Gregory Spock, Compass

To know Professor Burt Harbison was to know someone who wanted to see the best in everyone. I didn’t know when I auditioned for University Singers how much a choir under his guidance could change my life, but it did. His frequent note checks, where singers would sing their part (Tenor 2) a ca****la and solo with just one voice on each of the other choral voice parts could instill the fear of God 😳, at first. Or even more terrifying, memory checks, where no matter how challenging the text, we often sang in French, German, and Italian, singers were asked to sing without music 😭

But then I soon learned why he expected so much of his choir. Because he loved us and knew the potential we had to sing TOGETHER. And it showed, in all the brilliant a ca****la, memorized chords we filled Crouse College with, among other venues. “Papa H” as he was affectionately known to those who sang under his tutelage, was one of a kind and I will miss him. But the songs he taught us live on, especially since Clément Janequin’s hyperbolic “Frerelelefan” will never leave my memory bank.

Such an incredible Birthday. The annual orchid show with its homage to NYC was awe-inspiring and the dinner at (not pictured because I don’t want to interfere with the eating) brought a unfussy, yet warm hospitality, yet a memorable and flawlessly executed culinary craft to a birthday celebration. Here’s to not having expectations, flying close to the sun and seeing where life takes me 🪽

“Those same capacities — to plan, to think, to desire a sense of meaning — are what make me think it’s possible that we can live in a more compatible way with natural environments and the ecologies of the world” - Dr. Eric Sanderson

As a proud member, I’m thrilled to invite you to hear renown landscape ecologist and best-selling author, Dr. Eric Sanderson, lead a discussion on Pelham’s natural history on Thursday, January 8th, 2026 at the . Free event, but please RSVP at the link in my bio. Hope to see you there!

While Austin and I voted early, Janna and I have tried to instill the connection between voting and making your voice heard, afterall we were both opera singers. Politics have become so polarizing and I’m NOT going to tell you how to vote, BUT I am going to tell you to VOTE! Because the next generation is aware of how powerful that voice can be. Good or bad we all learn from every election and that’s why I’m not going to stop using my voice. Swipe to see the consequences 🥰

Here’s Johnny….Happy Halloween! 🪵

Raise your hand if you’ve seen this movie 🙋🏻‍♂️