al_corno

NRO

2007-06-12T18:11:24Z

I LOVE playing in orchestra!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it :-)
We did Elgar's Enigma Variations yesterday, and today was Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice. SO MUCH FUN.
Here's some pics taken from just outside my condo (which I share with 2 other girls Rachael (roomie) and Eugena; and 2 guys Chris and Jeff). So far so good :-)

This next one is the back view of my condo. Love the stream.

al_corno @ 2007-06-09T17:44:00

2007-06-10T00:46:18Z

Heading off to NRO tomorrow morning. (National Repertory Orchestra, in Breckenridge Colorado) Should be great! Hopefully, I'll be good about keeping this updated!
Cheers to all :-)

al_corno @ 2007-04-08T16:26:00

2007-04-08T23:26:54Z

hehehe... check it out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

al_corno @ 2007-04-06T23:56:00

2007-04-07T07:04:23Z

Know what's totally awesome? Coming out of a concert, and over-hearing audience members just sooo excited and happy about what they just experienced: "That was the BEST concert ever!!!" and "oh wow!!! I'm so glad I came!" and "that was so much fun!" It actually means a lot when you hear them talking to each other, cuz then you know that it is totally sincere. Hahaha, one set of 2 little old ladies were almost jumping and skipping! Twas so cute :-) [Now, perhaps you are wondering what concert this was... it was a pops one, with things like Jurassic Park, Phantom of the Opera, a concerto for Typewriter, Pomp and Circumstance, an Irish jig, Colonel Bogey, some oler musicals, etc. OH and the 1st movement of Beethoven 6. HMMM. Not too sure how that fits into pops, but whatev.] SO yeah, not exactly "proper" "serious" music - but fun nonetheless. And much-loved by the audience. Which makes me happy.
Alright, to bed. Muchly tired.
Cheers to all!

al_corno @ 2007-03-27T11:55:00

2007-03-27T18:58:13Z

Wow, last week was just totally awesome. SO inspirational, SO supportive, SO happy. And the beaches were a super cool added bonus.

al_corno @ 2007-03-04T20:13:00

2007-03-05T04:14:18Z

"Silly is you in a natural state, and serious is something you have to do until you can get silly again." - Mike Myers

I need more silly :p

How rare is your personality?

2007-03-02T07:29:07Z

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm.

Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men
You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

al_corno @ 2007-02-26T23:00:00

2007-02-27T07:01:44Z

Happiness... and sheer tiredness... and time for Buffy! If I make it through the episode before I drift off!
Cheers to all :-p

al_corno @ 2007-02-13T01:09:00

2007-02-13T09:14:44Z

hmmm. Been a while. Playing in opera pit is fun - despite the cramped quarters and the sitting on the trap door bit ;-p But the music is great.

Hehehe - and note to all. If you plan on having a date over, or anyone for that matter - do NOT hard-boil eggs for 20 min for egg-salad-sandwiches. I came home from the rehearsal late tonight... and WOW. Powerful aroma greeted me! Mother looked sheepish, and assured me that she was feeling fine. Brother John, (teehee... so cute!) came in to the kitchen rather concerned that he was *ahem* farting in bed without realising it!!!!! OH MY! SO FUNNY. Such a good laugh was had.

Goodnight!

al_corno @ 2007-01-26T21:07:00

2007-01-27T05:12:55Z

weee! So I started learning how to drive... a MANUAL transmission today!! Great fun :-) Soooooon I shall be the master. Yes, that's right - THE master. Of it all.

*hem*

indeed. BUT hey, this time round, it all made so much sense! I can do it! No more automatic for me :-)

I'll let y'all know when I've mastered the horn.

Back at it soon one more time tonight... and then - BUFFY - here I come!

Which ballroom dance are you?

2007-01-26T08:03:13Z

Well... I can't figure out how to post my result like James and Anne did... but I did copy and paste the text!

You scored as Quickstep.

You are Quickstep! Full of energy and excitement, you are pure joy personified. You make people happy without even knowing why. Sometimes, you jump up and down for no reason at all—cuz you’re just that zany!

Quickstep
83%

Viennese Waltz
75%

Foxtrot
75%

Samba
67%

Waltz
67%

Rumba
67%

ChaCha
58%

PasoDolble
58%

Jive
50%

Tango
33%

al_corno @ 2007-01-19T18:46:00

2007-01-20T02:50:10Z

I love it here in LA!

AND weeeeeeeeeeeeeee... I just found out that I got a full scholarship to go to an Advanced Horn Workshop in March! So happy about that!

Practice yay

2007-01-13T06:26:43Z

Sweet. I've just had a breakthrough. Well, another confirmation of the known facts - it all comes down to AIR and how I use it. But I figured out HOW (at least for this excerpt!)

al_corno @ 2007-01-12T12:16:00

2007-01-12T20:31:35Z

ahhhhhh... so many decisions! What to do? Should I say yes to gig work now, or should I say no to the near-future temporary opportunity (but sooo cool) to take an audition for a longterm future opportunity... which if the truth be told, I'm not sure is right for me? (I've been working so much on low recently - yay. But high is less comfy now.) But then - if I keep backing out of auditions, then how will I ever win a job? But then, if I don't have the playing experience that the committees are indeed looking for... then am I just shooting myself in the foot for not building up that experience now? But also, every audition I take is teaching me something to bring to future auditions. So - what to do? Also, the $ from the possible present gig is much needed. But that is the lesser of the dilemmas.

I guess I don't "keep backing out" of auditions... it is just that I have had to not go to a few due to conflicts. Agh. I just want to be able to play for my living - I love it so much!! HOW DO I GET THERE?

MAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

I love being called for gigs. It is amazing. I LOVE playing them. Nothing can compare to playing my horn in orchestras/pits... nothing at all. I just wish to goodness that there is a solid future for me. It is all so scary not knowing if it will ever "happen".

Now for a cute little quote, which I find appropriate now:
"Triumph begins with what? TRY!!
And ends in what? UMPH!
Ummph! Umph! Umph!"

Bonus points to those who can identify the quote ;-)

al_corno @ 2007-01-02T02:33:00

2007-01-02T10:40:30Z

Wow... I am totally in some weird, non-west-coast time zone... probably somewhere out in the middle of the pacific. Must be. The Alana-zone is about 3-4hrs diff!

Teehee, tis totally dangerous for me to have access to so much Buffy! But I love it. Thanks Justin :-) And Angel is so hot. Yup, yup, yup. *hem* [mild blush, followed by sassy grin]

Okay okay...
Good night!

Reflections

2006-12-30T09:36:28Z

"Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge;... Do not condemn;... Forgive." (Luke 6:36-37)

Simple, but so difficult. But beautiful. Imagine a world where people ARE compassionate... non judging... and forgiving. Where we look out for each other before ourselves. A world where you can let go of anger and old hurts. Inner peace.

"Does this action lead to further division, or does it lead to reconciliation?" The easy way certainly is not always the right way. But I will try.

"Love your enemy."

Wow. Can I really do it? I'll need strength.

al_corno @ 2006-12-25T17:42:00

2006-12-26T01:43:04Z

Merry Christmas folks! :p

al_corno @ 2006-12-17T00:54:00

2006-12-17T08:55:23Z

Christmas parties make me happy :)

al_corno @ 2006-12-15T23:01:00

2006-12-16T07:05:08Z

oooooooo wow, my head *really* hurts.
But other than that, things are fine. Thanks for a nice party Kathy!! AHHH Muppet music running around in circles in my head too, continually modulating up one step at a time! gotta love it. :-)

al_corno @ 2006-12-11T00:27:00

2006-12-11T08:27:10Z

Wow... my brain hurts. The concert (Richard Margison with the Vic Symph) went well though - sold out too! Talk about really being on the edge of my seat the whole time, total focus required! We all were. Wow I don't really make sense anymore. But it was fun. Der Freischutz went well too. *phew*. Two different concerts/programs today too! Then tomorrow is our last Christmas show, up in Qualicum Beach. These past two and a half weeks have been quite something for me - first time playing full time with a pro orchestra. HUGE learning curve, but I enjoyed it. A lot. Really makes me use my brain again. Yay for brain usage. Mmmm for goodies after the concert this evening, esp the cheesecake. :p
_Must_win_job_soon_
Okay, beddie-bies for alanakate, as my mom would say!

al_corno @ 2006-12-08T01:17:00

2006-12-08T09:17:05Z

Playing these Christmas pops concerts is just good for me. Fun music, no stress... and people are happy. We had an unplanned "blizzard" on the first stands today - so funny... It was supposed to be on the dancers (in Nutcracker) but -lol- the snow fell on the orchestra instead!

An angel

2006-12-07T09:16:55Z

Every day, there are little gifts in life to each of us. For weeks now though, I've been terribly sad... and nothing has been able to get through to me, through this blanket of despair. The normal joy of living which I used to have has vanished. It scares me, I've never been like this before. Never to this extent. But today, on my way to rehearsal on the bus, I was touched by someone so beautiful and precious... a little girl and her mother got on together and sat in the seats immediately in front of me. This girl must have been about 3. Yup, I'd say 3. Possibly 4. Not only was she just absolutely adorable in looks (beautiful big brown smiling eyes, soft wavy brown hair reaching just past her chin) but she was a total sweetheart. She marvelled at the Christmas lights, happily obeyed her mother when asked to sit safely, marvelled at all the sights we passed. The love between mother and daughter was... just... wow. And then she turned around, and smiled at me. That smile could melt anybody's heart. She was the one who was able to help me to put aside the pain, if even for a few minutes. And we chatted until I had to get off, looking at and sharing the sights together. She quietly sang some of her favourite Christmas carols. She told me that she liked my necklace (my crucifix)... and later commented on how pretty my scarf was, which incidentally I had just finished knitting right before catching that bus. So many people as they grow older keep absolutely everything to themselves, get wrapped up in their own worlds... I really needed that little girl right then. She showed me again what I am losing and have lost. I am still surprised at how much she touched me with her beautiful innocence and pureness. She saw reason to celebrate in so much. I don't even know her name, and probably will not see her again... but I am thankful for having met her. A real angel. A miracle from God.

al_corno @ 2006-12-05T01:19:00

2006-12-05T09:19:31Z

...hug?...

a thought

2006-12-02T08:14:58Z

Wouldn't it just be so nice to be a little kid again?

...reunions at last...

2006-11-29T23:11:53Z

Looking ahead... looking ahead... Friends will soon be back in town! I can't wait! It will just be soooo wonderful to hang out again.

Robyn comes soon! Only 3 more days!!! Good luck girl on your audition!! :-)

And then Heather comes, and we get a big party... with so many friends I haven't seen in ages. YAY!!!! Thank-you Heather! Thank-you Christmas for bringing us all together again.

And in January, there will be Kate, and Adam, and James... oh I can't wait to see all you guys again!

In the meantime... I'll finally be busy again. At least for the first 18 days of December. Yay for playing full-time with the symphony! I wonder how that audition will go in January... I also wonder if I'll get to go to Australia (sent off a CD yesterday)... or if I'll be doing the Calgary audition. Or...

Wow. Life has so many uncertainties. It is really hard. Sometimes exciting, but... also... well... scary.

Why is it so hard to let go of a person? The pain is too much. And for what purpose?