Second semester for the second time

My semester started with preparation for the Juilliard chamber fest. I and my five friends were working on Brahms sextet for one week under the lead of the cellist of famous Emerson quartet, David Finckel. We played on the opening concert of the festival and received a great success. With my quartet we applied for a Coleman Chamber music competition in San Francisco and now we are waiting for the pre-selection results. During the second half of January I made a tape for Montreal International Musical Competition and at beginning of April I will get results. I also auditioned for several summer festivals including the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. It will be probably my first choice for the summer again.

 On the ninth of February I performed as a concertmaster with the Juilliard Symphony in Carnegie Hall. Due to a snow storm, it was expected that not many people would go listen to program made of John Corigliano’s symphonies, but miracles are happening and Carnegie Hall was sold out. The feeling that people still like classical music that much was thrilling. Concert was dedicated to John Corigliano himself, who was celebrating his 75th birthday on that day. I will also appear as a concertmaster of the Juilliard chamber orchestra in a cycle of six dance shows, where we are going to accompany the dance department of our school with pieces written by Edward Elgar.

There was one change in my class schedule this semester. Humanities changed to Modernity and Modernism, it is mainly about the art of 20th century, the relationship of people and the arts itself. This week I finished my mid-terms with very high grades. I also got a note from registrar office about my Grade point average that I will be allowed to take classes at Columbia University from next year instead of Liberal arts at my school which is really awesome.

Now I am going to enjoy my spring break before I get back to work.