"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force."

I believe that it is time for me to get back into blogging. As if I need another medium to express myself...

However, this time I hope to update it more frequently (and preferably with more enriching content). Still, I'm not making any huge promises...

A few interesting things you might like:

• I shamelessly use elipses... There! Did you see it?
• "Ain't that neat? I wonder if that's Mister Ed. I loved him. Did he die?"
• I used to be a Power Rangers fanatic. I still secretly wish I could go up to the attic at my house and get out all of those toys and play with them. Wasn't life much more simple as a child?
• A Thesaurus is an excellent contrivance when trying to resonate in an impeccably articulate manner.

Okay, enough for now.

Current Happenings

Preface:
I need to apologize to those of you who actually follow this blog. I'm a horrible blog sinner and I haven't updated in forever like all good little boy bloggers and girl bloggers should. For this, I apologize.

Getting You Up to Speed:
Family - I just got back from Washington D.C. where I went with my family to celebrate with my grandmother, Bettye Kimbrell, receiving the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts. We are so very proud of her and what all she has accomplished with her quilting. D.C. was marvelous. I loved all the history that was there. We toured the Capitol Building and got to sit in the gallery in the House of Representatives, courtesy of Representative Spencer Bacchus. We also went to the National Archives and saw the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights. This was a favorite moment of mine. We also toured the major monuments. I loved the Lincoln Memorial. It was awesome. We went to Arlington National Cemetary and walked around there. We saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers as well as The Eternal Flame at JFK's tomb. This was a very somber event. I really enjoyed spending time with my family in Washintgon.

School - Wow, I am super busy with classes this semester. Music History, Conducting I, and Theory III are seriously testing me. These three classes are not easy and require much study time. I also am in three performing ensembles which require much rehearsal. UAB Concert Choir - we are getting our repertoire ready for our trip to Cincinatti to participate in the NCO Convention. UAB Chamber Singers - are preparing for Video Games Live!, an event we will sing at with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. UAB Opera - This semester, I was chosen to be the Assistant to the Director for our production of Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors. I am also in the chorus for this opera and I have auditions for our spring production of Mozart's The Magic Flute that are coming up in a week or so.

Life - Things are going alright overall right now. Two weeks ago, I joined the Birmingham Concert Chorale, the official chorus of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. I rehearse with them on Monday nights and will perform with them on Handel's Messiah and Orff's Carmina Burana with the ASO. I am also being saught after for being hired as a paid musician for some local churches to sing in their church choir. Although the extra income would be nice, I have not agreed to any present offers just yet because I really do not want to leave Mountaintop. I love my church and I just cannot see myself not serving there right now. Btw... the new website for Mountaintop Community Church is awesome! Check it out at http://www.mountaintopchurch.com if you get a chance.

Well sports fans, I guess I'll wrap this blog entry up. Comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Later!

B

Do You Hear The People Sing?

Today started with a rehearsal at the Cork School of Music. We met there and rehearsed for our concert at the Carrignafoy Community College in Cobh (about 30 minutes outside of Cork). Now, when I say we went to a Community College, it was not like Jefferson State Community College. Here in Ireland, a college is similar to a high school. The University is relative to an American college or university. So today we performed in the gymnasium of the college (which had amazing acoustics). The concert was great! We have had so many wonderful performances since we've been here. I'm pumped about tomorrow night's competition.

Tomorrow night is the real deal. The reason we're here in Ireland. We have 12 minutes to sing our hearts out and make magic with the wonderful music that we're performing. We're ready. Our Spring concert back at home was just the start for this choir.

Here is a picture of us after yesterday's concert at the Cork City Hall for the National Competition for Schools. We were one of the featured international choirs that closed out the competition.



Also, to view the pictures that I've taken so far while in Ireland, head over to Brian's Ireland Pictures to view them. I haven't tagged them yet, but they are up for you to see. Enjoy!

I'm also taking some video while over here and I'm uploading them to YouTube as often as I can. Internet is pricy and slow over here, so bear with me.

One thing I thought was interesting about today was after our concert at Cobh, we went to the Heritage Center at Cobh. This place is where nearly every Irish immigrant to the United States departed from. This was also where the Titanic and Lusitania both made port last before their untimely ends. Cobh, as it is now known, was once known as Queensland (during the Titanic era) and Cove previously (Cobh is gaelic for "Cove"). There was of course a memorial to the victims and survivors of the Titanic there.



Well, I'm about to start winding down for the night. It is almost 10:00 p.m. here. Tomorrow, some friends and I are taking a trip to Blarney to visit Blarney Castle, home of the famous Blarney Stone. I'll post pics!

Love and Miss you all! Leave comments! They are very encouraging!

Across the Waters

WE MADE IT!! We're in Ireland!

First things first...

Jet lag is not fun. I'm so tired right now as I'm typing this, but I must stay awake so I can sleep tonight and regulate my sleep cycle. I was able to sleep some on the plane, but the crying child would not allow me to sleep peacefully while we crossed the waters.

So here we are in Ireland. I'm in Cork, Ireland to be more specific. Tomorrow starts the various singing events that we are performing in for the Cork International Choral Festival (http://www.corkchoral.ie/). We have our first rehearsal since the last time we met in the States in a little while. I'm excited to see how we sound. I'm taking many pics while I'm here (thanks to my best friend Roxy for letting me borrow her camera). I'll try and post some as I'm over here. However, I'm not sure when I'll be online as we have to pay for internet usage at the hotel. It is 10 euro for 24 hours of internet usage. But I might possibly find a public venue with free wifi.

Well folks, I have to get ready for rehearsal.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for our safety while we're away.

Much love,

Brian

The Return of Brian

Yes, I know it has been forever since I last posted anything on here, so I apologize to all of you who read this (Especially Dr. Copeland... because we all know he likes to keep little tabs on all our lives... j/k).

I am leaving for Ireland in 3 days.

Final exams are done with, Juries are over with (thank God), AND I don't have to write a paper until the end of May. So I am somewhat content with life right now.

I have so much packing and preparation to do before Tuesday morning. Here is a semi-run down of the coming days:

Tuesday (4/29): Leave UAB on a charter bus to Atlanta. Fly from Atlanta to Chicago, then fly overnight from Chicago to Shannon, Ireland.

Wednesday (4/30): Arrive in Shannon, Ireland then take a charter bus to Cork, Ireland.

Thursday (5/1)- Monday (5/5): Compete in the Cork International Choral Festival.

Tuesday (5/6) - Wednesday (5/7): Arrive in Dublin, Ireland for sightseeing and fun. Leave on Wednesday to go back to the United States.

Thursday (5/8): Begin Summer classes.

So as you can see, I have no downtime from Tuesday on through the rest of May (until my Foundations of Education II class ends).

But I am really excited about our trip.

I am going to try and update this blog regularly while i'm in Ireland so friends and family back home can hear about my exploits as an international choral star! Hah!

You can also check out our choir's blog at http://uabchoirs.blogspot.com, as I'm sure that Dr. Copeland will update it frequently while we're away.

Well, I hope everyone is well and I look forward seeing everyone when I return.

Much love,

Brian

A New Readability Level

Movie Reviews

Hooray! My word usage has improved, so now my blog is rated on a College reading level. Smashing!

A Jan and Bri Joint Production

Dearest Blog-ish Apparatus,

"Don't you know grammar, and how to type things?" Bri asked wearily, frustrated at Janna's complete lack of common sense.  "Of course I do," she snapped, pinching his upper arm.

A list of quotes from the evening of festivities and lights and chloroform:

• "Sue is not a teacher!"--Jan
• "Hillary Clinton makes me vomit a little in my mouth every time I see her on t.v."--Jan
• "I'm gonna spray you in the face!" (Bri said as he aimed the gas nozzle in Jan's general direction)--Bri
• "You type these things, because you're more eloquent than I am"--Bri
• "I will spit this in your pocket"--Jan
• "Did you devour the remnants of my bagel?"--Jan (after discovering that the last quarter of her bagel had mysteriously vanished)
• "Why do you have an icon called 'Satan' on your desktop?"--Jan
• "You mean Safari?"--Bri
• "We must embark on a new discourse of things about which we should talk."--Bri
• "BOYFRIEND?"--Jan and Bri (incredulously, after a series of accolades)

"This'll clear your sinuses," Bri told Jan, offering her an Altoid.  "Mmphrrospa," replied Jan, her mouth full of candy cane.  Starbucks called to them, and the promise of hot chocolate hung in the cold air like Old Man Winter on Mother Nature.

No whopper stories, as always.

Love,

Jan and Bri.

Readability...

Since everyone else is doing this...



Yeah, I need to bulk up on word usage and such. I eventually would like to have this blog at a college reading level.

I'm sitting in the computer lab at the Education Building right now with Roxy. I'm sure I'll update this more when I get back at the apartment.

I haven't had that great of a day...

B

Opera di UAB

Well, after much anticipation, I found out tonight what my role in UAB Opera Workshop is this semester. I will be in three different roles at our Opera Scenes "Singer's Showcase" performance on November 9, 2007, 7:00 p.m. at the Hulsey Recital Hall in the Hulsey Center at UAB.

Here is a quick rundown of the various Opera Scenes that will be showcased that night:

Classicism / Neo-classicism

Act III Recitative and Sextet from The Marriage of Figaro
Marcellina: Crystal Whatley
Figaro: Chris Reid
Count: Jonathan Riddle
Bartolo: Howard Hall
Don Curzio: Brian Denton
Susanna: Samantha Pace

Act I Recitative and Duet “La ci darem la mano” from Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni: Jonathan Riddle
Zerlina: Whitney Cummins

Act I Finale from Cosí fan tutte
Fiordiligi: Meredith Foster
Dorabella: Katie Smith
Despina: Marybeth Verchot
Ferrando: Kiyoshi Scissum
Guglielmo: Howard Hall
Don Alfonso: Chris Reid

INTERMISSION

Act I, No. 5 Quintet, followed by dialogue from The Magic Flute
Papageno: Jonathan Riddle
Tamino: Sean Fleischman
1st Lady: Samantha Pace
2nd Lady: Crystal Whatley
3rd Lady: Whitney Cummins

Act III from The Rake’s Progress
Anne: Marybeth Verchot
The Keeper: Howard Hall
Tom: Kiyoshi Scissum
Father: Chris Reid
Chorus: all (including Keeper), offstage

Trio from The Impresario
Madame Goldentrill: Meredith Foster
Mademoiselle Silverpeal: Samantha Pace
The Impresario: Brian Denton

I can't wait to do these. I do, however, need to research them so I can learn more about the various Opera scenes and the characters I'm to portray. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress.

ALSO, just in case you would like more information on UAB Opera, you can visit the UAB Opera blog at http://uabopera.blogspot.com. This is where our director, Dr. Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk (pronounced Vice-check) writes about upcoming Opera events as well as her Voice Studio classes. ALSO be sure to check out UAB's Choir blog by Dr. Philip Copeland at http://uabchoirs.blogspot.com for more information about performances and interesting nuances about the UAB Choir of which I'm so fond of.

Well, I've got to be up for work at FIVE O'CLOCK in the morning at Starbucks in Vestavia, so I'm about to go to bed.

Goodnight all!

Recentials and Such

Ok, so I know ya'll are dying to know what's been going on in my life for the past few weeks. Ok, so here is some news. I GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO UAB!! I'M SOOOO EXCITED! They want me to be in three vocal performing ensembles, which probably means Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and UAB Opera (but I won't know officially until final placement in August). So there's some good news!

Moving on! I recently started working at Lakeshore Foundation. Its a cool job. Don't worry! I'm still at Family Christian in Gardendale, so all of you who ask me about products and mooch off of my discount (lol...just kidding :) ) can still take advantage of it.

Here lately I've been stressed with school things. Last week it hit me that I now have roughly 2-3 weeks left at Jefferson State. Honors Convocation is next week and I've got to sing there with the choir AND I am receiving the Outstanding Jefferson State Singer Award. So next Thursday will be a big day for me. Finals are in about a week...that's depressing. On May 4 it will be all said and done. I'll be walking at graduation btw... May 4, evening, Cathedral of the Cross, Centerpoint. There, now you have officially been invited.

Well, I think I shall go for now. I'm going to the movies tonight with Amber, Rach, Micah, Jan, and Michael. We're going to see Disturbia. It sounds like a good scary movie. Later peeps!

Claimed

(previously posted on MySpace)

I think I am going to diversify my blogging assets. Today I started a Blogger so PERHAPS I can stay connected with my UAB Choir friends since they mainly blog on there. I will still blog on here mainly because I like the response I get on here. What I will do with my other blog is repost blogs I do on here or post pics or something. I will let ya'll know when I do so. Ok, so on Technorati, I am claiming this blog as one of mine so ppl who search for it on Technorati can find this blog. I also subscribed to UAB Choir's blog on Bloglines. Just thought I'd let ya'll know.

At The End of The Day

Do I really need another blog? I've got a MySpace, a LiveJournal, and now this thing. I also have a website (http://www.briandenton.net). Well, I might use this thing to repost some other important blogs from my other ones. See, my UAB Choir friends have bloggers and other ppl I know have Myspaces or Facebooks, so I've got to find a medium to where I can connect with ppl. Oh well, expect to see previous blogs for a little while on this blog until I find which blog I am most comfortable with. Laterz!