The semi-finals for the Shepherd School Concerto Competition were on Sunday afternoon. I escaped the angst that usually accompanies the week of a competition by convincing myself I wasn't actually participating. I was still in denial about it even as I put on my dress and make up and stood outside Stude Hall. I really hate competitions. I feel like I don't perform naturally and they stress me out beyond reason. Lately I've been working really hard at adopting a new attitude towards competitions because I know they're going to be a part of the next 10 or so years of my life, and the way I've felt in competitions in the past, even when I've won, is something I don't want to continually experience.
There really is something to be said for positive thinking. Negative thoughts plague me during competitions and over the past week I had to consciously replace each one with something positive. I actually think it helped, I felt a lot calmer during the day which even helped my nerves on stage! That's the other reason I hate competitions.. nerves. I usually don't get nervous when I'm performing for an audience, but competitions are a different story. I'm sure many other people feel the same way.
When I stepped on stage to perform the Beethoven Concerto in this competition though I felt really different. I felt confident and ready and when it was over I was happy with how I played! That's another rare occurrence for me during competitions.
I was so relieved to receive the email saying I was one of the 4 finalists that is going to perform on Saturday! And then that's the funny thing about competitions - if you don't advance you will most likely be upset yet relieved that you don't have to perform again, and if you do advance you'll be excited but then stressed about the next round! That's how it is for me at least :) I'm personally trying not to stress; I'm trying to think of it just as another performance and not a competition. I'm really excited though! Performing the whole concerto in that hall for an audience will be wonderful.
This week is really interesting though. I'm subbing with the Dallas Symphony which means that I drove home last night after an entire day of teaching so I could be back in time for rehearsal at the Meyerson this morning. The schedule for this week coincidentally lists Saturday as a free day which was why I accepted the sub offer, thinking I would be able to get back to Houston for the finals if I actually happened to pass the semis. Now I really am in the finals and will have to drive back to Houston on Friday night for my performance Saturday afternoon. Not something I'm really looking forward to! But my mom is going to come with me to watch me perform and help drive, so I can relax a little.
We have youth concerts in the morning and another rehearsal in the afternoon so I suppose I should get to bed! Maybe I'll dream of the Beethoven concerto! Haha - I love this piece.
Showing posts with label DSO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DSO. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Things I Do for Music..
I'm entering the Shepherd School concerto competition next week and the hair on my Voirin bow is completely shot. Since I still haven't found a good place to get a rehair in Houston, I've been driving to Dallas for the maintenance. Which is what I did this morning. Keep in mind that there was an ice storm in Dallas yesterday.. but after living in Cleveland for four years, I know how to deal with winter weather, right?
Maybe I do, but the rest of Texas doesn't, that's for sure. The roads were just wet for the most part until 50 miles outside of downtown Dallas. Snow, ice and slush built up on the shoulders and then moved their way onto the road. You would think that the 25 or so spun-out cars on the side of the highway would have been some sort of clue to the people speeding down the road at 70 miles an hour. Or maybe the terrifying way their cars/trucks/SUVs started to skid around in the muck when they ran into it or tried to change lanes. I think most of the people driving today had selective blindness.. and.. awareness.... I on the other hand, kept at a steady 40 mph and didn't run into any life-threatening circumstances. It was scary as heck, and I clung to my steering wheel, praying for dear life, but I got to Jay's repair shop in one piece! I'll be glad to have my bow back with fresh hair in a few days :D
David Kim is concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, but he's acting as guest concertmaster with the Dallas Symphony this week and was gracious enough to give me a almost an hour of his time before the concert tonight. We worked on a few sections of the Beethoven concerto and he gave me absolutely wonderful advice and insight. It was great to play for him and I'm glad I video-taped it so I can study everything later.
The DSO finally got to play their concert tonight! Thursday and Friday nights were cancelled because of the weather and almost all of their rehearsals were cancelled as well. They had a double service on Wednesday and then nothing until 4 this afternoon when they got together for an emergency rehearsal. The first half was the premiere of a percussion concert piece by Stewart Copeland. It was amazing! Here's a sort of sneak peak at it - incredible. The second half was Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony - which was also amazing, especially when you think about how little time they had to prepare it! What I couldn't get over tonight was the audience! They went absolutely WILD after both pieces!!! It was really refreshing. I'm proud to say that I attended the DSO's "Concert That Wouldn't DIE" (as coined by DSO's Vice-President of Artistic Operations, Mark Melson)
I think I'm all "music'd" out for one day..... nah.. who am I kidding.
Maybe I do, but the rest of Texas doesn't, that's for sure. The roads were just wet for the most part until 50 miles outside of downtown Dallas. Snow, ice and slush built up on the shoulders and then moved their way onto the road. You would think that the 25 or so spun-out cars on the side of the highway would have been some sort of clue to the people speeding down the road at 70 miles an hour. Or maybe the terrifying way their cars/trucks/SUVs started to skid around in the muck when they ran into it or tried to change lanes. I think most of the people driving today had selective blindness.. and.. awareness.... I on the other hand, kept at a steady 40 mph and didn't run into any life-threatening circumstances. It was scary as heck, and I clung to my steering wheel, praying for dear life, but I got to Jay's repair shop in one piece! I'll be glad to have my bow back with fresh hair in a few days :D
David Kim is concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, but he's acting as guest concertmaster with the Dallas Symphony this week and was gracious enough to give me a almost an hour of his time before the concert tonight. We worked on a few sections of the Beethoven concerto and he gave me absolutely wonderful advice and insight. It was great to play for him and I'm glad I video-taped it so I can study everything later.
The DSO finally got to play their concert tonight! Thursday and Friday nights were cancelled because of the weather and almost all of their rehearsals were cancelled as well. They had a double service on Wednesday and then nothing until 4 this afternoon when they got together for an emergency rehearsal. The first half was the premiere of a percussion concert piece by Stewart Copeland. It was amazing! Here's a sort of sneak peak at it - incredible. The second half was Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony - which was also amazing, especially when you think about how little time they had to prepare it! What I couldn't get over tonight was the audience! They went absolutely WILD after both pieces!!! It was really refreshing. I'm proud to say that I attended the DSO's "Concert That Wouldn't DIE" (as coined by DSO's Vice-President of Artistic Operations, Mark Melson)
I think I'm all "music'd" out for one day..... nah.. who am I kidding.
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