The Hideout

I just got back from Edmonton, where I went to my convocation ceremony. Apparently it can be viewed online here by selecting the 2008 Nov 20th 3pm ceremony under “Previous Ceremony Webcasts,” but I have not been able to make it work.

Seeing all my friends and colleagues, who have become like family over the past seven years, reminded me how important my time in Edmonton was. I have resolved to go back to visit as often as I can, no matter how cold it is.

As some of you already know, I recently successfully defended my Ph.D. thesis, which means I’m effectively a doctor.

Summing up seven years of graduate school in a blog post is impossible. I can’t believe it’s over, despite being present at my defense and my post-defense beer. I’m now getting ready for my next endeavour at the University of Michigan. More on this later.

First time in the boat this year. I happened across Morgan, Nathan, Jason, and David, who took this picture.

• Water: North Saskatchewan River
• Date: Saturday, 17 May 2008
• Put in: 2:00pm at Fort Edmonton Park
• Take out: 4:00pm at Gold Bar Park
• Distance: 17km
• Flow: 352 m³/s
• Level: 3.9 m
• Weather: Sunny, 28°C, Wind light

Hello the blogosphere, I wanted to let you know that I am in Barbados. Also, Barbados is pretty awesome.

Ha!

This Saturday, March 29th at 8pm and Sunday, March 30th at 2pm, the Edmonton Symphony is hosting Canadian violinist Karen Gomyo. Student tickets are $15 (not $5 as I had written in the previous annoucement—sorry for the typo) and each student can purchase two tickets. Concertmaster Martin Riseley will give a pre-concert talk in the third floor lobby at 7:15pm on Saturday evening. The programme includes some really spectacular (and spectacularly weird) symphonic music. (I’m looking at you, Nixon in China…)

• Adams – Nixon in China: The Chairman Dances
• Prokofiev – Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op.19
• Ravel – Tzigane
• Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade, Op.35

Once again, your Computing Science Grad Student Association and your buddy Dan are hosting the CS Department Curling Funspiel, which will be held on Sunday, March 30th at the Saville Sports Centre, located at 6501 115 Street. Curling will take place from 2pm to 4pm.

This will be an opportunity for CS department members and friends to try curling for the first time, or to hone their mad curling skillz—if you don’t know what curling is, look it up on the internet, or ask the nearest Canadian. Players of all skill levels are welcome, from the complete beginner to the seasoned expert. We will teach you as much as you need to know.

On the recommendation of a few guilt-ridden professors, we have changed the pricing structure for this year’s event. Graduate students can participate for free (subsidized by the CSGSA) while non-[graduate students] can participate for a fee of $10. This will help offset our ice rental fees. You may also need a dollar or two to rent a broom and slider. We will provide more information closer to the date.

I have booked ice for us, but to determine exactly how many sheets we will need I would like everyone who wants to come to leave a comment here. Bring your friends! I expect to see the Greiner/Dobrovsky clan e também os brasileiros signing up ASAP.

Landmark in progressive rock
 

Soundtrack to The Exorcist
 

First album released by Virgin Records
 

This evening at 8pm local time on CBC Radio 2, Canada Live will be broadcasting a performance of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells arranged for four pianos by Calgary-based pianist Marcel Bergmann. Four pianos! You can listen online here.
 

I expect it will be tubular.

The boys of Bang Camaro and I would like to make the following public service announcement:

This Sunday, January 20 at 8:00 PM, the University Symphony Orchestra (including Gabor and Carsten) will be giving a concert featuring this year’s concerto competition winners. Event details are at here. Advance tickets are available at TIX on the Square, 420-1757. I believe student tickets are $5 at the door.

• Brahms Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
• Liszt Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No 1 in E flat major (1848)
• Florent Schmitt Légende, Op.66 for Saxophone and orchestra
• Beethoven Symphony Number 7 in A Major, Opus 92

University of Alberta Academy Strings

This Sunday, November 18th at 8pm at Convocation Hall on the U of A campus, our own Gábor Bartók will be playing with the UAAS in a programme of crazy music, including the Tippet Concerto for Double String Orchestra, which is super crazy. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, $15 for everyone else. Come on out and support Gábor! Addendum: Carsten Moldenhauer plays too, as it turns out. Computing Science is taking over the string section.

• Purcell - Two Suites: The Fairy Queen, Z.629
• Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis for quartet, double string orchestra
• Elgar - Sospiri, Opus 70 for strings, harp and organ
• Tippett - Concerto for double string orchestra

Pulse8

For those non-students aged 18 to 29 who want cheap ESO tickets, and for students who want to be able to buy cheap tickets in advance, check out the new Pulse8 club.

What is the Pulse8 club?
Pulse8 is a club for fans of symphonic music between the ages of 18 and 29. Membership is free. Members have opportunities to purchase tickets to most Edmonton Symphony Orchestra concerts for $15 (plus agency fees).

ESO - The Four Seasons

Next Wednesday, November 21st at 7:30 pm the ESO will have a concert of awesome baroque music, including Vivaldi’s famous Four Seasons. Student rush tickets go on sale 1 hour before showtime for $15 each. Each student can buy two tickets with a student ID. If you’re not a student, check out the Pulse8 club link above.

• Bach – Christmas Oratorio: Sinfonia to Part II
• Purcell – excerpts from The Fairy Queen
• Purcell – excerpts from King Arthur
• Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, Op.8 Nos. 1 – 4