Stephanie in Clarinet Academy at OSU

Updated 7/2 with additional photo, links to audio

Stephanie this month attended a five-day residential music program at Ohio State University, called Clarinet Academy.

"It was an opportunity for high school students to learn, and practice their skills," reports her mom, Cathy.

"One of the things Steph enjoyed most was meeting other students from all over Ohio and even some from out of state."

"Besides attending classes with faculty members, Stephanie participated in a quartet. On the final day of the program, the students performed the pieces they had learned in a Finale Concert."

Cathy has shared two video selections from that concert. Click the titles to open them in separate windows. (You may need to click again on the videos to make them play.)

• Stephanie in the quartet's performance of Mozart's Serenade No. 10, "Gran Partita"
• The entire ensemble performing "Entrust Thy Ways" by J.S. Bach

And here's a link to a site where you can download a zip file containing the official audio recordings of all the performances in the final concert.

Christine, James visit Disney's worlds

Christine and James recently got to spend several days at Walt Disney World in Orlando, exploring the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot Center and Hollywood Studios.

They spent the most time at the Animal Kingdom park, viewing the wide variety of animals in recreated habitats - and exploring the just-opened World of Avatar section.

Based on the movie about the planet Pandora, that section mixes earthly-but-exotic with artificial-otherworldly flora and fauna, much of which glows in the dark. A river-raft ride includes a close look at Disney's most-advanced animatronic character ever, the Na'vi Shaman of Songs.

Here are just a few of the photos Christine took, plus a brief Disney video clip of that shaman.

Liz receives Professional Engineer license

Liz has achieved an important credential in her field: She recently passed the Maryland licensing exam and is now officially a Professional Engineer.

According to the National Society of Professional Engineers, "To become licensed, engineers must complete a four-year college degree, work under a Professional Engineer for at least four years, pass two intensive competency exams and earn a license from their state's licensure board. Then, to retain their licenses, PEs must continually maintain and improve their skills throughout their careers."

A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Liz has worked since 2012 for WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff, first in Maryland and currently in New York. She is studying part-time at New York University toward a Masters degree in transportation engineering and planning.