It seems like I'm always talking about how busy things are, but this 3-month hiatus from blogging is well-warranted.
The boyfriend thing didn't really work out, so I'm back on the market, haha!
The last few months have been mostly focused on my comprehensive examinations. For those of you not in academia, 'comps' are the last exams you take in a doctorate program before your thesis. They are meant to be grueling and stressful. The oral exam (which I passed 2 weeks ago) looked at 3 pieces of music. A panel of three composition professors were to ask me absolutely anything about those pieces. Additionally, they would also ask questions about context, and the repertoire and trends of classical music in the last 100 years. I took about 3 months to study for it. I was fairly dedicated for most of it, and it was really the only thing I did with my life for the entire month of April.
This week are my written comprehensive exams: today (or yesterday based on calendar), I did a 6-hour orchestration exam, where I orchestrated the opening 2 pages of a Debussy piano piece. Orchestration is not my strong point, and I used every minute of that time! I feel pretty good about it, so fingers crossed.
Tomorrow at 5pm, starts my 24-hour Sonata Exposition writing exam. I'm hoping I'll be less time-constrained, as I'll need to do some sleeping.
Anyhoo, last week, I spent writing my art song for Art Song Lab 2012. Despite submitting horrendously late, I'm still not the last composer to submit. I finished it with less than 12 hours before starting the orchestration exam.... Ah, the joys of tight deadlines!
In other news, I'll be traveling through Europe a little later this summer with my friend Janice. I'm super excited, and leaving things open for adventure!
In terms of work, I'll be a busy pianist this summer - playing for 2 different opera programs and a RAD teacher certification course.
In terms of summer writing, I have an opera libretto to finish (as well as music to start writing...) and 2 pieces to write: one for erhu and piano, or a Canada/China tour; and a song for tenor and guitar for a tour in the US.
Oh ya, in the last post, I mentioned some new pieces - both of which have since been performed. A recording of Compassion & Sacrifice can be found on my website, so check it out!
Alas, the sun has risen. That means, I need to sleep!
