Evanston Symphony on WFMT

On February 8, 2009 I performed with the Evanston Symphony Orchestra atPick-Stagier Hall on Northwestern’s campus. The concert was recorded byWFMT, a Chicago-based classical music radio station; 98.7. The concert willbe aired on the radio on February 27, 2009 between 3 and 7 pm. You can alsodownload the streaming audio from their website at www.evanstonsymphony.org:
Ives/Schuman
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Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 played by Kenosha Symphony Orchestra. February 21, 2009. Part 2

Today’s rehearsal went very well.  The Kenosha Symphony has never sounded better compared to the few times I have played with them.  The conductor has really rehearsed this piece well, the orchestra members really sound great.  This piece has really come alive! 
I finally decided what I wanted to do at rehersal number 110 and [...]

To roll or not to roll, part two -or- Daniel Barenboim trills on piano

I had a thought occur as I was watching Mr. Barenboim trill on sustained notes. This is a technique that is often done on piano and it struck me as how similar the sound was to the trilling of notes on a marimba. The main difference is…

Porgy and Bess December 16, 2008

Tonight, during one of the worst snowstorms this winter, I trekked through the drifting snow to see the Lyric Opera of Chicago perform Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin. I have been studying that opening xylophone lick for ten years. I was not about to miss the opening few measures of the overture! After taking [...]

John Burnett Orchestra October 4, 2008

One of my hobbies is Lindy Hop Dancing. Last weekend, October 3-5 Chicago hosted a national Lindy Hop event called the Windy City Lindy Exchange (WCLX). Basically people from all over the United States (and many countries) came to Chicago for hours of dancing. The best part of this event is that live bands are hired as the entertainment and the venues are often swanky ballrooms that are probably haunted by old jazz legends from the original big band jazz era! Saturday night’s band, the John Burnett Orchestra was unbelievable! They performed…

New World Symphony September 27, 2008 7:30 PM

Last weekend I was visiting a friend in Miami, Florida.  We happened to be looking for a restaurant on Lincoln Way and noticed that we were right on time to attend a pre-season concert at Lincoln Theater by the New World Symphony.  I was super-excited because I had auditioned for this group about 4 years ago (one of my [...]