orchestra21

Beautiful, cold midwinter riding here in Iowa – I have the county roads completely to myself when the temps drop.

Jerry was the orchestra director at my high school in California and one of the coolest teachers I’ve ever had. Now that he is retired and happily free of the mania we upstart musicians brought upon him he’s getting around to recording several of his symphonic works.

One of the pieces slated for taping, American Journey, was among the first things I ever conducted and offered me a formative experience in preparing a contemporary score alongside its composer. As a result I have insider knowledge of just how much this project could use your support – that early performance commenced with the orchestra falling apart and most definitely did not leave Jerry with much of a reference recording!

[Ancillary lessons: Successful conducting careers can emerge from inauspicious beginnings, and composers – especially if they are your mentors – may be willing to talk to you even after you butcher their work onstage.]

GPOYW Seeing the world [and its four-legged inhabitants] through his eyes EDITION

GPOYW Fairly certain this is the best feeling in the world EDITION

Managed to get in plenty of great riding during my recent mid-winter stay in LA [despite battling some sickness]. As you can see from the vertical feet my favored terrain is easier to come by in SoCal than back in Iowa!