Spring Festival and Queen's Day

Spring Festival 2013

For the past several months, Noah was working overtime as the producer of a big concert at his conservatory as part of the composition department's annual Spring Festival. In addition to curating the concert, he organized the premiere performance of his dissertation composition from UCSC, COUNTING for large ensemble and vocal soloists. It was a ton of work, but well worth it! 

The full concert program can be downloaded here.

Scheduling four rehearsals for 23 people was
challenging to say the least.

The big day!

Pre-concert photo op!

Talking celestas with our friends Noah Rectenwald
and Benedict Schlepper-Conolly at intermission

COUNTING

Phew! Thanks to all of the hard-working musicians!

The recording of COUNTING is available here: https://soundcloud.com/noah-meites/counting-2012

Queen's Day 2013 

Commemorating the abdication of her majesty Queen Beatrix and the investiture of his majesty King Willem-Alexander of the House of Oranje-Nassau...or, an annual excuse to take to the streets (and canals) wearing orange whilst imbibing more than a few biertjes.  

Queen's Day is a big party every year, but
2013 was especially celebratory for the
Dutch with the changing of the Royal Guard.

Next year, for the first time in more than 100 years
the Dutch will celebrate King's Day!  (Alex has come
a long way from his "Prince Pils" days...)

Queen's Day is also a huge city-wide flea market
in which everyone tries to unload/stock up
on useless/indispensable items

Our first and second lunches: grilled ham sammies...
mmmm....(sort of)

Things really got going on the Prinsengracht

Anyone who was anyone was on a boat. 

Noah not on a boat.

WE MISS YOU ALREADY BEATRIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Family Visits!

Parental Visits, Part I: Tom and Lynn

In late March Noah's parents came for an early spring visit. (Spring is overstating it a bit -- the temperatures hovered around freezing throughout their stay.  It was warmer in Chicago!)

Tom reviewing the travel literature

 and hatching a plan upon arrival at their apartment. 

We met Lynn's old Dutch college friend

Marly ter Marsch and her husband

Ad (at left) for delicious Indonesian

rijstafel at Sama Sebo. The best we've

tasted yet! 

Midway through the visit, we rented a

car and took a day trip to Antwerp (Belgium)

for lunch. On the way south, we stopped off

in historic Delft for Thursday flower market and

some delicious hot chocolate!

Tom documenting the kaas selection
at a Delft cheese shop

The lunch scene at the beautiful dining room
of Dome in Anterwepen. What an unforgettable meal! 

Love you guys!!!!

Parental Visits, Part II: Sue Powell
Several weeks later, Linnea's mom came for a wonderful 6 day visit.

Tulips everywhere! Sue's visit coincided with
 Amsterdam's true Spring awakening (after the coldest
winter since 1928) and we couldn't have been happier!

Our (Dutch) daily bread: mint tea and apple tart.

With Rembrandt's "Nachtwatch" at the recently re-opened
Rijksmuseum! After being mostly closed for a 10 year renovation,
we weren't the only ones there, surprisingly. We made it out
with only a few bruises from (literally) pushy tourists...

Biking in the Vondelpark on a perfect day.

At the Concertgebouw just before a terrific all-American
program: Adams, Harbison,  and Gershwin. Thanks, Sue!!

On the way to Keukenhoff, Holland's tulip wonderland and
largest garden with over 7 million flowers! (If you look closely
you might find flower fields on the left.)

Taking a break from the daffodils, tulips, and hyancinths! It was
overwhelmingly beautiful...

...and shutterbug heaven!

We had so much fun with you! Love you!!

Appendix:

Just in for Spring: Nieuwe Haring!!!