Next weekend is the last concert of the season and it’s a program I have been planning since arriving in Springfield four seasons ago. It’s part of our mission to make the orchestra a community cornerstone by creating programs once in a while that truly celebrate where we are, which in this case is a couple of blocks from Route 66……
Month: April 2008
The Empire Strikes Back!
Just when you thought things were going to get boring – day after day of rehearsal after rehearsal – here comes the reminder that your in France! The Empire has Struck Back!!!
Revolution for an Evolution part 4 – Vision
For me there are are three big things that music students should be engaged in discovering: Vision, Initiative and Sincerity. I say discovering only because I don’t believe these elements can be taught by wrote as they are not skills. They can however be learned, and colleges can play a big role by creating an institutional vision that helps to create an ideal environment to facilitate the learning of these elements…..
Pass my knife, please……
It’s the start of week 3 on the ground in Lyon. At this point Seppuku has become an option.
Revolution for an Evolution part 3 – To always gain and never lose!
Last week the Boise Philharmonic appointed Robert Franz to be their next Music Director. I know Robert well, he succeeded me in Buffalo and I showed him around before he moved there. We have been in touch from time to time. I was a candidate in Boise also (although not in the final running) and upon hearing the news I was very happy for him and for them…wait a second I’m not supposed to feel this way, aren’t we all supposed to be competitors, fierce rivals, we are conductors, surely there must be some mistake…..have I lost my competitive streak?…..
Ron, do you have any pants…?
I had an absolutely wonderful time with the Syracuse Symphony last week doing Brahms 3 and the Dvorak Cello Concerto with Mark Kosower, an incredible artist. We have all experienced that moment after arriving somewhere when we realize we’ve forgotten something. What was unusual when we were in Jamestown NY last week was the call I received an hour before the concert from a musician in the orchestra. It’s impossible to make this stuff up, especially since we were in the birthplace of Lucille Ball!…….
Introducing…Alecia Lawyer
I am excited to welcome as a guest blogger, Alecia Lawyer. She is the founder, Executive Director and Principal Oboe of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in Houston and in my view a true pioneer, someone who’s mission is the Audience Connection. I wrote about ROCO in March and after doing so Alecia and I talked on the phone. Now she is here and has written a truly wonderful post…enjoy!
Sgt. Van’s Lonely Piano Club Band
I know I’m hip deep in an opera but today marks an important anniversary. So the question is – where were you 50 years ago today when the world changed?