Fast forward to the December concert, and I find myself playing principal horn for the orchestra. I would then not play principal for their January concert, but then I was again principal for the March concert!
Additionally, after one of the rehearsals for the October Dvorak concert, I rode in the car with the orchestra director and one of the violists. I told the director I was a composer and wanted to she her some of my work. Fast forward to March 2016, and I find myself arranging music for the orchestra to accompany the Gothard Sisters. And again, fast forward to May 2016 when my arrangements were very well received, by not only the audience and the orchestra, but by the Gothards as well.
A few days ago, I was invited to join the orchestra committee for a little party, meal, and meeting about the orchestra season. I also discovered that I was to be principal horn again for the upcoming concert, and I got the feeling that I was going to remain in that chair for a while. The next day, I got a thank you card in the mail from the orchestra director. It said how happy she was with the Gothard Sisters arrangements, and that they wanted to do that again. She also commented on how valuable and skilled of a player I am to the orchestra and she enjoys having me around.
It's amazing how much has happened in a year, hasn't it? I mean, I talk a lot about how my teaching career has really blossomed (and it continues to blossom). But my relationship with that orchestra and the people within it has grown so much, and as a result, I get to sit principal horn with them again. I love playing principal horn. And, it seems like I've almost always have had a principal chair. Whether it be the CWU orchestra from 2006-2010, or the Mid-Columbia Symphony from 2009-2012, or the UWM Orchestra from 2012-2014, or the Festival City Symphony from 2014-2015...and now the Saratoga orchestra from 2015-...I don't know when!
I've just been very, very fortunate lately, particularly within the last year. My career has gone so well since September 1st of 2015, and I just feel it's gonna keep getting better. This thank you letter from Anna Edwards really meant a lot to me. It made me realize how well things have been, and how lucky I've been. I take it for granted at times, but I really shouldn't. Life has never been better now. I swear, the year before we moved back to Washington, I thought my career was over. I felt like I would work retail for the rest of my life. I'm sorry, but retail is not for me. It's for some folks, some very good folks, but not for me. That's why I went to college. To do a job I love.
And I'm doing it. Right now. And I won't stop.
Take care and value music.