2012 Recap/Goals for 2013

As we are closing 2012 behind us, I wanted to take a moment to recap the year 2012 with the good and the bad.Like 2011, 2012 was also quite an interesting year. Here are a few moments that happened to me this year:

• Won the Michigan State University Honors Competition with Test Drive (Chamber Ensemble Category).
• Was placed on the waiting list for the Brevard music festival.
• Premiered "The Two Siblings" with my brother Eddie. 4/17/2012
• Began working on my thesis "Life Circle" for orchestra during the summer break.
• Earned an assistant ship in the Music Theory Department as a staff member of the Theory Tutoring Center.
• Two of my students received division one ratings at Solo and Ensemble. Current record is 4-0-0 (Division 1 ratings - Division 2 ratings - Other ratings).
• Premiered "Piano" Song cycle for baritone voice and Pierrot Ensemble 11/7/2012.
• Commissioned to compose two works; one for brass choir and the other for tuba and boom whacker ensemble.

In general, 2012 was a great year for me. Since this is the second time that I have written a recap on the year, I thought it would be interesting to compare my goals for 2012 with my 2012 recap. Here are the goals that did NOT happen this year:

• Get accepted into the Nebraska Institute of Music for this summer. Result - denied.
• Have a few pieces performed out-of-state.

Not bad really. So for 2013, I will keep pushing myself while maintaining my ambitiousness, determination, and motivation. Here are my goals:

• Finish Life Circle before mid-March
• Have a college/professional orchestra perform Life Circle.
• Have Test Drive performed by Musique 21 (not really a goal since it will be performed).
• Have a piece performed outside of Michigan State.
• Get accepted to at least one summer institution.
• Get a piece in a SCI conference/any conference.
• Write a piece for Brass Band.
• ...and look for many opportunities that I can.
• OH! and post more often!

These goals may not be as easy as I wrote them, but I am more than willing to work towards those goals. Here's to 2013.