Moving to Texas

I am thrilled to officially announce my appointment as Professional Assistant Professor of Music at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, where beginning this August, I will be directing the Opera Workshop program and teaching voice. I look forward very much to working with the wonderful faculty and students and to this next adventure!Did I mention that the campus is on its own island?This means many changes ahead, and I am excited not only for the job but to get the chance to explore a part of the country with which I am not very familiar.  I am looking forward to getting to know Corpus Christi and nearby Padre Island, where I am sure I will be doing some birdwatching, swimming, and kayaking.  I am also looking forward to day and overnight trips as well as more extended vacations exploring all of these places within a day's drive:  New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, South Padre Island, Big Bend National Park, the Hill Country, and more!Since we will be moving to a hot climate, it is fitting that Stephan and I visited Alaska last month, on a wonderful small boat cruise with Alaskan Dream, which was truly the vacation a lifetime.  We saw glaciers, humpback whales, bald eagles, numerous other types of birds, and some of the most beautiful, wild, landscapes imaginable.We have many more pictures (nearly 300!) uploaded to an album here:  Ellen and Stephan's Alaskan Dream.To new adventures, new colleagues, students, and friends!