brenna blog

Rehearsals are under way for Threepenny Opera.  We have assembled a wonderful cast, and they sound great.  As Associate MD, I’m in charge of putting together the orchestra, and our rhythm section and woodwind section will be great.  If we can find a couple brass players, that will lighten my load on keyboard 2, in addition to adding those real colors.  The real thing is always better!

I feel like I’ve just come out from underground, even though I have just been attending school for two and a half years.  I need to re-establish my contacts in the theatrical and musical community, and catch up on some things that have been left behind (my tax filings…oops)  In the meantime, I’m looking for work to supplement my part-time position with the First Reformed Church of Astoria.

My work at Hunter College has given me some great contacts – ones that I will maintain – in the music and the theatre departments.  First, I’d like to mention Professor Priscilla Owens, who teaches a vocal jazz workshop at Hunter, as well as a private jazz workshop/performance ensemble called Jazzvox.  I have learned quite a lot from her.  She has helped me get out from behind the piano and polish up my solo performing skills.  Now, I have performed quite a bit, but in the context of a band, I was always behind a keyboard, bass guitar or drum set.  Trust me, being able to play and sing at the same time was less of a big deal to me than having the security of an instrument right there at my fingertips (or in front of my waist and hips).  Cilla has also used me as an accompanist in her jazz and beginning voice classes, and has sent me accompanying work.

I’ve just added some of my essays from school, as a few people have asked to read my most recent paper, “Bad Girls of Bahia:  A Study of Gender Politics and Racism in Brazilian History.”  I’m still looking for a digital copy of my paper on Olympe de Gouges.  The study of this woman’s story has continued to inspire me since learning of her two years ago.  I am still searching for a copy of a biography of her written by Olivier Blanc, which is out of print.

So far, I have three essays posted on this wordpress site.  They may be previewed by clicking on the pages link to the left, and read in total by clicking links.

I’ve been playing this game on Facebook recently called Cafe World,  and it’s been serving my needs quite well as a time waster and a way to avoid finishing my final paper, studying for my final exam, etc.   (If you can’t read the self-deprecating sarcasm here, you don’t know me well…) Aside from those “advantages”, the game seems to be completely pointless to me, and though you do not have to spend money to play it, I suspect people actually do.

One of the menu choices in Cafe World is French Onion Soup, and it has reminded me of this divine bowl of onion soup I had in Compiegne, France in August.  Of course, it wasn’t called french onion soup, because it was in France, after all, but it was the best bowl of onion soup I had ever tasted – complete with the crouton and the melted gruyere cheese on top.  Everything was the same as the U.S. version except for the beef stock.  Had it been made with beef stock, I wouldn’t have ordered it, and I asked in advance if the broth was meat-based or vegetable-based.  This bowl of soup was the best, and I told myself I would make some myself when I returned to the States.

Now you know where this is going, don’t you?  The french onion soup in Cafe World reminded me of that soup in France.  Just like the madeleine with Proust – okay, maybe not.  While it didn’t inspire a major tome of literature, it inspired me to make a pot of onion soup, which cost me perhaps $10 (mostly for the cheese, butter and sherry, which I already had – the onions were only 89 cents) and will last for four or five yummy meals.

Do I thank Cafe World?  Facebook?  France?

I started writing one of the transition “monologue” pieces for my show, Hebomia, yesterday.  I scheduled the Lang recital hall for the show, and it will be performed on Friday, April 9.  There will also be a performance at Don’t Tell Mama probably the Sunday just after.

I think I may have just narrowly escaped eviction from the building where I’ve been living for seven years.  Yesterday, I got caught up from being behind this summer.  I was studying in France in August, earning no income, so I got horribly behind.  Now I’m back on track, but I took the opportunity to say to the realty office that manages the property what I think of the rent increases I’ve experienced over the past seven years.  When I moved into the building in May, 2002, my rent was $1,050 per month.  Now it is $1,293 per month.  The accountant thought that wasn’t too bad, and my response was, “I think it is.  It’s nearly a 25% increase over seven years.”

The location has become more desirable in the time I’ve lived there, but I don’t believe utilities have increased that much.  Does everyone in New York City get a rent increase every year?  I think I’ll add that to my facebook status and see what responses I get.  I really want to know.  I am seriously thinking of moving.

Delivery.com makes it way too easy to be lazy.   I also happen to live in an awesome neighborhood with amazing culinary options.  If I am going to stay financially solvent, I’ve gotta start cooking again – it is starting to be soup weather!

Over the past two years, when I haven’t been blogging, I’ve been in school at Hunter College CUNY.  I’m finishing my BA in Music, and this will be happening this semester, and graduation is January, 2010.  It has been a very eventful and rewarding time.  Though it has taken me out of my normal professional circles a bit (those of music direction, accompanying and coaching) I am armed with some skills that are making me even more diverse, and are going to enable me to keep working even longer.  It has totally been worth every second and penny I have spent!

I’m not going to try to sum up the past two years in one single blog entry, but I will post memories as they come to me.  I am still attending, and great stuff, and challenges, are still occurring.  One amazing thing just  happened for me.  I won a performing arts grant to produce my one-woman show!  It will be called “Hebomia… or will the real Brenna please stand up?”.  I  performed a show at Don’t Tell Mama back in June, 2009, that included a small set of vocal impressions and just a couple personal stories.  It went well, and the feedback I received was positive, especially about the impressions and the comedy.  I will be expanding upon that aspect of the show.  I am excited!

My choir sounded so good this morning.  When they are singing together, they are breathing together, they are such a great ensemble.  They were really feeling it today!  It’s such a nice way to start the day.

I got a little housecleaning done today, and no studying since I figured I’ll have all day tomorrow with the Columbus Day holiday and all.  I’m still pinching myself over receiving the grant money…nearly $1,500 for producing my one-woman show!  According to Professor Owens, it’s unusual for the performing arts fund to give out that much money to single performers.  I’m very excited and feeling very inspired!