So with that killer program I have quite a large roll. The music is laden with amazing horn writing, and I'm taking on the principal horn role without an assistant, a decision I made and felt confident in. I don't normally have an assistant, anyways, but I was originally gonna do some co-principal playing with the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra's principal hornist but she isn't available for this concert. But I've played heavier programs without an assistant before, such as a Shosty 5-Candide concert, and a Schumann 3 concert, and even a Pictures-Borodin 2 concert.
But yeah, this concert is horn heavy, and pretty technically challenging. Lots of exposed challenging stuff. Plus, I'm doing that in front of a lot of people I've never played for before. So I'm looking at this concert as one of my biggest concerts. It ranks up there with playing assistant with the Milwaukee Symphony, playing the Gliere with the Mid-Columbia Symphony, playing my 1st concerto last year, playing principal on Borodin 2 and Pictures with an orchestra I'd never met before, and the Beethoven 9 concert at CWU in 2008. All really great experiences for me with an orchestra, and I can't wait to have another.
I'll be sure to update how it's going. I start rehearsals tomorrow down in Seattle, where many folks have never even heard of me yet. I've got to make a good first impression.
Take care and value music.