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| Seasons with the SPO: |
13+ |
| Primary Instrument: | Bassoon |
| Educational Degree/Institution: | University of Washington, Shoreline Community College, Seattle Pacific University, and Western Washington University. |
| Professional Merits and Awards: | John Phillip Sousa Award-Bothell High School, 1979, All Northwest Band-1979, Performed in the All-American College Orchestra at Epcot Center, Orlando in the summer of 1986 (Bassoon and Baritone Sax) |
| Special Career Performances: | Rite of Spring-Seattle Youth Symphony-1980 |
| Ensemble work: | Bellevue Philharmonic, 2nd Stage Theatre, Broadway Symphony (now Orchestra Seattle), Port Angeles Symphony, Vancouver Philharmonic, Mahler Festival Orchestra |
| Occupation or other interests: | Homebrewing, Home Winemaking, Travel |
| Memories: | When I was accepted into the Seattle Youth Symphony in 1979, I had no idea how much the experience or Vilem Sokol would influence my life. I remember my first season’s final concert included Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” and I was playing 4th bassoon and contra. It was a dream come true for me! At the performance, I remember being so entranced with the opening of the piece as the solo bassoon is joined by layer after layer of voicing and thinking to myself “I can’t believe I’m here playing my most favorite piece in the world!!!” It was like listening to a professional recording……but in this recording something was missing! That wonderful rumbling of the contra bassoon. I had been daydreaming so deeply I had missed my first entrance! Needless to say, I was very embarrassed. |
| First memories of classical music: | My first memory of classical music was when my parents took me to see Fantasia (the original) when I was around 12. I liked all of the music but I was especially impressed by The Rite of Spring and ran right out and got the sound track (on LP, at that time). Much to my parents chagrin (and probably my siblings too) I played the Stravinsky piece over and over and over again. Needless to say, they were much happier when I discovered Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto and started to play that piece…..over and over and over!!! |
| Favorite Composers: | I’ve already mentioned Rite of Spring as my over all favorite piece, but for day-to-day listening my favorite composer is Ottorino Respighi. There isn’t a single piece he has written that I have not liked. There is something about the way he orchestrates his music that effortlessly showcases the instruments of the orchestra; a sort of transparency, not muddled; which I find very pleasing. He has the unique quality of being romantic and impressionistic at the same time. |
| Additional instruments: | Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Violin |