March 2006

LOOK!!!!!

March 31, 2006 12:39

Click on this.

PS - Caeli Smith cover article of Teen Strings! Thanks Colleen for that tidbit!

The crazy things your brain comes up with when doing AP Euro

March 29, 2006 08:52

I was gazing out the window when some words appeared under my notes on The Great Schism! I rearranged them and stuck some words in between and this is the result:

Reverie
The sweet melodies remind me of nights long ago
I revel in my memories of how the tones glow
Years upon years have passed their way and still I feel so
And when we meet again, I hope this I can show

Odd, eh? That ever happen to any of you?

5 replies | Archive link

Wow

March 25, 2006 11:20

I recieved an e-mail from Leah, Joshua Bell's personal assistant, and...IT WAS REALLY JOSHUA BELL WHO E-MAILED ME! It was really nice of him to do that and he is very open to the idea of being on the Oprah show. I'll copy/paste the ending of his e-mail for you so because he is saying hi to you guys and thanking the people who have e-mailed Oprah with me.

Well, that's all for now. I hope all is going well for you and your own music and perhaps we will cross paths soon. Say hello to the others on the forum and thank your fellow Oprah-conspirators for me as well!

All the best,

Joshua

How thoughtful! I really REALLY want him to be on the Oprah Show now! Please e-mail Oprah with me. Thanks!

And now for a picture. I was in Heidelberg today and I just couldn't resist doing this! Oh Bram, I'm with your dream girl, Janine! I think I'll try to get tickets to her concert...

20 replies | Archive link

March 23, 2006 08:31

Okay, I'm going to lay this on the line right from the very beginning. I think I really did get an e-mail from Joshua Bell. Laugh, laugh all you want. I will not make a fool of myself for the third time in two weeks, though.

Do these people think I'm insane?! *maniacal laughter* If I get many more of these, I'll be in some funny farm for sure. Or perhaps I already AM on crazy pills and have no knowledge of it. Whatever.

Hmmm, maybe I'll respond to it and see what kind of jokster is on the other end of the line.
----
EDIT: Call me crazy, but I think that it really is him because he was responding to the e-mail where I asked him if he wanted to be on Oprah (the one that Leah originally responded to).

He says to say hello to you all and thanks for e-mailing Oprah!

23 replies | Archive link

Letter to Gayle King

March 19, 2006 03:38

----------------
To: Gayle King
From: Sydney Menees

Dear Gayle,

I am a 15-year-old girl from Overland Park, KS (a suburb of Kansas City) who attended public school. Since January 2006 I have been living in Germany due to my father’s job and I am home schooled.

Today, the issue of classical music arises before us. I play violin myself, so I have been exposed to classical for a long time, but I never acknowledged it as something I might be interested in until the summer/fall of 2005. Before this summer, I had never listened to classical at all, but after attending a music camp and a concert of Joshua Bell, I have dropped almost all of the genres that I used to listen to. In school, I was spreading around the understanding of classical music, but now that I am in Germany, I no longer have that privilege. I was hoping that your friend, Oprah, could help me by addressing this issue on her show.

I never thought that I would find classical music interesting, but when I really started listening to classical songs and realizing how enthralling they actually were, I was very angry at myself for previously dismissing them as “boring” or “old people’s music.” The truth is, anyone can find classical music fun to listen to given the chance. I pity the poor souls who have never been given the opportunity to experience classical the way I have, not to mention all the people who have never been to a classical concert! I think the stereotypes of classical music being “long and tedious” or “only for the rich” are totally off base. You can buy classical CDs for the same amount or less then a pop music CD and the concerts (depending on where you are) are not necessarily more expensive. Also, lots of classical pieces can give you real adrenaline rushes!

After listening to Joshua Bell’s concert and hearing him speak to us about the pieces he was playing, I realized that he would be the perfect candidate for the Oprah Winfrey Show. He has a very congenial manner about him and is not any of the stereotypes you would expect of a classical musician. I could give you a ton of other classical musicians, but I think that Joshua Bell is the most “qualified” (meaning engaging in interviews, crossover stuff, etc) Here, I’ll just bullet off some of his accomplishments. He has...
- Recorded 30 CDs.
- Won 3 Grammys.
- Recorded the soundtracks for 5 movies.
- Been inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.
- Been named a "Living Legend" by Indiana University.
- Been on People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People.”
- Been on the Kennedy Center Honors.
- Won the Avery Fisher Career Grant.
- Done countless TV and radio interviews.
--Etc.--

He also likes to give children an opportunity to hear classical by performing in schools and talking to kids. He has also done pop-culture things to bring classical to the masses. For example, he has...
- Recorded crossover (which is like genres that cannot be classified as classical) albums such as George Gershwin, “The West Side Story Suite,” and a bluegrass album with Edgar Meyer.
- Performed at the Grammys (“The West Side Story Suite”).
- Collaborated with many artists such including Josh Groban on his CD “Closer.” I know that Josh Groban and his producers were very impressed when working with Joshua Bell.
- He has also had a music video air on VH1!

Gayle, I hope you have read this letter carefully and will really consider my request to have Joshua Bell on the Oprah Winfrey Show. I believe that people will see classical in a new light after seeing the show. After all, just the other day, my friend (someone who normally does not like classical) exclaimed to me (after seeing Itzahk Perlman play at the Oscars):

“The Academy Awards were on about 2 weeks ago and Pearlman (spelling?) was playing violin. He is really good!"

And that is all that it takes. Just to see it.

Thank you for your time,
Sydney Menees (aka The Advocate for Classical)
e-mail:*****@****.com
-------------

ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE APPRICIATED!

9 replies | Archive link

It's over.

March 15, 2006 14:34

I found out who the culprits in the JB scandal were. They truely did not mean for it to get that out of hand. I will say here that I forgive them IF they have learned their lesson. Impersonating is bad stuff; it will get you in very much trouble later. I will ask that those of you that know who did it will not mention names on here.

34 replies | Archive link

Never EVER trust the internet

March 13, 2006 23:25

This is my conversation with a Joshua Bell imposter:
(3:18:02 PM): Hello, is this Sydney Menees?
(3:18:41 PM): yes...
(3:18:48 PM): who are you?
(3:20:19 PM): Do you like Joshua Bell?
(3:20:31 PM): he's a great violinist
(3:20:33 PM): why?
(3:21:08 PM): Well my name is Joshua, and I was contacted by the Oprah Winfrey show saying that somebody with your name was trying to get me on the show, and I was just wondering why you're so intent on it?
(3:21:17 PM): haha
(3:21:23 PM): you cant be serious
(3:21:52 PM): Hah, I am though
(3:22:00 PM): And I was thinking about being on the show.
++Right here I am very skeptical because the other day, Natasha created a fake e-mail address and sent me something from "Joshua Bell"++
(3:22:31 PM): i dont typically believe people through the intenret
(3:22:44 PM): how did you get my im name?
(3:22:47 PM): Well, why don't you ask me something only I would know?
(3:22:57 PM): The people from the O.W. show gave it to me.
(3:23:06 PM): I don't know what only you would know
(3:23:16 PM): how did they get it?
(3:23:24 PM): Well maybe you'll just have to trust me.
(3:23:32 PM): Because you emailed them so many times
(3:24:03 PM): what do you want?
++Wow, I just realized how annoying I was being right there. Oh well.++
(3:24:28 PM): Why do you want me to be on the show? I mean, I was thinking about it, but Oprah....
(3:24:52 PM): its a lovely chance to promote classical
++Here I discovered that it truely was Joshua Bell because he sent me an e-mail++
(3:41:04 PM): what do you know about me?
(3:41:22 PM): Just that you play the violin, and are pretty intent on getting me on Oprah.
(3:41:35 PM): thats true
(3:42:15 PM): I'm really sick of predisposed opinions of classical
(3:42:23 PM): Ahh, so well put.
++Talk more about Oprah and and stuff++
(3:54:35 PM): why did the oprah people contact you?
(3:54:49 PM): To invite me to the show.
++YAY!!!++
(3:55:41 PM): I'm still not sure if I'll do it, but it would be great.
(3:55:50 PM): Details TBA.
(3:55:51 PM): i hope you do
(3:56:05 PM): and most on violinist.com as well
(3:56:40 PM): What's that?
(3:56:48 PM): violinist.com?
(3:56:59 PM): its a website for violinists
(3:57:12 PM): I am registered on there
(3:57:15 PM): I'll have to take a look
(3:57:20 PM): you should
++Haha, I mentioned violinist.com! Then we talk more about other stuff.++
(4:05:04 PM): what are you doing right now?
(4:06:21 PM): Actually, I should be going to pack for Tennessee right now.
(4:06:33 PM): It's been great talking to you, Sydney.
(4:06:35 PM): oh good, because i have to go to bed now
(4:06:37 PM): Keep up the good work!
(4:06:39 PM): you too
(4:06:40 PM): All right.
(4:06:43 PM): bye
(4:06:44 PM): Goodbye!
++Thus ends the conversation.++