David L. Brunner visits Cambria Elementary

•January 29, 2010 • Leave a Comment

My wife has been involved in quite a year at Hollidaysburg Area High School where she is director of choral activities. The high school is currently undergoing renovations.  She is getting a brand new room in an addition.  The room is complete, but she is not allowed to use it yet.  The band is in there while the new bandroom is being built.  She is teaching out of the drama room/orchestra room, and in the hallway. 

This is where things get interesting.  She agreed several years ago to host PMEA District 6 Chorus.  Basically, 178 visiting students come to your school from Wednesday evening through Saturday.  Finding houses for them to stay in, feeding them and providing them with an excellent musical experience are the host director’s jobs.  Needless to say, it is an overwhelming task under the best of situations.  She has done an amazing job, and the students are very appreciative. 

Wendy hired Dr. David Brunner from Central Florida University to conduct the choir.  Dr. Brunner is a world-renowned choral composer.  His works have been performed on every continent (save for Antarctica).  Wendy had him come a day early to work with her own choirs and offered to have him come to work with my elementary chorus here at Cambria Elementary.  So, the students and I prepared one of David Brunner’s compositions for him to hear, and then critique and improve.  What a great experience for 4th and 5th graders!  He was awesome with the kids.  Below are some photos of him working with my students.

Above, David has a photo op with half of my chorus!

Above, the students asked David to play piano for them.

David explains a difficult passage of music.

David with the other half of my students.

David and I.  What a great experience!

Thanks for reading!

PMEA District 6 Soprano Rehearsal Recordings

•January 19, 2010 • Leave a Comment

The following are the rehearsal tracks for the Sopranos in PMEA District 6 Chorus.  Good luck!

Cantate Domino

Desh

Gate Gate

I Will Be Earth

Psalm of Praise

Son de Camaguey

Tango to Evora Solo

Tango of Evora

The Road Home

The Road Home Solo

PMEA District 6 Tenor Rehearsal Recordings

•January 19, 2010 • Leave a Comment

District Chorus music for Altos

•January 19, 2010 • Leave a Comment

These are the rehearsal recordings for Altos in District 6 PMEA Chorus.  Good luck!

Cantate Domino

Desh

Gate Gate

I Am In Need of Music

I Will Be Earth

Psalm of Praise

Son de Camaguey

Tango to Evora

The Road Home

District Chorus Bass Recordings

•January 19, 2010 • Leave a Comment

Rosemaling, Erie, and family…

•October 13, 2009 • Leave a Comment

I am recovering from a bout of bronchitis and sinusitus.  I am grateful to good health care, and good home care.

While at home this week, I was able to finish my latest painting project, a study of Aust Agder Rosemaling.  It is a beautiful style of  painting that originated in Norway.  I am thrilled with the result!

Rosemaling Lefsa Board

Rosemaling Lefsa Board

 

A close up of the center elements.

A close up of the center elements.

Events leading up to my illness were fast and furious.  I am chairperson of a committee to re-elect one of our current school board members.  We are doing this through a write-in campaign, too boot!  The first picture is of Eric Rummel, and a brood of kids from the Central Cambria School District.  We are using this photo in our newspaper ad this week.

Eric and the brood!

Eric and the brood!

We have been blessed in our lives to have the most wonderful family.  This past weekend, we travelled to Erie, PA to celebrate the 2nd birthday of Grace Alohi Pua Okalani Wakinekona.  The day was beautiful, and it was great to spend time with family!

Front Row: Wesley and Grace/Second Row: Kristina and Carrie/Back Row: Brynne, Sara and Kyrah

Front Row: Wesley and Grace/Second Row: Kristina and Carrie/Back Row: Brynne, Sara and Kyrah

After the birthday party, we drove out on to Presque Isle….a favorite spot of Wendy’s and mine.  It was cold, but we got a few good photos!

My favorite girls at Lake Erie.

My favorite girls at Lake Erie.

The sun was very deceiving...it was cold!

The sun was very deceiving...it was cold!

In addition, Central Cambria’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” has entered the staging process.  Kyrah has been cast as the Wicked Witch.  She is trying out her Miss Gultch face.

Kyrah staging in Act I

Kyrah staging in Act I

So as you can see, the life of the Nagy’s goes at full speed!  God is good in all that he provides.  Thank you so much for reading and have a great day!

Proof that there will be a cure…

•September 27, 2009 • 2 Comments

The weekend started with the journey to Dubois, where we were joined by Roger and Loretta, at the home of Wendy’s sister Cora Lee and her husband, Ray.  Cora Lee made chow mein and all kinds of other good stuff!  We were also surprised to be joined by Rob, Kristina and Wesley!  We enjoyed each other’s company, and spent the rest of the evening chatting and solving the world’s greatest issues!  Roger and Loretta headed out for their hotel in Brookville.  We all headed to bed.

Kyrah, Wesley and Kristina

Kyrah, Wesley and Kristina

We got up at 5:00 am to make the trek to Cook Forest, for the MS bike ride.  It had been years since I had been there, and I forgot the beauty of the place.  We arrived to find Roger and Loretta already there.  They had given us Tshirts and we began posing for pictures.

Kyrah, Brynne and I sport our Tshirts!

Kyrah, Brynne and I sport our Tshirts!

 

Roger, Loretta and I before the event.

Roger, Loretta and I before the event.

After the start of the event, we drove 16.5 miles down the most gorgeous drive I have ever been on!  Roads right along the Clarion River brought us to Belltown, where we were to meet up with Tom Phillips.  There we were to help man a refreshment/pit stop for the participants.  We all perfected our PB&J artistry, having made some 500+ sandwiches!  Working at the station, we made new friends, heard great stories of courage, and had a great time.
We all took turns making sandwiches and taking breaks.  Kyrah and I went for a short walk, and snapped some of the following shots.
A small stream prepares to enter the Clarion River.

A small stream prepares to enter the Clarion River.

 

God's glorious creation was around us, everywhere!

God's glorious creation was around us, everywhere!

Brynne enjoying the scenery.

Brynne enjoying the scenery.

Kyrah and Wendy cooking up some mean PB&J!!

Kyrah and Wendy cooking up some mean PB&J!!

Brynne ,and new friend Alex, master the art of P,B & J!

Brynne ,and new friend Alex, master the art of P,B & J!

Heavy rain was forecast to move in.  We felt an occasional drizzle, but for the most part, we remained dry.  After a while we had the bikers stopping on their return voyage, speaking of a killer hill that they had to climb.  My prayers were suddenly with Roger and Loretta as they hadn’t returned yet.  We waited with great anticipation to see them come down the road! 
The return after the hill....mile 43.5 into the race.  I think they look great!

The return after the hill....mile 43.5 into the race. I think they look great!

 After Roger and Loretta passed through our station the second time, we said our goodbyes to Tom and Jennifer at the station, and then returned back to the finish line to await their arrival.  They made great time on the last leg of their journey and completed the 60 mile trip in 5 hours and 40 minutes! 

They did it!!!!  The happy couple at the end of the ride!
 

Humbled…

•September 24, 2009 • Leave a Comment

riverride-homepageI praise God today for the many blessings in my life.  My family attends the Ebensburg United Methodist Church, where we are led by our pastor, Roger Johnson and his wife, Loretta.  Roger was explaining one during a message that Loretta had just passed a milestone birthday.  He and Loretta always pick a “project” for their milestone birthday.  Roger informed us that Loretta and he would be participating in Cook’s Forest River Ride, a 60 mile bike ride with the purpose of raising money to find a cure for multiple sclerosis.  He said that Loretta chose to do this in my honor.

We hear people tell us to do things in service to others.  I am humbled to know that I am cared for in such a way.  God’s love for me has truly been shown through Roger and Loretta in so many ways in my life.  May God continue to bless them as they continue to bless others by serving God!

1 Corinthians 12:5
There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

Disney and Rosemaling?

•September 21, 2009 • 1 Comment

As I stated in my last post, we have begun our fall classes at Seymour’s Creative Legact Art Studio.  We are studying Aust Agder Rosemaling.  I was thinking of how my painting journey began shortly before our family went to Disney in 2007.  Imagine my surprise when we went to Epcot and saw the exhibit for Norway.  The first thing we saw was a Stave church replica.  Paul was talking about these last week in class, and it dawned on me that I thought I had a picture of the one from Epcot. 

Stave church at Epcot

Stave church at Epcot

We walked into a shop, and what I saw just about blew my mind!  Check these out!

This was the door into the shop!

This was the door into the shop!

This was the front counter.

This was the front counter.

A cabinet in the back of the store.

A cabinet in the back of the store.

Another store counter!

Another store counter!

A cabinet behind the station where artists from Norway were Rosemaling!  Notice the patterns, paints and blank surfaces!

A cabinet behind the station where artists from Norway were Rosemaling! Notice the patterns, paints and blank surfaces!

Corner display unit (translation please?)  Notice the ceiling!

Corner display unit (translation please?) Notice the ceiling!

The entire ceiling was done in Rosemaling!

The entire ceiling was done in Rosemaling!

Close up of the corner cabinet.

Close up of the corner cabinet.

One last cabinet....

One last cabinet....

We were surprised to learn that everyone working in this Norwegian gift shop was actually from Norway!  The artists were trained in Norway, by Norwegian masters.  Disney hired the Norwegian Rosemaling masters to design and paint the shop!  Truly unbelievable!  So tonight, when I am in class, pulling my scrolls, I will fondly remember the Disney/Rosemaling connection.  Who knew?

Back at it!

•September 15, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Well, our new season of painting classes began last night at Paul and Cathy’s shop.  I had missed those people so much!  What made it even better was that Chris and Toni,  who had to take a break last Spring, were able to join us again!  Paul and broke out our French accents, and we were off and rolling.  Deanna brought in some pieces that she had designed and painted…..WOW!  It is amazing to see how far we have all come in our journey.

We are beginning the year by painting a Lufsa board with the Aust Agder style of Rosemaling designed by David Jansen.  What an absolutely stunning piece, using only eight colors!  We spent most of the evening doing prep work, and catching up with each other.  This is our fourth year as a class together, and our bond is quite strong!  Pulling those first scrolls was so energizing, and I can’t wait to finish this piece!!  Have a great day and thanks for reading!