WBC done, plans for next year.

Well, the WBC had the year end concert at the end of April. Grandma and Grandpa B came out to watch, and I think they enjoyed the concert. Nathanael thought he sang well, and really liked having the extra family members present to listen. The whole choir did a great job, and we had guest artists from the U of M who did some wondering Jazz Music for us at the end.

Next year, there will be a lot of stuff for the boys to sing - plans are for concerts throughout the year, as well as the two the choir puts on themselves. Should be a fun season.

Happenings....

Well, it's been a while since I posted on here. Facebook has been the page of use lately, although it doesn't seem to allow for the unlimited ramblings that a blog allows.

It's almost December, and the concert season is upon us. Nathanael's choir is singing in five performances this month - December 9 with the Bison Men's chorus, December 16 in their own Christmas concert (parents sing too...), December 21, 22, and 23 with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. Then there's the school concert - December 19 - as well as my Band concert (dec 8) and my school concert on December 13.

Needless to say, we are busy this month. After Christmas Day I plan to take some time and relax.

Dancing is done....

Out of all the costumes, I think they liked the orange ones best.....

What a day

First....

Nathanael has a bad day at school. We got a note from the teacher.

Second....

Ezra got away from Suzanne at 12:30. She was spotted running in the Shopper's Drug Mart parking lot on Portage about 4:00. She also went into the store.

Someone cornered her in a small yard about 4:30. That's when she came home.

Just realized - some of you may not know... Ezra is a 9 year old greyhound.

Third.....

Chris had physio and practice today... so the wrists are quite sore.

Fourth....

Mojo got into the garbage yesterday... and got sick today. We don't know what she ate, but it emptied her on both ends...... multiple times. We think (= hope) that she is finished now.

Thank you, God - there is no Fifth.

STAR CHILD

Just returned from the concert hall. The Winnipeg Boys Choir (Nathanael is a member) sang with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra tonight. They sang StarChild, a piece written in 1977 which involves a huge number of musicians, arranged in a very interesting way. The boys were joined in the vocal parts by Prairie Voices. The choirs did a great job, the orchestra sounded great.

This was one of the concerts connected to the New Music Festival here in Winnipeg. All the music is contemporary, sometimes they get the composers to come and introduce the work as well.

Visiting Lizards....

We have a visitor in the family this Christmas - It's Lizzie the Lizard from school.



During our visit at Grandma C's, she went skiing with us and seemed to enjoy it. For those who need a closeup, we took a photo of her in our son's pocket. Notice we wrapped her up well so that she wouldn't get too cold.

Concerts!

Last night was the Royal Winnipeg Rifle's Band Visitation. We played R.V. William's Tuba Concerto (with a guest soloist) to dedicate 3(!) tubas that are new to the band. We also did Variations on a Korean Folk Song (Chance), Sleighride (Anderson), Midnight Sleighride (arr. Wallace), Orange Coloured Sky (Rugolo), along with 4 carols and the regimentals of the Rifles - Old Solomon Levi and Keel Row. I think I may have missed a few pieces, but I don't have the program here, so I'll update it later.
UPDATE
Pieces I missed were Eternal Father Strong to Save (Smith), Swing Away (Sharpe), T'was the night before Christmas - with altered lyrics. There was also 2 pieces by a Tuba Quartet, and 2 pieces by a Clarinet Trio.

I think the concert went fairly well. Nathanael enjoyed listening to the band, and he got to stay up late to boot, so he was happy.

His concert is this afternoon, so what has he been doing all morning? Singing. Singing. And more Singing.

I think he's nervous.

oops - it's sideways....

Can put up with that - this is Nathanael's costume this year - a Court Jester.

Too much Danny Kaye, I think.

My Baby's Growing Up!!!!

It's started to happen. Nathanael has had his first weekend away from us that wasn't at Grandma's. It was very strange having absolutely no contact at all.
As some of you know, Nathanael is a member of the Winnipeg Boys Choir this year. Every October the boys go away to camp for a weekend. They really get to know each other as a group. They know each others strengths and weaknesses both personally and vocally. They rehearsed every day for a couple of hours. Mostly Christmas music, including my favourite Chritmas Time is Here from Charlie Brown.They also had a scavenger hunt and a marshmallow roast on Saturday night. Nathanael was exhausted but very proud of himself for being big enough to go away.

Swimming Lessons

Nathanael completed his summer swimming lessons this week. Didn't pass level one, but he did swim in the deep end without screamnig his head off. As long as he's wearing the life jacket, he's willing to do it. We'll have to sign him up for lessons over the winter and keep working at swimming in the shallow end without the jacket.