Weekly CORtado

 To kick off this blog, I had to return to the first cafe I checked out upon moving to Iowa City: Cortado Mediterranean Cafe. It is only a short walk from the Voxman Music Building, allowing for the occasional change of scenery between classes and rehearsals. Alas, my dreams of the ultimate triple pun were crushed when I discovered their namesake was not offered on their main menu!  Fortunately I was able to still enjoy a warm cappuccino with the company of a classmate (who is also running a blog! You can check out Kevin's posts  here ). The space was bright and filled with small groups enjoying conversation. This may not be the best space to study or intensely listen to some brass ensemble repertoire, but for an espresso drink prepared to just the right temperature it's still worth stopping by.  I also wanted to start my repertoire features with an oldie but a goodie: Paul Hindemith's Sonata for Four Horns. I was first introduced to this work second semester freshma...

Welcome to Weekly CORtado! My name is Kristen and this blog is an opportunity for me to discuss two of my favorite things: coffee & brass music. During the beginning of my graduate studies, I worked part-time as a barista at Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea in Chicago. While I had always enjoyed a good cup of joe, this is where I became a self described coffee snob.  See if you can spot the horn in this photo of me on the clock 👀 Because of my background as a horn player, I'll be featuring various brass ensemble pieces which feature the horn. As a consolation prize for trombone quartet fans, please enjoy a few of my favorite pours!