Autumn in Whitehorse Yukon…

So here I am on my first evening in Whitehorse Yukon. I’m here to teach a week of vocal jazz to 35 interested vocalists, some with experience, others novices to the genre. Week one took place in the spring and now I’m back to see where we might land on this musical journey. I’ll also be teaching private lessons to several of the singers when time permits. Two of the mornings I’ll be going to one of the high schools and doing a presentation for the students and seeing if I can entice them into the world of jazz! I’ll also be performing a concert with four Whitehorse jazz musicians. I’m really looking forward to that as well and have chosen a particular program of tunes to share with them.

So…my week will be filled with my beloved jazz music but other things are on my mind as well ever since I landed this afternoon.

As I flew into Whitehorse in the middle of the sunny September afternoon, such breath taking autumn colors greeted me!!! I have never been here in the fall but here it is! Autumn has arrived and with the blue and purple tones of the hills in the background, the deep green of the pine trees and the deciduous trees displaying their new September shades in the sun, the glow and warmth of the place welcomed me. I read an article on the plane that mentioned people using the word “fall” or “autumn” to name this season. I prefer AUTUMN which seems like a more elegant word to describe this colorful season. “Fall” of course IS what the leaves will eventually do but, until they do that it is “Autumn” to me, beautiful and elegant Autumn with it’s warm “m” sound ending the word and with it’s silent “n”. I adore that!

So, here I am in my favorite time of year in a place that embraces the arts and also features Mother Nature in all her splendor. I understand that I am lucky to arrive here this week since Mother Nature also may decide that this color palette might last just one week at the most. The winds could come and claim all the colors for another year. Apparently that is not uncommon. I will cross my fingers for a long leisurely AUTUMN here in Whitehorse, with a long and enjoyable week of music making. Here’s hoping….

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