my new bio

I have a couple concerts coming up in the next month, (A flute a harp recital in Stratford, and a flute and harp children's concert in Stratford) and I was requested to submit my bio. It was time for an update anyways.... So this time I decided to write something a little less formal, and a little more fun.

Shauna Basiuk’s musical adventure began when she was a just a small child. Each night at bedtime, in an attempt to lull her to sleep, her parents would turn on the blue, Fisher-Price radio on her bedside table. “Good night”, Shauna would drowsily exclaim while giving her parents a hug and kiss, “I’m SO tired” and then she’d pretend to go to sleep. As soon as her parents left her bedroom, her eyes would pop open and she would lay awake, enjoying all of the captivating harmonies emitting from her radio. Eventually, as it always does, sleep would take over and Shauna would be carried into dreamland, drifting off to the enchanting melodies of classical music. The radio program was called Adventures in Music, and little did her parents know, the classical music that soared out of that little plastic radio would shape Shauna’s entire life.

A few years later, after much begging, pleading and promises to practice, Shauna’s parents bought her a piano. It wasn’t until many years later, at the age of 16 in fact, that she discovered her passion for flute, and her real musical career began. A few years later Shauna received a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance from the University of Calgary. In 2005 she completed the prestigious Artist Diploma in Orchestral Performance at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, in Toronto.

As to be expected in a musical career, and just like the name of her childhood radio show, Shauna has had many adventures in music. Music has taken her to exotic locations such as China, The Netherlands, Scotland, Germany, California, Texas, and across Canada. Beaches have also beckoned, and Shauna has been repeatedly invited back to perform as a guest of the Bermuda Chamber Orchestra. During the past 2 years, Shauna has performed regularly with harpist Ruth Mar. They have performed throughout Toronto, as well as in Stratford, Ontario.

Shauna’s contact with some of the most prominent flute teachers of today has helped her to form a unique and inspiring musical voice that she offers to her own students. She currently teaches at St. Clements Private School in Toronto, as well as in her own tiny but quaint coach house. Shauna is also on faculty at the University of Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop and the Toronto Summer Music Camp. In her spare time she enjoys bird watching and writing short stories. She still enjoys listening to the radio.

iron maiden

I hate ironing. Most of my clothes just don't need it. And, I'll admit, the few items that do require the despised task, quite unfortunate since they are often the most beautiful, get worn less often. Strangely enough, I don't mind ironing sheets, usually once they're on the bed, (a handy trick).... warning though, once you try ironed sheets you won't want to go back! There's nothing quite like sliding into freshly laundered and pressed linens after a long day of work! However, I digress.

I am not always aware of things I should be, like for instance, where the iron might be stored when it is not in use. It is usually jammed into the side of the closet somewhere (remember, 400 sq ft coach house = not quite enough room for storage!) and sometimes requires standing on a chair to be retrieved. Such was the case when I decided it was time for the closet to be reorganized.

I'm sure you have better things to be doing than reading about my closet cleaning adventures, so I'll get right to it. I had pulled out all of my sweaters, refolded and organized them, and was beginning to put them back in their proper place, heavy just about out of season sweaters on the bottom shelf, when "WHOMP" it hit me. Hit, I suppose, could be deemed quite the understatement. In fact, upon more reflection, flattened would be far, far more appropriate.

It had come out of nowhere, and left me hunched over and struggling to get my wind back. "Is everything okay?" I spoke aloud, to myself. And I began what could only be described as the hurt check test. Squiggled my fingers. Check. Bent my arms. Check. Wiggled my toes. Check. Gingerly moved each shoulder. Check. Carefully twisted my neck from side to side. Check. Gently arched my back. Check. Everything seemed to be in working order which left me free to get down to business. What the heck had just pummeled me in the back??!!

Gently rising up from my hunched, winded stance, I looked over and saw this crime scene:
It does not take a brain surgeon to determine that the stuffed monkey, although looking quite pathetic laying face down after his fall, is not the culprit. Only the iron could have been capable of causing me to randomly exhale a spontaneous, huge "HUHHH" in the moment it bounced off of my back to land so eloquently on the floor. Only a point 5 deduction for the cord being slightly unwound.

"I was ironed," I thought to myself, a smirk sliding across my face. "I wonder if it'll bruise?" Nope. Nothing but the most subtle, faint purple line across my left shoulder blade the next day. At least the closet is organized. How ironic. Hehehe :)

In Like a Lion

So, here I am practicing my piccolo (Hindemith Symphony in B flat) for an upcoming concert, and all of a sudden there's a bright flash of light from outside. It lit up the whole coach house- through the blinds!!!
Of course- it is SNOWING!! We're supposed to get a fabulous mix of snow, snow pellets and freezing rain over the next day. And now, apparently, thunder and lightning!!!