LIZ SHARES HER EXPERT TIPS FOR STAYING SANE AT SCHOOL.
PG. 4
WE’VE GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS FOR YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES. PG. 8 PG. 10
PG. 6
ANDRIS NELSONS BEGINS HIS TENURE AT THE BSO.
LAKE STREET DIVE COMES BACK TO NEC!
THE PENGUIN
ISSUE 62
LEARN SOME TASTY NEW DESSERT RECIPES FOR THE FALL MONTHS!
PG. 3
OCTOBER 7, 2014
N E C ’ S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
Do Not Be Alarmed. It’s Only The Penguin’s Halloween Issue! The Penguin is all settled in to the swing of things for the school year, and we can’t believe that Halloween (and then Thanksgiving, then the Holiday season, then the new semester, and then commencement!) is just around the corner! In anticipation of the holiday of candy, cheap costumes, and questionable choices, we’ve got some great articles lined up for you in this issue. Check out our costume stand-off, where Syd and Elizabeth share their competing ideas for what to wear this Halloween. Or read up on the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s new music director in an informative profile
by Nick. Sarah talks about the connections between stage fright and horror movies, and Frankie cooks up some great recipes for those of us with a sweet tooth. Natalie’s poem just might send chills up your spine, and Sofie’s profile will let you in on a fascinating opera concept perfect for this haunted season. If you feel the semester already getting the better of you, take some advice from Liz on how to keep sane. Finally, get to know some distinguished NEC alums on their return to school. Have a wonderful October, and don’t forget to get in touch with us. We love hearing from you!
penguin CULTURE A Response To Stage Fright
by SARAH ATWOOD First-year MM Violin
SARAH ATWOOD AIN’T AFRAID OF NO GHOST What’s the scariest moment you’ve had?
uation and critique. I’m learning (belatedly) to remember that
I get scared easily, so I don’t watch horror movies (I
As musicians, we constantly put ourselves up for eval-
know, what an embarrassing thing to admit during Halloween)!
I still exist as a human, albeit inside the mummified layers of
People who actually like to scare themselves on purpose confuse
dedicated violinist. At the risk of going all sentimental, our worth
me, but there’s a difference between “recreational fear” and
as humans does not depend on how perfectly we can perform as
unwanted fear - such as stage fright. Stage fright can take many
musicians. High standards are good in every aspect of life, but if
forms, some of which I think should have the more appropriate
you don’t always “measure up” it isn’t a matter of life or death!
title of “stage fear”. When I think back to times I’ve been really
Even if I miss that fast run in Don Juan, I will still be an accept-
scared, many of them were before (and during) recitals, audi-
able human being (and probably walk over to Starbucks to nurse
tions, and also lesser performances that didn’t have any conse-
my frustration over a hazelnut macchiato).
quence at all. So what, exactly, was I scared of?
moments, but we don’t need to let them decide our adequacy
It wasn’t as easy to pinpoint as the feeling I got from
We’ve chosen a life filled with nerve-wracking and scary
(accidentally) switching to a channel showing Stanley Kubrick’s
as people. Some performances may matter more than others,
The Shining, that’s for sure. I wasn’t simply nervous about
yes, but music cannot actually hurt you or anyone else (usually,
performing– I actually like to perform! Instead, it was as if my
it heals)! So, we can all remind ourselves to be kind and realistic
whole conception of myself as a good and acceptable human
with our hearts and egos. Nerves are normal, so when you stand
being was hanging in the balance. How can we let self-worth
up to play you shouldn’t be crippled with terror– leave that for
be determined by such a pithy criteria of playing “well enough”,
when you’re watching all those crazy horror movies!
“mastering” shakiness, and making a “good impression”?
WE SHOULD BE LESS LIKE THIS GUY ...
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OCTOBER 7, 2014
... AND MORE LIKE THIS GUY ON STAGE (JOSHUA BELL)!
There’s A New Sherriff In Town
by NICK TISHERMAN Third-year BM Oboe
ANDRIS NELSONS TAKES THE REINS OF THE BSO
“You could almost write an opera about the selection of
Why you should be excited.
music directors for orchestras,” said Andris Nelsons about
the search process. The 2014-2015 season for the Boston
see the new maestro fly all over the podium of Symphony
Symphony Orchestra is well upon us, which means that
Hall. When he flashes that youthful grin you begin to realize
A visually engaging conductor to watch, we will
this opera has come to a close and a new act
that he is really just at 35-year-old kid who has
is about to begin as the BSO finally lifts
just opened up a brand new toy– the BSO.
that tag of “-designate” off of Andris
With an orchestra united under him, his
Nelsons’ title. The organization made
vivacity will translate into some fantas-
the move to name a new command-
tic concerts in the coming years.
er-in-chief last spring, and Andris
was offered a five year contract
years, and the first time since
beginning this season. At just 35
many of us have been at NEC,
years old he is half the age of
the BSO will have a music direc-
James Levine, the previous music
tor at the helm who will conduct
director of the BSO who held the
concerts on a regular basis. This
title from 2004-2011.
For the first time in three
will be a marked change from my
The new boss was greeted
past two years here at NEC, in which
with a standing ovation in his first con-
one conductor stepped up to the podium
cert as Music Director Designate last year,
one week, and an entirely new face and set
and his first concert as Music Director in Sympho-
of ideas appeared on stage the next week. While
ny Hall was sold out in August, so everything indicates that
it is fun to get different perspectives at each concert, now
Symphony Hall may be more packed this season.
Bostonians finally have a guy we can get behind as leader of our hometown orchestra!
So just who is this guy?
Andris Nelsons hails from Riga,
Andris Nelsons
As the relationship between the orchestra and their new head coach
Born: November 18th, 1978 the capital of the small Baltic state of strengthens, we will perhaps hear the Place of birth: Riga, Latvia Latvia, located just west of Russia music making coming from SymphoEye color: Blue Website: andrisnelsons.com nestled in-between Lithuania and ny Hall become more natural and Classically trained in: Piano, Trumpet, and Voice as Estonia. He is married to the nuanced. Expect the sound of the a Bass-Baritone Latvian soprano Kristine Opalais, orchestra to gel even more, and Most recent conducting gig: Music Director, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and he is the music director of the expect the characters depicted in
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra– a post which he will hold through summer 2015. Known
Fun Fact: Andris turned to conducting after being named the runner-up in the search to voice Sesame Street’s character, The Count*
for bringing “fresh perspectives from all music he tackles,” Nelsons adds an infectious sense of excitement to any orchestra he conducts. He has brought this sense
*not verified
the music to pop off the page with Nelsons at the helm.
Finally, now that there is a
director clocking in every week at Symphony Hall, we can maybe hope for some collaboration with the NEC Philharmonia in the future– perhaps a reading,
of excitement to nearly all of Europe’s main concert halls
conducting master class, even a concert? Regardless, get
and opera houses, including the Concertgebouw, Royal
your BSO College Card ready as we step into the new era
Albert Hall, and the Musikverein.
that is the music directorship of Andris Nelsons!
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TEN WAYS TO STAY Build Your Friendship Group
It took me 6 months at NEC to really find the right friends. I had this ridiculous task-orientated view of just “getting through” my masters and didn’t stop until the end of my first semester to actually make real, true-tolife friends. My advice to you is to pick your friends very carefully, and then make them your family. It’s all we’ve got for some of us living so far from home!
Practice Space
Find whatever works for you. Find your place of Zen around NEC or home where you can get in the zone and whip through that new repertoire. Put away your phone and turn on that metronome. You’ll be entering Daniel Coyle’s state of deep practice in no time.
Find Your Guy (Or Girl!)
The faculty at NEC love us! Well… most of us! They don’t just want to help us navigate our way through our schoolwork and practice regimes, but they also help us navigate our ways through life. Find that professor who is able to help you with things that aren’t in the syllabus. It might be your studio teacher, but it could even be someone outside of your specialty. Buy them coffee and pick their brains. Everyone needs a Yoda.
Eat Healthy
In a land of supersizing and easily available over-processed foods, it can sometimes be a challenge to eat well. Whole Foods Market and organic foods are our friends. Your body reacts positively to good and healthy foods. You’ll think clearer, practice stronger and sleep better. Help yourself by picking the salad option once in awhile.
Download Netflix
Whether you’re in denial about that assignment due tomorrow or shaving reeds in front of an episode (or three) of House of Cards, Netflix offers us all that piece of peace in our weekly chaos. DO. IT. You won’t regret it.
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OCTOBER 7, 2014
SANE AT NEC!
by Liz Tobias First-year DMA Jazz Voice
Learn How To Say NO
The thing about studying in a conservatory is that in addition to all the assignments, class time and rehearsals, we need to practice for half a day as well. CPP, EM, MIE, TP, CI, CS, even I-20s for the international students can sometimes take over. NEC is the BEST at giving students opportunities, so decide exactly what it is that you want and just say no to the distractions. Easier said than done, but do your best.
Get Out Into The Sunshine While It Lasts!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!! Go for a walk to the North End. Run along the Charles River. Sit in a boat on Jamaica Pond. Ride your bike over to Cambridge. Lay in the sun on the grass at the Christian Science Center. Fall is here and we know what that means! Winter is coming.
Exercise/Yoga
Everyone has a little ritual. Mine involves putting on my sports shoes, sweat pants and my MAMAJAZZ soccer jersey and hitting the Y right next door for an hour or two to sweat it out! I have a friend that says sweat is just your fat crying! The time I spend alone on the elliptical centers me for the coming week. Maybe for you it’s yoga, or a walk in the park. In any case, make sure you clear your brain, get the blood flowing and release those endorphins– especially when the winter hits!
LOVE
Everyone needs someone. The Penguin once did a Valentine’s Day article about couples who met at NEC and later married. You never know. That girl sitting next to you in orchestra or the boy at the front of the class in TP might just be the one for you! NEC is a school of possibilities in so, so many more ways than one.
Don’t Forget To Call Your Mom
Sometimes when all else fails, I call my mom (or “mum” as we say down under). Her advice is always right and her presence never fails to cheer me up. I’m sure you have a family figure that has the same effect on you. They love you, and just hearing the sound of your voice will make their day.`
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5
e v i D t e e r t S ke
La
penguin SPOTLIGHT by Andrew Nissen
Music school, if you’re not careful, can be a sort of solitary confinement at times. You sit alone in a room for many daylight hours repeating the same task over and over, and it may not ever feel like it’s getting better. It’s refreshing, then, to see that there are people out there that sat in the same practice rooms as you, attended the same classes as you, even defaced the same music stands as you (you know who you are!), and made it through to the other side with their lives generally intact and together. With this in mind, The Penguin is embarking on a year-long project to seek out some of the most inspiring recent graduates from NEC to hear their take on life and place in music. The first alumni to receive our call are the members of indie jazz/rock/soul band Lake Street Dive. Formed in 2004 whilst all members were attending NEC, Lake Street Dive had built a devoted fan base in the decade since its inception. The band, made up of Rachael Price (’07), Mike “McDuck” Olson (’05), Bridget Kearney (’08), and Mike Calabrese (’07), PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARMAINE LEE. rose to higher prominence recently when a cover video of their take on The Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back” went viral on social media late last year. People seemed to be drawn to the rich qualities of vocalist Rachael Price’s voice, the sensitive stylings of the backing, and the impromptu nature of the video (filmed on a sidewalk in Brighton). Within weeks the group made their first appearance on the late show circuit, on The Colbert Report, and soon onto Letterman, Ellen, and most recently Conan. Importantly, though, they performed their original works in each of these appearances. “I think [the success of the YouTube video] was kind of a confirmation. We had been working very hard, and we have a
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OCTOBER 7, 2014
live show that we’re very proud of so it was really nice to all of a sudden have exposure that brought people to those shows and therefore lead them to listen to more of our original music– which is what our focus is.” says Rachael. And so, after a release of their second LP shortly after those initial appearances, one that prompted Rolling Stone magazine to declare LSD “this year’s best new band”, the group looks to be on an steep trajectory towards more recognition. And rightly so. In an event organized by the NEC Jazz Department, Lake Street Dive recently came back to visit it’s alma mater for a ‘songwriting workshop’. Illuminating musically and emotionally, the workshop featured each of the four members walking the audience through one of their own compositions and detailing the elements that helped shape the final product; some stories deep– like Bridget’s story about the conception of her sultry “Seventeen” (“Have you ever met someone and lamented ‘If I knew you when I was younger we may have gotten along, but I’m a different person now?’”), some not so much– like the revelation that McDuck’s (who received his Scrooge-like nickname whilst living in the NEC dorms) upbeat “You Go Down Smooth” is really an ode to his favourite drink, a gin & tonic. Whatever the situation, it’s evident is the Lake Street Dive is a band that loves playing together. “That was the genesis of it all.” says McDuck. “It was ‘Let’s play music together, and try to play music that could be played in a bar as opposed to the concert stage.” “It was a lot more permanent than other things. As a
bass player, there were a lot of opportunities for projects and gigs, but you played with a different person each gig.” Bridget mentions. And NEC, even in a small way, helped to contribute to that flourishing of creative time between band members, says Mike “When people ask me what it was like to go here, I always
Who’s Afraid Of Opera?
ONE NEC STAFF MEMBER’S EXCITING SECRET LIFE
For many people, opera has the reputation of being an art form that is not just sophisticated, but sometimes unaccessible. Other than taking the time out of your day to sit in a darkened theater for anywhere from three to six (!) hours, there are limited opportunities to hear and experience this rich genre of music. Fear not, however, as Opera Brittenica has orchestrated an entirely different, out-of-the-box, and hauntingly clever new approach to drawing in an audience who will not just be watching, but also will be experiencing the action closer than ever before! Opera Brittenica– run by David Sawicki and NEC alum Joshua Collier– is a musical organization focused entirely on the works of Benjamin Britten. A new project kicks off their second season with a “haunted-house” style adaptation of Britten’s 1954 work The Turn of the Screw: a gothic ghost story based on a novella by Henry James. In their ninety-minute long condensed version, Sawicki and Collier have chosen to break the barrier separating audience and actor by performing their production in a top-secret location in an old house in the Boston area. The idea sprouted from Collier’s observation that the “standard convention of opera,” overwhelmed with the aesthetic aspects of production, often falls short in the category of emotional impression. This provoked him to engineer a method that would bridge the existing gap between stage and seat. NEC’s own Rebecca Teeters is helping bridge that gap, as a leading cast member for this ambitious production. Aside
thought it was like going to the sandbox again. You’re like a child in a sandbox, and you can do anything you want here. It’s open and free.” So, get out of your practice room and jump into the sandbox, current students!
by SOPHIA ADICKES Third-year UD Voice from the wonderful work she does as an academic and international student advisor here at school, Rebecca is an accomplished soprano. She will be playing the role of Mrs. Grose in this upcoming production, and explained how the setting will inform the production. The audience, limited to a group of thirty, will move through different rooms of the house as the performers reenact the chilling story of orphaned Miles and Flora. The producers hope to evoke authentic and visceral emotions from the audience by thrusting them into an uncomfortable situation, while witnessing an altogether disturbing story. The house will be dimly lit and the singers will be accompanied solely by a piano. This unconventional method will create not just a one-of-a-kind experience, but one perfectly suited for the Halloween weekend! In addition to being a new experience for the audience, the actors will have their own unique challenges. Despite the clear presence of audience members, the actors will have to move throughout the house naturally, as if there were no one there. Due to the staging, there will be no conductor. Those who are familiar with the musical styles of Britten know this will create a daunting task for all of the artists involved. Due to space constrictions there are only 90 tickets available for this unique staging, but Opera Brittenica hopes to produce a concert version in the near future. But if you want to see an NEC staff member in action, or enjoy the horrors of Halloween, you will not want to miss this spooky and thrilling combination of music and drama.
REBECCA WILL BE PLAYING THE ROLE OF MRS. GROSE IN BOTH PERFORMANCES.
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COSTUME STAND-OFF 1
October.
Sweaters, scarves, pumpkin spice lattes, and of course:
For a cool cos-
Halloween.
tume remove your skin and cardio-
For children, the favored holiday is synonymous with fun
vascular system to reveal those glorious,
costumes, staying out late, and stealing mass quantities of your
calcium-rich pearly whites! That’s right
by Syd Rvinsky
neighbors’ candy. For adults, it means spending too many paychecks folks, Skeletor is IN this season, and there’s on bags of chocolate that you claim you’ll give to kids, but really cram
no better way to make an entrance than
into your face in shame as your porch light remains dark. For college
by shedding those silly muscles of yours
students, Halloween is an entirely different sort of beast. Around this time of
and really rocking the minimal look
year, your classes are in full gear and you’ve figured out (for the most part) how things work at NEC. The welcome/welcome back parties have long subsided
for autumn. You’ll be the bees’ patella!
and the homework load has consumed the majority of your “free” time. Don’t you
you too)! This fun costume idea works both as
Consequently, I have compiled this helpful list of costumes to help you
a conversation starter and camouflage in the
spice up your October schedule. And you most certainly don’t need to
wild. For bonus points, shave the heads and
wait until the 31st in order to whip out one of these babies. Mon-
bodies of your friends for extra materi-
day Solfege could just as easily become Monday Trollfege.
al! Simply purchase some cheap
German? Merman. Rep classes can transform into R.I.P
3
classes if you play your cards right. And now, my top 5 picks for the month.
than studying. I hope these fun costume concepts have helped you to expand your own ideas, as well as given you some time to reflect on the joys of friendship. Indeed, autumn is a time for fun and friends, and while school is crucial to your development as a musician, there is more to do than locking yourself in a practice room. So get out there and carve up a pumpkin (or your neighbor) for a truly
5
For a scary
costume literally consume your colleagues. Just rip the limbs off of others seated in your vicinity and chomp down. For a more delicious time, bring a personal George Foreman Grill around with you and BBQ the bejeezus out of your friends.
spatula as inspiration for that turnt look! Attach a long, slightly curved, plastic pipe to your back with duct tape and throw on some lingerie to light up the streets as a Sexy Ladle. Alternatively, take a long, rectangular piece of wood and cut a small opening that your
4
head would fit through. Next, slip right into that LBD with pride. Saunter into your next class as a Sexy Bench. For a
OCTOBER 7, 2014
Just do it.
cute costume cover your human form with sheets and be your pal’s safety blanket! Sashay into exams and plank directly on your buddies to make them feel secure with the task at hand. Do TP tests give you the willies? Me too. But I always feel warmer and more comfortable with my bestie draped around my neck as my own personal safety blanket! Pro tip: make it a couple’s season and have you and your significant other be each other’s safety blanket (CAUTION: This may result in a complete train wreck!)
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For a sexy costume, turn a simple
Hallows Eve, use that stapler, pillow, ashtray, or even
one of pure academia. There is more to life
#Skeletor2014
super glue and go crazy.
household product into something salacious! This
see, this October doesn’t need to be
sensational Halloween!
costume pull a No-Shave
as the first ever case of a human-yeti (ladies,
dark days? Yes. Yes you really could.
you can
For a funny
November in October and get confused
need a break? Couldn’t you use a little pick me up to brighten these increasingly
As
2
Syd and Elizabeth give us some competing viewpoints on how best to make a good impression this Halloween season!
4
3
As mentioned before,
Don’t be afraid
don’t spend millions on a costume. My fiancé
to recycle a costume or costume idea.
and I’s Bob’s Burgers “costumes” are really just ev-
If you’re like me and you came from across
ery day clothes. The only thing we’ll need to go out and
the country, or better yet, across the world to
actually purchase are aprons, and I found those on eBay for
attend NEC, who’s going to know if you’re wearing
less than $4 with free shipping! You never need a huge budget
a costume that you’ve worn before? We’re college
in order to express your awesome costume ideas. Go to a
students! We don’t always have the budget to buy
thrift store (we all know you can find a BUNCH of weird stuff in
a brand new, deluxe costume! If you went out as
there), or if you’re planning on going as something that seems
a hippie in high school one year and you plan
intricate like the transformer Optimus Prime, fabricate your
on going this year, who cares?! Slap on that
costume out of card board boxes and color it with paint or
head band and fringe jacket, hold
markers! That’s a great way to keep your Halloween
up that peace sign, and get
costs down and to bring your creativity up! How
groovy!
2
awesome would it be to say that you made
5
your own costume?!
Collaborate with
your friends and come up with a group
Most
costume theme! During my freshman year, some
important-
friends and I dressed up as all of the characters
ly, have fun! You should never
from Peter Pan. It lead to some great pictures, and most
take yourself too seriously, but this is
importantly, some great memories! With so many hit televi-
especially relevant on Halloween.
sion shows on air, there are endless group costume ideas.
Whether you’ll be keeping it simple or
Go out as a group from Game of Thrones, True Blood, or
going all out, I hope you guys and
American Horror Story. Go for a throw-back and dress
gals have a fabulous Hallow-
up as all of the Disney Princesses, the Power Rangers,
een. Stay safe, and stay
or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Go ninja, go
spooky!
ninja, go!) There is simply nothing better than Let’s get everything
1
out on the table and state the obvious: Halloween is awesome. Period. I believe that no matter how old you are, when Halloween rolls around
having fun on Halloween with some of your best buddies. Think of something you
we all get excited at the prospect of munching on candy
really enjoy or are really passionate about
and playing dress up. While it’s always important to choose
and translate that into your clothing! For exam-
whatever you want to wear and to have confidence in what
ple: My fiancé and I are very passionate about the
you wear every day, we can’t avoid the fact that some-
TV show Bob’s Burgers! So, this year we have decid-
times people just don’t agree with our clothing choices.
ed to go out as Bob and Linda Belcher! Watching that
But on Halloween, everything changes. You can wear
show is something we enjoy doing together as a couple,
whatever you want and no one will care. Why?
so it only makes sense that we would enjoy dressing
Because it’s Halloween, silly!
up as our favorite characters together! If you are
Here are some of my tips for choosing a
passionate about the color blue, you go out onto
Halloween costume this year.
the streets of Boston decked out in blue from head to toe and you have yourself a
by Elizabeth Wendt
colorful evening, darn it!
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penguin RECIPES Easy Fall Desserts
FRANKIE YU SHOWS US TWO GREAT RECIPES FOR A SWEET TOOTH
by FRANKIE YU Second-year MM Trombone
Here are two recipes that are simple and fun, and not too challenging for someone who doesn’t make things very often (you know who you are). I’ll admit they are both desserts, but I have no shame!
Lemon Squares As Fall comes around my taste buds crave the sweeter things. Here’s something sweet for the Halloween month.
for the crust -½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature -½ cup granulated sugar -1 cup all purpose flour -pinch of salt
for the topping -2 large eggs -¾ cup granulated sugar -1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest -3 tablespoons all purpose flour -¼ cup fresh lemon juice
utensils -8x8 baking pan -parchment paper -medium bowl -whisk Preheat the oven to 350º. Grease the baking pan with a little butter, and then place some parchment paper
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OCTOBER 7, 2014
into the pan so that a little extra hangs over the sides. Grease the parchment paper as well.
To make the crust: -whisk the ½ cup butter and ½ cup sugar together until fluffy -add 1 cup flour and the pinch of salt -knead all ingredients into a smooth dough, and then spread the dough into your prepared pan– pressing it into all the corners so it covers the base of the tray -place the tray containing the dough into your preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until the edges start to brown (make sure it doesn’t turn black– you’ll burn it!)
To make the filling: -in a medium bowl whisk together the ¾ cup sugar and 2 eggs until well combined (you’ll know it’s ready when it starts to thicken) -add the flour, lemon zest, and lemon juice and whisk all together until you get a nice smooth consistency -once the crust is brown and ready, pour the filling right onto the crust and return it to the oven for another 18-20 minutes or until the filling looks “set” After you take it out let it cool completely in the pan, then run a knife around the edges and cut it into square pieces. Now, it’s ready to eat! For an extra treat, give the bars a light dusting of powdered sugar!
Banana Bread Good at any time of year, banana bread seems especially appropriate for colder weather, perhaps accompanied by a nice cup of coffee and a blanket.
for the bread -1 and ½ cups all purpose flour -1 teaspoon baking soda -1 teaspoon baking powder -¼ teaspoon salt -½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature -1 cup sugar -2 large eggs -2 mashed super super ripe bananas -2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice -1 and ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
utensils -large bowl -medium bowl -small bowl -loaf pan (or a cake pan) -whisk
Preheat the oven to 350º. Grease the loaf pan with a little butter. -in the medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt until well blended -in the large bowl, whisk the butter until it starts to become fluffy -when the butter is fluffy, gradually add the sugar– continuously whisking until well blended -add eggs to the mixture one at a time, whisking each in -in a smaller bowl use a fork to mash the bananas until there are no lumps -add the mashed bananas, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to the beaten butter/sugar/eggs mixture -beat in the flour mixture in the large bowl until everything is well-combined -pour your mixture into the prepared baking pan and stick in the oven for about 45 minutes A trick for testing whether your creation is done is to stick something in the middle of it. If comes out with batter still on it it’s not quite done yet. If it comes out clean, you’re all sett.If not, continue cooking and re-check every 5 minutes.
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penguin CONCERTS NEC Chamber Orchestra
WEDNESDAY, OCT OBER 15, 8 P.M., JORDAN HALL
Hai-Dao Ensemble
Everyone has heard of Haydn’s “Farewell Symphony” but how many have actually experienced it the way Haydn intended? We won’t spoil it for you, but this is Haydn exercising his cheeky humor while making a subtle point about working conditions with his employer, Prince Nikolaus Esterházy. And Franz Waxman-Who? Well you might know his music if you’re a film buff: “Bride of Frankenstein,” “Rear Window,” “Rebecca,” “Taras Bulba,” etc. But like today’s John Williams, he also composed concert music. And Franz Schreker? We may not know much about him today but, back in the day, his operas were more popular than those of Richard Strauss.
MONDAY, OCT OBER 20, 8 P.M., JORDAN HALL Dedicated to perform, commission, and redefine new music from Asia, Ensemble Hai-Dao is a group of outstanding musicians led by two young Asian composers. “Hai-Dao” stands for Islands, since both founders come from island countries. This group, founded by NEC student Shiuan Chang with composer Kaito Nakahori, appears as part of the NEC Composers Series, directed by Malcolm Peyton. This program includes world premiere performances of works by Kenji Sakai and the group’s cofounders.
Let’s Dance!
S ATURDAY, OCT OBER 25, 8 P.M., BROWN HALL NEC’s “3 Days on Gainsborough Street” alumni and family festival weekend, and parallel “Festival of Music & Dance” end their festivities with this swing dance to live music from Dan Gabel and The Abletones, an authentic 18-piece big band featuring vocalist Elise Roth. Open to all.
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OCTOBER 7, 2014
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3 | 4 P.M. BROWN HALL
SAC WELLNESS SEMINAR
Come and check out all the mind/body health options on offer at the SAC, including yoga, pilates, acupuncture, massage, gyrokenesis, hypnotism, acupuncture, stress/anxiety coaches, and much more!
SAC HALLOWEEN PARTY
Dance along to awesome music played by your fellow students, and come in your best halloween costume
BROWN HALL MONDAY, OCTOBER 27 | 7 P.M.
for a chance to win a prize!
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
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penguins GET CREATIVE Tonight I Bathe In Sunlight
by NATALIE ALPER-LEROUX Third-year BM Viola
as my pear of hope and hopelessness flies fragrant and soft into the inky black I drink star blood and it dribbles in gleaming silver rivulets down my chin I wipe it off the pimples with the back of my hand already marked with the dirt that I buried my wing in [the wing I stole from the grocery store with the blond Tiresias at the fifth register I left too fast missed the laminated plastic card my uncle told me later in his (not his) deep rich baritone whistling through his teeth howling down his throat that the sign was for a sale BUY TWO SET YOU FREE] so now I’m stuck on this perfect circle dust patch (so much so red so round) so red it stains my shoes my feet my pants so I hold my single wing in my eyes I stroke its scaly black feathers I inhale the reek of iron and salt and cinnamon and peroxide and stale glue I close my eyes like the lids are moving through miasmas of molasses and the dream nails me in the chest like a tidal wave I fall backwards onto the powdery earth shards of sobs crash out of my throat I hear my life seeping into the baking stones my hand is suspended on a barbed wire in front of my nose my lungs ache and croak like a frog breathing fiberglass as it tries to sing until the notes are sanded into rock and the phrases melt into rust suddenly I am become a Frankenstein of blood and dirt and broken slicing nightmares the star blood in my gullet boils through skin and bone until my arms liquefy and reform in knives supernovas of blackest fire ring my eyes and crinkle the folds of my face into a grotesquery
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OCTOBER 7, 2014
my stomping feet send shockwaves through the pillars of space and time I clap my lungs together and roar my sorrow and the dream collapses in front of me
THE PENGUIN N E C ’ S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
I turn the limp ragdoll shell onto its back my face stares back at me with two dead black hollows yawning inward and I scream
N I O U T G E N V E P O L E TH OULD U... W E YO E S
i
...COME TO OUR MEETINGS! The Penguin Penmen meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month to discuss new ideas, tweak old ones, hang out, and plan for the future. Anyone is welcome to come and bring an idea, and you may surprise yourself at how perfect YOU are for The Penguin! If you can’t make it to our meetings, why not drop in to our office hours any Friday from 1-3pm in the SAC? We’re here for you and your voice, and we’d love to help you make yourself heard!
PENGUIN PENMEN Andrew Nissen, editor Suzanne Hegland, faculty editor Sophia Adickes, writer Natalie Alper-Leroux, creative Sarah Atwood, writer Charmaine Lee, photographer Syd Rvinsky, writer Nick Tisherman, writer Liz Tobias, writer Tong Wang, illustrator Elizabeth Wendt, writer Frankie Yu, writer
SUBMIT SOMETHING! If you'd like to contribute an article, illustration, or idea, email a 1-2 sentence proposal to: thepenguin@necmusic.edu We’d love to hear from you! Please limit articles to 650 words.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR NOVEMBER ISSUE:
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 17TH WE'RE ONLINE! FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/penguinnewspaper INSTAGRAM: ThePenguinNEC TWITTER: @ThePenguinNEC WEBSITE: www.NECpenguin.com
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
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penguin PHOTOS The Penguin has joined Instagram! Here’s a taste of what we’ve uploaded to our account in the previous weeks. Follow us on Instagram at /ThePenguinNEC