So the Northwest Horn Workshop, put on by the Northwest Horn Society, was this weekend. It was hosted at Pacific Lutheran University by horn professor Gina Gillie. If you haven't been, PLU has an amazing concert hall with great acoustics.
So usually, these workshops consist of performances by local horn players, both as soloists and in groups, as well as performances by 2 or 3 guest artists, who are super-amazing world-renowned full-time horn players and teachers. There are also sessions and masterclasses put on by both the local musicians and guest artists. In addition, vendors selling horns, accessories and sheet music are able to set up a table to sell, so there is always a lot of great stuff to try out. It's a really good place to shop for a horn or mouthpiece, by the way.
So yeah, that's how these things go.
This year, the guest artists were the Seattle Symphony Horns, Leelanie Sterrett (3rd horn of the New York Philharmonic) and Bernhard Scully (Canadian Brass hornists and soloist). I didn't get a chance to hear the Seattle Symphony horns because they played on Friday, the day that I couldn't be there. But, I got a very good dose of Leelanie, both in a masterclass she taught and a solo recital she put on. She is an amazing human being and one of the best horn players I've ever heard play live ever. And she's like my age. I was very excited to have one of my students play in her masterclass, and he did great. She helped him a lot. Thanks to her, I have some really great teaching tools.
But I had two other important roles at this thing, other than just to be a listener. The primary reason I was there was because my Whidbey Island Horn Club was invited. And we performed. And man, the group did amazingly well! I was so proud of them! Sure, there were individual mistakes that hadn't happened before, but I have never heard that group play so well together. They were really into the moment and represented themselves and our area very well. The audience was quite impressed...I'm not sure if they expected so much from us! Many folks said they didn't even know so many players were on the island! Yep, that's right. Soon, the island will be thriving with hornists. Hehe, maybe someday I could host the symposium...hehe...I wish.
The other reason I was there was as a vendor, to sell my compositions and arrangements. It was great being there, as I was able to sell many copies of my solo Christmas books and my Horn Concerto. I'm particularly excited to have other people play my concerto!
But in addition, I also saw a lot of old friends and acquaintances, and made some new ones. That's so valuable to me, especially since I don't really get to spend time with friends and talk about horn and music anymore. There's almost like this bond between hornists at these things. Sure, the college kids are always competing with each other, but the rest of us (and even them) are so happy to be amongst each other...to share a common interest and a common demon that is the horn. It's a place I wish I could visit every month.
So, as expected, I come away from the symposium quite inspired. The most important inspiration is to practice normally and intelligently, which really hasn't been happening at all. I also want to write more music and increase my online store. And, I really want to read more and familiarize myself with more literature. It's amazing how much these guest artists knew, and how perfectly they could play. I expected myself at one point in my life to be like that, but I had no idea how hard I had to work. I feel sometimes like it's too late, but I know it's not.
So, you can expect more from me. More of what, you ask? Oh, you'll see.
Take care and value music.