All Entries in the "Odds & Ends" Category
A Tale of Two Cities…
Two interesting situations are developing that on the surface may not seem connected but are actually deeply related. For better or for worse.
I’m Baaaack….coming up!
After a week of decompression (and a quick trip to Tulsa) following my 6 week Lake Placid stint, Wednesday begins my new Audience Connections class with podcasts and audio highlights starting next week. An interesting article about the role of the Assistant Conductor came out recently, I have a lot to say about that, plus [...]
Things that move….
I’m in the midst of the busiest schedule of my life in Lake Placid and in Syracuse, with 3 (this week 5) concerts a week till mid August, but that doesn’t mean there is no time to be moved….just not much time to write about it! Yesterday something struck me and a friend shared with [...]
Coming up…..
I’m in a crazy travel, concerts, auditions this week and next week but I am working on some posts including: Who are they?…..the audience that is…and who are they to us? Playing all the movements….especially the environmental one! A sustainable model for success, is it even possible? Below the same video twice, what happens when [...]
Quick Takes: Remembrances….
My father was honored as a holocaust survivor this past weekend by being asked to speak to thousands of students at one of the Marches for the Living in Poland (which was overshadowed by the tragic plane crash). It made me think of something, and that is, since becoming a Music Director I have attended [...]
Time for a Laugh…
Look around the world of the Arts these days and it’s a pretty depressing mess. I could hop on that bandwagon (as usual) or perhaps take a hard left turn and provide some much needed amusement for a Tuesday morning. Survey says…….
Those Who Can’t Do Redux – Maestro Myths
As I expected there was some very interesting feedback from my recent conductor rants. Personally, I find the fact that the secret society of The Golden Baton didn’t send the Mahler Ninjas to disrupt my concerts last week quite surprising – whether that means that I’m just too small time to merit their attention is [...]
Even More STATisfying! – part 2
Yesterday I wrote of our 80%+ concerts that are free of charge, today I want to take my hat off to the biggest donor group (outside of our board) so far this season. This is another stat that made us very proud, and it was also a surprise to them! They are……..
… and if you CAN do…. A.K.A. – Another Inconvenient Truth
I’m an equal opportunity kind of guy. Since in my last post I called into question all those working conductors out there who don’t play their instruments anymore, I feel it’s only fair to look at another side of the coin – players who are driven to pick up the baton. I’m starting to feel [...]
Quick Takes: How transparent are we?
We all make a big deal sometimes that as an organization we are transparent, see through, nothing to hide etc…but is there a test out there that determines just how transparent we really are? It is more relevant that with transparency someone can see, “who you” rather than see “through you”! Recently at the Springfield [...]
More Holiday Zen!
To go along with Drew’s Zen moment, presenting the silent Monks “singing” the Hallelujah Chorus. Click below, you will not be disappointed, brilliant!!!!…….
Quick Takes: What’s My Job?
Every once in a while I want to post about things that I believe in, that drive me, ideas that pop up. Not necessarily related to anything that is going on specifically, but just to get the voices in my head on paper! For the first quick take: What’s my Job?…….
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