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August 7, 2004 at 3:46 AM

Coming back to violinist.com after a four-day absence to attend a concert in Door County, Wisconsin, I am struck once again at the variety presented on this website. That's why I love violinist.com - there are so many different people from so many different backgrounds, and so many different experiences to read about. To read four days' worth of posts is a fascinating endeavor - all you guys are so fascinating!!!

The Door County concert was the best I've ever been to - the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra, Victor Yampolsky conducting, and James Ehnes soloing in the Dvorak violin concerto. Thanks to various freak coincidences, I managed to meet both conductor and soloist; Mr. Yampolsky even invited me to come play for him next time I visit Door County in the summertime (!). I enthusiastically agreed. One does not, after all, get a chance to play for an Oistrakh student every day. "I'm not very strict," he smiled...what a charismatic sweetheart. He also asked me to the after-party, which was an incredible experience for a small-town girl like myself. It was one of the most wonderfully surreal experiences I've ever had; I enjoyed it very much. I am planning to attend many more after-parties in the future...and maybe even apply for an internship position at the Peninsula Music Festival in the coming years. Who knows? Someday I might even play in the orchestra...

All in all, it has been a good week. Every once and a while, I undergo a miraculously inspiring musical event - whether it be a concert, a listener's comment, or a promise from my teacher - and those moments always encourage me onward, letting me know the musical path is the right one. This concert, though, was one of the most inspiring moments of all. I do believe I'm going to play until my fingers fall off! :)