Sophie Walker - entry 10

Here we are... after a marathon three weeks we have finally arrived at the last day of the festival!

Last night was the first run of our last concert program which is contemporary music. Three of the four composers whose pieces were performed were at the concert and they also spoke at an Encounter lecture earlier this week. It was great to hear their perspectives on the composing process and to understand the imagery and inspiration they look to in creating new music. I think it hits home a lot more with listeners when they understand the sources of the pieces.

We had our last morning announcements for the students today and thanked everyone for the last three weeks. Chrissy and I had music store gift certificates to give out to the winners of the festival ping-pong tournaments, mentor group competition and our own special awards for the two students who made us laugh the most. We've also made personalised notes and printed photos for each of the students so they have some memories from the Institute.

This afternoon is the last Young Performer concert. I'm going over to St Mark's Church with those students who are performing to co-ordinate dress rehearsal and Chrissy is taking the other students to an art museum on the Stanford University campus. I think it's amazing as we look back on the last three weeks how well we've gotten to know this group of students and staff, but also how many different kinds of tasks we have completed.

Tonight is the closing night party at one of the donor residences and tomorrow we'll be doing festival breakdown with all the staff and interns and then we've got a week of wrap up before I head back home to Southern California for the rest of the summer to see my family.