Monday was the performance at the Barbican with the Matthew Herbert Big Band and the Goldsmiths Chorus. It was the single most amazing and inspiring musical experience ever! I can't really put into words the feeling you get when everyone comes together like that, it's amazing, it's a high, it's why we do what we do. It was absolutely epic, Eska had on an outrageous dress with a single golden glove made of coins that in one song she pulled so they fell everywhere, Matthew had on a black tux with an enourmous sparkly bow tie and eye liner and danced around stage. We ripped up news papers, the big band had a news paper war in the middle of a song, and at the end of one we all threw our papers at them (which I don't think they knew was going to happen, one of them threw it back at us, the sax player, of course). It was just absolutely amazing, I'm still feeling the high a bit just thinking about it, I'm really sad it's over and would do anything to work with Matthew again! Kate booked us a pub for after the gig, they stayed open just for us, I stayed out until about 3am then went to a friends house.
All in all, it was the best way imaginable to spend my first month in England, and I think it was a life changing experience that I will NEVER forget.
Tuesday I was worn out and slept all day, then had basketball 6-8, then went to pound a pint night, and stayed up til 3 again. Bad idea, Wednesday I had Romanticism & Musical Structures at 9:30am, that was rough, it always is though. I planned on taking a short nap, which went 45 minutes over time, then I had DSC training. I had planned on spending a quiet night in, which I did, but I still didn't go to bed early enough.
I had my first DSC (departmental student coordinator) training the other day, it went really well and I already have all sorts of ideas for the music department, I'm really excited about getting things going. I have another (much shorter) session today.
I have another packed day today, Introduction to Anthropology starts in about 10 minutes, then seminar, 2hrs in which to eat lunch and do some errands, wind band 2-4, but I have to leave a bit early to get to DSC training on time, 4-5, then laundry and last minute preps for going to Athens, then a dinner party at Lydia and Keiths at 9, then I'll try to get some sleep because Friday I have a 9:30 class and am leaving for Athens immediately following!
