2005 - your personal (musical) highlights?

[Omobono]

Since no one else has initiated a thread - as Dec. 31 approaches, I will do it.

Any particular memorable events performances, achievements, you'd like to share?

One of mine was the "world premiere performance" (sic)

of my arrangement of the Schumann Canonic Etudes

for string sextet which actually got on television.

How's that for bragging rights!

[Danielle]

Well,

I was accepted into the Toledo Junior Youth Orchestra, and am 13th chair, 1st violin

I was accepted into the sylvania community orchestra, and am 5th chair 1st violin

I was in a show with an orchestra and quartet that got on tv

I think those are the main things

[techfiddle]

Congratulations to both of you; those are really cool things! I didn't know you were a composer, Omo. Any sound files or webpage online?

I guess mine would be the two recitals from the studio; both were wonderful, to me, and the kids and parents were happy about it, for the most part. I acquired a LOT of music (quartet music and etude books for violin, viola and piano) and a lot of new instruments including a new piano. I'm learning how to manage a small business.

The viola practice is going well (I started learning viola seriously a couple of years ago, after decades of violin). I acquired a lot of books, too, Suzuki and other string pedagogy books. I got to read a lot and made some progress on my research.

My health is pretty good (considering) and my cat and my family are all doing well, even my daughter, who had a really hard time last year. I'm pretty happy and have a lot of goals to accomplish still.

Thanks for asking such a thoughtful question.

Connie

[fiddler59]

My highltght of 2005.......I was invited and got to play the Berlin International Jazz Festival. Needless to say it was quite an honor.

DB

[crazy jane]

Wacthed/heard my daughter play the third movement of the Mendelssohn VC with a pro orchestra. (beam)

J.

[Dr2Stroke]

Does taking violin lessons again after almost 40 years of not

playing count?  I started lessons (this century) last

February.  Prior to that, the last lesson was in 1966.

[MrLucky]

not only counts, but also a candidate for the Lifetime Achievement

Award.

[melody4u]

My highlight was watching my 12-yr-old student play before a packed church on Christmas Eve for a silent communion service. She has only been playing 15 months and didn't play out of tune once....and even had some vibrato!! She is just amazing!!

Steve I think its great that you started playing again. I quit for 10 years once while my children were babies.

Lorene

[VIOLAREVELER]

Performing Kodaly's Missa Brevis and Te Deum were

wonderful highlights this year. Also enjoyed Pirates of Penzance!

But the greatest highlight this year wasn't a performance of mine,

it was seeing a performance of Mozart's Requiem in Smetana Hall in

Prague. UNBELIEVEABLE!

[T_Rocca]

drank the night before and didnt get enough sleep. messed up the orchestral performance of the next day.. ha ha

[troutabout]

My musical highlight, if there was one, was dropping out of two groups that I had been playing uninspiring music with to practicing American jazz and pop tunes from 40's thru 60's on my own.

'Heck knows where I'll use it in this town. It's just what I like to play....

[isua]

The best musical thing I did this year, probably the best thing I did musical or not, was renting a viola in July and beginning to take music lessons at age 28. My goal for the next year is to learn to stay marginally enough in tune that I may someday be able to play with some of my actually-competent friends, assuming I provide enough beer for them!

[thom]

For me it is a toss-up between playing in my orchestra's annual sing-a-long Messiah and flying out to Denver to spend a day playing sonatas with my 92-year old cousin (who is an excellent pianist).

[Fellow]

Played Mozart concerto # 3 in front of a family gethering in Thanksgiving, and made a big mess. I did not drink that night or before, no excuse.

[lioness]

Melody4u,

What did your 12 year old student play?

Lioness

[Poppiviola]

Starting college as a viola performance major this fall. winning a seat in the viola section of my city's premier youth orchestra after 2 horribly flubbed auditions the two previous years.

[techfiddle]

Good for you, Poppi! That's really wonderful!

[Omobono]

It's almost 2006 where I am, so how about hopes for the coming year?

I want to finally play the Debussy and Ravel Quartets!

Thought 2005 would be the year but - not to be.

[Marie Brown]

Getting grabbed from behind on a country club gig had to be the lowlight.

Finding I could still play a solo standing up was a highlight.

Getting back to sensible eating is my goal for 2006.

[melody4u]

Hi Lioness,

She played about 8 different Christmas carols and obligatos for about 4 of them. Her hardest song was O Holy Night. Remember she has only been playing since Sept. '04. At lessons I almost couldn't keep up with her because every piece I gave her, she played correctly the first time. I would just stand there a minute and then say, "Alright, let's go on to the next one!" She really needs a better teacher and I'm going to insist that she goes to the Jacksonville junior symphony's summer camp this year....even if I have to drive her myself. She also takes piano and sings beautifully. I talked to her piano teacher and she said this girl went through 4 books in one lesson!! The girl told me that she kept thinking, "Give me something hard to play." Sooo....whenever she wants something hard....I give it to her. If anyone has any ideas about how to help her, please get in touch. We live in Baxley, GA and the closest symphony is Jacksonville....and that is two hours away.

Lorene in S.E. Georgia

[dr461]

Playing Mahler's 5th for the beginning of the ASO concert series in memory of the Katrina victims. That was a very emotional performance.

[lioness]

Melody4u,

All I can say is, "WOW!"