Berklee?

     Long time no see! I know it's been a while since I've updated this blog, although I'd like to think I have good reasons. As some of you may know, this past year (my final year of high school) I applied and auditioned for my dream school - Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. On March 31st, 2014 I got the news that I was accepted.
     This was the moment that everything changed. Berklee is known as the top contemporary music school in North America, and I was beyond ecstatic when I realized that there was a chance I could soon be attending this prestigious institute. Although I was accepted with a scholarship which I am extremely grateful for, the tuition and overall costs were overwhelming. This is where my beautiful community came into play.
     On July 31st 2014, I brought together a group of fellow local musicians to perform with me on stage in a fundraising concert! The community was unbelievably supportive and loving, and the atmosphere in the theatre that night brought me to tears. Without this fundraising event, there is no way I would be sitting here right now in my dorm room in Boston. Thank you to all who came, donated, supported and put up with my awkward banter between songs. I am so blessed to be able to call Salt Spring Island, BC my home. 

     So now here I am. It's 12:43pm on October 23rd and I'm in my first semester at Berklee. The weather is a dull, rainy 55 degrees (I'm still getting used to Fahrenheit) and the wind is strong enough to push you over. I've never seen so many umbrellas in garbage cans along the sidewalk, and I can't help but to laugh. Autumn is creeping up on us; the leaves are a deep auburn colour, there is a distinct chill in the air and it's oddly comforting to watch the world from underneath a scarf and toque. 
     City life is certainly something to get used to. Coming from an island with a total of 10,000 people to a city with a population of 646,000 is overwhelming to say the least. Although I do terribly miss the clean air, stars, sunsets and beach access, I get inspired by people-watching and all the pretty lights.
     So I'll leave you with a few photos and a promise to update this blog more than in the past. 
Thank you for your ongoing support and love.

Forever grateful,
Phoenix 
x

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