Three Weeks From Friday

On May 9, I graduate. I can look back on my college years and say "It's been one hell of a ride," meaning both good and bad.

Freshman year for me began in Fall 2003. Here I was at USM, on a physics scholarship from Siemens, working for my BS in Marine Biology. Woot. I enjoyed my Biology and Chemistry professors, but I really missed something. Second semester of freshman year, I joined the Hattiesburg Choral Union. With going to choir monday nights, I admitted that I had ignored God's calling into music. At the end of my freshman year, I switched from BS to BM: Music History and Literature: Vocal Emphasis. My roommate from freshman year, Sadie, was pretty cool, and still remains a good friend.

Sophomore year was spent at the University of Wales, Swansea. This beautiful campus, located in South Wales, is the closest university (in the world) to the ocean, beating one in California by three meters. Here, I was re-introduced to the classic masters of my childhood: Dvorak, Sibelius, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Chopin, etc. My music professors and choir masters were all amazing, and unearthed my love for early music. My flatmates were also awesome: Claire, Steph, Stef, Michelle, Celine, Lace, and Laura.

I have vague memories of junior year. Back at USM, I enrolled in Class Piano 101, only having had a few lessons with Dr. Morris in Wales, I seemed to skip ahead of the class. I auditioned for Dr. Leventhal's private piano studio and entered in spring 2006. Within a few months, she had a a BEGINNER piano student working on a HAYDN CONCERTO! Roommates sucked first half of the year, but then Heather and I roomed together and that went well. This was also the year of Hurricane Katrina.

First Senior year: I entered the William T. Gower Concerto competition, scared out of my mind, mind you. Musically, this was a good year for me, but not personally. My brother Wes was in Iraq, and roommate issues were stressing me out. I just can't live with OCD people. There are so much more things in life to stress about than the carpet not being perfectly straight. Carillon went to Scotland that summer and I also worked as an apprentice with USM's piano technician.

SUPER SENIOR YEAR! I performed a Shostakovich concerto and working on a Mozart one. Carillon is going to Prague and Vienna. I now live in Scott Hall in my own room (DOUBLE BED!) and so relish the the thought of getting out of college (or at least undergrad status). Working on senior thesis (Arvo Part) and taking LAT 102 and 202 at the same time (crunch).
I have been accepted to the Bangor University School of Music to read for my MA. I am wanting to focus my modules in historical musicology, early music, and performance practice. Another degree option was to do Sacred Music Studies, but then, I was only limited to music of the church. Musicology was a broader option. So I will polish my thesis to Hafer's standards, take my final Latin quizzes, English final, voice final, piano final, graduate, work for the summer (with side trips to Georgia, Prague, and Vienna), and leave for grad school in September. I will be there from September 2008-September 2009. I also must take the GRE before I leave because I will be applying for doctorate programs while over there. Yay.

Anywho, signing off for now. Must go to church bells and FBC.

All the best!