[old post:] banquet

[This was supposed to go up shortly after May's collegium banquet. Basically, the gist of what I wanted to say:]

Banquet was very special. Of course, what made it so was what people had to say about their experiences in Collegium. Jim's speech was incredibly sweet, both what he said about individual students, and how his love for his students and the music we do was so evident. I hope I'll never forget how wonderful Paul's speech was; despite some of his frustrations with the bureaucracy and obstinacy of Jim and and Collegium, I think he managed to express exactly what's so great about what we all do together, and why music means so much to him and his faith.

I am incredibly glad that I have another year to sing with Collegium - it has been my community for the past four years, and, of course, been an incredible way to help make something larger than myself. I love the inscription that Sametz put on the piece he wrote for Jim: "For my friend Jim, who sees heaven in a major chord." Acheiving perfection the way Collegium sometimes does - those are the moments the likes of which I can barely describe and have never experienced in any other context.

In addition, I cannot imagine what my inner life would be now without the way it's been shaped by the music we sing. Five years ago I knew nothing about early music; now it's basically all I listen to. I cannot overemphasize how important this is to me, nor the role of Collegium, and especially Chamber singers, in bringing it about.