Take Back the Night

Tomorrow is the annual "Take Back the Night" march and rally in Duluth, MN. Em has been planning it all year and I should mention it because it is such a positive event that more people should know about.
Take Back the Night marches have been going on for 30 years throughout the US, Europe and Canada. It is a chance for the community to speak out against violence and sexual assault which is a topic most people prefer to shut their eyes to. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) so it is no better time than the present to educate yourself about sexual assault and how you can prevent it. I know that I have learned so much this year just from hearing stories of what Em and her co workers at PAVSA (Program to Aid Victims of Sexual Assault)have witnessed people going through. It is truly shocking how often the victim is blamed for what they wore, or how they acted. I really admire the work PAVSA and other organizations like it are doing to help victims of these crimes and to prevent them from happening in the future.
Definitely check out if and when there is Take Back the Night march in your community!

Bassoon Madness: The Nordic Bassoon Symposium

Headin' South

Hello!
I just arrived to Stavanger, Norway! I was lucky to land a gig playing with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra which is one of the major orchestras in Norway. We will be playing Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony and Bruckner's 9th which is also unfinished. I think they have a theme for the week ;)
Quick funny story:
I heard about this gig though Corinne who has played here before (She was nice enough to recommend me) A couple days later she got an email from a friend of hers who also plays with this group regularly. He was writing to inquire about a student of Per Hannevold who is subbing with Stavanger. Apparently "he" played a good Beethoven 9 with the Bergen Philharmonic and comes highly recommended. "Who is this guy?" hehehehe
Hopefully I don't disappoint with my playing or my gender...

I am excited to be here! The weather is nicer here, I get to stay in a really nice hotel for free and see the city in my off time which is plentiful. Not bad...


Here is a bit of the Bruckner 9 Symphony. Not a very commonly performed piece but it has some nice moments...

SUN!

This week has been the first with perfect blue skies and warm weather(or it was til the volcano erupted). I am pretty sure Norway is the only place where you will see people standing in the street with their eyes closed, soaking in the sun like they haven't felt it in years. It's great though. Everyone is outside barbecuing and eating ice cream. Makes you feel glad to be alive!

VOLCANO!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/16/world/europe/16ash.html?hp
Most of you have probably seen this already since it has been front page news but I thought I would post it for posterity's sake.
Where's Tommy Lee Jones when you need him?

About a week ago some friends and I hiked up Ulriken which is the highest mountain in Bergen. It was hard work and frankly a bit dangerous. The mountain was still covered with snow so the way down was slippery. Luckily there were guard rails installed that we gladly clung to as we climbed back down to earth. At the top it was so foggy that it felt like you were in a cloud but then briefly the clouds parted just long enough for us to see the entire city from above.

Went to an Easter gathering at my friend Rebecca's house with other international students. We ate a lot of delicious food, too many desserts, dyed Easter eggs, played cards and charades. It was extremely wholesome. Easter is a very serious holiday in Norway. Almost everyone leaves the city to visit family or go to their cabins in the country which means the city is basically closed for four days. It was nice to spend time with other people who are far from home during the holiday.