Mock Audition / Beach Party

Thursday morning was free time for me because other people were getting private lessons (I had my lesson Tuesday morning). I practiced all morning for the Mahler and the excerpts for the mock audition. After lunch we had another Mahler rehearsal - it's not really sounding so great. The symphony is really difficult! Before dinner the clarinet, viola and cello sections gave a concert. The violas played a peice that was actually written for 5 violas - it wasn't a transcription! The cello section played a really interesting piece written by Pablo Casals originally for vocalists and then transcribed for cello.

After the concert and dinner were the mock auditions. We did them combined with the cellos - that was really interesting. There were 6 basses and 7 cellos. We drew lots to decide who whould play when - they intermixed the cellos and the basses. The first seven people played while the remaining six listened and wrote comments with Mark and Katinka (the cello teacher) - then the remaining six played while the first seven listened. I didn't win the audition but Mark told me that I played really well. After the audition we all went to the Beach Gardens (the hotel where some of the students and faculty are staying) for a bass/cello party. Mark and Katinka bought us beer - it was a good time. I asked Katinka if she could give me a lesson before the festival is over - she said that she would. She plays cello with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I've never taken a lesson with a cellist before - I hope that there's time to fit it in!