I am already thinking about the fall….not THIS fall, but fall 2011. In order for thing to be in place—I have to think this far ahead. Of course, the coming concert has been planned for quite a while, with theme and repertoire. And the spring is gelling and most of the music, if not already in my possession, is ordered or will be borrowed. It is next fall I’m thinking about now.

I have a few ideas and will spend the next few months listening and researching and seeing what strikes my fancy. I’ll talk to my singers and get a few ideas from them. And, I will go from there.

I believe in Karma. Oh, I don’t know if I would really call it that, exactly. I feel if you do something good, it usually comes back to you. If you do something bad, it can come back to you as well. In a Christian sense, I believe you “reap what you sow”.

This is why I try so hard to be ethical and honest and nice in my dealings with singers and musicians and anyone I have to work with regularly. It doesn’t take any special effort and it can make a difference. “Good will out” has happened to me over and over.

In my musical life, I try to do good by keeping my eye out for other people–if I hear of a job that would be perfect for someone I know, I tell them. Or recommend them–even those who I know don’t like me. I think if I do, good will be returned to me. And, in many ways, it has. In my travels, I try to never say anything bad if I can help it, at least not in public.

Perhaps others feel differently, but I will always take the high road if I can. And if I can’t, I try to be as kind as possible.

I am a reader–I always have been. I read novels, bios, histories and books about arts management. I read news magazines, decorating magazines and professional journals. When my husband was a resident, I read JAMA regularly–the Journal of the American Medical Association– just to understand what he was going through. And I love children’s books and read to my sons as long as they would allow me to.

My rhythm of reading has a pattern–I read trash during the school year and serious stuff during the summer. I know it’s backwards from what is usually done but it works for me. During the school year and in the midst of concert cycles and preparations, my mind needs a brief escape. I usually read for an hour or so before I fall asleep and reading yet another ‘sequel’ to “Pride and Prejudice” helps me relax enough to rest.

During the summers, my mind needs to be stimulated and reading bios or histories or serious literature fits the bill. I clear my palate for the coming concert cycle and am ready for what is thrown at me. I’ve read some wonderful bios of women composers–Amy Beach, Ruth Crawford Seeger–and a “novel” about the life of Hildegard Von Bingen and some fascinating histories–I’m reading Welsh history this year. I go back to my favorite literature–Shakespeare plays and sonnets and lots of Charles Dickens–or try something new–James Joyce–or again try “War and Peace”. All I can say is thank goodness for my Kindle!

Why a chamber choir? Why not! A different repertoire from the usual but something familiar. Voices as important as the repertoire and vice versa. A feeling of community and ensemble that is more intense than within a larger group. All things that make this kind of ensemble unique in our community. Think about singing with us this time. You won’t be sorry!