I use to be shy and apologetic when I’d talk about my upcoming concerts. It’s easy to assume people would find classical music boring, a dying art, hard to care, etc. But a few years ago, something clicked for me. If we sell our art like it’s not worthy, why on Earth would anyone want to come to a concert much less listen to a recording? I love what I do and I believe to my core that symphonic music is accessible, enjoyable, and inviting to anyone if shared the right way. ... Continue Reading

At the beginning of this month I shared my skepticism about the recent finding of Wallace Hartley’s (Band master of the RMS Titanic) violin. Perhaps it was his violin, only my gut says it was not the one he was playing on the night of the disaster, as claimed by the auction house, but perhaps a second violin he owned as a spare. I asked for an experiment, and I got one! Ken Amundson of Minnesota sent along the following letter he sent to London Times, and better yet, pictures to document ... Continue Reading

I love hypothetical questions! What if you find a violin and you are certain it is worth something? What if that violin owned by a famous person? And what if the original owner was connected to major historical event? It would be a no-lose investment, right? Well you’d certainly be dancing the money dance if you thought you found the RMS Titanic bandmaster’s violin, the violin that was played while the ship sank. That is the claim is circulating the internet as of late. But within a month of the first news ... Continue Reading

[box type=”note” icon=”none”]Over the past several months, I’ve had a front row seat watching my very dear friend and spectacular cellist, Michael Samis, rediscover a lost cello concerto. Normally, music that has been lost and forgotten is usually on purpose. But listening to Michael work up the solo part, and joining him by playing off of the piano reduction early on, all skepticism was replaced with a sense of joy. And that is why I’ve asked Michael to share his journey, step by step, on how he found and brought back to ... Continue Reading

There is a point in every adult life where we miss being children. We occasionally long for the freedom of unbinding imagination where anything is possible. We miss the unstructured play time, the long carefree days of no responsibility, and the sense of endless time. Visiting my brother’s family this past weekend there was a point where I realized I missed being a kid. “Let’s play My Little Pony!” my niece said. “How do you play that?” I’d asked. It was the dismay in her eyes that gave the answer she didn’t ... Continue Reading