Starting Up (A Term Late)

So, seeing as most of my friends who are now graduated (like me) and transplanted to various parts of the globe far away from their homes/schools/families (also like me) have been keeping blogs to record what they're up to, and to communicate their experiences with friends and family, I thought I should jump on this bandwagon. So, I hope that this blog not only helps me to remember what it was like to embark upon this particular journey, but also to share with you a piece of my daily life here in London.

To start with a basic introduction to what I'm doing here: I graduated from Princeton with a degree in public policy and a certificate in music performance last June, and moved to London at the end of August to pursue a Masters of Music (MMus) degree in 'Vocal Studies' from the Royal Academy of Music. I am honored and blessed to be doing so with the help of a Marshall Scholarship, for which I am indescribably grateful. Eventually, I'm hoping to concentrate more specifically on opera - possibly with cultural diplomacy - but the degree I'm working on now is a broader singing degree, helping me to build a foundation in art song, oratorio, opera, and most areas of what we refer to as 'classical' singing. Since my undergraduate degree was definitely not a music performance degree, this broader foundation seemed like the smartest move for me, and it's definitely what I need to be doing right now. Classes range from subjects like acting and movement to Lieder, English song, and French song, and I also have a one-on-one lesson and coaching each week with a singing professor and coach at the RAM. I'm very lucky to be working with a pair of extremely challenging and supportive mentors. Professors are also wonderful, as I continually feel I get to work with the best the UK has to offer for what I'm studying. And although it's a very challenging programme (I think a lot of the time I may even be busier now than I was in my undergrad... which is hard to imagine), it's also an extremely supportive place that truly works to help its students achieve the best they can achieve. And, having homework that consists of practicing and learning gorgeous music sure beats problem sets and long, dry, policy paper reading assignments. :-)

I live in a private hall for international postgraduate students called 'Goodenough College'. No joke. Named after William Goodenough. (See more here). It's in a wonderfully central location, close to Russell Square and King's Cross Railway Station, and the facilities are quite nice for central London. I'm also surrounded by a lot of fascinating people, studying at every London university imaginable, in hundreds of fields, and hailing from over 90 countries worldwide. Also hang out with a few other American Marshall Scholars ('Marshies') who live here, and it's nice to have a connection to 'home' that way. Because, as adventurous as I normally am and as much as I love living and studying here, I do miss home.

Still, I'm thankful to have made some good friends here already, between RAM students in my programme, the Marshies, and also some wonderful people from All Souls Church, where I've become involved in music ministry and in a weekly student Bible study. A chord of three strands of friendship, as it were. So I can be grateful for having a pretty comprehensive support system!

So what am I up to now? One term down, and the next starts on Monday after a lovely 5-week winter break (amazing). Preparing to dive back in. As time goes on, I'll hope to include some pictures from my life here, and I'm sure more information about the time already passed will be referenced and included. But for now: looking forward to the next term!