened to learn that bass-baritone Robert Samels, one of Wolf Trap Opera’s young artists for this summer season, died suddenly and tragically a few days ago. Robert was a doctoral candidate at Indiana University, and the School of Music has developed this website to honor Robert and the four other musicians who

Spring is one of the best reasons I can think of for living in the mid-Atlantic area of the country. The dogwoods are in full bloom. Heading off to the Blue Ridge for the weekend, but first, a long post to compensate for my recent rather cavalier approach to the blog. Anointed Stars Lots of

Found a perfect starting point for a posting, but not enough time to write. In today’s New York Times. The subject is not music, but message is no less important for us. Toward the bottom of the first page: …the students who are the commercial stars of their class today will not generally turn out

Thinking a lot lately about results. Validation. Success. Measurement. I’m on a planning team at work, and one of our tasks is to determine how we will measure what it is we say we do. A perennial problem in the performing arts. Back Where I Started If I had to pinpoint the biggest reason I