Tag: Performing Arts

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A More Challenging Assembly

You would think after the 3 prior years of running this event, it would be easy as cake. The problem was that the 3 previous years had all been different. Covid-19 is still raging on and that lends itself to many other challenges.

In the first year of the challenge assembly’s inception, it had a large location in an area that was well accessible by many of the performers in the region. Bringing it up north had it’s own challenges. EKCOP has no money of it’s own, so we would need to find a sponsoring location. Luckily, Stonemarche had some extra money in the coffers and could offer us a sum to run this event. Finding sponsors for the challenges was another item as folks were unsure how their challenges were going to be taken and how they would view them.

This year, I was able to have 18 sponsors of 20 unique challenges. Next, getting folks to travel to New Hampshire and be willing to perform. We still had the requirements of masking indoors and performing outside would pose a challenge as there was a baseball game booked on the same grounds we were using. Can’t really complain considering the site was only charging us 75 dollars for the day. In addition we had to figure out how much food to feed people for day board and how we could encourage folks to teach.

The performance community in Stonemarche is decently sized, however, covid was making this all difficult. All in all, we had 43 attendees and actually made a profit of a little more than a hundred dollars for the day and this with charging folks the least amount we possibly could. We also had 12 amazing classes ranging from singing, story telling, history of stories and insturmental. The videos will be up soon… I hope.

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New Beginnings

If anyone knows me, they know that music is the number one priority in my life. Whether I am singing or playing instruments or encouraging others to perform. I know the power that music can hold and I want nothing more than to make sure that others have this saving grace in their lives as well.

A few years ago I was very involved in a choral group called “Voce di Sonata”. These were all volunteer vocalists from Malagentia. We would run through pieces and work on them. Eventually we would get to have other performance experiences as well. However, after running it for 2.5 years, it was time for my life to explode and I simply couldn’t organize it again at that stage of my life. Life happens.

Even without formally running it, I would have folks approach me and ask for group singing and soloists to perform at their events (and weddings). I would gather ad hoc groups as needed as well as find appropriate soloists. In addition, those vocalists in the group would come and say, “Solveig, we would really love to sing with you”. My heart couldn’t say no, but I just didn’t know when.

In addition, I was also involved in the Malagentian Players. From a solo member as well as a member of their troupe. However, through discord and life, it too mostly went the way of Ol’ Yeller.

This broke my heart.

A few months ago I moved to the Riding of Giggleswick. It is a small riding but with some fiery and passionate hearts. I have a stable place to live and partner. I love my new job. Emotionally, I am in a good place. It was time.

Last night was the first meeting of the Giggleswick performing arts group.  I had 6 people show up! That’s huge for our little riding. There is promise for more to show as well. We had very new performers telling their first story in public, more seasoned performers working on newer pieces. We had rounds. ROUNDS GALORE. Folks who claim they don’t sing, sang with us! It was beautiful and harmonious. We even had a few repetitions of singing through “O Magnum Mysterium” which is no small feat. It was beautiful. The feedback was positive and I am ready to do this again in 2 weeks.

The plan is to have folks perform their pieces. Should they want feedback, they will ask. If not, no feedback is to be given. I am hellbound on making sure this is a safe space for all to perform. There will be workshops and classes to come as well.

For now, a new beginning, like a fresh layer of snow.