|
|
Post by stringypoo on Dec 12, 2022 3:54:07 GMT -5
And... I got the damned virus. A week before the two-week Christmas break.
|
|
|
|
Post by v9733xa on Dec 12, 2022 17:56:35 GMT -5
And... I got the damned virus. A week before the two-week Christmas break. Yeah, the way you were writing there it seemed like it was clear you had a prolonged exposure. My best to you. Take it easy and rest up, friend. |
|
|
|
Post by stringypoo on Dec 12, 2022 18:24:47 GMT -5
And... I got the damned virus. A week before the two-week Christmas break. Yeah, the way you were writing there it seemed like it was clear you had a prolonged exposure. My best to you. Take it easy and rest up, friend. Thanks. I gather yesterday may have actually been day 2 because I had light symptoms the day before. And yesterday I got hit with a high fever, headache, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, eternally cold hands and feet, and still hanging on to the light coughs from the previous day. Yesterday sucked. Couldn’t get up on my feet much for anything. Just lay there on the couch and drink warm water and sleep on and off. Today as I lay in my bed about to wake up I surprisingly feel better, but I’m not sure since I thought I was almost not sick yesterday when I woke up and then 2 hours later felt awful. Time will tell. |
|
|
|
Post by v9733xa on Dec 25, 2022 11:53:51 GMT -5
Merry Christmas!!
|
|
|
|
Post by stringypoo on Jan 5, 2023 23:49:16 GMT -5
Well, we still have the most freedom we've had since 2019 here in China with respects to restrictions in the face of Covid. However, now it sounds like there is a new strain which is worse than the one I likely got a few short weeks ago?! Ugh... Supposedly I now have immunity which locals say may be in effect for 2-3 months, but I am just afraid to trust that.
But I've gotta admit, while I previously stated that I really valued my protection over my freedom, it does indeed feel pretty cool to enter the subway or the mall without having first find my personal health code on my phone first to show someone or scan a machine. haha
|
|
|
|
Post by stringypoo on Mar 6, 2023 21:59:44 GMT -5
I got chosen by China's most famous living composer (Bright Sheng), who actually now lives and teaches in a university in Michigan, to be the concertmaster (lead violinist) for an orchestra concert at New York University Shanghai Campus. I might have mentioned it already, but I'm really stoked and also quite anxious about it, especially given that the rehearsals are finally here with tonight being my first. Bright Sheng is especially famous here because he composed the music for the Beijing Olympics ceremony, along with a ton of other great works.
I'm especially anxious because I have no idea who the violinists who will sit beside and behind me under my command and leadership will be. At this point I practice violin so rarely since moving to China that I don't really always feel worthy of such a great opportunity, especially when I might be placed in charge of a group full of daily violinists from esteemed faculty positions of high level music colleges like Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where most musicians play circles around me.
But anyway, anxious energy aside, I'm beyond stoked to get to perform this exquisitely dark and cinematic piece of music by Schoenberg called Verklarte Nacht. If you want something dark, rich, intimate, and oddly uplifting in bursts of absolute serenity and purity, do check out this piece. The ending is so beautiful, in deep contrast to the uber dark beginning.
|
|
|
|
Post by stringypoo on Mar 12, 2023 22:53:31 GMT -5
I got chosen by China's most famous living composer (Bright Sheng), who actually now lives and teaches in a university in Michigan, to be the concertmaster (lead violinist) for an orchestra concert at New York University Shanghai Campus. I might have mentioned it already, but I'm really stoked and also quite anxious about it, especially given that the rehearsals are finally here with tonight being my first. Bright Sheng is especially famous here because he composed the music for the Beijing Olympics ceremony, along with a ton of other great works. I'm especially anxious because I have no idea who the violinists who will sit beside and behind me under my command and leadership will be. At this point I practice violin so rarely since moving to China that I don't really always feel worthy of such a great opportunity, especially when I might be placed in charge of a group full of daily violinists from esteemed faculty positions of high level music colleges like Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where most musicians play circles around me. But anyway, anxious energy aside, I'm beyond stoked to get to perform this exquisitely dark and cinematic piece of music by Schoenberg called Verklarte Nacht. If you want something dark, rich, intimate, and oddly uplifting in bursts of absolute serenity and purity, do check out this piece. The ending is so beautiful, in deep contrast to the uber dark beginning. 22 hours of rehearsal/performance time later I am finished with the awesome week performing under Bright Sheng’s baton. And sure enough, I sat concertmaster in front of likely one violinist who could probably outplay me, given she’s in China’s #1 orchestra. But I proved myself and nailed all my solos and everything. Bright Sheng even invited me to a private dinner after the first concert. We talked about his interest in having me be more connected to New York University Shanghai as a more regular performer and also teacher. That meant a lot to me. Never thought I’d have impressed him enough to have such a conversation. Whether it happens remains to be seen, but it was a really special week/weekend. Also, I got extremely sick on the day of the last concert. People thought I wasn’t going to even make it to the stage after the intermission. But I pulled it together for the Schoenberg, and likely nobody in the audience noticed anything. Seems I may have gotten the flu. Too bad I’ve not had a flu vaccine since I was a teenager. But I think I’ll be fine as long as I manage this fever with medicine and stuff. |
|
|
|
Post by v9733xa on Mar 13, 2023 17:41:31 GMT -5
That's amazing! (Not the flu part.) Great job.
|
|
|
|
Post by stringypoo on Mar 16, 2023 3:26:49 GMT -5
Boy, my experience with flu A has been rough. I actually was less miserable when I had Covid...The extreme exhaustion I've had these last four days is brutal!
|
|
