A Musical Challenge

Last week Kathy and I played a real demanding program with the Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra. We performed Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin and Stravinsky's Firebird. We had some weather challenges as well being very cold and snowy all week as well. Kathy and I had great fun, she stayed with me at my place that whole week. This picture was taken just before our concert on Saturday night.

Boston Philharmonic

This week I had an neat experience of taking part and playing in the International Conductor Guild Conference . A few days with playing in ensembles and orchestras conducted by young upcoming conductors in a workshop environment. With a closing concert lecture, called, Classical Fever, conducted by Mr. Benjamin Zander (Music Director and Conductor, Boston Philharmonic, teacher, and author of The Art of Possibility) I had quite the repertoire to cover, here are a few examples of the works I performed, Dumbarton Oaks-Stravinsky, Siegfried Idyll-Wagner, Beethoven Symphonies no. 5 & 9, Mahler Symphony no. 4 ... lots of tense one buttock moments.. but all in all ... alot of fun !


In this picture just before the closing concert, Me, Leslie Newman ( flutist in my quintet, Network Winds) and Vince Barbee, (4th horn of the National Ballet Orchestra) I was playing principal Horn during all the sessions.

I'm so glad I have a big sister !!.....

Today Ineke came back from her week long trip to the Big Apple ! She was there with Tante Lies and had a fabulous time galivanting around New York and enjoying lots of museams and Broadway shows. She stayed in a hotel right downtown on Broadway !

On one of her adventures she went to see the United Nations ( the UN) and what I didn't know.. and that's what so great about having an older sister that can retain so many facts ! is that when Mom was living in Norway, she was actually was working at the Weaving studio that was commissoned to provide the amazing tapestry that is hanging still to this day, on the walls of the Security Council Chambers at the UN !


The Security Council Chamber was a gift from Norway, designed by the Norwegian architect Arnstein Arneberg.
A central feature of the Security Council Chamber is the oil canvas mural painted by the Norwegian artist Per Krogh. It depicts a phoenix rising from its ashes, as a symbol of the world being rebuilt after the Second World War. Above the dark sinister colours at the bottom different images in bright colours symbolizing the hope for a better future are depicted. Equality is symbolized by a group of people weighing out grain for all to share.

The blue and gold silk tapestry ( see red arrow, you can click on the image to enlarge the image view) on the walls and in the draperies by the East River windows features the anchor of faith, the growing wheat of hope, and the heart of charity. ( this is what Mom was a part of making)
The Charter gives the Security Council the main responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. As the "emergency room" of the UN, it has to be ready to meet at any time if there is a threat to peace.

Waltzing into the New Year !

I had a great gig on January 1st ! I was brought back in time with performing the show "Salute to Vienna" an afternoon of Strauss and Lehar Waltzes and Polkas in a jam packed, sold out, Roy Thompson Hall. It was loads of fun, and really brought back tons of Hoofdstad Operette memoiries and experiances! its hard to believe that I played with the HO for 18 years ! its seems like another life time and or another persons life !