What Would Scooby Do?……

I went to iTunes to look for a recording of American in Paris as I’m conducting it this week in Syracuse and I forgot to put it on my iPod before leaving on our trip.  I discovered that on iTunes you can’t buy it for 99 cents like you can for a single song or movement, you have purchase it as part of a whole album and they all cost $9.99 except for one that costs $3.99 which according to the one listener review is terrible, one star and we shouldn’t waste our time…Ormandy, Philly, live…what?….it’s now one of my favorite downloads and price has nothing (much) to do with it…..

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Road Trippin!…

The family is loaded in the van this 4th of July and we have hit the road for a rather strange trip that is part work, part play, part in the US and part abroad. There’s also an exciting update from my last post…..

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Fireworked!….

Bizarre happenings at our annual (or soon not to be) outdoor patriotic fireworks extravaganza, floods, errant fireworks, a deadly baton strike and my singing debut with a US Congressman….

UPDATE 5:35 EST – see below!

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What I’ve not missed out on!

I remember in music school and even after the advice to be careful what a conductor agrees to do, and especially when it comes to Ballet because of the danger of being typecast or pigeonholed as a Ballet conductor!  Sometimes it’s a good idea not to listen!…..

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“Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry on any unholy crusade”

So said Claiborne Fox Jackson as governor of Missouri in 1861 in response to Abraham Lincoln’s order for Jackson to provide Missouri troops to help fight the Civil War.  As history goes Missouri’s attempt at neutrality did not work out so well!  Especially for Governor Jackson.  Two of Missouri’s orchestras yesterday with the help of the League loaded their muskets to help in the fight for relevance and the battle against apathy, with an audience connection….

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Revolution for an Evolution part 6 – Heavier: A ton of feathers or a ton of bricks?

For some reason when there are “in depth” sessions about updating conservatory training to relate to the “real world”, the focus seems to always be on how the student can gain an advantage through learning marketing, entrepreneurial skills, managerial skills and general business acumen etc……  NEWS FLASH:

THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF JOBS AVAILABLE!…..

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All bets are On!

So instead of attending the conference in Denver I went to Vegas!  My  two brothers (who live in different countries) for my 40th birthday  paid for my trip and met me there.  A billboard at the airport  surprised me big time!…

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