A Change of scenery

Returning to Cortona Sessions for New Music this year was quite the gift. Over about 11 days, I experience 3-4 rehearsals per day, group classes, evening concerts, and so much socializing/life-long friendship-making! I also was privileged enough to perform in 8 concerts, premiering 4 new works, performing 3 more works, competing in the annual solo competition (where I was lucky enough to perform in both the preliminary and final rounds), and performing at an Open Mic Night.

I remember how I felt walking away from Cortona 2023. Inspired, sad, lucky, wanting more time within the welcoming space the faculty and fellows manage to create, etc. I was so glad to be able to experience all that again this time around. The magic has an always will be there.

2025 Cortona Sessions Kirby was an incredibly different person than 2023 Cortona Sessions Kirby. So much more confident, more comfortable on the stage, less shy, a bit more reserved(?), way more adventurous, much more likely to enjoy alone time/doing things by himself… the list goes on. That’s what a year of turmoil does to a person I guess. That sense of freedom to venture out, experience the world at my own pace — I think that’s just a part of the Cortona magic than anything else this amazing program has to offer.

Now I can say I’ve visited several beautiful cities in the Netherlands: Ede, Amsterdam, Amersfoort (a lovely gem — visit Madonna Amersfoort for THE most amazing lunch with a “in the heart of the city" vibe you’ll ever have), Utrecht, and Rotterdam. I uh… I’m surprised my legs didn’t fall off with how much I walked every day during this trip…

For a while leading up to the Cortona Sessions, I had roundtrip flights booked between Montréal and Amsterdam. However, sometime in June I was laying in bed — in an admittedly dissociative, paralyzed state — and something clicked.

This entire year has been so exhausting, trying to play at this double life of full time doctoral student and full time family member experiencing so much loss and tragic news. My heart was cracking more and more, bleeding out over and over as I unwillingly exercise perseverance when my brain was ready to give up.

So as I lay in bed, I thought for the first time in an incredibly long while “I need a vacation.” I’ve been wanting one, I’ve been needing one. No saxophone, no repertoire to learn, to concerts scheduled, no research. A pure friendship between Kirby and his destination of choice.

“Ya know, Belgium would be cool” ~Kirby Leitz circa 2025

Can confirm, past Kirby, it was cool. Dare I say, very cool.

I made an impulsive decision, and I am so glad I did. With no plan in mind, I was incredibly privileged to have an old friend based out Belgium! Moreover, a friend willing to take me in and show an incredibly level of hospitality as I experience various cities in the country (Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Bruges).

All these changes of scenery, mostly spent by myself exploring each city, has reminded me of a core life lesson I’ve sort of lost within the shock of the past year:

Life shifts like the seasons, the snowy winters will eventually give way to lovely spring flowers. Those lush, green leaves will age… creating fields of golds, yellows, and reds.

In a way, this trip reminded me that everything eventually shifts energy. Good times give way to turmoil, and vice versa. This too shall pass is that old adage… yet, to experience the shirt in real time is a gift. I know now that there are wonders in this world, so many I’ve yet to experience with my own eyes. Continuing to fight for a good life, that's what it’s all about.

I’m thankful to Cortona Sessions, and Don-Paul Kahl, for helping me get to this paradigm shift. I’m glad to be walking into my final year of my doctoral degree with this thinking.

Your favorite traveling saxophonist,

Kirby Leitz