This past summer, I was very fortunate to be one of a handful of composers selected to attend the Etchings Festival held in Auvillar, France. The teachers at Etchings this year were Georg Friedrich Haas and Fred Lerdahl. It is my first time in France, and I have always been very excited about the rich history of the country. I am very grateful to the Abisheganaden family as my participation at Etchings was fully funded by the Paul Abisheganaden Grant for Artistic Excellence.
As usual with festivals, Etchings started with a big bang. Everyone gathered at a local restaurant in Auvillar for the welcome dinner.
Welcome dinner at Etchings!
One would think that the pace of life would be slow in the south of France, and especially in the summer. Fortunately, our schedules were packed with lessons, presentations, rehearsals and concerts. Despite our busy schedule, I managed to explore a little of Auvillar on foot, and the little town is just so old, and so amazing! You really have to be there to experience it.
Percussion workshop!
Church in Auvillar.
Oh, did I mention that Etchings feeds you really well too?
Food at a house party hosted by a friend of the festival.
As usual with these things, one week just whizzes past and it was down to the final concerts and bye-bye party.
Final concert at the Chapel.
With Dominique Shafer and John Aylward (co-directors of the Etchings Festival.)
With Georg Friedrich Haas. I told him to make a funny face but he couldn’t.
With my roommate for the week – Helga Arias Parra. Do check out her music too!
You know the festival is awesome when they bring in a pizza truck for the final party. Yay!
Goodbye Auvillar! Hope to be back soon!