Harpist Alice Giles Travels to Mawson Base

It's great to learn that another musician is heading to Antarctica. Harpist Alice Giles has received an Australian Antarctic Division Arts Fellowship to travel on the research vessel ‘Aurora’ to Mawson Base in February and March 2011.

Her trip celebrates the Centenary of the 1911-1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition, which was led by Australian geologist Douglas Mawson (who the base is named after). Alice will be performing and recording music that was written especially for her trip as well as music that was heard in Antarctica 100 years ago. She'll also be recording Antarctic sounds for composers and students to use in compositional projects.

Visit Alice's blog for updates on her project and adventures - http://aliceinantarctica.wordpress.com/

Good luck Alice!

Fraser's Penguins

Dwindling Adélie colonies on Torgersen Island

A new book has recently been released about the plight of the Adélie penguins near Palmer Station: Fraser's Penguins: A Journey to the Future in Antarctica by Fen Montaigne. In 2005 - 2006 the author spent five months at Palmer working as a research assistant to Bill Fraser, who has been studying the area's penguin populations for over 30 years. I just picked up a copy and am hoping to have a chance to read it over the holidays.

Speaking of which, if you are in need of a unique winter holiday gift/stocking stuffer, or simply have an urge to hear penguin gaks and ecstatic display calls, please consider purchasing a copy of my Antarctic field recordings cd, Chattermarks.

Happy holidays!

Live on Radio + Live on Stage

Women Hold Up Half the Sky
KALX 90.7 FM
Saturday, December 4th, 11 am - noon (Pacific Time)

This Saturday I'll be on the radio doing a short live performance, playing recordings of my work and talking about my many musical projects. KALX streams live online at: http://kalx.berkeley.edu/how-listen


Tuesdays at Tom's
Tuesday December 7th, 7:30pm
3111 Deakin Street
Berkeley, CA 94705
$ donation - all proceeds go to the artists

Here is your chance to see my ensemble and I play in the intimate setting of Tom Duff's lovely living room! I can't recommend the series enough. I've heard a lot of great music at Tom's place, plus there is usually an excellent array of free snacks and drinks. Please come join us as A.L. Dentel, Felix Macnee and I perform several of my Antarctic compositions plus some improvisations. Also on the bill is the quartet of Tim Perkis, Tom Djll, Scott Walton and Matt Ingalls, who are all great players and improvisers.