Sunday, May 20, 2007

a great end to a magnificent concert season

Saturday night's NYRO concert was the final performance for the 2006-2007 season, and we went out with a bang. The concert came off without any major hitches -- we had to restart the slow movement of the Nielsen symphony after two measures, but that was it -- and the audience was enthusiastic. The Barber violin concerto was fantastic, and even the last movement which had given us fits in rehearsal sounded spectacular. My mom came to New York to visit me and hear the concert, and she enjoyed it (along with the rest of her weekend here). For my part, I missed a few notes here and there, but nothing noticeable. I was most worried about playing out of place at the end of the concerto, but I counted carefully and hit all the right notes at the right times.

I've said this to everyone I know at one point or another, and probably in this forum as well, but it bears repeating one more time: joining NYRO last fall was the best decision I've made in years. I wish I'd done it sooner. I've played music I never would have dreamed of performing, in the process challenging myself to learn the parts, experienced highs I'd not felt in a long time, and met some great musicians and friends. Next season promises to be even more exciting than this one, and I'm already looking forward to returning in September. I'm planning to go home for the 4th of July to play with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, my old hometown orchestra with which I haven't performed in 15 years. That will help keep me in playing shape over the summer. I'm not sure Guitar Hero will have the same effect, so I'll have to remember to take breaks from the game and practice the viola now and then.

Thanks to everyone who came to one of my concerts this year. I really appreciated your coming out to hear the orchestra. If you haven't had the chance to hear us yet, there's always next season.

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