Surprise Gifts of the Season….

Catching my breath from the busiest holiday concert season I have ever had, there were some unexpected moments in different performances that I will forever remember, moments that truly made me feel so lucky to be doing what I do….

It was very special for me to be able to conduct the Fort Worth Symphony in their Home for the Holidays Pops. I was their Associate Conductor for 7 seasons and it was great to be back with so many friends in the orchestra and in the audience.  Something that struck me in each performance was the golden sound of the Dorothy Shaw Bell Choir, an incredible group who played from memory and with such precision and musicality, it was joy to share the stage with them!

I have lost count of how many Nutcracker performances I have conducted.  I remember # 250 a few years back, but then I stopped counting.  For many musicians to work out their number they would have to go into algorithms which would probably cause aneurysms!   This season, for the first time I did it with the Syracuse Symphony together with the North Carolina Dance Theatre a superb company.  It was in the middle of Waltz of the Flowers that the corps formed their diagonal and Allesandra Ball (pictured left) started her pirouettes and didn’t move an inch from her spot whilst doing them!  It was extraordinary and it was on her second performance I realized, that yes she really stays in that one spot.  Wow, I will never forget it!

I did the 11th annual Symphony on Ice with the Wheeling Symphony (WV).  Truly a spectacular event with most of the concert skated to in full costume by every level of skater from the beginners to Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon the current Canadian Ice Dance Champions.  I have never seen figure skating on this level live, they in particular were out of this world, but the highlight of the concert for me was the absolutely sublime playing by the strings in the Corelli Christmas Concerto.  Their sound was like spun silk, my thanks to them for letting me come along for the ride!

I spent the most time this holiday season with The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra doing 11 performances of their Holiday Pops program in 8 cities.  We did the Calvin Custer arrangement of the Manheim Steamroller Stille Nacht which replaces the chorus at the beginning with a Cello solo.  David LeDoux (pictured left) their principal Cellist in each and every performance was captivating what a gorgeous sound and turn of phrase he has.  If Chip Davis had heard him, he might replace the chorus in his original version!

For the annual Holiday Pops with the Springfield Symphony, the Governor and First lady of Missouri, Matt and Melanie Blunt attended the performance.  This was great recognition for us and the Governor made some remarks from the stage about the importance of the arts for Missouri.  Since we had many single ticket holders there, they would have been hearing that for the first time most likely!  We usually collaborate with many local groups for this annual event, this year being no exception. With us were The Springfield Ballet, The Evangel University Concert Choir and the College of Ozarks Choir and Bell Choir.  It was the College of the Ozarks Choir (pictured left) under Lynda Jesse who had an eye and ear popping moment.  They sang an a cappella version of Glory Glory Glory with such power emotion and commitment, it sounded like 100 voices, not the 28 they had.  They received a huge ovation, none bigger than from me.

These were a few of the highlights.  It is always great to share the stage, Happy New year!