Stacy Horn's Blog, page 5

I used to have more fun goofing off!

I just came across this picture I took in 2008. So I was 52. I must have been goofing off one day, and I composed this photograph. It might be hard to tell what’s going on, the resolution is so low. But that’s Godzilla and some dinosaurs guarding my apartment, backed up by a line of tiny babies.

First Sign of Halloween

There aren’t as many Halloween decorations up yet in the West Village. I hope that changes. My neighborhood usually has the best decorations, so good I’m convinced that the people who put them up must be professionals of some kind, like set designers, or something. But here is the first I saw. Not a bad start.

Survival of Serena by Carole A. Feuerman

An astounding work of art on Park Avenue. There were a bunch of them up and down the avenue. She looks so real it’s kinda scary. This reminds me, the pool I’ve been swimming in for years, the city pool at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, still hasn’t re-opened since the pandemic. They’ve been doing renovations. Sigh. I miss swimming.

Manhattan Samba and Paring Down

Some people collect, some people purge. I like to pare down my possessions. It’s feels great, liberating, and it brings peace. In my most recent de-cluttering I looked at the drum I bought when I was regularly drumming with an all-percussion band called Manhattan Samba (who are still around and always great to hear). I haven’t touched it in more than ten years and I do not feel any longing to drum again. It was a fabulous chapter in my life, but it is over. So I thought I’d give it to Manhattan Samba to give to someone else who might be able to use it.

Oh god! This is me with Manhattan Samba in 2007, drumming … I don’t remember where. Sixteen years ago, which is not all that long a time. I was 51. I look so much older now, but still younger than my grandmother did when she was only 40. What was up with people then??

The Road Not Taken

Came across while walking downtown along the Hudson River. Could be a fun job, no? But maybe it’s mostly hard work. Probably. But I saw the drawing of the helmet and thought, walking along the river bottom sounds nice.

Search for Spring at Lincoln Center

Speaking of all the music in the city, I went to this on Saturday. I had intended to be one of the singers, but work on the book has taken over! I was treating myself to a day off by going.

“English composer Jonathan Dove and librettist Alasdair Middleton collaborate on this beautiful piece specially commissioned by Lincoln Center—a sweeping choral work exploring the emotional toll of climate change and our hope for a better future ahead. Search for Spring is sung by hundreds of community voices, coming together to create a unique, spectacular performance. Simon Halsey conducts and leads a team of six exceptional New York City conductors. This performance continues Lincoln Center’s history of highly acclaimed choral commissions and outdoor world premieres including John Luther Adams’s In the Name of the Earth (2018) and David Lang’s the public domain (2016).”

That’s the Metropolitan Opera in the background, if you couldn’t tell by the sign.

The Young People’s Chorus of New York joined in at the end from one of the balconies.

Spotted at Search for Spring, the assistant conducted for my choir, The Choral Society of Grace Church, Hannah Nacheman.

Spring Cleaning Spruce Up

New curtains and a new rug for the bedroom. You can’t tell from this shot, but those are very, very clean windows. Nothing spruces up a room more than clean windows, and pairing that with new curtains—dare I say it—sparks joy.

As does a new rug. There was almost another cat in that shot, but he immediately got up and ran to me. That was Bali, the sweetest of the bunch. Whenever I leave he frantically runs to the door, trying to get me to stay. Poor little thing. We have a ritual where I always reassure him that I’ll be back and how nice that will be.

That’s Bodhi on the bed. He’s not sweet per se, but when he decides he wants to sit on my lap while I’m working, or sit with me on the couch when I watch tv, he will fight any cat to the death who tries to steal his spot. Both cats understand that Bodhi owns me, and rarely challenge him.

Music All The Time

I’m lucky to live in New York City, where I can hear music anytime I want. Yesterday I went to the Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble’s latest concert. (I have a friend who sings with them.) I was introduced to another great group, The Unsung Collective, who were there as guest artists. They were just amazing, as were the Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble. It was a great afternoon. This is a picture of The Unsung Collective, who were posing for pictures as I was leaving so I took a shot myself! The Artistic Director is Tyrone Clinton, Jr.

After Choir

A shot of me and two of my friends, Ellen and Giovanni, after my choir’s performance of A Sea Symphony at Carnegie Hall. Ellen says I look like I’m holding an award and I agree! My friends are so good looking, don’t you think?

I’ve been staring at this picture because I’m getting cataract surgery on one of my eyes next Wednesday and will no longer need to wear glasses, except for light reading glasses. I like how I look in glasses, though. I think I look better. So I’m already feeling nostalgic about them. Maybe I will grow to like how I look without them.

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?

CSGC Carnegie Promo.mp4 from Tim Bohn on Vimeo.