I talked about the "end of an era" when our contract at Kimonos was underbid as a result of the economy. Now another one of my performing arts employers has fallen victim to the financial crisis. Four Corners Academy of the Arts, the performing arts studio owned by my friend and bridesmaid Gretchen, has permanently closed its doors.
It is bittersweet to think that if the year-and-a-half during which the studio was open for business had existed in a different time, things probably wouldn't have turned out this way. Gretchen and the rest of the faculty are dealing with this sad turn of events in our own ways but also taking comfort in knowing we enriched the lives of artistic young people, and even some not-so-young. Even though 4CAA has gone out of business, it's hard for me to think of the entire venture as a failure; I know we taught and touched a lot of people within and beyond those walls. Planting or encouraging a seed of creativity, learning, and confidence in another person can only be called a success.
At any rate, now I have openings for private voice and piano students to take lessons here at our house, so if you know anyone who is interested, please pass my information along!
Showing posts with label 4CAA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4CAA. Show all posts
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
My Jobs
If you're my friend on Facebook, you may have noticed that my Work section (below) is full of jobs. You might be wondering how a person can have four jobs at once, but it's not as difficult as it seems. I'll explain.
Employer: Our 365 Newborn Photography
Position: Photographer
Location: Celebration, FL
I just had my first day today, and I'll be working here Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings taking babies' first photos.
Employer: Sherwood Comunity Chapel
Position: Pianist
Location: Kissimmee, FL
This position has given me a great opportunity to improve my sight-reading, accompanying, and improvisational skills. During the summer, I only play on Sunday mornings and for occasional other Sunday services. During the rest of the year, I'll also play for choir rehearsals on Thursday evenings. I get to sing sometimes too!
Employer: Four Corners Academy of the Arts
Position: Voice/Piano Faculty
Location: Clermont, FL
When my friend Gretchen opened this business in January of last year, I had the pleasure of opening the studio with her as the drama and ballroom teacher. Now I teach ballroom, voice, piano, and musical theatre on Friday afternoons.
Employer: The Walt Disney Company
Position: Photographer
Location: Lake Buena Vista, FL
My first day with Disney was in May of 2003 as an attractions hostess in Tomorrowland. In June of 2006 I transferred to Entertainment as a character attendant, and I started with Disney Photo Imaging in December of 2006. My status is seasonal, so I can have them schedule me weekly, or I can choose from odds-and-ends they have available on the shift board whenever I'm free (which is what I usually do).
So as you can see, none of my jobs ever actually overlap with each other, and I still get to have Monday and Tuesday free, which are Eric's days off, too! Also, for the most part, it leaves my evenings free for performing gigs. I have my own professional equipment and repertoire, so I provide live entertainment for hotels and restaurants, weddings and other sacred ceremonies, and private parties and special events. I'll be playing at the public library downtown on July 31 at noon if you want to come by!
Photography is fun for me, and I've always considered it more of a hobby than a career. My goal is to some day (soon!) have a full-time performing contract somewhere closeby, so I can still have most of my evenings free. I've gotten very close to where I want to be, and I'm not giving up on auditions and performing opportunities. Soon I'll really have a full-time career doing what I am educated in and what I love!
Employer: Our 365 Newborn Photography
Position: Photographer
Location: Celebration, FL
I just had my first day today, and I'll be working here Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings taking babies' first photos.
Employer: Sherwood Comunity Chapel
Position: Pianist
Location: Kissimmee, FL
This position has given me a great opportunity to improve my sight-reading, accompanying, and improvisational skills. During the summer, I only play on Sunday mornings and for occasional other Sunday services. During the rest of the year, I'll also play for choir rehearsals on Thursday evenings. I get to sing sometimes too!
Employer: Four Corners Academy of the Arts
Position: Voice/Piano Faculty
Location: Clermont, FL
When my friend Gretchen opened this business in January of last year, I had the pleasure of opening the studio with her as the drama and ballroom teacher. Now I teach ballroom, voice, piano, and musical theatre on Friday afternoons.
Employer: The Walt Disney Company
Position: Photographer
Location: Lake Buena Vista, FL
My first day with Disney was in May of 2003 as an attractions hostess in Tomorrowland. In June of 2006 I transferred to Entertainment as a character attendant, and I started with Disney Photo Imaging in December of 2006. My status is seasonal, so I can have them schedule me weekly, or I can choose from odds-and-ends they have available on the shift board whenever I'm free (which is what I usually do).
So as you can see, none of my jobs ever actually overlap with each other, and I still get to have Monday and Tuesday free, which are Eric's days off, too! Also, for the most part, it leaves my evenings free for performing gigs. I have my own professional equipment and repertoire, so I provide live entertainment for hotels and restaurants, weddings and other sacred ceremonies, and private parties and special events. I'll be playing at the public library downtown on July 31 at noon if you want to come by!
Photography is fun for me, and I've always considered it more of a hobby than a career. My goal is to some day (soon!) have a full-time performing contract somewhere closeby, so I can still have most of my evenings free. I've gotten very close to where I want to be, and I'm not giving up on auditions and performing opportunities. Soon I'll really have a full-time career doing what I am educated in and what I love!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Look who made the papers!
First, my mom and her fellow teachers were recognized with a statewide award and featured in the Waycross paper. Can you find her in this picture? Hint: she's 6'.
Here's an article I wrote about Four Corners Academy of the Arts. It ran in the Clermont News-Leader recently. No byline. Bummer.
Also, 2008 is the 10-year anniversary of the following article appearing in the Observer-Dispatch out of Utica, New York.
Here's an article I wrote about Four Corners Academy of the Arts. It ran in the Clermont News-Leader recently. No byline. Bummer.
Also, 2008 is the 10-year anniversary of the following article appearing in the Observer-Dispatch out of Utica, New York.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Our Lives Thus Far
So you've read about the wedding and the events leading up to it. Now here's a quick update on what's been going on with us lately.
Eric moved to Orlando in June 2007 after resigning his position as a manager at the Herkimer Area Resource Center and selling his house in Mohawk, New York. Having earned his associate's degree from Herkimer County Community College, Eric had already begun taking courses online toward his bachelor's in business administration from Everest University.
He began his career with Walt Disney World as a front desk concierge at Disney's Boardwalk Resort. Very early on, he was chosen as a trainer for front desk cast and a facilitator of the training class for all new Boardwalk cast members. Soon after he was trained as an FSA (I don't know what that stands for, but basically it means you're in charge of the whole front desk), Eric applied for a management position and was chosen to be part of a pilot program designed for approximately 30 of the company's top management candidates. He completed the Emerging Leaders program two days before the wedding and, on that day, the official announcement was made that he had been permantently placed as a front desk manager for Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and Disney's Old Key West Resort.
As for myself, after I graduated from Stetson, I secured a gig as a full-time piano player at the Marriott World Center for a while, and, until the show ceased broadcast in July, I also wrote for the online trivia game EAgameshow.com by EA Sports. I continued working for Disney in the entertainment department and consequently as a photographer up to the present. In January, my friend Gretchen open her own business, an after-school performing arts academy, and I joined the faculty as a part-time drama, piano, voice, photography, and ballroom teacher. I've also been performing at Kimonos at the Walt Disney World Swan since last May. It's a fun gig!
Outside of work, I sang with the Orlando Chamber Singers and the Orlando Chorale last season, and I also volunteer from time to time at Give Kids the World Village. My songwriting has been coming along as well. I entered a piece in the contest to select a new Florida state song, and it was one of the top 20 contenders. A holiday piece I wrote was premiered by Gretchen's massed choirs at East Ridge High School, and the Orlando Gay Chorus has expressed interest in performing it for their winter concert this year.
Eric rowed for a team from his work location for a regatta called Canoe Races of the World, held annually in the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom. The team didn't place, but he enjoyed training for the race and being in the park before opening!
We also both performed for the second straight year in Encore! Cast Choir and Orchestra, an annual charity performance put on by Disney cast members. This year's concerts raised $25,940 for United Arts of Central Florida. Also, we'll be performing as part of the cast choir for Epcot's Christmas Candlelight concerts.
We're keeping busy, that's for sure, but Eric secured vacation time for the week of my birthday in October, and we're going on a four-night Royal Caribbean cruise! 19 days 'til we depart! Bon voyage!
Eric moved to Orlando in June 2007 after resigning his position as a manager at the Herkimer Area Resource Center and selling his house in Mohawk, New York. Having earned his associate's degree from Herkimer County Community College, Eric had already begun taking courses online toward his bachelor's in business administration from Everest University.
He began his career with Walt Disney World as a front desk concierge at Disney's Boardwalk Resort. Very early on, he was chosen as a trainer for front desk cast and a facilitator of the training class for all new Boardwalk cast members. Soon after he was trained as an FSA (I don't know what that stands for, but basically it means you're in charge of the whole front desk), Eric applied for a management position and was chosen to be part of a pilot program designed for approximately 30 of the company's top management candidates. He completed the Emerging Leaders program two days before the wedding and, on that day, the official announcement was made that he had been permantently placed as a front desk manager for Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and Disney's Old Key West Resort.
As for myself, after I graduated from Stetson, I secured a gig as a full-time piano player at the Marriott World Center for a while, and, until the show ceased broadcast in July, I also wrote for the online trivia game EAgameshow.com by EA Sports. I continued working for Disney in the entertainment department and consequently as a photographer up to the present. In January, my friend Gretchen open her own business, an after-school performing arts academy, and I joined the faculty as a part-time drama, piano, voice, photography, and ballroom teacher. I've also been performing at Kimonos at the Walt Disney World Swan since last May. It's a fun gig!
Outside of work, I sang with the Orlando Chamber Singers and the Orlando Chorale last season, and I also volunteer from time to time at Give Kids the World Village. My songwriting has been coming along as well. I entered a piece in the contest to select a new Florida state song, and it was one of the top 20 contenders. A holiday piece I wrote was premiered by Gretchen's massed choirs at East Ridge High School, and the Orlando Gay Chorus has expressed interest in performing it for their winter concert this year.
Eric rowed for a team from his work location for a regatta called Canoe Races of the World, held annually in the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom. The team didn't place, but he enjoyed training for the race and being in the park before opening!
We also both performed for the second straight year in Encore! Cast Choir and Orchestra, an annual charity performance put on by Disney cast members. This year's concerts raised $25,940 for United Arts of Central Florida. Also, we'll be performing as part of the cast choir for Epcot's Christmas Candlelight concerts.
We're keeping busy, that's for sure, but Eric secured vacation time for the week of my birthday in October, and we're going on a four-night Royal Caribbean cruise! 19 days 'til we depart! Bon voyage!
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