My blogging has been sporadic to nonexistent over the last few months. After a surprise attack of keratoconus that left me fighting blindness from January to March, I was rescued by a pretty new technology that has me seeing much better. As soon as I made that life adjustment, my computer had a meltdown, which took a couple of weeks to resolve. Now I am back on track – at least today.
Curve balls can throw blogging off kilter, but there are other parts of my life that can’t afford to be put on hold. My awesome Composition students give me little rest, in all the right ways. Last night, Kenny Florence had his senior recital, the kind of event that is wonderfully gratifying to a teacher: early, exploratory compositions followed by masterful works that put all the fragments together in service of a convincing new voice. Organizing the event – juggling rehearsal schedules for close to 20 musicians at the peak of the school year – is a crazy-making experience that will serve him well in his next steps. He is off to Mannes next fall to study with Missy Mazzoli, who I think will be an excellent match for his talents and sensibilities.
Lawrence Dillon and Kenny Florence conferring in rehearsal. Photo by Mike Wakeford.