Choral Potpourri: Cinderella is Staying Home From the Ball

“He obliged Cinderella to sit down, and, putting the slipper to her little foot, he found it went on very easily, and fitted her as if it had been made of wax.” Charles Perrault

I am not in Minnesota this week. I am here, in Chicago, doing a million and one things that somehow have converged at this particular time to keep me here. I had planned to go but things conspired to keep me from y’all and all my ACDA friends and acquaintances. And I did need to hear the wonderful singing you will be doing so I am a bit bummed.

My chamber choir began rehearsals last week, but even so, I should have been able to get away. I had obligations for my community arts organization that came up last week but, if things had gone the way they should have, it should have been no problem. A respite worker for my autistic son was ready and willing, at least when I made my tentative arrangements.

What really put the kibosh on my traveling to the Twin Cities was….we have squirrels. Those little jerks have eaten through the fascia and are running wild in the ceiling above my Steinway ‘B’. I have to stay here to supervise their trapping and the repairing of the above mentioned fascia. Fun I am having, NOT!

Sometimes, that’s the way it is, we plan and then we have obligations to keep us from what we want to do. I could be angry and resentful but what purpose would that serve? I know I would really be ticked if the darn squirrels got near my piano, so first things first.

I’ll miss my young friends, Amanda S., Zack and Jordana. Wish I could meet you for coffee! My longtime friends Jan P., Mark D. and Hen; so sorry, next time we’ll certainly get together to have that glass of wine after the concerts. There were several sessions I was looking forward to and thought could be of help to my current work. I’m disappointed but I will get over it.

I’ll be having coffee with composer & colleague Michael W. on Friday so you could say I am doing ACDA networking even if I am not with you in Minnesota. Michael and I will have fun and I know will be talking choral music! With any luck, our critter problem will be under control by then and I can relax.

Have fun this week. I really do wish I was there. Oh, and if you see Tim Sharp, tell him Marie says, “Hi!”