Good News of February

Recital Poster

February seemed to be a good month for me.  On Monday, February 16th, I performed my senior performance recital on both oboe and English horn.  Unfortunately, I was sick with a cold and head congestion which made things a little more difficult and often times rather interesting.  But I was still able to get through the recital.  My dress  was absolutely beautiful and I am currently trying to find another place to wear it!  I don't have pictures yet as my camera was not used, but hopefully will soon from others!  My parents came out on Sunday after their church service and we enjoyed a late dinner.  Monday was spent preparing for the recital and reception following.  My aunt and uncle from Rochester were kind enough to bring their chocolate fountain and supply chocolate for the reception.  My mother brought another fountain from a colleague at work.  I was almost more excited about the reception than the recital itself.  In attendance at the recital were my oboe studio and other various school friends, along with members from my local church.  I was so excited to see everyone.  As a special surprise, my Aunt Kathy and her two sons, Matthew and Tim, drove from Indianapolis to see me and attend the recital.  I loved being able to share the night with all my friends and family.  It meant so much.

The other exciting news of February is my acceptance to Calvin Theological Seminary.  This past Thursday, I was at church doing some work with the secretary and received a phone call from a young man named Eric, who introduced himself as my student ambassador.  He is a second-year Master of Arts student and was very pleasant.  He encouraged me to attend the Seminary Preview Day in March, which is an opportunity to visit the campus and meet with professors and other students.  I was somehow curious as to why I would be assigned a student ambassador before I had been accepted into the seminary.  On a hunch, I checked my email from the church computer, and there in my inbox was the acceptance email.  I immediately called my parents and told them the good news.  I have some place to go in the fall!  In Friday's mail, I received the official letter in the mail along with other information.  The Seminary Preview Day happens to fall on the Friday of my spring break, so I'm preparing for another road trip west!  I'm excited about this new chapter opening in my life.  There is a lot I will miss about Fredonia, and western New York in general.  But I am ready to move on, step forward into the future.  This semester cannot end soon enough!

The last good thing about February was the surprisingly warm temperatures which melted all of the snow from January before my parents arrived for the recital.  This is a picture of my deck, looking out my kitchen doors, with the snow at about its deepest.  

It would melt down, and more snow would then arrive.  Now there is brown grass and though it tries to snow, its rarely very successful.  Dunkirk Dan, New York's famous groundhog, predicted an early spring and so far he seems to be right on.  We've had days in the 50s where I've barely needed a coat to go outside.  I believe 50 degrees in always warmed at the end of winter than the end of summer.  Temperature is relative, and even the high 20s we've had this week seem pleasant.  Here's to hoping the snow is done for the season!

Beannachd leat.

2009 Update

Mom's beautiful living room decorations

Its now a few weeks into 2009, and so far I'm pretty happy with this new year!  The days leading up to Christmas were, as usual, a whirlwind of rehearsals, arranging music, hugs, kisses, how've-you-beens and finally the Christmas Eve services.  As hectic and stressful as the holidays can be, I can't imagine not doing what we do.  I can't remember a Christmas Eve where my parents and I weren't involved in the services or running around, driving each other insane.  That is part of our tradition.  Christmas Day is to slow down and relax, watch the fire and spend all day opening presents.  And when I say all day, I mean all day.  Granted we didn't get started until about noon time with the stockings.  Staying out until 2 in the morning does not make anyone want to get up early, even with all the presents under our tree.  With phone calls from family and a prime rib dinner, the last present wasn't opened until quarter to ten.  That too, is part of our tradition.  As much as I love receiving gifts, I also love watching my parents' faces as they 

open the presents I've bought them.  Or the presents I know they've gotten for each other.  All part of our family tradition.

And so, Christmas came and went.  Katie Morag survived the Two Grandmothers, and did enjoy the time she spent with them.  As a present to them, and myself, my parents sent us to Mohonk for the day.  We had lunch and spent time enjoying the decorations around the house.  I love the views of the lake and all the little lounges with wood-burning fireplaces.  We stayed after lunch and had afternoon tea before returning home.  It was a lovely day for just us to spend together.

A few days later, my Aunt Judy flew into town to surprise her mother.  She stayed until New Years.  Mom, Grandma and I drove to the airport, not tell where we were going.  Grandma's face was priceless when the car door opened and there stood her youngest daughter.  We then drove to the city to visit a cousin who is a Jesuit priest and enjoyed lunch with him.  From there, we scooted across the river to Jersey and stopped at my grandfather's grave.  Also buried in that graveyard are his parents and grandparents.

Slight digression for a little family history.  My grandfather's grandfather was a man named Gustav Wasmer, who was born in June of 1855.  His mother, Maria married a man named Urban Baier in March of 1855.  For reasons unknown, Gustav took his mother's maiden name of Wasmer instead of her married name.  Urban and Maria went on to have six other children who took the Baier name.  This leads us to believe that Urban was not Gustav's real father.  This many years later, we don't know the circumstances that led up to these choices.  Maria's choice not to abort the baby or even abandon it after it was born.  Urban's choice to marry a woman who must have clearly been pregnant, and then their decision to give Gustav the surname Wasmer.  Yet those choices are why we are not Baier, or the Americanized Beyer, but rather Wasmer.

Sarah, an oboe friend from college, arrived the evening that my grandmothers left to partake in the New Years festivities.  I had a few other friends from high school over as well and we watched Cinematic Titanic's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians before watching the ball drop at midnight.  I have spent the past four or five New Years with the same group of friends and it is always enjoyable.  Sarah and I spent Friday in the city, visiting all the tourist spots - Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  We walked a lot, and had an excellent time.  The picture is taken from the top of Rockefeller Center looking towards the Empire State Building, all lit up for Christmas.

The next week was a bit more relaxed, as the house was finally empty.  Except for Mother who enjoyed another snow day.  I finally returned to Fredonia on Saturday, dodging around the winter storm and other bad weather.  The entire next week I practiced and organized and unpacked.  It snowed every single day and the temperature stayed in single digits, positive AND negative.  So I kept to the apartment as much as I could.  This picture is taken at one of the docks into Lake Erie.  I'm not sure if the entire lake is frozen yet, but considering that it keeps snowing, I don't think it is!

Yesterday I finished the last piece of my seminary application.  So now the waiting begins.  Thankfully, I have plenty to keep me busy with my recital hearing next week and the actual recital in February.

Speaking of my recital, I should go practice again.

Beannachd leat.

My Father's Question

In August, my father walked into my bedroom and asked a relatively innocent question. It sparked ideas in my head, which led to a lightening road trip in October and finally a decision which changes my future. I always thought I'd work full-time with oboe, performing in an orchestra or the like. I don't know where I would be, but I would find a church and be involved as much as I could be there. This was my plan.

"Have you looked into a grad school for church musicians? Maybe a seminary or something?" It was something I had never considered. I didn't even know there were degrees out there for something like that. I started doing some research, comparing different seminaries and their programs. The more I learned, the more I focused in on a particular school. It had the degree that I wanted, a Masters of Arts in Worship, MAW. It also belongs within the Reformed tradition, which is something very important to me. By October, all that was left was an actual visit to the seminary. My friend and fellow oboist, Heather, agreed to accompany me on the trip.

Over the weekend of our Fall Break in October, Heather and I drove out to Grand Rapids, MI to visit Calvin Theological Seminary. We stayed with my Uncle Doug & Aunt Kathy in their new home. They were able to have Rachel Klompmaker, an alumnus of the MAW program over for dinner, which only added to my trip. She explained how having the masters degree has opened doors for her in fields outside the church as well. She now works for a Christian publishing company, and was sought after because of her MAW degree. I met with a few professors and the Registrar, discussing the program requirements and other aspects of the degree, including job opportunities afterwards. Most churches do not have full-time musician positions, but some are looking for a Worship Coordinator, who would oversee more of the worship layout and other aspects in the church. The CTS program also gives me tools to be able to work with Sunday school curricula as well as the weekly service. A part-time position would also allow me to continue playing oboe semi-professionally.

I know that I will never stop playing oboe and performing. Yet I have also learned that it does not have to be an all or nothing type of career. Most professional musicians in orchestras must supplement their income with private lessons or as professors at colleges. Nearly all of the great orchestral players are teachers at nearby colleges. Even still, that lifestyle requires a lot of traveling and constant upheaval. I want a more stable, settled life than that, and be able to have a family and make a home. This degree, and the opportunities it gives me, allows for that type of lifestyle.

I have always struggled to see how my performing is serving God to the best of my abilities. Ever since I've graduated from high school I've been searching for what He wants me to do, for the best way to serve Him. I do not think I made a mistake in coming to Fredonia, or getting my undergrad in music performance. It helped me find the job at the Lutheran church. It allowed me to realize my own strengths and talents, away from my parent's reputations. It also helped me realize that I love to play oboe, but I don't want a life as a professional musician. After my father's innocent question, I seem to have discovered the path God wants me to take next.

The CTS admissions process is already underway. Once all the paperwork, transcripts and recommendation letters have arrived, the seminary will take about two weeks to review everything and give me a decision. I'm hoping to have a decision before the end of January. Of course, then there's looking for an apartment, and figuring out how I'm getting all my stuff out to western Michigan. But first things first! Application, senior recital, the rest of fall semester and spring semester. Once I learn of the CTS decision, I'll worry about the next steps!

Beannachd leat.