Back in Rapid

Last Friday was very busy at Sound Encouters.  It really all started Thursday evening with an unusually long ensemble recital at the Carnegie Cultural Center in central Ottawa.  (FYI, Ottawa is a small town with about 6 traffic lights.)  That evening started with a lot of posing and smiling for photographs after which approximately 75% of the ensembles performed.  The other 25% performed the evening prior.  So, Thursday was a late night then Friday was a typically busy day followed by the Final Concert which was located at Washburn Towers.  This too was a long concert.  The event was special because all the students' families were there.  The long goodbye started right after the concert and didn't end until I physically forced (slight exaggeration) the kids into our van the next morning.

Maya, Kelsea (left) and Julie were ensemble partners.  Kelsea and Julie were in a different repertoire group than Maya, hence their costumes.

 The roomies.  Here are Marie and Elizabeth (sisters), Abby and Jamuna.  They shared a suite in Bennett Hall dormitory.









Mr. Brian Lewis is one of the most esteemed faculty members at Sound Encounters. Both Maya and Kelsea were quite fortunate to have been selected to be in his master class.  With them is one of their BFFs, Izzy.









Below is Mr. Barg, the conductor of the orchestra and symphony.  In this case I'm not sure who is the bigger fan of the other -  if that doesn't make sense what I mean is they clearly like each other.

Saturday morning we finally hit the road home a bit before 9 AM.  Due to Missouri River flooding and interstate highway closures we took a longer and slower route home.  After about 14 hours and 830 miles we made it home safely.  Yesterday we rested.