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THE PENGUIN
ISSUE 66
MARCH 13, 2015
N E C ’ S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
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The Sun Is Out In Boston! Do you feel it? You can see it in the clear blue skies. You can smell it in the
of Winter into Spring can also bring about a new, relaxed, attitude not just
fresh air. You can hear it the constant conversation in the corridors along the
at home, but at school as well!
lines of “Gosh, I can’t WAIT for Spring Break!” Yes – Spring seems to be
finally here! And not a moment to soon for us all, seeing the particularly brutal
of Historic Proportions, we have a refreshing issue laid out for you and your
Winter we’ve been subjected to the last few weeks.
Spring journey. We have some great suggestions for Spring activities on pages
To remedy any ill-effects you may have experienced from this Winter
It’s probably not a coincidence that the busiest time of year at school
4 and 7, an illuminating article on breakfast from newcomer Alex Stening on
is also the time of year the weather is conspiring to make us never set foot
page 2, a riveting short story on page 12, an audition retrospective on page
outside ever again. With that in mind, the relief brought upon by the change
8, and much, much more. Enjoy, and happy Spring Break!
penguin CULTURE NEC Special Announcement WE HAVE SOME NEWS TO TELL YOU ...
by NICHOLAS TISHERMAN Third-Year BM Oboe
Attention students, faculty, and staff of our beloved New England Conservatory, Due to inclement weather, we have decided to cancel the season of spring for this year. This was a very difficult decision to make, but we at The Penguin are here to help inform you of the coming changes in the schedule. The administration has decided that classes will be dismissed for summer at the point when all the snow has melted, which we estimate to be sometime in what used to be called “May.” On your transcript, this semester will appear as “Winter and Post-Winter 2015.” Spring break will now be referred to as, “Pre-Summer Recess,” and will occur as planned during the week of March 15th. The Student Activities Center has scrapped their “Spring Fling” event and NEC will now plan its first ever “After the Winter Fling.” The SAC is welcoming alternative suggestions for a name. In addition, banned repertoire for the rest of this semester includes: Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, the first of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and Schumann’s Symphony No. 1. Thank you for your cooperation, and best wishes for continued success this Winter Semester. Sincerely, The Penguin
WE CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS!
Spring has been cancelled until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation. 2
MARCH 13, 2015
Breakfast Makes You Fast!
by ALEX STENING First-Year MM French Horn
MEAL-TIME INSPIRATION FROM ALEX
Spring is approaching, and on March 8th we had to spring
throughout the day and sustain it right as you get out of bed,
ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time. That means one
that pyramid needs to be flipped. The majority of your daily
fewer of hour practice, studying, or sleep, and that doesn’t
calories should be eaten in the morning to give your brain and
bode well for musicians who have recitals, auditions, and final
body the fuel it needs after 8+ hours of slumber.
projects coming up.
With tons of work to do, we all wish for more time in a
“Okay then, so if I eat 1000 calories of Boston Cream
Donuts in the morning then I’m good right?” I SO wish that was
day. Our professors give us strategies to maximize our produc-
the truth but unfortunately, no. You must intake lots of calories
tivity in a practice session or to help us be more mindful while
from substantial food sources. Sugar is only going to give you
studying, but at times we still feel tired and behind. So what’s
energy for short amount of time. What you need is a nutritious
going on?
breakfast that includes eating lots of protein, fiber, and whole grains. Foods such as eggs, milk, plain Greek-yogurt and
Pondering this for some time, I started
peanut butter have a lot of protein while foods
focusing on my daily energy levels, looking
like oatmeal, toast, fruits and vegetables
closely at which points of the day I feel
provide grains, fiber and other vitamins.
my energy high or low. Our energy
There are a lot of great breakfast
fluctuates throughout the day . Imag-
ideas found online for all different
ine your energy being like three
types of diets but I personally eat 2
waves moving to shore. Doing
fried eggs, oatmeal with mixed in
more work in the times where
banana, Greek-yogurt and almond
our energy peaks helps us to stay
butter and drink several glasses
focused longer leading to more
of water. After that, I feel a high
productivity. However, shortly after
amount of energy that last for
we may feel a nap coming on in
about 9 or 10 hours.
history class and no one wants to disrespect the professor. So what if we
Even if you have to get up earlier to
could extend our high energy to be like
cook or grab some food from a breakfast
the size of waves off the coast of Nazaré,
place, another benefit of eating breakfast
Portugal? (YouTube Nazaré Portugal coast to see
is that you are creating time for yourself to get
incredible waves). Yes it is possible!
in the right state of mind. There will be no rushing out the door to get a practice room or frantically trying to find
My big discovery last semester brought me many spe-
your keys before you leave. The sheer act of taking time to eat
cific benefits, including more intense and prolonged focus while
breakfast is a routine that will get you in the right mindset to
I practiced or studied. It also gave me an overall feeling of high
start the day on the right foot.
energy that made me feel good throughout the whole day. This discovery is something we have all heard of. It is no secret that
Not feeling hungry in the morning? Maybe you are
breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
eating too much before you go to bed, leaving you with a full stomach when you wake up. Since digestion slows down when
Reflect on how much you each during breakfast, lunch
you sleep you are not going to be hungry in the morning. Start
and dinner. Which meal is the biggest? The majority of people
slowly by eating less every night before you go to sleep. This
would say that dinner is their biggest meal, then lunch, and
will eventually leave you with a big appetite when you wake
then breakfast. With this, your calorie intake throughout the day
up.
looks like an upside down pyramid. Unless your are going to do some nighttime rowing races in the Charles River why do
Follow these guidelines, and breakfast will become
you need 700+ calories at 8pm at night? To obtain high energy
your springboard into having a spectacular day!
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3
High-Flying Tales of Audition Adventure FINDING REASSURANCE IN ODD PLACES
by ALEXANDRA GILLIAM Fourth-Year BM Voice
Gossamer clouds billow past my window, suspended in the cerulean expanse like whales, lazily floating in the ocean. Below me, the patchwork farms of West Virginia whiz past, dwarfed at such a great distance. As I sit, with a score open on my tray table, pondering Strauss’s musical intentions in preparation for my senior recital, a nagging voice jars my focus.
“Ugh. You must be a musician.”
Disgruntled and irritated at my seatmate’s commentary
I give her a quick once-over. Middle-aged and well dressed, the lady wears a look of condescension behind a pair of Burberry reading glasses. Deciding not to take the bait, I sweetly respond, “Why, yes, ma’am, I am. I’m an aspiring opera singer, on my way to audition for graduate school.”
“Ah, I see. Y’know, my daughter is majoring in
biomedical engineering. She’s a senior in college now, but she wanted to be a professional singer when she was in high school. I told her that she couldn’t pursue music, because it’s just such an impractical degree and career path. I didn’t want to allow her to set herself up for failure later in life.”
Hot anger boils in my throat, and the be-khaki’d man
on the aisle seems to notice his Bloody Mary and hummus wrap for the first time as he pretends not to hone in on our conversation. I take a deep breath and reply, “Believe it or not, ma’am, a conservatory education is a fantastic prerequisite for a career in the sciences and humanities. As a matter of fact, many people actually become doctors or lawyers after their musical training if they don’t go on to become professional musicians, and some even run arts management companies.” Ignoring her visible contempt, I continue. “Music majors are actually very competitive candidates in the job market, because hiring committees know that we are extremely disciplined, focused individuals who have excellent time-management skills and bring a ton of passion to the table.”
At this comment, the man on the aisle grins and turns
to me, saying, “You are absolutely right. I’m the CEO of a Fortune 500 office supply company, and I always look to promote classically trained musicians and veterans to executive-level positions because I know that they’re some of the hardest working and dedicated individuals out there.”
The lady pales and drifts into a contemplative silence
as the man and I converse for the remainder of our flight. Finally, as I reach into the overhead bin to retrieve my luggage, he hands me his business card. “If you’re looking for a job in five years,” he tells me, “give me a call. I will remember this
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MARCH 13, 2015
WHO WOULD ARGUE WITH THIS FACE?
conversation.”
While I did not anticipate a reaffirmation of my career
choices that day, that discussion really spurred some deep introspection for me. Earlier that week, I had been embattled in an internal debate, as this was the first of seven grad school auditions that I would take throughout February and early March. Anxiety filled my mind and disturbed my dreams at night, and I lay awake, asking myself over and over, what if I’m not good enough? What if I don’t get in anywhere? What if I’m really not cut out for a performance career? What if I should just give up and switch directions?
Through talking to that woman and having to defend
my decision to come to NEC just four years ago, I realized that I’m not making the wrong choice in pursuing my musical dreams. While my five-week audition tour was extremely stressful and pushed me to my emotional and physical limits, it provided me an opportunity to learn that I have a musical story to tell and I’m at my best when I’m telling it. For no other career would I be willing to leave the warmth of my house at 3:00 am on a Friday morning to fly to a far-distant city. No other profession would inspire me to stand up in front of a room full of people and bare my soul. And, most importantly, no other job could possibly fill me with as much anxiety over the possibility of rejection.
With this in mind, dear reader, do not lose heart.
your craft. Make yourself a warm beverage and take a deep
The musical journey that we chose is difficult, and the road
breath. Remind yourself that regardless of whether you get
ahead is stony; you may occasionally lose the path as you lay
into that summer festival or grad school, life will go on and
awake in the wee hours of the morning this March and check
more opportunities will soon follow. What may appear to be
your email for the seven hundredth time in a day to see if any
an insurmountable snow drift right now will melt to charm-
results have come in. Consider the fact that, if you did not feel
ing puddles in just a few short weeks. After all, you made it
pain or stress, you would not be emotionally connected to
through the blizzard – spring is just around the corner.
Spending Spring Break In The Bean WHAT TO DO NEXT WEEK FOR SPRING BREAK?
by ELIZABETH WENDT Third-Year BM Voice
It seems that spring may finally be upon us. Maybe. Probably not, but I’m hopeful! The sun has been out these past few days which has led to warmer weather (30° is seriously starting to feel like flip-flops and shorts weather) and fewer layers, and the mountainous snow banks are starting to melt away into streams of smelly brown slush…what a breathtaking spring image. Hopefully, this change in the air will make for a great spring break in Boston. Many people will be travelling back home for the break, but not all of us have that opportunity. If you will be staying in Boston, here is a list of fun things to do around the city to keep you entertained and to help ring in the spring season:
1. First and most importantly, you should start your break by praying to the nature gods to stop the snow for good. Light candles, burn incense, don an exotic headdress and mask and dance around an exorbitant amount of spring time fruits as an offering to Mother Nature. If all else fails, drop to your knees and beg for 60°+ weather and sun, maybe even shed a tear or two for dramatic effect. Don’t doubt me when I say that if you guys don’t do this, I most definitely will.
2. Attend Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade! On Sunday, March 15th from 1pm-4pm in South Boston, the city will be full of people in green and floats of all shapes and sizes. The parade starts near the Broadway T station along the Red Line and ends in Andrews Square. There will be plenty of good viewing spots along Broadway so be sure to bring a camera and definitely wear green! No one wants to get pinched by a stranger and no one will believe you if you use the old, “My underwear are green” excuse.
3. If you love flowers and gardens, you should attend Boston’s Flower and Garden show! It takes place from March 11-15 at the Seaport World Trade Center in South Boston. Adult tickets for this event are $20. You will be surrounded by tons of beautiful flowers and garden displays, there will be vendors selling handmade clothes, art, and pottery, and you will be able to view and photograph the entries for several floral design competitions. No matter what the weather is outside, this show will be a great way to bring some color and beauty into your life!
4. If you’re looking for something music related that does not involve being holed up inside a musty practice room, you should go to the Boston Ballet for their performance of Shades of Sound. This performance begins on Thursday, March 19th and goes until the 29th. A celebration of music and dance, this production is, “Three riveting works of magnificent musicality and exhilarating choreography featuring the return of Wayne McGregor’s Chroma and the company premieres of George Balanchine’s Episodes and Hans van Manen’s deliciously comic Black Cake” (Boston Ballet). With music ranging from Tchaikovsky to The White Stripes, this production is sure to be entertaining and extremely moving. Tickets are on sale now on the Boston Ballet website. No matter how you choose to spend your break, just be sure to balance enough time to rest with time to have fun. This semester has been absolutely insane due to the weather and we all deserve a pat on the back for making it through to spring in one piece. Keep up with your practicing, but don’t over exert yourself. Get out into the city and enjoy the beginnings of spring in The Bean!
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5
C AN SPRING REALLY HANG YOU UP THE MOST?
by LIZ TOBIAS First-Year DMA Jazz Voice
Top Of The Hub
Check out the view. You won’t have to cash in your Strad to afford paying for this view. Just a $5 coffee and a 360 sneak peak of our pretty little town will melt the winter blues away. Take your hottie and impress them with your knowledge of all things Back Bay. You’ll, at very least, recognize NEC and the Y building ...
Get Sweaty At The Havana Club
Dance away the winter chubbiness and welcome the hot nights of summer with salsa lessons at the Havana Club in Central Square. For $12, you get two hours of lessons followed by three hours of dancing. Lessons start at 8 p.m. every Friday, no partner required.
Star Gaze At The Coit Observatory
Looking to spend a balmy spring night outside and learn something in the process? Climb to the top of Boston University’s Coit Observatory and look to the sky in search of stars. The observatory hosts a free open night every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., weather permitting.
Get Into Slam Poetry
The scene in “So I Married an Axe Murderer” where Mike Myers does beat poetry is the best. Do you consider yourself a regular Neruda, Keats or Frost? Let your road diverge in the woods towards the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge. The Boston Poetry Slam takes off every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Cover charge is $3. Such a student friendly price!!
The Arnold Arboretum
One year I trekked from my house to the Arboretum and my friends and I could not believe the intense colors of the flowers in people’s private gardens, let alone the incredible landscape of the arboretum! That whole area looks like Spring on steroids – it’s beautiful, so get cracking!
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MARCH 13, 2015
Has Spring (a.k.a. the Craziest Winter Ever Known to Boston) been getting you down this year? Cheer up! I’ve got some things to help keep your mind clear and your calendar full. In good form and keeping tradition with my love of lists, I’m gonna give you the top 10 things to do throughout Spring in Boston. With student-friendly prices and completely accessible via our wondrous MBTA system, these events can be just for you or for you and your “special” friend.
Boston Marathon – April 20
Traditionally a sunny day for Boston Strong. Support runners from around the world who have been in training for months to be worthy. It would be kinda ironic sitting in a chair snacking on some serious sugar whilst watching these sportsmen and women work up a sweat. Why not?! Unless you actually want to run ...
Christian Science Grass ... The Other Type
This is my personal favorite - and obviously reserved for when the snow melts and all the puddles have evaporated: The Christian Science center lawns. A soft book bag, a pair of sunnies and your iPod will come in handy for this kind of hang - or get crazy and bring out a frisbee. Do people still do that these days?
See a film at Boston’s Independent Film Festival Forget the commercial blockbusters. Instead head over to the 7th annual Independent Film Festival Boston from April 22 to 28. For a list of films (and filmmakers), visit www.iffboston.org.
Bike Ride Along The Charles
“Maverick” is his name. Blue is his color. My Bianchi is built for speed and comfort. He goes fast and just loves the sunshine on a clear day. We met in 2013 when I first laid eyes on him at Bikes Not Bombs in JP. It’s been a match made in bike heaven ever since. Is it time for you to tune up your bike for the Spring?
Discover Jamaica Pond
Sandwiched between Jamaica Plain and Brookline, JP Pond is ideal for simply relaxing and people watching – if you’re that kind of person. Bound by a 1.5-milelong walking path, this idyllic pond features boating and even fishing. Rowboats are available for rent at $10 an hour.
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7
a n t a r a v a N Deepti
penguin SPOTLIGHT by Andrew Nissen
NEC presents to us people with such momenumental and diverse talents every single day, that it can be a bit mindnumbing when we take a step back and contemplate the impact we can make beyond its hallowed halls. When we do, however, it’s a rewarding insight into music not just as an art form, but as a way of life. Deepti Navaratna perfectly illustrates this fact. A Master’s student in the Contemporary Improvisation Department, Deepti is also a qualified research neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School. In 2013, as part of the Entrepreneurship Seminar class run by Tanya Kalmanovitch, Deepti developed a non-profit organization named the Carnatic Alchemy Project. Carnatic music is Indian classical music, and with this project Deepti aimed to bring it to a “more mainstream presence in America” via a number of different ways. One of these ways is with the new concert series Dialogues With The Divine. A six-concert project, Dialogues With The Divine explores the role sacred music plays in today’s society through “intercultural music making.” In Deepti’s words: “As a singer of sacred music interested in taking my music beyond traditional boundaries through my cultural entrepreneurship initiative ... I was aware that sacred texts were deeply entrenched in symbolic meanings relevant only to certain communities. Given this constraint, I wanted to explore if sacred music could be used to create dialogues that transcend them? Dialogues with the Divine is a series of concerts where we invoke imageries of the divine across world religions, thereby enabling us to transcend religious, spiritual, and cultural boundaries to be united in a singular spiritual experience.” The first foray into this territory took place on March 1st with Sacred Songs Of Hindus And Jews as part of the
Deepti explains, “Jewish cantor music is very similar to South Indian classical music. In fact, that’s why we started out with this concert – it was the easiest one to use as a pilot concert! They have similar modal ancestries that are fairly compatible. And sometimes, when it doesn’t work together, that also brings up something interesting to explore, too.” The next exploration into the synthesis between religions on May 23rd will study the interactions of Hinduism and Christianity at First Parish Church in Cambridge. “It’s new music in old places,” jokes Deepti. After that, plans are in place for an Islamic Sufism concert, a Buddhism concert, and more.
JORDANIAN VIOLINIST LAYTH SIDIQ, DEEPTI, AND CANTOR RANDALL SCHLOSS
As an extension of this philosophy of collaboration and exploration, Dialogues With The Divine is now opening up to participation with other interested NEC students from any discipline. “The idea is to put people who would probably normally have nothing to do with each other, except for that
Boston Jewish Music Festival, which Deepti developed with the help of Hankus Netsky and Eva Heinstein. Alongside Cantor Randall Schloss and a small ensemble consisting of Middle Eastern violin and percussion, Deepti explored the similarities, differences, and unifying aspects of the two ancient religions. The concert was well received by the audience and critics, and is a positive indicator for the success of upcoming concerts in the series exploring other religions.
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MARCH 13, 2015
INDIAN YOUTH ENSEMBLE AFTER SINGING YIDDISH FOLK SONGS
concert, in the room.” Deepti tells me.
a many splendored thing! It is this thirst to engage with the
Those interested are encouraged to get in contact with Deepti at deepti.navaratna@necmusic.edu, and to check out the Carnatic Alchemy Project online at www.deeptinavaratna.
brightest musical minds of the world that led me to study at the Contemporary Improvisation Department at New England Conservatory on research hiatus from neuroscience research.”
com and www.facebook.com/DeeptiNavaratna. This promises to be an exciting project, with untold possibilities arising from
Indeed, we all have unique paths that have led us to be at NEC today. Some of those paths were set for us well in
the merging of ancient traditions with modern sensibilities. On her unique artistic upbringing, Deepti says: “Growing up in India, a melting pot of cultures and sounds,
advance, and some of those paths were carved out by the skin of our teeth. Whatever the case, it’s clear that NEC – even amongst very prestigious peers – offers its students unparalleled
I have truly come to understand the value of being rooted in tradition while seeking new musical conversations. Such
chances for cross-collaboration between disciplines. We would be remiss to ignore the opportunities that may present
intercultural immersion allows me to appreciate the beauty of our differences and celebrate my identity as a South Indian classical musician, all at once. Tradition like love is
themselves in this situation, and Dialogues With The Divine surely seems like one of the most exciting opportunities to present itself to us here at school.
Ignite!
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH MATT SZYMANSKI FROM PHOENIX Phoenix is a brand new ensemble founded by, and made up of, current and past NEC students. Matt, the director, gave us some time to answer a few questions before their March 24 launch event. What is Phoenix Orchestra, and what do they do? Phoenix is a new orchestra in Boston focused on presenting music in an accessible way to expand the reach of classical music. We play the same music as other orchestras but we focus on changing the packaging around that music to present it in a more casual atmosphere. What inspired you to create Phoenix? What’s special about it? I wanted to create a similar avenue for people to enjoy classical music as the one I followed when I was a teenager. I grew up in a non-musical family and became exposed to the music I love today because of movie soundtrack and video games. From there I applied to the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and fell in love with a lot of the repertoire we’re more familiar with in our concert halls today. But that’s a tough path to replicate. There need to be more ways to fall in love with classical music, Phoenix
by SARAH ATWOOD First-Year MM Violin strives to be one of those ways. Any fun facts about you/the orchestra/your rehearsal process etc.? My favorite thing about Phoenix is how democratic our structure is. The administration is all made up of players. The players have influence over programming, marketing, concert formats, social media, everything. We think of ourselves as an ensemble for the audience, but we’re also an ensemble by the players for the players. It gives everybody a real sense of ownership over the product we’re putting on. Any future performances in the area? Our launch event, Ignite, is at 7pm on March 24th at the Oberon in Cambridge. www.phoenixorch.org/schedule for more info! How can current NEC students get involved? Drop us a line! If you want to get involved just email us at phoenixorch@gmail.com.
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9
penguin RECIPES Spring Clean Your Body
by ANDREW NISSEN Second-Year GD Trombone
TWO EASY RECIPES FOR HEALTHY, LIGHTER EATING!
If you’re anything like me, your diet the last few months – influenced by the frantic nature of school coupled with the stultyfying cold – has been increasingly filled with lucious carbs, voluptuous fats, and temptingly salty and sweet things. With that in mind, the onset of Spring is the perfect time to take the philosophy of “Spring Cleaning” and apply it not only to our rooms (which I’m sure are similarly as cluttered as our diets!), but to our whole life. Now is the time to take back control of your eating habits, and to make the most of the (hopefully!) warmer weather of Spring! Below are two easy recipes embodying this idea, full of raw protein garnished with lots of color and variety of nutrients from www.eatingwell.com. Enjoy!
Green Eggs & Ham Frittata Ingredients 8 large eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, diced 1 5-ounce bag baby spinach, chopped 1/2 cup diced ham
Instructions 1. Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 450°F. 2. Whisk eggs, dill, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Heat oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add leeks; cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add spinach and ham; cook, stirring, until the spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.
3. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables and cook, lifting the edges of the frittata so uncooked egg can flow underneath, until the bottom is light golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top, transfer the pan to the
1/2 cup shredded havarti or Muenster cheese
oven and bake until the eggs are set, 6 to 8 minutes. Let rest for about 3
Loaded Spinach Salad
1 cup shredded carrots
Ingredients Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing – 1/3 cup low-fat mayonnaise 1/3 cup buttermilk or nonfat milk 1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt 2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar or white vinegar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese Salad – 8 large eggs 6 cups baby spinach 4 tablespoons Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing, divided 1 8-ounce can beets, rinsed and sliced
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MARCH 13, 2015
minutes before serving. Serve hot or cold. Serves 6.
2 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted (see Tip)
Instructions To prepare dressing: Whisk mayonnaise, buttermilk (or milk), yogurt, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Add cheese and stir, mashing with a spoon until the cheese is incorporated To prepare salad: Place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook at the lowest simmer for 10 minutes. Pour off the hot water and run cold water over the eggs until they are completely cooled. Peel the eggs; discard 6 of the yolks. Chop the remaining yolks and whites. Toss spinach and 2 tablespoons of the dressing in a large bowl. Divide between 2 plates. Top with the chopped eggs, beets, carrots and pecans. Drizzle with 2 more tablespoons dressing. (Refrigerate the extra dressing for up to 1 week.) Serves 2.
penguin CONCERTS Russell Sherman’s Beethoven
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 8 P.M., JORDAN HALL Great artists give free concerts at New England Conservatory—simply because they teach here. Pianist Russell Sherman, NEC Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, celebrates his 85th birthday (today is the actual birthday) and the 70th anniversary of his professional debut at Town Hall, with an all Beethoven recital. Sherman has recorded Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas and piano concertos for GM Records. He performed the “Appassionata” sonata at his Town Hall debut.
Brass Bash
SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 8 P.M., JORDAN HALL NEC brass students perform with their BSO teachers. Founded by NEC brass and percussion chair Frank Epstein, who is himself recently retired from the BSO, Brass Bash puts the spotlight on current and former Boston Symphony Orchestra members who teach at NEC, along with their students. This year the focus is on the tuba and the Bash features three distinguished guest artists and clinicians who join with NEC faculty member and BSO tubist Mike Roylance. The guests are: Sérgio Carolino, Principal tuba, Porto Symphony Orchestra (Portugal), Casa da Musica, and Yamaha International Artist, Roger Bobo, renowned soloist and pedagogue, and Robert Tucci, who has been tubist of the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera, and the Bavarian State Opera, and appeared with numerous European and American orchestras and ensembles In addition to NEC brass ensembles and teachers, work by Mike Forbes will be performed by a Tuba Herd that includes players from NEC, Boston University, The Boston Conservatory, and guests. The traditional NEC Massed Brass conclusion will tackle Richard Strauss.
NEC Philharmonia + Wolff
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 8 P.M., JORDAN HALL A concerto for viola and cello will fill out the program pending results of student concerto competition. Stay tuned. Previously announced conductor Kees Bakel has had to cancel his appearance due to illness. Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 Kernis: Too Hot Toccata
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11
penguins GET CREATIVE New Boston
by NATALIE ALPER-LEROUX Third-Year BM Viola
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FIRST CHAPTER OF A SERIALIZED STORY INSPIRED BY THIS TUMBLR POST. ENJOY!
Chapter 1: Forest Hills
“Got everything?”
Caela turned back to scour the empty living room for any straggling possessions. She nodded.
“Yep, I’m good.”
Her older sister Shannon smiled gently back at her. “Then we’re off…” As they crossed the threshold of their family’s now-collapsing duplex, the two girls recoiled from the wall of cold air that seemed to bite down to their bones, even through they wore almost all the clothing they owned. The pair shimmied clumsily through the hastily carved tunnel of snow that connected their front door to Weld Hill Street, and trudged down the hill through the last night’s knee-deep snowfall to the Forest Hills emergency shuttle station. One of the first orders the government of the newly created City-State of Boston had issued was one that even Shannon couldn’t complain about: the edict had set up dozens of snow-friendly hovershuttle ter-
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MARCH 13, 2015
minals at old MBTA transportation hubs across the Boston metropolitan area. Caela and Shannon joined in the penguin huddle of passengers that clustered outside the shuttle station solar-powered weather shelter, which was already full beyond its capacity. “Looks like they’re running behind again,” Caela whispered into her sister’s ear. “Typical Orange Line,” Shannon growled back under her breath, scowling through the shelter’s glass walls at the horde of college girls, dressed in absurdly light boots and North Face fleece jackets, who had decided that the best way to pass the time was to sing “Let It Go” from Frozen at the top of their lungs. Caela grinned at her sister and started to whisper the lyrics, pantomiming shooting ice out of her hands and into her sister’s face. Shannon’s scowl deepened, and she gave Caela a muffled jab in the ribs. “The only reason people still know all the words to a ten-year-old Disney song is that it’s the only thing on the radio,” she muttered petulantly. “And on TV, and on the Internet…”
Her diatribe was cut short by whoops of excitement from the crowd. “Shannon, it’s here!” Caela grabbed her sister’s arm and yanked her through the crowd that swarmed around the hovershuttle. As they shoved their way closer to the shuttle’s doors, the thuds and shouts of dozens of fistfights between passengers vying for space got louder and louder. “NO!” A woman’s shrieking cry rang out across the seething mass of humanity gathered around the shuttle, and just as suddenly as it had appeared, it was cut short by a staccato burst of gunfire.
All hell broke loose.
The crowd’s frantic efforts to push its way onto the shuttle turned into a frenzy of kicking limbs and screams of pain, fueled by panic as more gunshots rang out from within the shelter. In the confusion, Caela lost her grip on Shannon’s arm, and as she turned to find her, she saw a half-dozen gloved hands push her sister down in their owners’ struggle to reach the safety of the shuttle.
“SHANNON, NO! I’M COMING, SHANNON!” Caela saw her sister elbow a teenager in a black balaclava in the face as she stood and yelled over her shoulder, “GO, CAELA! GET ON THAT TRAIN!” “I’M NOT LEAVING WITHOUT YOU!” A sudden violent push sent her reeling back, and as the heel of her boot connected with something solid and metallic she fell back into a wall of panting, sweating people. She looked to see Shannon standing over the unconscious form of a middle-aged man clutching an old pistol. As the shuttle’s doors swung shut, Caela stared in disbelief as her sister smiled and said, “Yes, you are.” Caela shrieked and pounded in vain against the blast-proof glass doors as the shuttle pulled away from the carnage at the terminal. She was still crying when the shuttle driver’s Southie-accented voice, thick with boredom, blared through the intercom.
“Next stop, South Station.”
2015 GRADUATING CLASS GIFT CAMPAIGN Graduating in May?? Are you inspired by our amazing faculty, free concerts, and masterclasses? Want to ensure that these things are here to stay? Support your class gift today! Every gift - no matter how small - has an impact! Every dollar you give will be matched by WGBH’s Cathy Fuller ’82, ’86 M.M., and if 50% of our class gives, a generous Trustee will contribute an extra $5,000 to our campaign. Give online at necmusic.edu/alumni/graduating-class-gift, or find one of our class representatives to help us reach our goal! Class of 2015 Gift Committee Emily Jackson, Co-Chair Alex Gilliam, Co-Chair Lisa Fujita Anne Hruskoci
Edward Kass Kristo Kondacki Stephanie Muñoz
NEC Class Gift WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
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we are the world!
In April, join us as we celebrate NEC’s “We Are The World” event. This week-long celebration will spotlight our school’s unique, diverse population. We’ll have a raft of various activities for you, including announcing the winner of our “Here, There, And Everywhere” photo competition!
Food Fest! Share your favorite recipe (we’ll reimburse you for ingredients) or come by to sample some new flavors!
Make Your Flag! Stop by Beethoven and get crafty – we’ll provide the supplies!
Throughout the week: We’ll be posting state and country flags in secret locations on campus. Find your flag and take a selfie! Watch for Pop-Up Multicultural Dance Lessons throughout the week led by mystery members of our students and faculty! 14
MARCH 13, 2015
Trivia Night at Uno’s! Bring your team and enjoy free apps and a beverage, and a chance to win A YEAR OF FREE PIZZA FROM UNO’S!
N I U G N E G ! P R N E I O K H T T SEE EDI IS NEW A
i
HERE’S WHAT YOU GIVE:
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET:
• Your writing and editorial skills
• One-on-one journalism mentoring
• Your leadership and ability to
• A real voice on campus and the
•
chance to unite the community
Your willingness to learn layout • A fantastic resume addition on Adobe InDesign
N E C ’ S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
PENGUIN PENMEN
Andrew Nissen, editor Suzanne Hegland, faculty editor Sophia (Sophie) Adickes, writer David Adewumi, writer Natalie Alper-Leroux, creative Sarah Atwood, writer Taylor Blanton, writer Isabella Dawis, writer Alexandra Gilliam, writer Nesligül Kaya, writer Alec Stening, writer Jonas Tarm, photographer Nick Tisherman, writer Liz Tobias, writer Tong Wang, illustrator/writer Elizabeth Wendt, writer Frankie Yu, writer
SUBMIT SOMETHING!
Are you a driven, passionate, and articulate person looking to gain experience in writing, leadership, and editing software? The Office of Student Services and the Student Activities Center is accepting applications for Editor of The Penguin. This position requires a 20 hour/month commitment, with the number of hours per week varying depending on the news cycle. Editors are responsible for soliciting and writing articles, layout of content, and communicating with the Faculty Advisor (Suzanne Hegland).
recruit and supervise writers
THE PENGUIN
• $10 per hour!
To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, writing sample and a faculty or work supervisor reference to Suzanne Hegland.
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY APRIL 1ST
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
MARCH ISSUE:
FRIDAY
MARCH 27TH 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 Post your photos to Instagram, tag them with #NECpenguin, and you’ll have a chance to get your photo displayed on the back cover of an upcoming issue!
@justinckohan
@bgtrombone
@justinckohan
@dianaysearle
@thepenguinnec
@justinckohan
Jonas Tarm Photography
Jonas Tarm Photography
Jonas Tarm Photography