Laura

Alright, let’s get started. A lot happened this year so hopefully I’ll remember most of it on this quick go through, because, being the procrastinator that I am, I’ve left this down to the wire. 

January: the only thing I remember about January is writing diplomas; that, and the lovely 9-day gap between semesters where I did absolutely nothing. 

In February I performed in my school’s production of Our Town, a play by Thorton Wilder. That went really well. 

To be honest, I remember nothing about March, unless the band from Vancouver came on their exchange then, but I think they came in April. That was fun too, whenever it happened. We had a concert together and we even played together for one song. Oh, hold on, Mom has just been correcting me with her calendar. Apparently I did quite a lot in March. The family went to Jasper. That was fun until the last day when Mom had her accident. Thank goodness she was wearing her helmet. Also, at the end of March I left for Italy with a group from the school. You think I’d remember something like that eh? Rome was absolutely incredible! We went on a guided tour of ancient Rome, and I, being the nerd that I am, remained very close to our guide so I could hear everything she was saying. Unfortunately I don’t remember most of what she was saying anymore, but it was really awesome!

 

I do remember that we walked past the jail (though there’s a church on top of it now) where it is believed that both Peter and Paul were kept before execution. Well, I can’t describe the entire trip for you, so here it is in a nutshell. I loved Italy! Greece was nice too but we only went to really touristy places and I didn’t enjoy it as much. Plus, our tour guide for the Acropolis and the rest of Athens was the worst tour guide ever, though she would have made an excellent history professor. I had a blast and I can’t wait to go back. 

Okay, back to April. April was a time for music festivals, in both Camrose and Banff. The choirs and bands that I’m in did fairly well in the Camrose Music Festival, but I would like to mention that I received an H for my piano performance. I received a scholarship piano award as well and was asked to play at the final concert. That was exciting. 

The Banff festival is always incredible and this year didn’t let us down. On our first night we went to the performance of a choir called Soundtrax from Halifax. Unfortunately the other four choirs that were supposed to be at the performance were late and didn’t show up until the last song. We were the only people in the audience. Naturally, we were sitting in the front rows. Soundtrax entered singing Singaba Yo, which is a song that Mascato (the African Youth Choir) sang last year, so we knew the song too. 

Laura on the Acropolis - Greece.

When their conductor turned around and saw most of Chorazz mouthing the words from their seats she signaled for us to start singing too. That ended up being my favourite performance of the year. We actually met Sountrax the next day and I’m still in touch with some of them. Our clinicians for both vocal jazz and Chorazz were great!

Next comes May. That was grad month. My dress and hat turned out really well. My friends and I didn’t want to go to "safe grad" with the rest of our classmates. Mostly we just didn’t want to pay $50 for booze we wouldn’t drink. Instead we came out to my house and had a fire. This is a fine example of the type of people I hang out with: part way through the night, when they were really drunk, they created a song, with harmonies. The lyrics made no sense and the melody was a bit simplistic but it wasn’t that bad. 

In June there were more diplomas, and then I was free. At some point I went on the band trip to Vancouver. That was a lot of fun too. I love being on the coast. Earlier in the spring I had auditioned for the Passion Play down in Drumheller. I got in with 5 minor roles. Rehearsals started in May, but because we had to rehearse on set, in Drumheller, and cast members are from all over Alberta we only rehearsed on weekends. 

Laura's Grad Dress - and Hat

The first week of July was rehearsals and then we performed the first two weekends. That was an incredible experience and I’m definitely going back. Between the weekends Sam B., Nick and I went on a mini-road trip. We ended up near Invermere at a really nice campsite. Next year we want to get some more people and do it again. 

Directly after my last performance my parents and brother picked me up and we headed to Nitinat. This year was strange. Due to bad weather we headed to Hornby Island with the Carlisles. I wasn’t too choked up because there was a bookstore on the island so we were able to buy Harry Potter at midnight, the day it came out. I finished it in the early afternoon of the next day. When we finally did get to Nitinat I celebrated by slipping on a log and breaking my jaw. Unfortunately that first x-ray didn’t pick up on the break so they told me it was probably just swelling and I could eat normally after a few days. Not wanting to have to leave early I ate food. It was after we’d gotten home and I went to the dentist and he took an x-ray that I knew it was broken. 

The Log That Broke My Jaw

Then I was on a liquid/mushy food diet for 6 weeks. Fortunately I don’t need reconstructive surgery, but I am told I will have a lifelong relationship with my oral surgeon...

In mid-August I moved into a friend’s house. Their family was going to Europe for two months and they asked me to housesit. As they only live two blocks from campus, that seemed like a good idea. 

I’ve been attending Augustana since September and I’ve really enjoyed it. I like my courses and my Profs. I auditioned for and was accepted into the Augustana choir. The choir is going on a tour of Italy at the beginning of May. I GET TO GO BACK!!!! When my friends got back from Europe, a basement suit became available even closer to Campus - so I just didn't move back home...  

Rocky Mountain Music Festival - Chorazz

Dads Comment.... In November, Laura attended the High School Awards night and was recognized for a few Grade 12 awards, including...  Alexander Rutherford Award for Honours, Alice Thom Memorial Award - Excellence in Arts, Camrose Canadian Award - Highest English mark, Don Bailey Memorial award for Jazz Musician, Martha's Music award for Highest mark in Music 30

It's now December.  At work (still the movie theatre) I became a projectionist and shortly afterwards a shift supervisor. However, I’m afraid that work plus my heavier course load next semester would be too much so I’ve handed in my notice after 3 years and 4 months; my last shift will be on January 5. I believe that is an accurate outline of my year. 

 

Passion Play

Merry Christmas to you all!!

Laura

 

 

Our Town

'Our Town'  'Our Town'
'Our Town' 'Our Town'
 

Banff - Rocky Mountain Music Festival

Click to Listen to "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo" (3mb file) Click to listen to "At Last" (3mb File)

Click to Listen to "Front Burner" - (3mb) Click to Listen to "Song for my Daughter" - (3mb)
Laura Lead Trumpet & Soloist  Laura Soloist on Flugel Horn

Vancouver Band Trip

   
  Laura & Sam - taking a break.

 

CCHS - International Travel - Italy and Greece

   
Sam B. - International Travel - Rome Jeff - Rome
Friends with tour guide Mario - Spanish Steps 'Goofy' friends
Laura in Sorrento ...with friends - in Athens!
Sorrento Laura & Anna

 

                                      Laura's Friends - Grad 2007


Pepère, Laura & Memère Ted & Brian
Pepère, Spencer & Devon Memère & Pepère
Amy, Laura & Fallon Laura & Sam B.
Nick, Laura & Jeff
Louise, Ted & Laura


Band Exchange in Vancouver

Road Trip !!!

Road Trip. . . where are we?


Andrea, Micheyl & Laura Laura & Caitlyn!

 

Passion Plan - Drumheller

"Passion Play" "Passion Play"
   

Passion Play Passion Play

 


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