Big Surprises in 2008!

Amazing the way the spirit works, I thought I knew how this year of 2008 might be for me. Big surprise!

Montreal 2008

Montreal 2007
Rhiannon with Holland friends

Ascona love, gospel concert

WeBe3 in Ascona
Ascona choir...
Ascona farewell's...
Joey in his debut gospel concert!

Camden Students...

I have accepted a position as Associate Professor of Vocal Studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston starting in September. I will be moving during mid to late summer in order to find a new home for me, and my three darling senior cats. My Partner Janne will be moving to the Big Island of Hawaii to begin photographic work with the Hawaiian Media Hui, focusing on culture and the environment. Both of us are excited, a bit shocked, and figuring out how to manage this new turn of events.

If you live in the Boston area, I will be looking for a home for me and my cats, starting in August. Please let me know if you have any leads or ideas to help in that process. I plan to live on the T-line but somewhere with the ocean, river or some big trees near by. We are so used to country life, and I know there is great natural beauty in the Boston area. I look forward to finding my new community on the Atlantic coast.

I want to give gratitude and love to the Bay Area for the amazing gifts and lessons of the last 35 years. I never expected to leave, and of course my heart will always be home here, especially in Point Reyes where I have happily lived for the last 20 years. I can't imagine a better community or a more splendid physical environment. I have loved living here and learned so much from the depth of this place.

I take this love and these lessons with me on this new adventure.

Be assured that I will be returning to the Bay Area for gigs and teaching. The blessing of Berklee is that they honor their teachers' need and desire to make music around the world, so it is quite possible to arrange to travel as well as to keep students busy and happy at Berklee. So watch for my return visits to California. I will also be able to see much more of my friends and students on the East Coast and even in Europe. I plan to continue my All The Way In teaching series, finish my book in the next year and have news soon about my certification program. All in all, this seems like a wonderful and amazing adventure. There is this pesky packing I still have to do. Everyday a bit more gets done, and I lighten my load before moving my home.

If you live in the Bay Area  or are passing through, Janne and I are having a celebration on Sunday, June 15 from 1 to 5 PM at Toby's Feed Barn in Point Reyes Station. Please come see us and wish us well. There will be music, food and memories. We would love to have you share poems, songs, stories and memories. We will have a stage area set up with a microphone and piano.

There will be photographs and CDs for those that like to buy still.

In case you have been trying to reach us at our old home phone, we have a new number until we move in August. It is 415-723-9077.

The photos above are from the last months music work. It has been a rich and wild time.

First the wonderful group in Montreal during our sessions in 2007 and 2008 arranged by Lin Snelling. Our work together went so deep in those days. Having dancers as well as great singers in the group gave the music such depth and dimension. I look forward to a return visit soon to continue our connection.

Next, the incredible singers of the Creative Arts High School in Camden, NJ taught by Suzzette Ortiz, who invited me to come for two days of improvisation work. These wonderful teen-agers are the hope of the future, and Suzzette is an award winning teacher miracle. I came away inspired and deeply touched.

WeBe3 had a month long tour of Europe in May again this year. We sang and taught in Freising and Munich, Germany, Ascona and Liestal, Switzerland and Amsterdam, Holland. We don't have as many photographs this year because dear Janne Watson, my partner and photographer extraordinaire was only able to be in Ascona with us for Joey's concert. So if you have photos from any of the sessions in Europe please send them on and we will happily put them on the blog. 

WeBe3 has a brand new CD called WeBe3--Live and Improvised. Joey Blake recorded our 2007 tours, and we were so happy to find these tracks that reflect our live improvised performance and the joy of being with our audiences in Europe and the US. This is the way to hear our music, in the excitement of the live moment. You will be able to buy it on my website, theWeBe3 website, cdBaby and iTunes. 

Look for it in the coming weeks of June.

Hope 2008 is bringing you change you can nurture and gratitude every morning you wake.

Stay tuned, as the election year grows more exciting.

Vote Believe! Take nothing for granted.

Much love to you all,

Rhiannon