Well, after the unsuccessful-but-not-failed attempt at the Lyric Opera Orchestra, what’s next?
I’ve got two things I’m working on. First, I am organizing a reading session. CBE hasn’t done one of these in quite a while, maybe a year now. Just before the holidays, I sent an email to the bassists on the mailing list (NOTE: are you a bassist? are you on the mailing list? Get On The List–and send me a note to tell me you’re a bassist) inviting them to participate.
I was gratified to receive a lot of interest, and I’m in the process of selecting a date and finding a location. Finding a location is not a trivial task when you’re talking about four, five or more bassists getting together. I’m looking forward to this session in the next few weeks.
The other ‘project?’ Well, I have submitted my resume for the Grant Park Festival Orchestra. There are two openings, for principal and assistant principal. (Bassists, I shouldn’t tell you this, but the deadline for submitting your resume is Feb 17, and the auditions are in March.)
Now, I’ll be frank, open and honest. And I kind of hope no-one from the audition committee for Grant Park is reading this. I’m not ready to be principal bassist of an orchestra of that caliber. And it feels a little sketchy for me to say I’m ready to be assistant principal. But I’m going to work hard and GET ready.
After all, I do have a master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. It’s not like I’m literally walking in off the street. And I love to play music, I have passion. <– That’s me, working to overcome my bashfulness and lack of confidence!
Whatever I do, I’m going to continue to improve. I have reached out to David Murray — a fine player and pupil of Gary Karr — and I will make the drive down to Indianapolis a few times in the coming months to get coaching from David. I’ll be honest about this, too: I can’t wait!
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