tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211748252012-01-31T04:57:54.814-05:00Claremont Triohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513181249554022946noreply@blogger.comBlogger2441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-48533817261845297232012-01-24T22:03:00.007-05:002012-01-25T19:57:15.263-05:00

This past weekend we had the great honor of playing the very first public concert in the brand new Calderwood Hall at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Renzo Piano designed this truly unique space where the audience sits all around the performers in four stories of front row seats!To celebrate the new hall, we gave the world premiere of an amazing new piece that Sean Shepherd just

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-25594625512575580582012-01-12T07:40:00.004-05:002012-01-12T08:42:16.001-05:00

After 12 and a half amazing years, Donna has decided to leave the trio to spend more time with her young daughter Mila. Though we will miss her tremendously, we are happy for her and excited for this new stage of her life.We are thrilled to introduce Andrea Lam, the new pianist of the Claremont Trio. Andrea was a semifinalist in the 2009 Van Cliburn competition and has performed around the

emilynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-34707278533234127802011-10-06T18:23:00.009-04:002011-10-06T23:52:41.337-04:00

After an unfortunately cancelled flight last Thursday, we flew to Idaho extremely early Friday morning for a concert that same night at Boise State University's beautiful Morrison Recital Hall.We were impressed with Boise's airport (with its prominently displayed bears)until we realized that Donna's suitcase had not made it to Boise, and the baggage department was completely unhelpful. Suffice

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-61553960836031800432011-05-07T17:45:00.007-04:002011-05-07T19:05:31.101-04:00

In February we performed in a 12 hour marathon concert celebrating the 50th Birthday of Young Concert Artists, the amazing organization that helped us launch our career more than 10 years ago. This coming Monday, May 9 Performance Today is broadcasting an hour of highlights from that marathon including our performance of the 2nd and 3rd movements of Paul Schoenfield's "Cafe Music".For a

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-67098571766943078152011-04-06T12:14:00.005-04:002011-04-06T12:51:12.231-04:00

For some of you who may have been wondering a little bit about my changing figure in the past months, your answer is here! On January 23rd at 4:45pm, I gave birth to my little daughter, Mila Dao-En Hsiung, at New York's Beth Israel hospital. She was 6 lbs, 5.4 oz, and 20 inches long. My husband and I are thrilled (and sleep-deprived). Here she is a few days old:Meanwhile, my colleagues were

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-43077581588626185042011-02-18T19:37:00.004-05:002011-03-20T22:26:35.515-04:00

50 years ago, Susan Wadsworth created Young Concert Artists to help young musicians begin their performing careers. 10 years ago we were lucky enough to be chosen as winners of the YCA auditions and we are so grateful to Susan and the whole YCA family who helped us turn our love of chamber music into a viable career! I remember how intimidated I felt, looking down the impressive list of YCA

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-82290127398329237692011-02-10T23:04:00.002-05:002011-02-10T23:08:04.679-05:00

Here's another review of our Beethoven & Ravel disc, this one from allmusic.com..."Though their composition is separated by an expanse of more than a century, both Beethoven's Op. 1 Piano Trios and Ravel's Piano Trio sought to reinvent and revitalize the genre. Unlike his predecessors, Beethoven envisioned the piano trio as a nearly symphonic medium, freeing the strings from constantly doubling

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-39129434727522731582011-02-09T10:55:00.003-05:002011-02-09T11:05:14.456-05:00

We had the great fortune to be in Chicago last week during their Groundhog Day blizzard! Despite nearly two feet of snow in 24 hours, 50 mph gusting winds, thunder snow(!), and grim weather predictions, our concert for the Dame Myra Hess series at the Chicago Cultural Center went on as planned. We had a small but enthusiastic audience who braved the elements to come, and now the performance

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-62004504971964145402011-01-13T15:28:00.004-05:002011-01-13T15:37:32.992-05:00

I'm pretty psyched about this review we just got in Audiophile Audition :-)BEETHOVEN: Piano Trio No. 3 in c, Op. 1; RAVEL: Piano Trio – The Claremont Trio – Tria 3862, 55:16 *****:Absolutely brilliant readings of these two works, now among the best on disc.I was tempted to write off this release before even listening to it due to the “babe” motive these gals are trying to sell themselves with on

emilynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-64841071619142231582011-01-11T21:15:00.009-05:002011-01-12T23:42:17.041-05:00

We've got some fun new videos up on YouTube!Electronic Press KitRavel Trio - ModereBeethoven Op. 1, No. 3 - Allegro con brioPaul Schoenfield "Cafe Music" - Allegro

emilynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-58187721956199802262010-12-26T18:04:00.002-05:002010-12-26T18:07:46.766-05:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the Claremont Trio! We hope all of you (readers, friends, fans) are all enjoying the season with friends and family, creating meaningful and beautiful memories. Stay warm and we'll see you all in 2011!~ Emily, Julia, Donna

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-88253572337183016932010-11-30T11:44:00.009-05:002010-11-30T11:56:35.827-05:00

Last night we had our CD Release Concert at Le Poisson Rouge, a really cool venue down in the Village. We played Beethoven Op. 1 No. 3 and Ravel from our new disc and also gave NY Premieres of awesome new pieces written for us by Nico Muhly and Donald Crockett.

emilynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-56625268970410551892010-11-16T10:31:00.003-05:002010-11-16T10:42:02.561-05:00

Today is the official release date for our new CD: Beethoven & Ravel. Check it out on our website.And if you're in the NYC area, please join us for our CD release concert at Le Poisson Rouge! Details here. We'll be playing rep from the CD and also giving two exciting New York premieres: Nico Muhly's "Common Ground" and Donald Crockett's "Night Scenes". We'd love to see you there...

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-9403299661465955612010-11-05T10:08:00.002-04:002010-11-05T10:30:01.608-04:00

Julie and I grew up in Boston (actually in Cambridge...), and so it's always fun for us to come "home" to play. You just can't beat the combination of lots of old friends and my mom's home cooking :-)On Sunday (11/7, 3pm) we get to give a concert at Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory, but this won't be my Jordan Hall debut because I've given about 57 youth orchestra concerts there

emilynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-79616837252977377032010-11-01T12:12:00.005-04:002010-11-01T22:28:22.280-04:00

We've got a couple of early CD reviews for our new disc: Beethoven & Ravel.From ConcertoNet.com:"The Claremont Trio is the way classical music should be played: soulful, passionate, yielding, discerning, evocative and informative. It is no wonder this talented threesome is paving a new avenue of brilliance and innovation for the new millennium."Full review: http://www.concertonet.com/scripts/

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-36712108877591272762010-11-01T12:11:00.004-04:002010-11-01T12:24:12.447-04:00

Check out our amazing producer/engineer Adam Abeshouse hard at work! We're sitting right behind him being very very fussy....

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-81348494169911430062010-10-29T00:40:00.005-04:002010-10-29T01:07:50.564-04:00

Some of you may have heard the news already, but we are releasing our newest CD, Beethoven & Ravel, on November 16th! We are really excited about this CD, and hope you will all have a chance to own a copy very soon.We recorded the disc over a period of three days back in May at The Performing Arts Center at SUNY-Purchase with producer/engineer extraordinare, Adam Abeshouse. We did most of the

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-90103354282632143382010-10-23T14:19:00.002-04:002010-10-23T14:26:19.719-04:00

People seem to like scheduling concerts in beautiful spots. Lucky us :-)Williamstown, MAChappaquiddick Island, Martha's Vineyard, MA

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-56689727212471838742010-10-22T14:12:00.009-04:002010-10-22T14:29:18.893-04:00

Being a touring musician means time away from our loved ones at home. But one consolation is that we make friends with great people all over the country. While in Chicago to perform at the Ravinia Festival, we caught up with Joan and Jack Wing, wonderful people who we'd met while cruising the Mediterranean a couple of years ago. They hosted us in their beautiful home and showed us around

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-84556633405700632692010-08-21T14:23:00.010-04:002010-08-21T14:34:57.747-04:00

Last week we returned to a beautiful part of Maine for a concert near Acadia National Park. While there, Donna sampled the local catch ;-) Emily and I generally avoid shellfish and stick to food we can eat without a basket of utensils, but the report is it was delicious.It's always fun to go back to a venue because the places and people feel familiar but also because it makes you realize all the

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-54429729780077412412010-07-20T17:06:00.002-04:002010-07-20T17:35:30.085-04:00

For those of you in the Austin, TX area, please join us for some beautiful and exciting music on Saturday, July 24th at 7:30pm! The program:Beethoven Trio in E flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1Faure Trio in d minor, Op. 120Brahms Trio in B Major, Op. 8These are all such great works, and while the Faure is less frequently performed, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by this hauntingly

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-76516666858418427322010-07-11T21:16:00.005-04:002010-07-21T08:37:15.531-04:00

I'm lucky to play the most portable instrument in the Claremont Trio, and I'm resourceful (and shameless) about finding spots to practice during those useless hours at the airport. Cincinnati:Newark:And this one you have to guess! (Hint: recognize that carpet??)

emilynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-44097118932118572012010-04-29T23:47:00.002-04:002010-04-30T00:43:22.975-04:00

If you are in the Columbus, OH area, please join us for a very special concert on Saturday, May 1st at 8:00pm! We are currently here in Columbus for a mini-residency with the students of Chamber Music Connection, which is a wonderful program that is highly committed to giving young students a place to develop their chamber music skills through collaboration, master classes and workshops. So far

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-19808360009245433072010-04-03T23:42:00.003-04:002010-04-03T23:54:04.034-04:00

Here we are rehearsing right before our concert at the Brooklyn Public Library. You can tell it's a rehearsal 'cause the black sweaters are still on. (Claremonts are always cold...)Thanks to Peter Weitzner for taking this pic and having us on his wonderful series!

emilynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-20795237596365923622010-03-29T23:44:00.005-04:002010-03-29T23:55:20.165-04:00

This past weekend we played on the wonderful St. Croix Concert Series in Stillwater, MN. The concert was at the spectacular Trinity Lutheran Church.We played the Haydn A Major Trio (a really great one - gorgeous slow movement!), the Ives Trio (incredible - parts sound like Mahler, other parts sound like Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay), and the Brahms B Major Trio. Brahms B is definitely one of my absolute

emilynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-6592771111562253082010-02-24T22:58:00.009-05:002010-02-24T23:21:35.693-05:00

Our recent trips to Palm Beach and Dallas weren't quite as warm as we'd hoped, but the venues were wonderful in other ways. Here's Julie on the gorgeous grounds of the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach.In Dallas we played at the Latino Cultural Center, designed by amazing architect Ricardo Legorreta. My favorite part was the domed entryway, which had the most incredible ceiling.The colors

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-72051749819796538782010-01-26T00:01:00.012-05:002010-01-26T00:52:06.761-05:00

SNA - DEN:DEN - LGA:Catching up on the New Yorker... Highlights:-Everything by Hendrik Hertzberg-Most everything by James SurowieckiJanuary 11-Water Music: Fountains Go Vegas by John Seabrook-Number Nine: Sonia Sotomayor on the Court by Lauren Collins-Safari by Jennifer EganJan 18-The Sure Thing: The Myth of the Daredevil Entrepeneur by Malcolm Gladwell-Twisted Sisters: Rodarte's Avante-Garde

emilynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-47689185636299664612010-01-23T12:17:00.003-05:002010-01-23T12:26:42.870-05:00

Because of Laguna Beach's long and illustrious history as an artists' colony, the local high school sports teams were for many years called the "Artists". Eventually, somebody (football players?) rebelled, and after some tussling with the archivists and historians, they had the teams renamed: the "Breakers". We have it from a reliable (primary) source that Laguna Beach High School students have

emilynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-20175401192180998372010-01-21T11:43:00.004-05:002010-01-21T11:50:08.707-05:00

We're playing in stormy southern CA at the amazing Laguna Beach Music Festival all week. Here's a poster from last night's event:

emilynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-64186104526318415562010-01-19T23:45:00.006-05:002010-01-20T00:42:23.283-05:00

The Laguna Beach Music Festival is now officially under way, and it has been wonderfully enriching so far! It is very inspiring to be surrounded by so many talented musicians, all collaborating with excellent composers. To top it off, the community is so friendly, involved and enthusiastic. It is difficult not to have a good time!We were hoping to escape the harsh cold of New York City, and

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-79418307889223681402010-01-16T10:33:00.006-05:002010-01-16T11:08:16.160-05:00

Tomorrow we leave chilly NY behind and head for Laguna Beach, CA where we'll be spending the week as ensemble-in-residence at the Laguna Beach Music Festival. This year's festival explores the interaction of music and film so a number of prominent film composers are featured as well as composers inspired by film and some traditional masterworks that influenced film music. We'll be giving a

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-15426702791671521002010-01-08T12:13:00.004-05:002010-01-08T12:18:37.222-05:00

We wish all our friends and fans a very Happy New Year! We have not disappeared, and we promise to be back, blogging away in a wonderful new decade...

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-51557680521990972872009-11-04T00:09:00.015-05:002009-11-05T13:46:07.256-05:00

Vermont is one of my favorite states, maybe partly because that's where my Mom grew up and so I have happy memories of visiting my grandfather there. It's also just so beautiful, especially in the fall!Recently, we were able to go up and play a concert in my mom's hometown, Northfield, VT, and also perform for the students at her old high school. This was all organized by Tad Dana, a good friend

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-71696304858932689892009-10-25T23:50:00.009-04:002009-10-26T18:46:00.303-04:00

Last week we played a benefit concert for Young Concert Artists, the wonderful organization that helped us launch our touring career when we were first starting out. The benefit was very graciously hosted by Luciana and Robert Duvall at their beautiful property in Virginia. We played works by Mendelssohn, Paul Schoenfield, and Astor Piazzola - a Tango to honor Luciana who's from Argentina and

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-84676997257060511922009-08-30T22:40:00.015-04:002009-08-30T23:30:40.414-04:00

Even though Minnesota is the state that brags about having 10,000 lakes, I have to say that New York has a number of very beautiful lakes of its own. Our summer festival tour this year took us to some very beautiful examples including Lake Luzerne (near Saratoga) and Canandaigua Lake (in the Fingerlakes region). What could be better than waking up to the sound of water lapping at the shore or

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-83489958697490747812009-08-20T16:48:00.003-04:002009-08-20T17:17:50.849-04:00

This weekend, we are headed for Canandaigua, NY. Canandaigua is a city located on the northern shore of the third largest Finger Lake in the state of New York. I hear it is pretty and charming, and I have no doubt this is true as my husband and I have spent time in recent summers at our friends' lake house in the area! This will be the trio's first appearance at the Canandaigua Lake Music

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-55563451769715261602009-08-14T00:12:00.003-04:002009-08-14T00:35:33.559-04:00

There's not much to like about Chicago's O'Hare airport, but I am a pretty big fan of this tunnel. Connect on United, and you're pretty much guaranteed to have to run through it.

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-36926690346356256782009-07-08T11:41:00.002-04:002009-07-08T12:14:35.860-04:00

Please join us for our next concert at Lake Luzerne, NY! We are in the process of updating our schedule on our website so please bear with us -- we promise we have upcoming concerts! In the meantime, let me invite you all to our next concert on Monday, July 13 at 8:00pm. We will be performing at the Performance Lodge at the Luzerne Chamber Music Festival in Lake Luzerne, NY, located in the

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-47356815309134356992009-05-20T14:31:00.010-04:002009-05-20T15:31:36.580-04:00

I suppose it was hard to come up with unique names for all the cities and towns in the United States. Probably that's why there are so many repeats of popular names - i.e. Manhattan, KS, Minneapolis, KS, Syracuse, KS, and El Dorado, KS. But we also discovered some creative town names in Kansas such as Liberal, KS, Ransom, KS, and my personal favorite: Peculiar, KS. I wonder what it's like

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-16529535458988705162009-04-29T23:41:00.006-04:002009-04-29T23:56:49.622-04:00

We Claremonts took a special ride in this unusual limousine to attend a pre-concert reception in Garden City, KS. Normally we decline the pre-concert socializing, preferring to block time to focus and prepare for the concert, but in this case we made a rare exception. Snazzy.... ;-)

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-91291789165867375252009-04-24T00:32:00.009-04:002009-04-24T01:16:05.946-04:00

Last weekend we got to play a concert in San Juan at the historic Luis A. Ferre Performing Arts Center. The hall was really beautiful, but it's hard for anything indoors there to live up to what's outdoors...We had some time to walk around in Old San Juan, which is awesome - kind of old European in feel - with brightly painted houses, narrow cobblestone streets, and impressive 16th and 17th

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-17490887374481339402009-04-23T23:49:00.022-04:002009-04-24T01:04:06.091-04:00

When it was still 40 degrees in NYC on April 16th, it seemed like the perfect week to head south and play a concert in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We'll have to thank our management for setting that one up! And since one of Aaron's best friends lives in San Juan, I was able to convince him to come along on this trip (it was a hard sell but I'm very persuasive).San Juan is beautiful, especially the

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-18675662098371096242009-04-13T02:09:00.010-04:002009-04-13T02:52:55.734-04:00

I am always looking for a good excuse to visit my parents in Vancouver -- beautiful city, home-cooked meals, great dim sum, fresh seafood! Ok, ok, so I do not actually need an excuse to visit my parents, but I do need one to hop on a flight for 6 hours. So, when I looked at my calendar a little while ago and saw the upcoming concert in Seattle, I quickly booked myself on a flight into Vancouver

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-54086733166456355532009-03-30T23:00:00.007-04:002009-03-31T01:52:36.775-04:00

It's always fun to see our name up on a good old fashioned marquee. This picture was taken by Steven Hegarty, one of our most loyal (and long-suffering) fans. Steven has attended Claremont concerts in tons of places, but this time he drove all the way from Connecticut to Georgia to hear us! (Well, he had a few other things to do down that way, but still...) I am a longtime fan of Steven's

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-28686897599061639872009-03-10T22:52:00.003-04:002009-03-10T23:09:20.514-04:00

Last month I posted some US State Trivia up here. Thanks for your responses! For those of you still wondering:1. Name 4 states with panhandles. (There are apparently 9 in total, including 1 which has 2!)According to Wikipedia, Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas each have one panhandle. West Virginia has two.2. Name the North Dakota city that rhymes

emilynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-5139028903111876732009-03-07T15:21:00.005-05:002009-03-07T15:31:50.157-05:00

Few things make the Claremont Trio (Julie in particular) happier than ice cream. And free ice cream at the end of a long day of travel is about as good as it gets. Here was the list of flavors that were on offer at the Silverhorn Motor Inn, complete with some no sugar added options.And these weren't puny little servings either but heaping bowls full!Awesome!

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-55677489460223094942009-02-27T16:48:00.003-05:002009-02-27T16:54:29.385-05:00

When we checked into the Silverhorn Motor Inn in Kellogg, Idaho, we were greeted by Zoe:"Yes, well, Elaine is out back looking up your reservations. In the meantime, would you like some free popcorn and ice cream with your movies? The large selection is catalogued in those binders behind you."Silverhorn Motor Inn is a very dog-friendly place indeed! And yes, it is true, free movies, popcorn

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-25377643734609246782009-02-24T23:34:00.004-05:002009-02-27T17:56:22.934-05:00

-We left before the Superbowl and came home (yesterday) after the Oscars.-Our tour of rental cars included a Saturn Aura, a Chevy Impala, a Ford Fusion, two Toyota Camrys and a Toyota 4Runner SUV for snowy North Dakota. (I must say I'm glad we're over the Chrysler 300 phase...that car has such bad sightlines and for months that was all anyone would rent you for a full size). -We flew on Delta,

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-17010306093753422002009-02-19T14:18:00.017-05:002009-02-19T14:45:13.925-05:00

The past week has taken us to many different corners of the United States and occasionally the changes in climate and terrain are a bit shocking for us and for our instruments.Palm Springs has it all with gorgeous snow capped mountains and palm trees.They are harnessing the power of their wind with an impressive field of wind turbines:Driving north through California, we saw some other great

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-83023626975368874212009-02-18T23:40:00.005-05:002009-02-19T14:56:28.067-05:00

1. Name 4 states with panhandles. (There are apparently 9 in total, including 1 which has 2!)2. Name the North Dakota city that rhymes with "Why not".3. Name the only 6 states we've never performed in. (Hint: that number will be down to 4 by March 5th.)

emilynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-52179942046991065022009-02-18T19:43:00.004-05:002009-02-18T22:37:43.612-05:00

So, everyone's wondering, what did Aaron send, if Chad and Kai Yu sent such nice things??? Well, he sent an awesome box with a couple of my favorite NY bagels (from Absolute Bagels on Broadway at 108th St.), the best dark chocolate bar in the world (Ritter Sport Halbbitter - don't be fooled into getting the "Dark Chocolate" version for Americans which isn't nearly as good as the original German)

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-11814966835557502042009-02-15T04:31:00.012-05:002009-02-15T05:05:00.177-05:00

Well, it could have been worse. We ended up flying most of the day, and we ended up with delays and impossible connections necessitating switching airlines, and we ended up (unexpectedly) on US Airways, which no longer gives out anything free, even cups of water.However, we got lucky with our gate agent. She bucked the coorporate "charge for oxygen" philosophy and laid out some free Valentine's

emilynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-66913486679660526222009-02-14T04:00:00.004-05:002009-02-14T04:10:15.512-05:00

*Sigh* Another Valentine's Day away from my husband! I was lamenting the sad situation this morning when there came a knock at my door. I thought to myself, "Oh, the housekeeping staff didn't see my 'Do not disturb' sign. Argh." However, it was not the housekeeping staff at all -- it was a hotel clerk holding a big box. Hmmm...In this wonderfully big box, there were all sorts of Valentine's

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-37323513635325639082009-02-14T03:35:00.013-05:002009-02-14T03:58:36.822-05:00

While I was sitting down to relax and eat a light dinner before our concert in Shelton, WA, I noticed a wonderful poster on the wall of an office at the high school:This is apparently called a Happy Bunny poster (or art grid). This was the first time I had seen one, and I had such a fun time inspecting all the little statements. Which one suits you and which one would you use the most? :)

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-90002139559838221552009-02-13T02:13:00.003-05:002009-02-13T02:42:16.926-05:00

In southern California we noticed signs advertising "Pads and Commercial Lots" and wondered what the "pads" were. Bachelor pads?Gotta love my iPhone... I quickly found the Wikipedia entry for "pad site":"A pad site is a freestanding parcel of commercial real estate located in the front of a larger shopping center or strip mall. Desirable because of their visibility to consumers, accessibility,

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-74107597816465618092009-02-10T03:06:00.014-05:002009-02-10T04:02:06.316-05:00

Though I grew up in Massachusetts, I have lots of relatives in California and since we're touring the west coast this month I've had the chance to see some of them. John, Frances and Tyler took me to lunch at Google where John and Tyler work. The Google-plex is pretty awesome (complete with a beach volleyball court and an herb garden) and the cafeteria food was delicious. Sorry no pictures -

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-70304083532922917262009-02-10T02:42:00.008-05:002009-02-10T03:05:23.315-05:00

We had a beautiful, clear day for our flight from Seattle down to southern California and so I had to pull out my camera on the plane. This first one is Mt. Rainier:Here are some more mountains in the Cascade Range:Progressing southwards:And a beautiful landing into Long Beach, CA:

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-13158843726550784282009-02-10T02:31:00.005-05:002009-02-10T02:42:43.024-05:00

There is a common misconception among audience members across the country that acoustics are a one-way affair. The assumption seems to be that good halls allow people in the audience to hear the most subtle nuance of the music played on stage but that the people on stage cannot hear audience members whispering. This assumption is almost always false, and in some halls, it is very false.Hint:

emilynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-27117495771823564132009-02-10T02:13:00.002-05:002009-02-10T02:22:50.738-05:00

In addition to our formal concerts, we also play lots of concerts in schools while we're on tour. (Lately, it's started to feel like school concert every morning, formal concert every evening...)We recently played at Mountain View Elementary School in Shelton, WA, and they gave us some great thank you gifts. Thanks Mountain View!

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-37713485912489852382009-02-08T03:24:00.012-05:002009-02-10T02:26:12.226-05:00

Here are a few more pictures from our drive along the Oregon coast!

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-31114504866771955072009-02-08T02:20:00.009-05:002009-02-08T02:42:11.210-05:00

On a rare day off from concertizing, we decided to take a rather large detour on our way from Grants Pass, OR to Salem, OR to see the Oregon Coast (at my insistence, really). I had visited the coast with my family back when I was about thirteen years old and I remember loving the spectacular scenery. So, instead of driving up directly on I-5, we took this route:View Larger MapIt took us about

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-30427103361126791822009-02-06T02:29:00.002-05:002009-02-06T02:34:48.728-05:00

Today I spoke with a boy who really liked my instrument. He said he wanted to play the "Jello" too. Then a young cellist came up to me after tonight's performance and asked me to sign his cello case ;-) And I did....

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-58627929363826248982009-02-05T03:35:00.006-05:002009-02-11T01:59:18.848-05:00

...in the Grant's Pass, Oregon Super 8:Guy #1: If I sold now, I'd have 250,000 in equity. If I'd sold 3 years ago, I'd'a had 450,000.Guy #2: Well maybe Obama'll finally get'is act together and do somethin' 'bout it.Guy #1: I hate tuh say it, but I actually voted for the guy.Guy #2: Me too. Couldn' be worse than Bush. Anythin's better'n Bush. I would'a voted for Beavis 'n Butt-head.

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-46083575254582301692009-02-04T03:40:00.015-05:002009-02-04T04:02:49.768-05:00

This week our tour continues with some concerts in Oregon. Ah, the Pacific Northwest...very close to Donna's heart since she grew up in Vancouver. We have miraculously caught 4 days of gorgeous weather so far.As we drove from Coos Bay to Grants Pass, we paused to check out an elk viewing area. If you look carefully you can see some lazy looking elk in the middle of this meadow:Later along the

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-69059344390004342009-02-04T03:26:00.006-05:002009-02-04T03:52:24.370-05:00

Although I hate being away from my husband at home in New York City, one of the great advantages of my job as a travelling musician is reconnecting with friends all over the country. It also breaks up the monotony for us -- The three of us see one another so often so it is always nice to see a fresh face. In early January, my husband's good friend, Spencer Godwin, got lucky and scored a date

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-57185985304745569042009-01-31T15:01:00.008-05:002009-02-05T03:51:21.002-05:00

An exclusive photo of the luggage that Claremont brings for a 3 1/2 week tour.Well, actually not anymore since the airlines have started charging $15 to check your first bag and even more for subsequent bags. We've had to cut back. But it felt like that much luggage as we carted it around various airports and airplanes yesterday. It's back on the road again for us and before we see the

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-16201330444256205412009-01-31T13:29:00.008-05:002009-01-31T20:10:11.714-05:00

As Emily mentioned in her last post, we celebrated Leon Kirchner's 90th birthday. We performed both of his piano trios in Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum the week before his actual birthday. The terrific composer himself made the trip up to Boston from New York City for the concert, and even Yo-Yo Ma was even in attendance! We snuck in a photo after the concert:He looks tickled to be

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-4694402316535444802009-01-26T14:56:00.006-05:002009-01-26T16:19:40.480-05:00

There has been much discussion recently about whether or not it's possible to play stringed instruments outside in 20 degree weather. I, who have chronic problems getting my fingers warm in your average heated concert hall, believe strongly that nobody should ever have to try. But some people do try.Like this guy I saw a week ago playing violin on the steps of the church two blocks from my

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-5608081390589321952009-01-07T14:10:00.002-05:002009-01-07T14:35:04.100-05:00

Sometimes people ask us what we do when we have no concerts for a few weeks. Watch tv? Go shopping?Nope. We practice and rehearse and write each other an obscene amount of e-mail. On all conceivable topics, but lately mostly about travel.We plan all of our own flights, rental cars, hotels, etc. because we have made an art out of finding the most economical options possible, and it is this art

emilynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-91077879424190929142008-12-02T14:27:00.014-05:002008-12-02T15:54:50.864-05:00

Thursday evening (Dec. 4, 7:30) we'll be playing a really cool show at Joe's Pub in Manhattan. We'll be celebrating the release of our new cd American Trios, which includes both of Leon Kirchner's trios, Ellen Zwilich's "Trio", Mason Bates' "String Band", and Paul Schoenfield's "Cafe Music". Daniel Bernard Roumain (composer/violinist) will be hosting. Come join us!There are details here

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-25195875116416599112008-11-10T13:30:00.003-05:002008-11-10T13:31:31.522-05:00

Here we are with Tom and Sherry Nelson, sans wild hair blowing and snowy mountains. Many thanks again, Tom and Sherry!

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-24409946234013739342008-10-15T10:00:00.010-04:002008-10-15T10:28:23.982-04:00

Crazy, you might say, to spend 28 hours in transit and only 20 in Alaska, but the trip was fun and exciting nonetheless. As we approached the Anchorage airport at 2am, Alaska time (which felt like 6am to us) the flight attendants instructed us sternly to tie down our belongings because it was going to be a rough landing. That was a bit of an understatement and let's just say that everyone

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-15824272083291453722008-09-19T22:43:00.006-04:002008-09-19T23:01:36.635-04:00

I've always loved stuffed animals... my bed was completely covered when I was a kid. I long ago lost interest in shot glasses and refrigerator magnets, but I can't seem to resist picking up these little guys along the road.My buffalo is from Mount Rushmore last year. I found this little dog at a grocery store this evening in Franklin, PA. (Claremont post-dinner activity: drooling over desserts

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-89689647574202134722008-09-17T21:41:00.013-04:002008-09-17T22:33:53.281-04:00

One of our first concerts of the season was up in Maine on Mount Desert Island (oddly enough, pronounced "Dessert" by the locals) at the aptly named Claremont Hotel ;-) We stopped en route in Portland, ME to visit one of our best friends, the fabulous composer, Hillary Zipper. Hillary was the first composer who we commissioned as a group when she wrote Cythera for us in 2002. Here's a photo of

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-3046441498763974602008-09-13T17:01:00.013-04:002008-09-13T17:33:20.965-04:00

Don't get me wrong -- I love married life. But sometimes, it can be very complicated because there are so many sets of in-laws and family members to see but in so little time! With our travelling and rehearsal schedules, it can be quite difficult to fit time in. However, since our trio schedule this summer was pretty relaxed, I managed to get some time to see my parents in Vancouver. It is

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-16228630754238429682008-09-03T17:50:00.013-04:002008-09-03T18:46:46.502-04:00

So, I was the last one in the trio to tie the knot when I married Aaron this past June. It was the most beautiful day I can imagine and I thank both my trio-mates for their untiring efforts to make the wedding a success ;-) I could not have pulled it all together without them!They also allowed me to slip off for an unforgettable honeymoon this summer. Aaron has been plotting this trip for

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-5889626834314918152008-06-30T11:34:00.006-04:002008-12-09T23:37:30.617-05:00

As we gear up for our 10th anniversary season, it seems like a good time to look back at how it all began...

emilynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-27660005536831161372008-05-12T12:17:00.007-04:002008-12-09T23:37:32.420-05:00

With a lull in the Claremont touring schedule this summer, I decided to catch up a little on some blogging! Fear not, loyal fans and readers, we have not disappeared! Here are more photos from our tour in Hawaii (back in April). Above, Emily and I have just deplaned at Kona airport on Big Island. Apparently, Kona is one of the few airports in the world with no jetway system! I guess the

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-68312235931653277032008-04-19T00:09:00.003-04:002008-04-20T14:36:44.795-04:00

Ok, ok, I know you saw a picture of us in our wetsuits and snorkel gear, but where are the fish and sea turtles??? Here's a video, taken by my husband Kai Yu with our digital camera. (By the way, I highly recommend the waterproof case for the Canon cameras.) The light was great, and the water was really blue!

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-19062349893232452732008-04-07T22:21:00.006-04:002008-12-09T23:37:32.634-05:00

Greetings! For those who have been wondering if I've dropped off the face of the earth, I haven't! If you have been keeping track of our upcoming concerts, we have three concerts on three different islands in Hawaii. Emily and I managed to find some time a week before our concerts for a mini-vacation with our husbands in Kauai. This is my second time in Kauai, as Kai Yu (my husband) and I

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-37415250209967997462008-03-24T21:49:00.006-04:002008-12-09T23:37:33.160-05:00

I have posted many a picture of wonderful hospitality spreads, but this one was a little different. When we arrived in our green room area in Ogallala, NE, this was waiting for us:Room temperature bottled water? Check! A cooler of ice for chilled water? Check! Fruit? Cookies? Check, check! Let's see what's in the basket:Upon closer investigation, I discovered beautifully wrapped

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-86960594854348555212008-03-02T22:48:00.015-05:002008-12-09T23:37:35.833-05:00

I believe I snapped this photo the day before the full lunar eclipse. The moon was stunning at dusk.After one of our concerts, the wonderful presenter saved us some Rice Krispie treats for the road. Because of the constant below-freezing weather, especially overnight, the treats froze in the van and became one big brick of Rice Krispie-ness! Ryan enjoyed having Rice Krispies in a convenient

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-49990466201553113892008-03-02T12:35:00.000-05:002008-12-09T23:37:37.324-05:00

Donna mentioned earlier that we spent two weeks in January in residence at Belmont Day School, a truly special independent school in Belmont, MA where Julie and I were lucky enough to be students (way back last century). Lenesa Leana, BDS's inspiring head, wrote a beautiful piece about our stay in the school's newsletter, and she has graciously allowed us to republish it here."On Wednesday, the

emilynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-87328585100612508462008-02-24T01:02:00.003-05:002008-12-09T23:37:37.473-05:00

For some reason, Ryan, driver extraordinaire, always manages to find the yummiest drinks on the road! Here he is with an avocado freeze with tapioca at a Vietnamese/Thai restaurant in Springfield, IL.

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-16921662503379875122008-02-24T00:29:00.004-05:002008-12-09T23:37:38.328-05:00

As Julie had mentioned, we were caught in middle of a snowstorm last weekend and found ourselves with a snow day. Although our concert in Sturgeon Bay had been postponed, we decided to get on the road to make it as far as possible to our next concert (from Merrill, WI to Watertown, WI). However, we didn't get very far. Thanks to my GPS, we found some accommodations in Stevens Point, WI at a

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-6530180897973443122008-02-22T10:11:00.008-05:002008-12-09T23:37:39.513-05:00

As we made our way around Wisconsin, we found ourselves in the middle of a full on blizzard last Sunday. Although one of our concerts (Sturgeon Bay, WI) was postponed due to weather, we were still able to reschedule it during a free day this week, though it meant driving from Wisconsin to Missouri, back to Wisconsin, and then today on to western Iowa, all in the space of four days ;-0 Thank

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-62575785508240190622008-02-20T00:02:00.002-05:002008-02-20T00:36:27.837-05:00

Last night in Watertown, WI:"My only complaint is I wish your concerts were twice as long!"Friday night in Virginia, MN:"You all are so good it's scary"Saturday night in Merrill, WI:For our second half we performed Arensky's Trio in D minor. Before we started I talked a bit about the piece and described the third movement where the achingly mournful opening of the elegy gives way to a serene

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-47773791366669189152008-02-18T01:24:00.010-05:002008-12-09T23:37:40.106-05:00

When we arrived in Merrill, WI, we found a local sports bar and grille for a lunch stop. Little did we know that it would offer much, much more.In keeping with thoughts of warm, tropical places, Ryan ordered a very yummy-looking banana drink!To celebrate our arrival into Wisconsin, we ordered cheese curds. This was my first experience with them and I am happy to report that I will eat them again

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-45001635653686556472008-02-18T01:17:00.002-05:002008-12-09T23:37:40.519-05:00

Above, top: view from the front passenger seat.Above, bottom: view approaching a bridge over Lake Superior.We encountered numerous snowmobile trails along the highways. We spotted a group of snowmobilers having a great time in the snow!

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-5913546596070652022008-02-17T01:38:00.002-05:002008-12-09T23:37:41.238-05:00

As some of you may remember, we went on an extended road tour a couple of years ago for an organization called Allied Concert Services. We have embarked on another tour for this wonderful organization, and here are some of my recommended essentials for a successful road tour. You will need a driver, like Ryan Julien (pictured above). In addition, coffee, snacks (like nuts and chocolate-covered

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-48820027903936522362008-02-17T00:52:00.002-05:002008-02-17T00:56:05.790-05:00

For those of you who have not yet noticed, we have added a new feature to our blog. You can now subscribe to our blog via e-mail -- the service will e-mail you whenever a new post is created. Simply scroll down and on the right hand sidebar, there is a link that says "Subscribe to Claremont on Tour By Email". Click on that and follow the directions! It's very simple and we hope our loyal

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-66517799741538899482008-02-15T01:57:00.014-05:002008-12-09T23:37:43.029-05:00

Last month, we spent two weeks being schoolteachers. We were the artists-in-residence at Belmont Day School, where Emily and Julie went to school when they were kids. Their parents were kind enough to let us live with them during that period in Cambridge, MA. This was fantastic because between Debby Bruskin’s fantastic cooking and Sam Bruskin’s extensive CD and wine collection, we were fairly

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-46032751065221194202008-02-15T01:03:00.004-05:002008-02-15T01:31:47.609-05:00

It's -4 degrees here in Wilmar, MN, and when I was changing into my strapless concert gown before our show this evening I just couldn't bring myself to take off my long underwear. So I wore it. Just the leggings... under my dress... through the whole concert. We figured that was funny enough to announce to our audience. Best laugh I've gotten from a crowd in years.

emilynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-47466062099114040832008-02-05T00:53:00.000-05:002008-12-09T23:37:43.374-05:00

While I like to travel as light as possible on the road, sometimes one checked bag doesn't do the trick for me. I discovered tonight that United Airlines is changing their policy on checked baggage. Apparently, travellers with domestic economy tickets who do not have status in their frequent flier program can only check one bag for free. The second checked bag will incur a fee of $25!!!! More

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-19253681992871670702007-12-31T15:00:00.000-05:002008-12-09T23:37:43.788-05:00

Earlier this month we performed for the Buffalo Chamber Music Society in the beautiful Kleinhans Music Hall. While in town, we stopped by WNED radio for an interview. We were greeted at the door by these imposing animals:Happy New Years to all of our blog-readers!

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-82212988529956403962007-12-14T11:15:00.000-05:002008-12-09T23:37:44.455-05:00

Have you heard about the website, The Smoking Gun? Well, the folks at this website have compiled a list of performing celebrities (e.g. Christina Aguilera and the Dixie Chicks) and their hospitality riders from their contracts. It is quite fascinating what the demands are of all your favourite bands and singers! Many are quite specific and extensive. Ours, on the other hand, only includes

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-85834501012228233042007-11-13T01:55:00.001-05:002007-11-13T11:26:00.869-05:00

Yesterday we flew home from Kansas. We got to LaGuardia before noon, but our bags didn't run as fast as we did for our tight connection, so my suitcase didn't make it home til 9:30.Today we flew to Memphis, so the turnaround was quick. I got the dirty clothes out, the clean in. I got the finished novel (Life of Pi, Yann Martel) out, and the new one (Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the

emilynoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-56759608530144295522007-11-09T23:04:00.001-05:002008-12-09T23:37:45.071-05:00

When we performed in Gettysburg, PA, one of our loyal fans drove 290 miles (each way) to see us perform. He has seen us develop from our very early stages as a trio and I'm sure he can tell all sorts of interesting stories about us! Often, we don't get much of a chance to visit with our friends and family after concerts but we luckily found some time to grab some dinner and good beer with our

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-66856079680695566902007-10-22T00:48:00.000-04:002008-12-09T23:37:45.606-05:00

Every once in a while our tour schedule seems to work out perfectly (like our tour to Hawaii coming up this April!). But this weekend found us in Boston for the first concert of our Brahms and Schumann cycle at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Great timing - because the Red Sox were also coming home to clinch their spot in the 2007 World Series ;-)We watched both games, though during last

juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128814294523048864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21174825.post-5700604397648405112007-10-08T22:40:00.001-04:002007-10-08T22:50:23.574-04:00

So, I had mentioned in "ClassicallyHip" that we were to visit the WITF studio in Harrisburg last week. John Clare, who had interviewed us last year when we gave masterclasses at Getttysburg College, invited us for an in-studio interview as well as live performance. With his very nifty gadget (I must get myself one of those, by the way), he also videotaped our performance. On his blog, you can

Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16848419200824973069noreply@blogger.com1