Carole returns to CMW!

All of us at CMW are thrilled to welcome back Carole Bestvater for a six-week residency from May 8 to June 11. Carole completed CMW's two-year Fellowship Program last June and subsequently enrolled in a Masters Program in Newfoundland.

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I had an exciting and bustling year in St. John's, Newfoundland. I recently finished the first year my grad program at Memorial University and it was full of new faces, lots and lots of music, and a different flavour of colourful houses. So flavourful in fact, that the downtown area of St. John's has been nicknamed "Jellybean Row" for all the colourful houses that line the streets.

It's no wonder that the houses are so bright and happy looking, because the fog rolls in and envelopes St. John's an average of 200 days a year. Someone told me "Oh, Carole, you'll get sick of the fog reeeeeally fast" when I exclaimed my sheer awe at how mystical and beautiful it seemed. To my credit, as a person who loves sunshine, I haven't gotten tired of the foggy days yet. Indeed, I moved to a ruggedly beautiful place: with craggy coastlines that invite seasonal icebergs, and wind so strong that people walk at 45 degree angles to avoid getting blown over.

As much as I like my new home, I am so SO happy to be back in Providence and at CMW for a prolonged visit! The moment I saw the skyline of Providence, my heart did an extra quick flutter of happiness. CMW has kept me busy so far: I've been teaching Minna's students while she is on maternity leave with darling Juna Maya, helping Chloe prepare for the Institute for Musicianship and Public Service, and rehearsing Verklarte Nacht with the CMW Players for the June 8-10 reunion weekend. 

It has been such a heart warming experience to be back at CMW. Every moment at CMW is a joyful one for me, regardless of what I'm doing. It evokes a sense of "home away from home"–and for me, it still remains one of the most wonderful places with the most wonderful people in it, and even though it's only for a short while, I am so happy to be part of the adventure again!

-Carole Bestvater, Fellow '09-'11