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The Sydney-Karin meeting!

July 30, 2006 at 11:07 PM

Sydney and I are both from Kansas (although I haven't lived there in 14 years) and we were both at the same Joshua Bell concert in Kansas City last September, though we didn't know each other at the time. Ten months later, we've become friends through email and AIM, and it just happens that her grandparents live just five minutes away from where I live now, in the East (San Francisco) Bay. So while she and her family are here on their way back from Germany to Kansas to pick up their dog, there's no way we WEREN'T going to meet in person.

The Internet can be an interesting way to meet people. I've had some unpleasant experiences (most notably, an ex-boyfriend) meeting people who are much different in person than online, but I've also gotten to know some very wonderful people online who proved to be just as great when I finally met them in person. As of yesterday, Sydney Menees is the latest addition to that list. Not that I ever had any doubt, but she is just as beautiful, intelligent, talented, and mature as she seems here. Colleen, Caeli, and any other V.com members who haven't had the chance to meet her yet, you won't be disappointed! (Sorry, Syd, am I embarrassing you yet?)

So yesterday, Sydney came over with her mom, grandmother, and little sister Ella. We hung out for a while chatting, then played through the Bach Double a few times. Kiera entertained Ella for a while in her room upstairs, then came back down and showed us her 1/32 size violin, and we improvised a violin trio together! Sydney also tried playing a few measures of the Bruch on Kiera's tiny instrument, and did quite a good job!

You can listen to our rendition of the Bach Double here:

Sydney and Karin playing the first movement of the Bach Double, with cameo and commentary by 3-year-old Kiera
(If you turn up the volume at the very end, you can hear her asking, "Are you done?")

But that's not all! Sydney and her family stayed for a couple of hours but we still hadn't had enough time together, so she came back today for another two hours. We called Colleen Russo on Skype so she could hear us too, but since she doesn't have a mic or webcam, the only way she could talk to us was to call my land line so we could put her on speakerphone:

(That's Colleen, on the phone in my hand!)

Sydney played some of the Bruch using my violin, Colleen played something on viola for us, and I scratched through the beginning of the Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and I think we were all sad when Sydney had to go. But there will be more opportunities to meet in the future...January 2008 if not sooner, right? ;)

Thank you again, Laurie and Robert, for providing us violinists with such a wonderful site!

That description is almost completely accurate. I had such a great time and your kids are so cute!

Yes, I agree, thanks Robert and Laurie.

That is sooooo cool! Haven't had time to listen to your Bach yet, but looking forward to it. : )

Terez, yet another Kansan

Simply great, i will practice Bach Double, may be some day i will meet somes v.com good persons and play like Karen and Sidney, a lot of magic in the video. I apologize for my english, is no so good, best of luck.
YAY!! I AM IN THAT LAST PICTURE!! I AM THE PHONE!! hehe.. don't forget i was kind of there the other day too...!!!

Yeah i had to choose between talking to you guys on my mac w/ a mic.. or watching you guys on the pc that allowed webcam.. hehe... but in the end we made it work!!

It was SOOO much fun... i still think sydney should go over yet again ;) hehe.. and the girls are ADORABLE!!!

Jan '08! can't wait! if not sooner that is haha

"almost completely accurate", Sydney? Which part isn't? Let me know, and I'll set the record straight.

Terez, YOU'RE a Kansan too? That is so cool! Which part? When did you move out here?

Luis, your English is fine (cierto que es mejor que mi español), and thanks for the compliments. :)

Colleen, I have now edited the photo caption to let everyone know that YOU ARE THE PHONE! Get yourself a mic, or better yet, a webcam, ok?

I was thinking wow she's showing off her new phone, which is strangely off topic.

Sydney, was her brother-in-law around? I've still got my fingers crossed.

well i HAVE a mic on my mac!! but the mach doesnt let me see you guys on webcam! next time ill bring the laptop to the mac hehe
Yes, I met the infamous BIL. I can't believe he's related to Cade either!

What wasn't accurate was that you didn't "scratch through" the Saint-Saens, it was really good!

I hope I get to see you again soon!

lol, Jim, showing off the phone...haha, wow.
It sounds like you too had so much fun together! If anyone comes to the Washington DC area, please let me know so we can meet, too.
I love your performance of the Bach Double. I'll start practicing it again in case someone from v.com drops by.

Laurie and Robert, thanks for giving us this site and for bringing us together with friends we've never met.

The quality of the video is good and also the quality of playing. Did you practice a lot? Karin is even smaller than Sydney. I quess 1.60 against 1.70? It seems like you have changed clothes, because Sydney wears a black shirt and Karin black trousers. Karin has a purple shirt and Sydney a resembling purple skirt during that doubleconcerto of Bach.
Thank you, Bram. No, we did not change clothes...Sydney is too much taller and slimmer than I am for that to work. (I am 5'1" = 1.55 m) Good observation, though, I didn't notice that we coordinated. :)

We played the Bach through three times. The first was the best, but unfortunately I wasn't recording. The second time we both messed up too much to be happy with it, and the third is what is posted.
Karin - not sure if you're still reading this post, but if you are, I'm from Prairie Village (come to think of it, even if you AREN'T still reading this post, I'll still be from Prairie Village!). Lived there for the first 22 years of my life (with seasonal treks to the University of Kansas during later years).

Moved out to CA in 1990, to Alameda (I worked for Hyatt at Oakland International). I'll never go back to KS. Love it too much here. Where are YOU from in KS?

Hey Terez, I'm from Manhattan; both my parents work at KSU. Went to college in Boston and have lived in CA for 11 years, but I'm still a Kansan at heart. Dunno if I'll ever move back there, but a part of me will always consider it home.