Catching up!

Okay, so I'm really loving the fact that I can get online now for free at Starbucks now. I'm sitting here sipping my second cup o' coffee typing away on my blog while I have some time to kill before class. Dr. Copeland would be proud...I'm having a Venti BOLD with Cream. :)

I NEED AN ESCAPE! I'm getting tired of this routine I'm in of Work-School-Work-School-Work-Work-REST (Just in case you're trying to figure that out, that's my schedule Monday-Sunday of any given week during this summer). I can't wait till the Fourth of July weekend. I'm going up to Guntersville with my family for a whole weekend of rest and relaxation. Its going to be great!

So, this Saturday, my dear beloved friend Janna Stevens is getting married to Michael Bradt. I have the wonderful honor of being an usher in her wedding. :) This is a first for me. In the past, I've been a ring bearer when I was a youngling and I've also performed at many a wedding. I think being an usher will be fun. I told Janna that I wanted to have a security ear piece and have a microphone in my cuff. She said that it wouldn't be that kind of wedding... sad day.

Well, I'm about to do my devotion for the day before I go to class.

I hope you have a VENTI-BOLD-DECAF-ORGANIC-TWO PUMP MOCHA-DOPPIO-WITH WHIP-DAY! (Warning: You probably shouldn't order this drink).

Brian

p.s. Check the bottom of my blog for a slideshow of pictures from my recent trip to Ireland with the UAB Concert Choir!

Stressfulness is not one of the Fruits of the Spirit...

Stressfulness...

That pretty much sums up my past week. I'm currently employed right now, but might as well not be. FCS (namely the manager) screwed me over. They promised me hours after Christmas was over with and the store opening was done, but now I all of a sudden don't get any hours. So needless to say, I'm hunting another job. Help please...

I've been sick. My voice left me towards the end of last week and I still have not fully recovered. I had to sing today in Performance Class and my voice was scratchy...not good. Plus my asthma is flaring up again. Still not good.

I'm having to conserve every cent I have right now while I'm not working. So I can't go out tonight and hang out with my friends unless they were to come over here and watch a movie or something. Not fun...

School is kicking my butt right now. I'm taking 18 hours and it is very stressful.

Things at Mountaintop are great! God is still my refuge and strength. My faith is about the only thing that is keeping me going right now.

I know this is kind of a downer blog entry, but I just had to write about what I'm going through right now.

But don't worry, I'll make it. God always sees me through. :-)

I did get to see Amber yesterday and that made my day. So that is good. I miss Rachel...really bad. She needs to come home soon and see me. Janna and I see each other at least twice a week now. I am loving that. As always, Roxy rocks my socks off. She is the best neighbor a guy can have. Let's see, other people I miss are:

Brooke
Jessie
Micah
Meghan
Abigail
Kacey

Hmm...that's about all for now.

Bri

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!

Back in the Groove...

Well, summer is officially over for me. Well, actually, it ended last Wednesday when school started. But now I'm finally getting back into the groove of getting up early and going to class. For those of you who want to know, here is a quick rundown of my schedule for the Fall semester at UAB:

Monday
Woodwind Methods Class: 8:00 - 8:50
Music Theory I: 9:00 - 9:50
Aural Skills I: 10:00 - 10:50
Concert Choir: 2:00 - 2:50
Chamber Singers: 4:00 - 5:15
Education as a Profession: 5:30 - 7:20

Tuesday
Teaching and Technology: 9:30 - 12:15
Concert Choir: 2:00 - 3:15
Opera Workshop: 3:30 - 5:15

Wednesday
Woodwind Methods Class: 8:00 - 8:50
Music Theory I: 9:00 - 9:50
Aural Skills I: 10:00 - 10:50
Voice Lessons: 11:00 - 11:30
Music Convocation: 12:00 - 12:50
Concert Choir: 2:00 - 2:50
Chamber Singers: 4:00 - 5:15

Thursday
Concert Choir: 2:00 - 3:15
Opera Workshop: 3:30 - 5:15

Friday
Woodwind Methods Class: 8:00 - 8:50
Music Theory I: 9:00 - 9:50
Aural Skills I: 10:00 - 10:50
Voice Lessons: 11:00 - 11:30
Voice Performance Class: 12:00 - 12:50
Concert Choir: 2:00 - 2:50
Chamber Singers: 4:00 - 5:15

So as you can see, I've got alot of things going on this semester. I'm also working two jobs right now, Starbucks in Vestavia (throughout the week) and Lakeshore Foundation (on Saturdays). Depending on how school goes the next few weeks, I might have to adjust my availibility at Starbucks to allow for more study time...not sure about this just yet. I know i've got to work so I can pay rent and gas and such, but I've got to have time for studying as well. I'm really enjoying all of my classes right now. I like the atmosphere at UAB. Especially being in the Music Department. Being in the choir at UAB is awesome. We've only had 3 rehearsals so far, but they have been amazing and we've almost learned a couple of songs entirely. IT'S GREAT!!!

Well, I've got to go check on my laundry before I get ready to leave for choir. I hope to get some comments on this.

Later peeps!

The Move

Well, yesterday, August 17, 2007, I moved into my new apartment at the University House in Birmingham. Mom and Dad helped me move (which took up most of the day). But it is a very comfortable apartment. I actually slept really well last night, which was surprising (I usually have a difficult night's sleep on a different bed than mine at home). But everything went well. I think I'm going to like my roommates. They are D.J. Taylor, Jerrell Leonard, and Drew Holden. We each have our own bedroom and bathroom and we share the kitchen, living room, and washer/dryer. The guys seem really nice and easy to get along with.

Roxy Nelson is my neighbor down the hall. Last night she came over to my apartment and I cooked us some frozen pizza and we had salad with it. It was good. I then helped her move some things in her apartment. The only weird thing about the new apartment is that they don't have our cable and internet on the 1st and 3rd floors (which conveniently enough includes me because I'm on the 3rd floor). The office said that it should be fixed today, but i'm not getting my hopes up. I'm currently at work (Lakeshore Foundation) and I've got my laptop here using our wonderful WiFi.

I've got to work tonight at Starbucks after I get off here at 5. BLEH!! But I get off at 10:30, so its not that bad. I'll just be really tired tomorrow at church...which i've got to be there at 7 for music team rehearsal...but thats a good thing! :)

Well, I'm going to wrap this up for now. Hopefully I can post some pictures soon of the new apartment.

Until then,

Brian

Summer Activities...aka. WORK!

Well, so far, my summer has been very uneventful. It seems that all I have done is work this summer. But after next friday, my work load lightens just a little bit. Next Friday is my last day at Family Christian Stores. Yes, after 4 years I am leaving Family to work more at my new job, Lakeshore Foundation. Although Lakeshore is over in Homewood, a considerable distance from my home in Mount Olive, it is a great job and I love working there so far. It is also close to Mountaintop and it is close to UAB, where I will start in the Fall.

On Monday, I start rehearsing for Oklahoma! at the Gardendale Civic Center. I will be playing the role of Ike Skidmore, a cowman. I have a solo in Act Two, so that shall be fun.

Coming up, June 15-17, I am going up to Tennessee to visit with the Granlund's. I can't wait to go see them. It has been quite a while since we last saw each other. I think Sarah will probably ride up there with me and I think Abby is riding back with us so that her and Sarah can go to City Stages that Sunday night.

Just as soon as I get back to Alabama from Tennessee, I will be house sitting for my Uncle Scott the week of June 17-23. He recently got a new house in Fultondale (with pool) and wants me to house sit for him while he will be gone to Boy Scout Leader's Camp.

I have UAB New Student Orientation on June 12th. I am very excited about that. I will get to register for my classes that day...hopefully.

Well, last night was fun. Rachel and I went out and had fun. I hadn't seen her in a while, since graduation and all, so we caught up and ate at Qdoba at Patton Creek. We were going to see a movie, but there wasn't anything that we really wanted to see that we already hadn't seen. BTW...Pirates 3 was great. I don't care what your opinion is, but I thought it was just as good as the other two. Now if they would hurry up and release Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I will be very happy.

I might be having a small get-together (aka. a party of sorts) in the near future, so I'll notify you then about it.

Well, yet another Saturday goes by that I am at work all day and our work load is diminished so that boredom encompasses you. That was an interesting way of saying that I am bored. But I get off at 5. Anybody wanna hang out, holla at me!

Alrighty peeps, I'm out. Hope everyone is well and is having a great day!

Later!