Lots has happened since February 5th.

AYO Season 1 has concluded. I've played with the orchestra at Costa Hall (Deakin University, Geelong), as well as at the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra. We drove through areas affected by Black Saturday after the hottest day on record. We travelled in a bus from Melbourne to Canberra, as well as from Canberra to Sydney. I almost met my MP at Parliament House. I saw Gideon Kremer and his orchestra at Llewellyn Hall. I stayed at one of the most beautiful colleges I've ever stayed at (Women's College at Sydney University). I went to the SCG for a Professional Development Session, had a photo with Georgie Parker, had another photo with Steve Waugh. I caught a bus (after getting completely drenched along the main road, just like in the movies) into the centre of Sydney city, and managed to (eventually!) get on the right train for a 45min ride out to Seven Hills. I watched the rehearsal of AYO in Sydney including the one with Human Nature singing one of my favourite songs, 'People Get Ready'.
Had some post-AYO S1 withdrawal symptoms; it almost felt strange to not be surrounded by crazy awesome musos all the time!

Managed to get back to Melbourne. Got picked up from the airport and driven back 'home' by a friend - thank you. Trying to 'set up shop' back in the same flat from last year. Yes, the same one - had to move out over summer if I didn't want to pay the rent. Oh well. Still not completely all set up - boxes still in lounge room etc. but getting there. Hopefully will be neat(er) this year; we've put a cleaning regime in place. Hopefully it works and sticks!

Busy weeks back after AYO. Friends have probably thought that because uni starts next week, we need to enjoy the rest of the summer holidays as long as they last, which means we should go out lots! It's fun, just tiring sometimes and can get expensive. But it's really nice to get back into the groove with everybody. S1 in Melbourne felt a little strange, like I was in my adopted home city, but not. Don't get me wrong, I love all my friends, but over time they change composition according to circumstances, a lot of the time. So it feels like sometimes it needs time to get back into it. I feel like a lot has happened in Melbourne while I've been away; I mean, yeah, a lot has happened that I feel like I've missed out on. We've been to MSO with a picnic, I had to skip Luna Park (but it sounded fun!), we went to the beach (the boys played Ultimate, the girls watched; we got fish and chips), I missed gelate (due to being at ANAM for a concert - very musician crowd, so different!), we're going to Night Market. Spent almost a day in the city because of Cathedral gig - the company was excellent though, made it bearable and fun! I think I'll miss a few things because of this camp this weekend....I hate missing things. And saying no.

Been into uni almost every day - hello practice regime. Gotta get back into it. Now that I figured that I think I know what I want to do next year. There's a path of hard work ahead of me. Haven't really got into the swing as much as I'd like, but next week will REALLY kick in soon...Just been on LMS and figured out that I have homework before I start and that I'm already behind! Such a worrying way to start the year....

Going to go switch mobile phone plans. Sorry Optus - there was a time when Prepaid was the best option, but some of the service has been not top-notch and the rates aren't really cutting it anymore. I hate to think that a brand I've been loyal to for about five years is losing a customer...oh well. Been to mentor training for the Con and will be taking on mentees from Queen's as well. I'm a little worried but hopefully it'll be ok.

Busy is the name of this year, I think. Nothing out of the ordinary though, I suppose. I'm staying in my allocated Conducting Class - with some friends phew. Trying to organise times and schedules....
I have ten hours of class this semester
but that excludes:
my piano lesson
lesson with accompanying teacher
chamber music rehearsals (quintet, trio/s?)
any accompanying things
3hrs of work in the library

And I'm supposed to be studying? And keeping a social life? Hah.
We'll see. I'll try.

Still around!

Just not posting regularly....

Music Camp in Adelaide came and went. It was lots of fun - awesome music, a very jam-packed schedule of rehearsals, more rehearsals, concerts, even more rehearsals. The concerts were awesome, Shostakovich 11 was incredibly moving. And loud. And very long! Had a great party afterwards, involving going out at 11pm and staying out till 4am. And then playing some table-tennis till about 4.45am. All in time for some people to catch a 7am bus. At least mine was a bit later, but two hours sleep doesn't quite cut it normally! It was fun though. Definitely a really fun camp. Possibly more detail to follow in another post.....

Went home for a week to relax a little, reminisce much about Camp, get prepared to pack up again and go again, but this time for an extended time! Saw Australia Day fireworks from a prime location, and celebrated Chinese New Year at abou the same time - quite a unique coincidence of dates!

A week and a bit after arriving home from camp, I was off again to Melbourne for AYO tour. Still on it, our first concert is tonight in Melbourne Town Hall. I've been looking forward to this concert for a while now, also because lots of my friends are coming to see it woo! I'll definitely try to do a wrap-up of tour when it's over. Remind me.

Also more reminders to self: a post called "Criticisms" with key topics Principals, Orders of Australia, AOC funding. Grr....