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the orchestra world

recital day

Well, it’s D-Day, now I’m just anxiously awaiting H-Hour: 7:30 tonight. It’s a difficult thing, to do a recital as an orchestral musician. Especially after 11 years of doing the orchestra thing. The span of concentration required, and the awareness that no one’s got your back for the difficult bits (which are every note of every piece to me right now!) makes it a real stretch.

Which is precisely why I’m doing it (aside from hoping to raise a little money for the Community Music Center) – it’s so easy to sit back, learn the notes for each concert, and never play in public by yourself again. It’s very tempting, let me say.

Most of the nerves in one’s body scream “you’ve gotten to the place you wanted, just slack off and enjoy life” – but some of us have those nagging neurons which hold out for something better, for not letting things slide. Maybe I’m one of those people who believes that personal growth should only stop with when life does.

Part of this is the teachers that I’ve had: they’ve all instilled in me the need to keep searching for something better in myself and in my performances. My friends and colleagues in the OSO also push me: they’re doing so many musical activities outside of the orchestra, and exposing themselves to new type of music and performance, including solo recitals, chamber music, new music ensembles, etc. I’d rather be part of that crowd than sit back and watch my skills decline.

If you’re looking through the arts listings for a concert to attend, and you see some symphony musicians have put together a concert – make it a point to attend, and tell your friends. These musicians are going above and beyond the call to challenge themselves and to fight off symphonic atrophy – they deserve your support and encouragement.