The Fantastic Adventures of Amelia the Great

Blah blah blah

2004-11-20T22:46:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd do a little catch up session.

Strange how so much communication now is online. I miss talking on the phone, although now, thanks to msn and email etc. I am now crap at talking on the phone. I heart the electronic age. Soon we won't be able to talk at all. We will all type things, print them out and pass them round the room, using stupid little words and sayings like "did u hear tht I gt the jb?" "Wow! U r a lgnd." I mean who needs vowels anyhow?

I am feeing in a rantish mood, but sort of in a celebratory one too, which is weird and confusing.

Several great things have happened over the past week. I learnt that I got into Grad. school, which means I will be training here next year, to be a primary teacher. I also found out that I passed by DipABRSM, and quite well too apparently. I haven't got the piece of paper with my results, but the lady from the Royal Schools of Music Office rang and the conversation went something like this:

Mrs. Tyler: "Hello. We'd like you to perform in the High Achievers concert on Dec. 13th." (Only those who get distinction - the highest level of achievement - get to perform at this)
Me: "Um. *thinks: whatwhatwhatwhatwhat?* I haven't got my results yet."
Mrs. T: "Well we have and we'd like you to perform."
Me: "Wow. *speechless* (for once) I guess I must have done alright then."
Mrs. T: "Well, *being careful not to say too much before I recieve official notification* yes."
Me: "Oh. *silence* I'd be honoured to perform. Wow."
Mrs. T: "So you will be there? That's good because you've won an award too dear."
Me: "Yes definately. Thanks very much!"

And etcetera. Anyway. I got off the phone, burst into tears and told my mum, who also burst into tears. I have had a real battle over performance anxiety and I didn't really think I could do it. (See "Cry, Weep Sob...Sook" - September) I was just hoping to pass. This is so much more than I ever thought I could achieve. And to be honest, I still don't believe it's true. For some reason - honestly - I feel like someone is playing a joke on me. I think I will only believe it when I get the report, hopefully tomorrow.

I also went to a conference at church on Friday and Saturday where an amazing preacher, Vicky d'Orazio was speaking. Amazing lady.
I had the most amazing God-time, and feel so challenged.
Awesome.

And Doug got back too which is great. Looking foward to summer I think and to next year, getting my teeth into something practical. I do feel though that I need to make some new years resolutions. I always try to think about these really carefully, because although it's kind of a dumb idea, I think it can be a useful time to write down some goals.
I don't mind sharing them as I think it is also important to be accountable.

So my resolutions so far are:
1. Purity
2. Humility
3. Growing in my relationship with God.
4. Making time for my friends.

The last two are really important for me. I am so busy with all the little things, that I often forget to make time for the important ones and the results are not always good. So I really want to work on that.
Cool. Well I'm done for tonight. I'm exhausted so I think I will go to bed and read a book.

Night.

Ahhh. Relief.

2004-11-09T01:24:00.000-08:00

Ja. Ich bin fertig.
German exam was a bit nasty, but generally what I expected, so that's ok I guess. Anyway, it doesn't matter, I'm just glad there are no more exams.

Woohoo!

I am so glad it is all over finally and I don't have to spend any more hours in the law library writing and revising notes.

Now I just have to decide what to do with my life next year.

Might do it tomorrow lying on the grass absorbing sun and working on my tan with a good book. Lying in the sun is a great way to solve many problems I feel.

Ich muss...

2004-11-06T22:28:00.000-08:00

Ich muss meine Deutche hausaufgabe machen.

Ich muss meine letze Prufung machen.

Ich muss abendessen kochen.

Ich muss meine Zimmer aufraumen.

Ich wolle in die Sonne liegen.

Aber ich muss meine Grammatik lernen.

Schade.

Ich mochte es Mittwoch sein, weil es mein Geburtstag ist.

Fantastisch.

Oh...my...GOSH.

2004-10-21T01:42:00.000-07:00

Take a listen to this.
Unbelievable.
It makes me want to cry...or laugh...or both at once.

I heart Chopin so much, he is one of my favourite composers. And this woman just killed him. Really really killed him. I don't heart her at all.

I also think the man who anounces the 'shairtso' instead of the 'scherzo' deserves a beating. A big one. I don't heart him either.

Unbelievable. And again I say unbelievable.

Go here to listen: www.jazzdrummer.com/goofs/misstexas.htm

Cripple Creek

2004-10-19T01:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, sounds like a rather bizarre name for a piece, but there you have it. It is a song that was sung in the Christchurch Primary Schools' Music Festival this year.
It's not actually about a cripple, that's just the name of the creek - apparently. It's actually about a boy called Johnny who loves a girl, who apparently is:
"Just like an apple from the tree,
Sweetest little girl you ever did see."

The song is strange, but uptempo and a lot of fun to sing. Anyway, the point is...and I am quite excited by this...I got to conduct it on one of the nights of the festival!
Might not sound like a very big deal, but there are 700 children in the massed choir, and 200 in the special choir, so that's a total of around 900 children! Plus the audience of about 1,500.
I never conducted a choir that big before!! It was so scary but incredibly EXCITING! I had an absolute ball, and hopefully can do some more next year. It was a little bit of a trial actually I think, to see if how I handled it.

Amazing opportunity, so appreciative to the music team who let me loose on the podium...

Wow.

Music is AWESOME.

Pigs don't say oink, they say 'gry'.

2004-10-19T01:11:00.000-07:00

You know that stupid riddle that gets sent around every so often?

There are three words in the English languager ending in -gry.
What is the third one?

It's actually just a stupid play on words, i.e. the third word is 'what'. How stupid.

However, perhaps more stupidly, or sadly, researchers decided to try and find more words that end in -gry.

There are quite a few. Some have interesting meanings.I might try to use '-gry' words more often.

aggry: A glass bead found buried in the ground in Africa. A word of unknown origin. Seemingly always used attributively, as in aggry beads.

braggry: A variant form of braggery.

conyngry: An obsolete dialectal variant of conyger, itself an obsolete term meaning 'rabbit warren'.

gry: The smallest unit in Locke's proposed decimal system of linear measurement, being the tenth of a line, the hundredth of an inch, and the thousandth of a ('philosophical') foot. Also the grunt of a pig, an insignificant trifle, or a verb meaning to roar.

iggry: Egyptian colloquial Arabic pronunciation of ijri: 'Hurry up!', brought back after the First World War by members of British and Australian forces who had fought in Egypt.

mawgry: from Old French: being regarded with displeasure.

meagry: Having a meager appearance.

nangry: A variant form of angry. (Come on. Since when?)

podagry: Dodder, or the condition of a plant infested with it.

puggry: A variant form of puggree, a light scarf wound around a hat or helmet to protect the head from the sun.

Ok. So I'm bored of study already.
Sorry to bore everyone else.

:(

My Name is...

2004-10-15T23:34:00.000-07:00

A	Amazing
M	Meek
E	Entertaining
L	Light
I	Industrious
A	Amorous

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

At least this is nicer than my sister's. For the 'h' in Charlotte, they wrote 'Hairy'. Although I'm not sure about the meek bit...

I heart grammar...

2004-10-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

Tonight's rant is about the state of the English language. Now I am the first to admit that I have problems sometimes, mostly with split infinitives, and apostrophes of all things. However, it seems to me that more and more people out there just don't write properly.

Firstly what is with a) giving nouns capital letters or b) putting apostrophes everywhere/leaving them out altogether. I accept that some languages, like German, give all nouns capital letters, and that at some time in the past English, being a Germanic language also used capitals. However, that has long since stopped. Not for some people though, who enjoy putting capitals in the middle of sentences. Here's a great example: "I need to start doing my Homework, not leaving it until the night Before it is due." Good.

Does anyone know 'Sophie's Cafe' on Papanui Road? First of all she actually omits the apostrophe on her sign, so it reads 'Sophies Cafe' which really annoys me for a start, and then she puts up signs like: "A women's dream, and a mans best friend". I believe she is talking about a steak sandwich, but really who cares? I think someone should present Sophie (or Sophie and her best friend Sophie - i.e. Sophies) with a dictionary/grammar book. Maybe I am just being unnecessarily harsh.

However, I like language a lot, and all the amazing and clever things that can be done with it when it is used properly. Novels by clever wordsmiths like Salman Rushdie would just not be possible without it. It is just unfortunate that so many people have no idea about simple things, like what is a verb?

Quiz:
Anyone reading may like to prove their mastery of the English language by answering the following simple questions...

1. What is a verb?
2. What is an adjective?
3. Give an example of a conjunction.
4. Give an example of an adverbial phrase.
5. Conjugate two tenses of "to go"

One final question. What is it with the new use of the noun 'heart'? Suddenly it has become a verb!! For example, "I heart my Dad." actually means "I love my Dad". Interesting.

I heart English. I really really heart it.

Voyeurs Anonymous

2004-10-06T01:07:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd keep you updated with scandalous gossip from my life...or maybe just general info...actually not all that scandalous at all...

Excerpts from Amelia's Life

Piano Exam: Went well, although being an anally retentive perfectionist, one is always disappointed it wasn't perfect, however I have come to understand that music performance is never perfect and as long as the musical ideas are conveyed, the little mistakes don't matter.

Boys: Ah yes. What can I say... Not sure actually exactly what I can say about this area. Might just leave it. Umm... I think university life is so busy that it is almost impossible to meet new people, let alone keep in touch with older friends, so I'm not sure how anyone is supposed to meet prospective boyf's. Oh well. At least I have a degree right?

Uni Exams: Oh argh bleurch mrrgh and fsgliyat.

Singing: This is good! I have a great teacher here now, Gillian Bohan, and she has been sooooo amazing! I think I am getting better - albeit VERY slowly - and am now singing regular f's and g's and can get right up to top c quite comfortably! I'm completely amazed. And she's such a sweet older lady. I can't wait to audition for youth choir again now, and to see if Karen (our conductor) thinks I have improved.

Next year: Who would know. Still waiting on God to let me know whether I should stay in chch or go to Auckland. I would like to go to Auckland for a break before starting teacher training, but I just don't know...

Anyway, sorry for being so self indulgent, there's just such a lot to think about and so much on my mind.
Blogs are just such a good way of a) procrastinating, and b) ranting, venting, purging.

Off to bed now methinks. I can't work at night. Anything after 9 is pretty hopeless. I think I will go to bed and get up early. I work best at stupid o'clock. Between 4am and 8am is the best time of the day for me. How strange.

What Key Signature Are You?

2004-10-05T22:39:00.000-07:00

Quiz at 'Quizilla': thought this was kinda apt, considering recent events...

"Ever wondered what (musical) key you are in? Finally you can find out! Your inner key signature is not set in stone, you can of course modulate into a different key, but it is up to you to do so. This quiz will tell you what your current key is!"

And the answer is...

"Cb major - life is full of complecations, commitments and organisation. You love to make sure everything is just perfect, but sometimes this can cause you to fall over your own feet. A slightly unsociable key: why Cb major when you could be the identical Bmajor? It has less accidentals."

Should I point out the misspelling of 'complications' and the feeble, feeble joke. Unsociable. Hmm. I wonder if the computer knows that while there is, theoretically a key of Cb, it is never used since it is enharmonically the same as B major. Although, having said all that, I do like flat keys...
*burble*

Shout out...

2004-09-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say a big thank you to Lyndon and Steve who came to the petit concert last night, and to all the others who showed up too of course.
It was so great to have an audience there, and to see how it wil be on friday. It is so different practicing at home to performing in front of an audience/examiners.
So big thanks and stuff.
:)

Concert

2004-09-23T23:09:00.000-07:00

Don't know if anyone is reading this anymore, but here goes anyway...
OK.
Anyone who would like to come and be an audience for me and a friend who are both doing our DipABRSM exams next friday is more than welcome to come along to City New Life Church on Monday Sep 27th at 7pm to hear us both perform our programs. It won't be longer than an hour.
This is a completely no obligation invite, just thought if you're bored and want something to do on monday night, it'd be cool to see you. We're both trying to get rid of our nerves before the big exam.
Cool. No pressure.

P.S It's on the first floor at church. Go in through the little door on the Manchester st side, and up the stairs. :)

Cry, Weep Sob...Sook.

2004-09-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to have a moan, and what better place to do it than on my blog?
Having practiced like crazy for the last two years I finally thought I would have a bash at sitting my DipABRSM exam. This is a music diploma, which is stupidly tricky, and I only have an hour to show two examiners what I have been learning for two years. Ack. And again, ack.
Anyone who really knows will know that I actually have a phobia of playing in public. So really it beats me why I actually decided to sit this stupid exam. I think it was because I have been learning so long, and wanted a stupid piece of paper to show for it. Ack.
I do LOVE playing the piano like nothing else on earth...well maybe I like singing AND playing the piano more, however, it is something I love to do. I just don't like other people judging my playing. I think it's my perfectionist/competitive nature coming into play. I know my playing isn't perfect, and I HATE that. And also, I know I'm not the best concert pianist ever - not that I want to be, that's not the point - I just love to play, so whether I pass or fail shouldn't really matter, however the perfectionist in me says I must NOT fail. It is all a bit tiring really!
In the past months, any attempt to play my program (all the pieces I will play from beginning to end, like a concert) has resulted in tears, and long periods of rocking quietly in a corner. My teacher tells me I know my stuff, and that technically I can do it, apparantly my problems are psychological. Great. My teacher thinks I'm psycho. :)Anyway, my teacher told me, the only way to get over it (psycho performing inability) was to perform my program every night.
So like a good, dutiful pupil, I have been following his instructions and yesterday actually performed it twice! Once was to another friend who's also sitting his DipABRSM, and once was to my Grandfather. For the first time since I started performing the program I had the most amazing feeling.
I actually started to forget about myself. The usual head commentry which runs while playing is something like this:

"Right, start of the Fugue. Watch the RH (right hand) quavers, they're tricky. Ooooh careful, you almost missed that entry, make sure the next one's more secure...whoops! overplayed that one, be careful...now watch these rhythms coming up, and remember that every second note of the semiquaver patterns needs an accent...bugger, totally screwed up the LH, focus on the LH for a while...Ooooh, but what is the phrasing doing? I totally forgot to round off the RH phrase properly..."

And on it goes. Anyway, I totaly was not doing that, I actually forgot to! I was enjoying playing for the first time ever, and was listening to the music and trying to convey the ideas and emotins behind it. It was an amazing feeling. I felt positive about the exam for the first time ever after my second performance yesterday, and actually started believing I might be able to do it. There were still some slips, but I have a week, and the whole overcoming of the nerves thing was a HUGE deal, considering I usually botch pieces up completely and reduce myself/my audience to tears of pain and frustration.
Anyway, just had a call from my grandfather to tell me he noticed a few mistakes last night, and asking if I thought I was doing enough practice. *hint hint*
Well, me being me I feel totally upset about it all. It's like the one step forward two steps backwards thing. Just get going and someone tells you you're not good enough. Argh. Think I am going to have a little cry and then get on with it. I just can't believe I was feeling so positive, and now am feeling so negative. I hope I can get the feeling I had last night while playing back again. Although now I feel like actually, how I played was obviously not that great, and maybe I should pack it in...
Ack.

Mezzo Frustratione

2004-08-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

Supposed to be writing my serial composition, but it's proving quite a challenge. Trying to keep track of what note row I'm using, and then trying to make sure I have the right durations, and then working out where the barline has to go with all these stupid little notes. ARGH!
Molto Frustratiendo.
Also quite, quite bored and sick of work and uni and stuff. Can't wait for summer. Mum and Dad off to Fiji they think for a break. Adding up my airpoints in the hope I might be able to ride along. How exciting would that be?...
Looking foward to going to Dunedin tomorrow though. Going to see Thomas and Charlotte sing in Choral Fest, and have a little holiday at the same time.
It's snowing in Dunedin. Is that good or bad?

King Arthur is a Wuss.

2004-08-08T00:35:00.000-07:00

Just went to see the latest big blockbuster movie that is King Arthur. Unfortunately Arthur had all the personality and charisma of a wet rag. I would have followed Guinevere instead, she had balls.
Anyway, just thought I would procrastinate yet again, and avoid doing my deutsche hausaufgabe. (German homework) I am also slightly flustered because one of my assignments has turned out to be rather fun. I haven't experienced this before, and I feel guilty spending hours on this assignment since I am actually enjoying myself. Very strange.
I am also having withdrawal symptoms from not writing in a journal. I wrote every day while on tour, and think I may have to start another journal. Like Doug said so eloquently on his blog, it is a form of escapism, and it is so good to get your ideas down in one place, read them, and sort them all out. For me anyway. I seem to think little and say lots. Writing it down first means I get to think a bit more. Not entirely bad methinks.
Anyway, better go. Have to do some not enjoyable study so I feel like I have actually achieved something today. Reading Plato is not overly enjoyable. I think the translators were unsure whether they were translating into English or some form of gibberish.
Maybe I'll read next weeks readings instead - Calvin and Luther. Much more interesting.

Back Home

2004-08-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

Don't know who's really going to read this any more, but I quite enjoy the whole blogging thing, so thought I might keep it going for a while anyway...
Lots of fun to be had back at uni. Going crazy with assignments and work to catch up on, but then so is everyone else I'm sure.
Just discovered as of yesterday that I only have 7 weeks until my piano exam. ARGH! On hearing the above information I curled up into a small ball and sat rocking myself in my car for half an hour. Why oh why did I say I would do a stupid exam in the first place? Stupid.
Oh well. At least I have holidays soon. I will have to practice quite a bit I think, and do a couple of performances. A guy at New Life is doing his DipABRSM too, so we might do a little concert in 3 or 4 weeks, to try and get over nerves before the exam day. Anyone want to come to a free concert?
Awesome.
I should probably stop procrastinating and get some work done. Although procrastinating is way more fun...

England: Parte the Seconde

2004-07-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

Today we went from Chester to a little place called Bramshall which is close to Uttoxeter if you want to find it on the Map. There I met Paul, Naomi and Kate. It was so surreal to see everyone together again after so long, especially since we are all still so similar even though so much time has passed.
We had lunch at a lovely little country pub and talked all afternoon. It was sad to say goodbye again, but I'm sure it won't be another 6 years before we all catch up again.
Tomorrow I am taking a train to London where I have the whole afternoon to shop till I drop. Yeehah!!!!
Then I am hopefully meeting Anthony on Saturday morning before catching the train to West Malling to visit Beryl and Michael. I am really looking foward to seeing them again. :)
I am having a fantastic time, and it has been great having the opportunity to travel around the north a little - thanks Anne!
I am looking foward to coming home though. I miss everyone heaps, and can't wait to get home and have some family cuddles.
I have discovered though that Singapore airport now has a pool on the roof. I think I will take my togs with me as a swim in between a 12 hour flight and a 9 hour flight sounds like a jolly good alternative to a shower. Then I hopefully won't smell when I get picked up from the airport!
Love you all loads (I would say love you 'heaps' but they say 'loads' here...)
Amelia

P.S. In England they use realy cool long words on signs. One pub's slogan advertised it as a place for "Eating, Drinking and Cavorting" How cool is that? :)

England

2004-07-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

Can't write everything that's happened since I last wrote, since I am quite tired and want to go to bed...but just thought I would let you know that Moscow was very dark and sad, but I am so glad I went there. It gives such an insight into the music and cultural products that come out of Russia when you see the landscape and the people. I have heaps of stories and photos.
I arrived in the UK, so grateful to hear people speaking English!! I think the customs officer thought I was crazy. It was horrible saying goodbye to everyone, we all cried and cried and cried. Today I am in Leeds, having managed to find the station and the train all by myself. It was quite an ordeal with three train changes and hauling my bag up and down stairs in peak hour for people travelling to work. It was great to see Anne again after so long. We caught up and reminisced about Singapore and people we both knew.
Anne has been so fantastic! Today we went for a drive and found the stones which Lizzy stands on in Pride and Prejudice! Tomorrow we are going to York, and the day after that, to Chester to stay in her house there. Then on Thursday we are going to meet Kate, Paul and Anthony, the whole Singapore youth group reunites! How exciting.
Now I just have to organise my travel arrangements to get to Beryl and Michael's. Shouldn't be too difficult though.
Will blog again soon...
Smiles and hugs,
Meels

From Russia With Love

2004-07-15T01:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so St Petersburg is an incredible city.
I have had one scary experience, but otherwise it has been great.
We were standing in the queue at McDonalds (don't ask why we went there) and Doug was holding on to his camera bag which was over his head and shoulders like a bag. He took his hand away to point to what he wanted (no english speaking here..., put his hand back and someone had sut his straps and run off with the camera. None of us noticed, and I was standing right beside him!
I was so freaked out that I couldn't eat any lunch, which seems silly now, but that's how it was. I am fine though. I have my important stuff - bank cards etc. in my money pouch strapped under my trousers, and a little spending money in my wallet, which is in my bag. I also have my camera in my handbag, but it is over my shoulder and firmly held under my arm. I have also had a boy in the choir looking out for me which is fantastic. He always comes out with me and we go shopping together which is great. Any time someone slightly suspicious looking comes along he puts his arm around me, so I feel very safe.
No chance of romance though mum, sorry to disapoint, he has a boyfriend back home. It seems fine though, as long as everything is tucked away in less conspicuous places, and not obvious like a big camera bag, they don't seem to target you.
Yesterday we went on a sightseeing tour. The history in this place is phenomenal. Everything looks very dull and austere, but that's a hangover from communism I expect. There are the most amazing palatial residences everywhere, where wealthy families used to live, but are now shops and apartments in varying states of disrepair.
The best thing to shop for in Russia appears to be CD's and DVD's. I'm sure they are pirated, because CD's on average cost about $4, and DVD's cost about $7-$9. I have picked up some excellent titles which I would never have expected to find in Russia of all places, but will say no more as they will be presents for people when I get home. Most places are fantastic and play them for you, so I am sure that they are in English.
Today we are off to Peterhoff palace, which I am really looking foward to. I am so glad I studied the Russian revolution in 6th form, it makes all of this so much more interesting and meaningful.

Venice

2004-07-11T04:58:00.000-07:00

What a FANTASTIC day!
The weather was hot and beautiful as we hopped off the bus and onto the water taxi.
We had the opportunity to sing in St Marks which was fantastic as we probably wouldnt have gone in there otherwise, the queue was just too long.
Then I shopped for Africa. I managed to find the sign for the Hotel where I stayed when I went to Venice with my family. I managed to avoid all the touristy places, and went walking and shopping on some of the smaller streets in Venice.
I bought two small ceramic masks of commedia dell arte figures, as well as some beautiful paper from a book shop, two wraps and a necklace. I have to say that I also bought a touristy casual t-shirt, just for fun.
We all met up for lunch (50 of us) for a joint dinner, which was a fantastic pizza and a drink. We then realised we had half an hour before the water taxi left, so I ran around the streets to find a shop I wanted something from, but it had closed. Gutted.
It didnt matter though. I had the best day ever. Amazing how a day of shopping can TOTALLY refresh you. Aaahhh. :)
Today we have had a rehearsal and we are about to go into Gorizia to watch the European Grand Prix competition. This is an even bigger competition than the one we entered. All the choirs that won the competitions like we entered come together the following year and compete for the grand prix.
Since its just 20 mins from where we are, we are going to go and watch the choirs. Tomorrow we go to Russia. How exciting!!

PUKANA

2004-07-09T02:39:00.000-07:00

We were all so frustrated by the second placing thing that we decided to go nuts in Thursday mornings category, which was the folk music category.
We sang 4 pieces. We started with a Karanga, sang Wairua Tapu, a quiet piece, then did Pokarekare ana, then did Te Iwi E, which is louder wih actions and then did Timatanga which is a huge action and choreographed piece with a Haka from the boys in the middle.
We practiced all morning making sure all the actions were exactly the same, and the Melissa, Charene and Charles taught us all how to Pukana, which is the scary Maori eyes and tongue thing.
When we got to the competition venue we were all ready to make an impression on the judges and the audience.
We went out there and it was phenomenal. Charene and Melissa did a Karanga that sent shivers up your spine, and the rest of the pieces, especially Timatanga were so tight. We all felt so united as a team and we pukanaed like nothing else at the judges.
We were so excited afterwards by our performance, since we knew we had done the best we possibly could.
We had the afternoon off in which I went shopping and bought the most gorgeous bikini. Now I have to get the courage up to wear it!! :)
When we went to the concert hall in the evening, (concerts in Italy start at 9) we were all wondering what prizes, if any, we would be awarded.
It was a clean sweep by the Kiwis! (Well almost)
Anna Griffiths won the prize for best unpublished composition (against a bunch of older Europeans - awesome!). Karen won for best conductor. We got two awards for the Maori music. We got first for the category (folk music) and also got the audience award. We also won the overall prize for best programme. (Over al the sections). I dont think we have ever screamed so much! We were all cheering and waving our flags, and then we had to perform the whole Maori programme again for the concert after the prizegiving.
We didnt win the Grand Prix though. That prize went to a fantastic chamber choir from Budapest called Discantus. They were wonderful, and as Karen said, we are a young, large choir and they are a group of older, professional musicians. She was so pleased with all the prizes we got, which is better than anything else.
Tonight we have to sing a concert in Zemono, which should be interesting since we have all lost our voices from Haka/maori music/cheering and screaming. Tomorrow we go to Venice.
All the girls in the choir are so excited. I think there will be a lot of shopping done.
Love to you all,
Meels

Competition

2004-07-09T02:30:00.003-07:00

Over the last three days we have been competing in the Gorizia Grand Prix for Choral Singing.
This is a strange European competiton. There are 10 or so judges, each of whom mark a choir individually. The scores are collected by someone else who takes off the top and bottom mark, then averages the rest out.
We sang in four sections. One on Tuesday night, the polychoral section in which we sang Guerrero and Bach. Polychoral means the pieces are written for two or more choirs.
On Wednesday morning we sang in the monographic programme, which is songs from one era. We sang 20th century music by Waldenby, Griffiths and Rautavaara. The piece by Griffiths was written by a girl called Anna who is in our choir.
The third section was on Wednesday afternoon and was called the historical programme. We sang music by Byrd, Brahms and Martin.
We sang the best we have ever sang and Karen (our conductor) was SOOO proud of us, and said we had sung very well (which she never says).
When we went to the prizegiving we were all so excited to see how we had been placed. Karen had said that due to the very high quality of choirs she wasnt sure we would even be placed, but we hoped anyway.
Turns out we won the monographic section and the historical categories. However, because the whole thing is done on points, we didnt get enough points for 1st. So we won by getting 2nd which is a strange idea to Kiwis. Apparently you have to get over 90 to get a first.
However, we did win, even though we got 2nd! How strange is that?

Vienna

2004-07-09T02:23:00.000-07:00

Vienna was amazing...no hang on, I need a new word..
I think my vocabulary has lessened being over in Europe, although my Slovenian is getting better.
Vienna was a beautiful city, although we only spent about three hours there.
I saw the house where Mozart lived and also went to the huge St Stephens church. It was a strange church with little chapels everywhere which looked like they had been joined together to form one big cathedral.
The best bit by far though was seeing Daddy. It was fantastic to catch up with family after two weeks with crazy choir people.
I am having a fantastic time but sometimes its nice to be with people that know you so well.
We went for a walk and found a charm for my bracelet - an edelweiss flower. We then had lunch. I had a salad, which was GREAT after all the bread we have had here.
It was an excellent morning off before the competition.

Hungary

2004-07-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

Quite a lot has happened since I last posted.
We have been in Hungary. Not as nice as Slovenia. The people are quite mean actually, but the scenery was quite amazing.
The center of Sopron dated back to at least the 12th century, and there was a roman wall. So I was in my element.
In Sopron we sang in a choir festival with a selection of the worst choirs EVER. It was quite hilarious. One choir, from Finland was conducted by a man who danced and waved a flag about. Excellent.
On Saturday Charles and I almost got put in prison. In Hungary, they only seem to have fizzy water, so Charles thought it would be clever to shake up a bottle, then slightly loosen the top and see if it went sscchhh. We tried that with 3 and finally found one that didnt go sscchh. To cut a long story short, we were yelled at by tall rabid hairy Hungarians but finally escaped, laughing all the way back to the hostel.
Now we are in a little village called Nova Gorica which is in Slovenia just across the border from Gorizia in Italy where the competition will be.
Tomorrow is the first category we compete in (there are four altogether) and we are singing two pieces by Bach and Guerrero.
Only sad thing that happened today was that the aeroplane lost 10 suitcases, mine included. We think its just because the plane was too small to carry everthing. The little Italian man at the airport said they would arrive on another later flight, so hopefully they make it to our hostel by tomorrow. At least mine wasnt the only bag lost!
Just not looking foward to wearing ALL my clothes for the second day running. Mmmm.
Anyway, will blog again after the competition and let you know how it all goes...
Meelies

Caves and stuff

2004-06-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Postojana caves, which was just amazing. A HUGE cave underground which goes under Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary I think. Very big and amazing.
We got to sing in one of the big caves where the Slovenian philharmonic sometimes plays concerts.It was the most amazing acoustic.
Then we wen to see a castle built into a stone precipice. We couldnt go in because of time limits, but the outside was amazing. The rolling hills and little streams made me want to put my hair in Heidi plaits and run to find Peter in the meadows with the goats.
Very good day. We also sang the most amazing concert last night, I think the most amazing concert of my life. It was such hard work, but everything came together amazingly. It was an amazing experience. We even got a standing ovation, which is very good here.
Anyway, we have a VERY early coach ride tomorrow. 4 and a half hours from Ljubljana to Sopron in Hungary.
It wont seem like that long though, with all the amazing scenery.

Ljubljana

2004-06-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

Today we drove from Maribour to Ljubljana which was quite a shift. Ljubljana seems to be a lot larger than Maribour, which isnt surprising really since it is the capital.
We had lots of rehearsals when we got here, so I havent actually had a chance to look around yet. We did get to go to a concert tonight which was VERY interesting.
Im getting used to it here, im even starting to look left when crossing the road! (Cars drive on the wrong side here)
It was great in the hostel today. There is a room of Slovenian rasta down the corridor. Fine until they got out theyre drums, which disturbed one of the girls in the choir who was practicing her violin. But then she joined them!! So we had Bach and Bruch violin concertos with Slovenian rasta beats! It was fantastic.
Dashing off to find an ice cream - one of the major food groups in Europe in summer. It is just so HOT!

(sorry about the lack of apostrophes and things mum, they dont have those in Slovenia either. Seriously. They are not on the keyboard. grrr)

Zdravo!

2004-06-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

Well my Slovenian is getting better, and I can now say hello, thank you, and goodbye, which is REALLY helpful, especially when you want to say things like, "can I please use the room on the third floor for a sectional?"
Luckily we made friends with the locals here, who have been fantastic, and have been teaching us phrases, and translating and stuff for us, which has made it really great.
They have all gone home today for their summer holidays, but it was neat to have a chance to meet some local people.
Maribour has been fantastic - and VERY hot. We had a look around the old part of the city yesterday and took HEAPS of photos, it has just been amazing.
Must go though, will write again soon but there is a major queue to use these computers...
Adio!

More...

2004-06-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

So we finally got on our Lufthansa flight on which we really were packed like batery hens. I wa also busting to go to the toilet by this stage, and half an hour after take off, the seat belt signs still hadn´t been switched off but I deided to try and find a toilet anyway, only to be told by an air hostess to "pleeze taike ure seat, zee seetbelt sign eez steel on." No matter how I pleaded, she wouldn´t budge. Oh well.
I did manage to sleep though which was GREAT!
Now I am going to go to zee leetle gairman buchshop and buy a childrens book to try and read on the next 2 hour flight and 4 hour bus ride!
Can´t wait to get to Slovenia - we´ll be there this afternoon, and have the night/afternoon off to have a walk around and do some sightseeing.
It has been a fantastic start to the tour and I am so excited to be in Europe!
I´ll try to write again soon...
Mel

p.s. sorry about the typos, German keyboards have letters in very funny places...

Amelia finally finds a computer!

2004-06-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
Well finding a computer has been WAY harder than I anticipated. We didn't really have time in Singapore, but now we are in Frankfurt airport for a couple of hours. I manage to ask a German policeman with a really big gun if we could go out of transit to use the email - so here is a message.
Singapore was fantastic! Very hot but not as hot as I remembered. Managed to find a shop at the bottom of Lucky Plaza where I smiled niely at an indian man and asked hem if he could discount some really nice perfume for me. I got $80 perfume for $48! I was so proud of myself.
The concert was amaing, 800 young people coudn´t see one person over 20 in the audience and they were screaming and cheering when we camne on to the stage and kept yelling ´more! more!" at the end of the concert. Unfortunately we had to race to the airport so we couldnt sing anymore, but we got cheered off the bus, and waved off. How biarre!
Singapore airport was fascinating. Once we came through immigration there were four poliemen wandering around with HUGE guns slightly disturbing. Then they deided to do a spot check on our flight which meant standing around for ages. Well Georgia Jess and I decided that was really boring so we stood on the travelator and travelled up and down past the gate 30 times before the queue was short enough to join.
H

Only six sleeps left!

2004-06-14T00:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought it would be a good idea to start a blog, as then family and friends can keep up with me while I'm travelling.
It's not as good as individual emails, I know, and I will try to send everyone an email or a postcard or something individual, however if there isn't time you can keep up with me online!
Things are getting really exciting now...just one more essay to write, two more exams to sit, a bag to pack and then we're off!
So so so so excited! :)