March 2006

Made it to Portland

March 25, 2006 01:03

After a 10+++ hour drive from the Bay Area to Portland, I made it with cats and viola in tow last night. Got checked into the apartment and spent about an hour un-loading the car. It is amazing how much *stuff* you can cram into a wagon!

I went to listen to "my" new Orchestra play tonight. They were really quite good. They put the concerts on in the auditorium in a local high school that is one of the best I've ever seen. Quite professional. The house was packed - not quite standing room only.

Met most of the viola section (I will make violist #7 - never knew so many violist in my whole life!) and got the sheet music for the upcoming concert. Oh yeah, did I tell you that I'm in the Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra now as a violist? So for the Spring concert we are playing:

1 - Franz Lehar - Overture zur Operette "Die lustige Witwe" (goes up to 4th/5th position several times and right in the middle of 1/16th note scales up and down, got to figure out the fingering for those parts!!! there MUST be a better way!!!!)
2 - ML Daniels - Festique (seems pretty simple)
3 - Handel - Music for the Royal Fireworks Overture (yipee - fun one!)
4 - Motzart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - all movements (old time favorite)
5 - Dave Robertson (local composer) Divertimento (very odd rhythm)

Time to start cracking and learn a few new pieces. I'm really excited about this. I haven't played in an orchestra since high school, and well, that was a looooonng time ago. Rehearsals start the 3rd of April so I have 2 weeks to prevent myself from looking (or should I say sounding)like a total novice.

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Hillsboro Community Orchestra

March 8, 2006 21:13

Since I got the job offer up in Portand, I put my house up on the market (any one in the Bay area interested in a cute bungalo in the Santa Cruz Mtns - it's available). I'm getting ready for open house this weekend by cleaning up the yard after all the winter storms, organizing, and general sprucing up.

I also had a chance to look into the area that I will be moving to - Hillsboro OR. They have a small community orchestra and on their web site they said they were looking for musicians. So, I sent an e-mail and viola! I'm now part of the Hillsoboro community orchestra - playing viola - sight unseen (or would that be un-heard?). What an opportunity!!!!

I was also asked if I would be willing to sub as viola in other local orchestras. I guess violists are really an endangered species after all. :)

Now all I have to do is move! :::sigh::: I hate moving! Oh well. On to part duex of my life.

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Portland here I come

March 2, 2006 18:18

I got 3 job offers today - yipeee!!! One in the Bay area and 2 in Portland (same company). I go up there again for one last round of interviews but the HR lady told me she will have a written offer on her desk when I get there it just a matter of which one I want. So, now comes the move, finding a new teacher, and back to viola shopping again! And I did all this just a few months ago when I came back from Malaysia. Well, I guess I have practice doing this so it shouldn't be to difficult this time around.

Anyone know of any viola teachers and good shops in the Portland area?

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More entries: April 2006 • February 2006