In the middle of our busy winter season, which doesn't really grant anybody at the COC involved with our performances free weekends etc., today's holiday was a most welcome occasion to actually spend an entire day with my family—and before I go back to work tomorrow also a welcome opportunity to sum up last week's events.

As you know from last Monday's blog entry it was Johannes' week with his first obligations as our Music Director and a lot of hard work with the young musicians of the Royal Conservatory Orchestra (RCO). It was good to have him here, we got a lot of preparation work for future seasons done and his concert on Friday night was a strong confirmation of what a wonderful addition to the musical and cultural landscape of our city he will be, as a musician and a human being.

Thanks also need to go to Peter Simon, the President of the Royal Conservatory of Music, for extending an invitation to Johannes and continuing the tradition of COC Music Directors working with the RCO. Sharing our resources can only benefit our two organizations.

Earlier in the week I had been invited to speak at the York Club. Having an opportunity to spread the word about the COC is always very welcome and in this particular case I had the help of five young artists of our Ensemble Studio who illustrated in the most striking way what I had been talking about.

Luckily, there was no speaking assignment for another event of the week. John Fraser, the Master of Massey College had invited me and my wife to be his guests at the high table together with an illustrious group of luminaries.

And finally, we got to celebrate Chinese New Year on Sunday with a group of friends. Dim Sum has gained an increasingly important part in our life since our arrival in Canada, and there certainly is a wonderful sense of celebration with a table full of all kinds of food.

Stay tuned with me to see what this week will bring.