Pine Bluff Symph+Twitter

Last night I drove back to Pine Bluff for another exciting rehearsal with the Pine Bluff Symphony. And by exciting, I mean not really exciting at all. Its actually kind of a fun concert, although it does seem a little bit difficult for the orchestra. I have never played in a community orchestra that attempted Schawnter and Korngold (and I'm not exactly sure how they ended up with a violinist that wanted to play the Korngold Concerto...hmmm) At least its a change in scene from the Arkansas Symphony...although many of the members of the PBS are also members of the Arkansas Symphony. Its also a welcome change in rep from the ASO where we only play super standard pieces on every concert...its nice to play something different for once!

For the past few days I have been very concerned with keeping an active presence on Twitter. I'm not sure why or how I developed this random fascination with it...but I have started a morning routine of listening to NPR (online of course) and logging into Twitter and talking to random people I don't know and posting random things and thoughts that most people probably don't really care about. And I have it set up to post my blog posts. As always...you can see my twitter updates at the right hand side of the blog!

Carter Begins

This morning was Concert #1 of the Carter Festival...it was really enjoyable to just sit back and listen to the craziness and not have to worry about playing correct rhythms and putting every tiny detail in its place. This morning we heard several small orchestral/chamber pieces featuring the Double Concerto for piano and harpsichord (and two orchestras). Pictured is Carter's bow at the end of the program standing beside Ursula Oppens and Charles Rosen (soloists on the concerto)...it was terribly well received with a standing ovation and everything at the end. I think it will be a very interesting week.

Tonight is the first of two orchestra concerts featuring the Variations for Orchestra and a world premiere of Carter's new string orchestra piece, Sound Fields.

The Week in O(h)M(y)T(rill)

1. Two Vocal Recitals today...Lindsay Kesselman is performing downtown at Uuniversity of Houston Downtown Campus at noon, she is doing the Berio Folksongs, and we are playing her dad's piece "How I Hate This Room"...I'm playing a cantata on Bethany Solheim's recital this evening...
2. I'm playing with the Baytown Symphony...out in Baytown (of all places)...I used to think that Baytown was really far, but then I played in Beaumont...and found out that it isn't.
3. I'm joining the Musician's Union on Wednesday...mostly so I can do the Baytown gig, but I've been looking for an excuse to join for some time. So there it is.
4. Seeing La Boheme at Houston Grand Opera on Wednesday...I've never seen it, and I've never been to HGO, so it should be fun. I'm auditioning for the HGO sublist in May.
5. My Ravel Chamber Group (also known as the Baggins Society Chamber Players) is playing on a Jump! concert this week...we will be playing for lots of little kiddies...I hope they like it.
6. I'm subbing in a freshman chamber group...their cellist is injured and I just played the Brahms B Major Trio last semester, so playing on a recital with them on Friday, just the last two movements. Random.
7. My final Shepherd School Symphony Concert on Friday...we are playing Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms, and Mahler 4...kind of a heavy program, but it should be good!
8. My final week of classes ever? I had my last academic class last week...so now its all music stuff all the time...school technically ends on Wednesday, in case you were wondering. I have no immediate plans to start a DMA, so right now this is kind of the end for me...yikes.

Beer and Orchestra

This past weekend was our second orchestra concert of the semester. The day of the concert was also BeerBike...an event that I'm not totally sure what it even is. For whatever reason, the music grad students (or MUSI's as we are called here) take absolutely no part in this event, while a handful of grad students from other departments do actually attend. BeerBike consists of a bunch of people (aka most every undergrad student at Rice) getting up at 5 or 6am to get totally drunk. Then there is a water balloon fight. At some point people chug beer and race bikes, then everybody sits around all afternoon and drinks some more. I probably wouldn't really even know about this, except for the fact that our orchestra dress rehearsal was during the water balloon fight (it was originally scheduled during the bike race, but got changed) and all of the undergrads were really sad and complained about it. All of the grad students didn't really care.

Today I discovered that there is an undergrad pub in the basement of the student center. I had no idea it even existed. And I'm also confused ...since most undergrads aren't old enough to drink. Whatever.

More about BeerBike here.

The Week in O(h)M(y)T(rill)

1. There are hella-lotta recitals this week...luckily none of them are mine...Jake (cello) and Catie (Trombone) on Tuesday, Fischer Studio Recital on Wednesday, Eugene (piano) on Friday, Matt (flute) Matt (clarinet) and Lauren (oboe) on Sunday...I'm playing on Matt (clarinet) on Sunday: Mozart and Copland Clarinet Concertos...fun.
2. School started up again...um, today. (last week was spring break)
3. Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra plays a concert on Saturday night at 8pm (music of De Falla, Janacek, Vieuxtemps, and Bartok) You should come...
4. I have my orchestral repertoire midterm on Tuesday afternoon (since I was so out of it and literally couldn't play when I got back from the Rochester experience) I have to play Tchaikovsky 4th Symphony, Beethoven 5th, and Also Sprach Zarathustra...should be fun...except not at all...
5. I guess I'll practice a bunch.

A List For You

1. I am giving a short presentation in class tomorrow on Earle Brown
2. He is very interesting.
3. I just made a handout to give to the class.
4. And now I'm burning a CD of listening examples.
5. Tonight I recorded with the U of H Orchestra.
6. It was a piece called Astral Blue.
7. Tomorrow I am playing on their concert.
8. Today somebody asked me to contract a gig for them.
9. I was surprised since I've never done that before.
10. But I said yes.
11. I need to practice more.

Audition

I have not been keeping up with this thing at all lately! Yikes. Basically my life right now consists of preparing for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra audition. They have three openings for cello (which doesn't happen very often in orchestras) so the chances are higher that people may actually win a job there! I took this audition once before, about 2 years ago, but admittedly, I didn't really work very hard for it and was eliminated in the first round (they didn't even have me play all the first round excerpts!) This time around I have been working really really hard...all that stuff you are supposed to do to (practicing with metronome and playing for people and freaking out about every tiny little detail)...so we'll see if that has anything sort of effect on how I do! At the very least I will most likely be happier with the way that I play!

Big Week

Weeks like this don't come around very often in the life of OhMyTrill, but once in a blue moon they do appear. This week is good because it involves several money making opportunities, but those opportunities also make this week a very busy one...yikes. Monday night plus Tuesday and Wednesday mornings will find me in Beaumont, TX playing Peter and the Wolf with the Symphony of Southeast Texas on 4 (count em) children's concerts. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights will find me in The Woodlands, TX playing Ein Heldenleben and Ride of The Valkyries with the Woodlands Symphony Orchestra (which for those of you keeping track i basically a chamber orchestra...so we'll see how that goes). Friday night is our orchestra concert here at Rice!!! Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra performs Barber Symphony No. 1 in One Movement and Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2...a very long program of lots of cheese. I'm sitting in the hot seat again and I have a one measure solo (in typical OhMyTrill fashion) in the Barber...so you should come and see if you can pick it out!!! Yay!

Post Recital

My recital last Saturday (a week ago?!?!?) went really well...thanks to all of you who attended (and who wanted to but couldn't). Life has been a little strange since then, mainly because I don't really know what to do with myself...I am taking the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Audition in a few weeks and I've been working on that stuff but I find some of the excerpts just never get better, no matter what I do. (Mendelssohn 4 opening...and Brahms 2 last movement)...I feel confident that I could do really well at this audition, but I know I would have to play these at some point and they will kill me...but I guess I still have a few weeks to figure it out. Would be really nice to advance at least one round...I've been working on all of this orchestra rep stuff on and off now for almost 8 years (not to mention playing in orchestras much longer than that!) Would be nice to be able to do something with that training...

I've been very confused lately...all the things that I've always wanted to do, like chamber music and contemporary music and "alternative music careers" suddenly seem so unattractive to me. I find myself checking musicalchairs all the time to see the job postings. I guess everything is just very real since I will be graduating in a few months and I don't feel confident that I will be able to make enough money doing that other stuff to pay all the bills (I'm pretty sure I can't)...especially moving to a brand new city where I've never lived or gone to school or even been in for more than 5 days consecutively. I see friends who I play just as well as winning jobs in orchestras, so what used to seem totally impossible, now doesn't seem so far fetched. I'm just very confused right now, and don't really know what do to with myself! agh! What do you guys think?

Reminder

A Reminder to all of those in the Houston Area...and those of you within 8000 miles...I will be playing in the Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra tomorrow night (Thursday) at 8pm...the program is:

Stravinsky: Danses Concertantes Saint-Saens: Oratorio de Noel Vaughn Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols

The concert is a little bit Christmas heavy for my taste, but it also happens to have a cello solo in every piece! (random I know) so if you are my friend, you should come and support me. Yes, that means you.

The Week in O(h)M(y)T(rill)

Its the end of the semester and things are getting kind of crazy...seriously. My preview is next week...a good 7 weeks before my actual recital...so things are kind of falling into place...well, like one piece...sigh...its gonna be a little bit rough around the edges I think...oh well...I need to go an teach now...

1. Hilary and I are attempting to throw the Carter Enchanted Preludes together in one week. This piece is pretty hard...we are rehearsing basically everyday (even though her boyfriend is in town!) I know that she kind of hates me right now...but I'm really glad we are doing it! Thank you Hilary!
2. I'm playing the Lopez and the Plylar in studio on Tuesday...yikes...and the Popper Requiem with Meta, Chrissy, and Patti!
3. I start my new job at T.H. Rogers on Wednesday (and Friday)...I'm teaching sectionals...yay!
4. Thursday is the Shepherd Chamber Orchestra Concert...Music of Stravnisky, Vaughn Williams, and Saint-Saens...yes, its Christmas Music...but you should come and hear my solo in the Vaughn Williams!
5. Friday is the Symphony Concert...go hear them.
6. I'm judging region band auditions on Saturday...that should be interesting. Very interesting...more on that later.

On My Way Out

You've probably noticed I'm experimenting with some new things here at the blog...I switched from Template to Layout yesterday...I hope I end up liking it, since I can't switch back! Yikes! It makes things like adding an image to the header super super easy...the trick is to find a good image...this one is very very temporary.

Orch Rep midterm went about as well as it could have gone yesterday...of course, Mendelssohn was the worst of the four pieces...as expected...I got a very mixed review with a really good compliment and some much expected criticism. Orchestra was a bit rocky yesterday...the first reading of the Stranivksy Danses Concertantes could have used a little more rhythm and counting...but there was only one conductor storm out...so things will probably be better after the Thanksgiving Break!

Speaking of which...I leave in a few hours...couldn't really find someone to drive me so I'm driving myself to the airport (for the first time!) Yikes...the parking won't cost too much...about the same if I took the shuttle...and its much more convenient!

Runway-Beaumont

Today is the first day of season 4 of Project Runway. I have arbitrarily picked Jack to win the first challenge (I had to make a choice since I'm playing Fantasy Runway with Allison, Plylar, and Kimberly). We'll see what actually happens. Its nice to know where I'll be spending my Wednesday evenings for a while (aka in front of the TV watching Bravo).

I'm doing Beaumont Symphony all week which means I'll be in Beaumont, TX from 7-10 and won't get back to Houston until 12 or so...so I'll be watching the midnight replay. Beaumont is...interesting. It would be a lot better if it wasn't so far away...we left at 5 yesterday and arrived in Beaumont just in time to walk right in and start rehearsing at 7...and then its a little under an hour and a half on the way back. Yikes. But, there is a check at the end...so its all worth it, right?

The Week in O(h)M(y)T(rill)

1. I'm playing in the Symphony of Southeast Texas this week (aka Beaumont). Beaumont is very far away...like over an hour and a half...rehearsals on Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday...concert on Saturday. Should be a blast! (since I get a check at the end).
2. I'm starting a new job in La Porte on Monday morning...a cello sectional at 7:30am and then 4 students. I'm not very happy about the starting time...but I am happy about having a job.
3. Trio Baggins is playing in a chamber music masterclass on Monday for Trio con Brio...I'm not exactly sure who they are, but we get to play in their masterclass!
4. Working on putting together the 2nd and 3rd movements of the Carter Sonata with Patti (and maybe the 4th too!). Playing the 2nd in studio class on Tuesday.
5. Project Runway starts on Wednesday! Unfortunately I'll be out in Beaumont and I'll have to watch the replay at 12 or later...hmmm...hope I'm not too tired!
6. I'm playing for both Hilary's and Rachael's recitals...Hilary's preview is this week and Rachael's recital is on Sunday...I'm doing continuo for both, and you all know how amazing I am at continuo...sigh...
7. Chamber Orchestra starts for me again on Friday...I'm sitting principal so I need to find time to learn the music! Yikes...

Teaching and stuff

I just got called to sub with another orchestra...but I can't do it. Man! I hope that they will call me again...I really need the money...today I begin teaching at a second school out in Katy. I taught some cello sectionals (on region music) there last year...and they asked me back this year as a teacher. I'll have five students tonight (if they all show up) but then lessons will stop for a while...too much orchestra stuff going on.

Carter is going really well...Patti and I are aiming to play the entire sonata in the Studio Recital right after Thanksgiving break...we will have the 1st and second movements done by the end of this week...I think we are both having fun with it.

The Week in O(h)M(y)T(rill)

Its a new week here at OhMyTrill...and there are several things of note happening! First of all, a very close friend of Carrie Bean (she doesn't have a website, so I can't link to her...) is staying with me for a few days. He is taking a lesson with Mr. Fischer and will be hanging around until Thursday morning. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with him for 3 days, but maybe he'll just practice a lot...

Tonight there will be a chamber music concert with Lynn Harrell playing the second Brahms Viola Quintet (with the big cello solo at the beginning)...I haven't really gone to a lot of chamber concerts while I've been here, so I should really make that change...its tonight at 8pm in Duncan.

This Wednesday is the Fischer Studio Recital (at 8pm in Duncan)...yours truly will be performing both of the Carter Figments for Solo Cello...I think I have the first one pretty well down, but the second still has some kinks to be worked out...but its going MUCH better today than it ever has, so I have high hopes for it going well on Wednesday! I think there is some Dvorak and other stuff on the program too...so be there.

This weekend is orchestra concert time...Symphony Orchestra is playing Don Juan, Dvorak Carnival Overture and Beethoven 5 on Friday and Saturday...and yours truly is playing in the Chamber Orchestra on Sunday (look for me waaaaaaay in the back...bring binoculars if you can)...we are playing Ives: Three Places in New England, Mendelssohn: Piano Concert, and Mozart: Symphony No. 36

-OMT

Wish Me Luck

Today I am taking the audition for the sublist of the Woodlands Symphony...I've been practicing this morning and decided to go with slow movement of Brahms 2 and the noodly thing in the middle of Don Juan...I hope those are good choices! And of course, Dvorak, the old standard. I don't really know much about the Woodlands Symphony except that they are located in a suburb of Houston and they are having a sublist audition today. That would be a very nice list to be on! For the rest of the day I will be doing a deep cleaning of the apartment and Mr. Volvo...things are getting a little out of control. An afternoon of cleaning will take care of business though.