Mahler 7 and the CME

I just got back from OSM's performance of Mahler 7. Performances of Mahler symphonies are rare so it's always exciting to tick one off the list. I've got 7 more to go. Some of them are almost never played, that's why I went on a road trip to the US last year.

I had my first rehearsal with the Contemporary Music Ensemble. They are working on my new work Evolution 5 x 8. It went quite well, I think they are going to do a good job. Possibly the best performance I've ever had, the players are incredible. As usual, I wish I had more time to work on the piece, in order to take advantage of how good the group is. Next time I will.

Being a resident composer (and a masters student) at McGill is interesting because I'm respected more than I'm used to. The students at the U of M were always nice to me but I don't think very many of them understood why composition majors were there.

Last Friday there was a crazy party in the lounge of the school of music. Very cheap bear, a jazz combo, lots of drunk girls, it was great. By the end they were giving me free beer. I met some new people which was very nice. I felt a little old because most of the kids there were undergrads. Then I remembered that I'm one of the youngest masters students in the school.

Boot camp is going well. Lung goo is still there but I'm not coughing as much and my fever is going down.

That thing on the right is me in the shame hat. I haven't had to wear it for real but that's what it looks like. Now you know why I go to the gym at 7:00 in the morning. Day 4 is getting better. Perhaps one day every day will be boot camp. Until next time.

Enjoy a random picture of my apartment. (yes it is that clean all the time!)