Mélisey, Verbier, Kirchberg, Cluj, and London ... Summer '22!

And that’s a wrap!

What another whirlwind of a summer it has been. Each of these places have taught me invaluable lessons - they’ve enlightened such contrasting musical, professional, personal experiences.

I’m grateful for the ways they’ve expanded and enriched my perspective and self-awareness. More and more, even after I am challenged, exhausted, and often disillusioned with the work and dreams I pursue, I still manage to become more assured of just who I want to be, what I want to do - as a friend, a member of diverse communities, an artist of many hats, and sometimes (when not a magical music fairy), just a derpy, down-to-earth human being.

I’ll get to that more in my journaling. For now, a quick recap of the Europe tour!

July 6-16 Mélisey, France

In short, having been through all these places, I can confidently say: this is the place I would chose to be.

Of them all, this was the most heartwarming, the most real, sincere, endearing, and touching. Because of so many elements weaving together in beautiful harmony - the countryside atmosphere, the co-op living, cooking, eating, and savouring each meal together outside under the sun, the glorious afternoon siesta naps and bottomless ice-cream freezer, the unending music - dozing off into sleep to the sound of friends sight-reading chamber music deep into the small hours of the morning. It created, this whole universe built on music and love.

So much laughter. So much endearment. Joy, celebration, camaraderie. This is the kind of musical ecosystem I want to create. And that is exactly what I am doing - a longtime dream of mine, now in the making: the Windsong Music Festival. Will get to that also soon.

July 16 - 31 Verbier, Switzerland

The two weeks in Verbier were eye-opening in many different ways. Yes, the concerts were undeniably impressive in both quality and quantity. But more importantly, I was motivated to grow in new and unexpected ways. By observing the vast amount of activities around me (from all angles - the artists, students, faculty, administration, hosts, sponsors, and of course - audience), I gained a tremendous amount of insight into both the practical workings of such a huge celebrity festival/entertainment-business operation, as well as my own core values as an artist.

The latter part is crucial.

Designing my creative programs were so challenging. Unusually so. They’ve always taken lots of work and care and thought. But this time especially at Verbier, due to the circumstances, the setting and audience, the content and purpose of the repertoire … all the ingredients were gathered in a way that was extremely difficult to manage. There were moments I was doubtful and disheartened, and I will reflect more on these experiences, but overall, the contrast between Verbier and Mélisey (the people, the attitude towards and reception of music studies and performance), if anything, made me better appreciate and clear-sighted about the kind of musical community I would like to foster.

To be honest, it felt a little ironic to me that in my attempt to connect with the community through innovative methods of engagement, my final experiment “We’re Not Really Strangers” felt like it fell flat. And that is perhaps largely due to my own skepticism and discomfort with trying out a completely new ‘gaming’ approach, but also there was a sense that even with all the effort I’ve taken to consider this particular audience and setting, their tastes and needs, I couldn’t grasp a method to share this powerful music in an authentic, meaningful, warm way that I typically feel free to do so once I am on stage. Still much more to reflect on there…

That being said, I am immensely grateful for the opportunity. And the piano four-hands Family Weekend concert we put together “My Neighbours Totoro and Claude!” was a great success! That afternoon felt genuinely full of joy, fun, and sweetness! What a rowdy and exciting afternoon it was to share some kawaii Studio Ghibli music with the Swiss audience :’)

August 1 - 15 Kirchberg, Germany

Once again, we return to the fairytale castle for two weeks of intensive chamber music making. This time around the story was similar yet also completely different. There was the growth and deepening of already special friendships, hardwork, celebration of wonderful repertoire both in practice and performance…but there were also bizarre, inexplicable frustrations and obstacles. We were all being taunted and tested by some ghost of the castle.

Personally, the experience was beautiful. I adored the people I worked with. I loved the music we made. I was fully immersed in the curious magical world of this charming little German town - sitting each night at the attic window with my feet resting out on the rooftop tiles, gazing at the stars and down at the rolling hills, catching shooting stars. The food was on point too! Though the curious case of disappearing groceries from the fridge remains unsolved…

August 16 - 19 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Now the true vacation begins! It’s so necessary to find stillness. Yes, there is still movement within stillness, but a surrendering kind of movement. Allowing oneself to be dazed. To space out, daydream, to be in the present by not being in the present. Sometimes constant awareness and mindfulness is exhausting. Peace can be deafening. There are paradoxes to the ways we restore, recharge energy, reconnect with ourselves.

In Romania, a dear friend’s home and family, I found that recharging. Just being. Dozing, derping. Laughing and playing to the wavelength of a 6-year-old. Speaking broken French, improvising on the mbira, making dumplings. All the meaning, we found there, in the simplest moments. We can be anywhere.

August 19-22 London, UK

England has a special place in my heart. Ever since having lived in Norwich for a year as a little girl, I’ve always felt a nostalgic attraction to its charms. And perhaps later growing up, the love for Elizabethan literature - the history, culture, fashion…the countryside to the glamorous palaces, the architecture, the drama, the secret nooks and hidden stories at every corner, down every cobblestone street.

It was also deeply touching to visit close friends I haven’t seen for many years, to chat about everything, to find surprising serendipitous moments, just by wandering, noticing, rediscovering. Finding a name, a meaning, a ‘fresh perspective on the familiar'. There are endless ways to appreciate the magic, as always. Grateful. Blessed. Awed. Everyday magic, everyday realism. Thanks Europe, and your people, your plants and trees and stones and sounds and tastes, for another memorable adventure. <3