Music is wonderful food for the soul. Like everyone, I have my favorite genres, but I tend to be open to listening to almost anything. (Yes, even rap and country.)
My particular passion is a bit obscure – early sacred choral music. Palestrina is one of the most masterful composers history has produced, in my opinion. He composed following a strict set of rules in voicing and leading, and the result is one of the most aurally stunning representations of mathematics in existence. (As is Schönberg, but that's a completely different kind of sound, beautiful in its own tension-filled right.)
I started singing at an early age, thanks to my mother. When I was a toddler, she would sing a note and make me match it, over and over. I spent my entire school life, elementary through college, involved in various choirs and singing groups. I was lucky enough to win a four-year full tuition scholarship to the University of Wisconsin from the School of Music. I spent four years singing with the UW Concert Choir under the late Dr. Robert Fountain. That was a magical experience, and his passing is a great loss to the choral arts. After college, I spent a year singing with Up With People. Being on stage so much burned me out a bit, and I haven't done any singing with an organized group since. I'll get back to it, but likely after grad school when I have more time to dedicate to avocations.
Piano is another favorite. I do play, and studied through middle and high school. Sadly, I'm not exceptionally talented. I can hold my own, but only when I've had a ridiculous amount of time to practice. My physical limitations (stubby, thick, and not particularly dexterous fingers) keep me from approaching some of my favorite pieces. I curse Rachmaninov for composing pieces only he could play. I resign myself to enjoying the performances of others in this arena.
As time goes on, I'll post some lists of my favorite pieces and recordings.