Showtime!

Violin week was last week and Lovey had 3 performances. She ended up with 1 first place & 2 second places. In the end she was disappointed at placing second. It was especially bothersome to her that the first place violinist was only 6 and it stung a little to be outdone by someone younger. All 3 played the exact same piece so the level of difficulty was the same and I thought Lovey's had been just as good as the first place girl. Murray thought Lovey's had more feeling to it and the other sounded a bit stiffer. It hit Lovey pretty hard. She was very quiet and stared out the window the whole drive home as she thought about it. We'll see if it motivates her to work harder and take less breaks next year or not!

One of the highlights was that she got interviewed and had her picture in the newspaper!

waiting to go up for her final piece!



all done for another year.

 and posing for me because she left after her piece before I could take a pic!

                                

She made careful notes on the suggestions from the adjudicator on the first day to prep for her last performance.

More music!

More performances for Lovey! She competed in 5 different events and got first place in 4 of them and 2nd place in the other. She had 3 solos, a duet and a trio to prepare. All her pieces were performed within 36 hours! It was a lot of running, a lot of practicing and a lot of sparkle hairspray but she loved it and was so pleased with her marks and comments from the judges.

She looked and sounded fabulous and she enjoys her spotlight moments! She got in trouble from her teacher because in the middle of one of her performances, she posed for the camera while I was grabbing a shot of her playing. She never missed a beat or bow stroke but made sure to look right at me for the shot (I was only going for an action shot and did NOT tell her to do that, I don't mess with serious violin teachers!!!)

She also appreciated everyone who made it in to watch her play. She loves her fans so thank you to all who came!

Star Performer!

Lovey  was in a violin competition recently and she did so well! There were so many extra rehearsals, some at 8:15 on a Saturday morning, some at night, sometimes both in the same day! All the while she had her regular weekly lesson, dance lessons, schoolwork and a bit of playtime in there too. The week of the competition was soooooo busy and it was right before my big event for the multiples group so between that and running into town 5 times that week to take her to her performances, I was going flat out!

She was in 5 different events and placed first in 4 of them, and 2nd in the other. My Uncle Ralph & Aunt Caroline provided all her competition outfits and she looked like a star at every event! They are great shoppers and  have a good eye for performance wear after their own 3 kids have gone through all these competitions! Many thanks to them for the very fine wardrobe that kept my girl stylin' all week :)))

Watching Lovey play is a treat! Despite many years in the choir, I still can't read music and have trouble differentiating between some of the songs. But I know what makes my girl happy. Seeing her at the front of the room, looking so calm and prepared is amazing! When she puts that violin up to play and starts bowing across the strings, it's like we're barely even there. At one point, she was so into it and so content that she just closed her eyes and smiled her way through the piece. It is such a delight to see her enjoy her music that much.

The judges gave her really good marks on all her pieces and she did well enough that the organizers have asked her to play at the awards ceremony. Uncle Ralph says this means she's probably getting prize money as well as a participants medal. Very exciting! We haven't mentioned it to her yet just in case. I want her to be surprised :)))

I'm looking forward to the ceremony, we're so proud of her hard work!!!

Look at that smile! she obviously loved whatever song that was!!!