Checking in.

We're rehearsing at a private school which has also hosted a few other summer activities/organizations in addition to Ash Lawn Opera. One of the programs brought in a petting zoo for an afternoon.

Those of us who'd packed dinner decided to serenade the animals (okay, not really, but it made for some funny photos)...


I'm holding a Japanese Bantam hen. I was told that it's a rare breed known for its fluffy feathers. I was merely hoping that it didn't relieve itself on me.

And a photo from the first performance of the season, Broadway Bound. I sang excerpts from West Side Story and Oklahoma! A good time was had by all. Sitting to my right is the fabulous mezzo who will be singing the role of Carmen this summer and the other three are fellow apprentices this summer at ALO.

This week we're getting worked over by the Carmen artistic staff. We've staged the opera in four days and will have a day off tomorrow to digest the whole thing. Saturday and Sunday are performances of My Fair Lady and then next week we have a tech rehearsal, a Sitzprobe and a dress rehearsal for Carmen. Friday night is Mozart & More (opera scenes) and Saturday night Carmen opens!

Hang on...

Traveling without a passport...

I traveled to Northwestern this week in order to call dibs on some equipment that was being left behind by a previous professor. As I got to the airport, I could not help but feel a little strange to not have my passport. After our time in Europe, it just feels weird to only have to travel with your driver’s license.

The whirlwind two day trip was a HUGE success. I was able to get the equipment that I wanted, and finally got to see Evanston (the suburb just north of Chicago where Northwestern is located) in a time other than winter. Previously, I have only been there in January, February, and the very end of March, Everything was amazingly green. We were told that the city was very proud of its trees (kind of like Pleasantville, aka Burlingame) and I was definitely not disappointed.

I also got the chance to go sailing. The Department chair (who is an avid sailor), took another new faculty member (Josh) and I out sailing for two hours on Lake Michigan. The conditions were perfect. Looking back at the Bahai temple, Northwestern, and downtown Chicago was a treat. We enjoyed a gorgeous sunset and calm waters. I even got to take the helm of the “Flying Scot” for about 30 minutes.

I am looking forward to visiting with Megan this fall.

The Personal Genome Project

Check out this 3 minute video of my advisor, George Church, talking about the next revolution in medicine - Personal Genomics. Would you be willing to have your entire genome sequenced?

Click here.