Greetings from Montreal

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My first week of rehearsal in Montreal, Canada with Cirque Du Soleil has almost passed. We are working on their new show to debut in Macao, China in Summer 2008.

The photo of Cirque headquarters above is off the web, there’s actually quite a bit of snow here now. I found out very quickly why everyone wears a warm hat.

And about the show? All I can say it’s absolutely fantastic, just the way Cirque always is. All the artists are working hard, but that’s why we’re here. You’ll just have to wait until the show opens to find out all the cool details…

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Happy New Year from Mount Vernon WA

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From the New Year’s Eve Party (and my going away party) at the Conway Muse in Conway, WA. Pictured from left is notable impromptu orator Harold Paige, the effervescent and demanding director Jane Skinner, myself, and the McDreamy Mr. Skinner.

A little late for Happy New Years – but I just got the picture. There was a great band at the party with good jazz jams and even a fireworks show. I sure will miss Mount Vernon and the wonderful people here!

Question about Playing Piano on Broadway

Hi Mr. Askland,

My name is *name edited* and I am currently a sophomore in high school and I’m studying to major in piano. My dream one day is to play the piano/conduct/ and musical direct on Broadway. I was wondering could you possibly give me any advice that could help me achieve my goal.

Thank you so much

*****************

Good question.

  1. Play your ass off.
  2. Be nice to people.
  3. Find people that are doing what you want to do, and find out how they got there.
  4. Take responsibility for things not going perfect and figure out how to keep it from happening again.
  5. Do not join a cover band, play private parties, weddings or casuals.
  6. Be nice to people.
  7. Play your ass off.

Pretty simple, huh?

Memories of Mount Vernon WA

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My friend Suzann just sent me this montage of some shows I’ve conducted while in Mount Vernon, WA. I can make out Elton John’s AIDA, Seussical, Disney’s High School Musical, Rocky Horror Show and Brigadoon. (The penguin outfit is what I wore in Seussical).

In a couple days I leave for Montreal, Canada to join the creation process for Cirque Du Soleil’s new show in China. Thanks Suzann for the good Mount Vernon, WA memories!

One of Suzann’s favorite sounds (and mine too!) is the sound of an orchestra tuning. I got extra brownie points with her when I had her brought down into the pit to sit in the middle of the Brigadoon orchestra while they tuned.

“A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.”
– Donna Roberts

Pro Tools Midi Chunk Errors

“Could not complete the Open Session… command because bad data encountered while translating MIDI Chunk List”

Digidesign ProTools error when opening a new session or importing a track from a previous session.

Fixes:

  1. Your work is lost. Try any backups that do not have errors.
  2. Reinstall ProTools and start new sessions.

Your work is gone. It is not retrievable. You cannot fix it. That’s word on the street and I don’t have any different news for you.

Yes, that’s VERY bad news. Just happened to me as I’m finishing up an album. Google it yourself on the ProTools forums but everyone I’ve seen have this problem just lost everything. I’ve spent about an hour on the phone with Digidesign support over this problem and was told to reinstall ProTools.

I am currently running ProTools TDM 5.1.1 – this error is also found on LE and yes, even on HD systems according to forum posts I’ve read on this.

Yes, you’ve lost everything and it is not retrievable. Sorry.

My fix? I’m going to finish my project in one monster session and keep everything running. Think I’ll keep the coffee pot loaded…

Victoria’s View on the Christmas Gloria

Article by Vicki McCarty about my Christmas Gloria which debuted Christmas Eve 2007.

Victoria’s View

“Drop off the music you got Wednesday and pick up the new packet.  Conrad has revised it”!  Huh?  Our jaws dropped in disbelief…how can that be?  We just got it and have only had one rehearsal…and we’re singing it tonight!!!    We took note of the sign on the front door and shook our heads.  This was turning into a memorable Christmas – in more than one way.  I could not have imagined this kind of Christmas Eve even a few years ago.  We entered and emptied the notebook with the music we had just picked up 5 days ago.  We were still reeling from the announcement our young music director had made just 2 weeks earlier.  “I’m thinking of writing a new piece of music for Christmas in a week – just like Bach and Mozart used to do!”   He went on to explain that it was common for them to write something new every week for church the next week.  So, he sat down and did it himself, just to see if it was possible.  I could not help but think what confidence he had in our choir – to think we could perform it after just one long practice – and do it in Latin – that took some confidence.

Two hours later, the service began.  Could we do it – the small group of musicians gathered together – we rehearsed it through twice with the orchestra – then our moment came.  A quiet fell over the congregation – and the first performance of Conrad Askland’s Christmas Gloria in D was born.  And it was beautiful.   A true Christmas miracle happened that night.  A wondrous story was told again, and became new and real to all there.  It was heralded with a beautiful new composition written to announce the glory of God.  A new Bach had done the impossible – composed, rehearsed, and presented his new work.  And we got to be there for the event.

We returned home to a house with no decorations, no tree, no dinner, and only the two of us.  But our heads were still ringing with the sound of Gloria in Excelsis Deo.   A memorable Christmas – in so many ways.  Move over Bach and Beethoven – there’s a new kid in town.

With caring,

Victoria