Prague Spring Oboe Competition Round 2

The highlight of my day was the chance to listen to Australian Andrew Kawai who was playing in the 2nd round of the Prague Spring International Oboe competition.

I'm not quite sure where this weekend went. Yesterday I finally finished a report that I had tried to finish on Friday (but on Friday I had run out of energy) and then I had to put together my course notes for an email workshop this Wednesday. Finally finished that at about 12.30 today. Just time to get ready and head to the centre to top up on coffee (my monthly visit to Nespresso), and then to hike back across the river to the beautiful Lichtenstejn Palace. The Oboe competition preliminary rounds are taking place in the Martinu Room, which is entirely delightful with pale blue walls and biscuit coloured highlights, a pale wood and chrome pipe organ and gold covered chairs with white wooden frames trimmed with blue. Massive chandeliers as well ... Andrew Kawai is a student in Melbourne, and one of the teachers at his school is an 'old' school friend of mine, John.

Andrew played beautifully, but wasn't entirely happy with his performance. Show me a musician who is! I was completely amazed that he played three pieces all from memory. He is far and away the youngest competitor and talented is not a word that is big enough to describe him. A wonderful recital.

I then decided to walk to Malestranska, and take a few little roads I don't normally venture along, which is where I saw today's blip. The architecture in this city never ceases to delight me.

Now I have an hour or two before bed - just time to do some lesson prep for tomorrow. 'A teacher's lot is not a lazy one'.