For those of you who haven't heard, I was awarded the principal chair of the Festival City Symphony in Milwaukee after an audition in early September. It is a pretty big honor, especially being principal horn, and I continue this odd streak I've had since 2007 of being principal horn of some group through a regular concert season (although at UWM for the last 2 years before this, I wasn't primarily a principal horn, but more like a co-principal). I've played with the FCS several times, the first time being on principal horn, actually, which caught the attention of the director, so I got called back a few more times to play section horn. Now, I have a place in the orchestra, and it's a great feeling. They play about 7 concerts a year, and are a pretty good group. I enjoy every minute of playing with them. We play our first concert, consisting of Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Second Symphony, on October 19th.
I also had the opportunity last weekend to play 2nd horn with the FullScore Chamber Orchestra, based out of northeastern Illinois. It was an interesting opportunity because we backed up this famous group known as the Sultans of String. They're based out of Toronto and specialize in world music, and are really quite talented. We played a gala concert for all the regular concert goers of the FullScore CO, and then we spent a day playing a total of 4 concerts for children around the area. It was quite a treat to play behind these guys, and to play original music that was written and arranged for orchestra by them. You should really check these guys out.
My compositional output has been minimal at best. I simply have just had not time for it between my full-time job, family, school and horn practice. But I plan on submitting part of a work for a competition coming up at the beginning of November, which involves the submission of a portion of a major work for wind band. The award is a grant to finish, publish and premiere the work. I really have a great idea in mind, and hope to get a good start on writing soon. Whether I win the competition or not, I think the band community will really like the piece I have in mind. Of course, I could be wrong. But it's okay to be a little confident.
I also plan on positing soon my philosophy on being a performer. It's something I've been thinking about for a while, and I just want to share with you can give my insight on how I view being a performer.
Take care and value music.