tpter1

To vary a bit from the So, who are you anyway thread:

My equipment: Lawler TL 6R-1A Bb, raw brass (soon to get brush gold, though!); Yamaha heavywall C in lacquer; Yamaha custon Eb/D, Yamaha 6810 picc (Bb/A); spare Bb is a Yamaha 6345 (currently being used by my 6-year old!).

At present, I am a band director in a small rural school of about 550 k-12 (all in one building). I teach beginners all the way up through seniors. We have 4 bands that I conduct: 5-6, 7-8, 9-12, jazz band, and do small group lessons on all instruments. I also adjudicate for the New York State School Music Association solo festivals each spring (about 2-3 festivals for me). We also have a marching band that is going in its 3rd year. I am in my 4th year there. I also terahc brass as an adjunct at St. Lawrence University (amounts to maybe 3 kids at the most per smester). Before that, I taught in a smaller still school in the Adirondack Mountains, which has just over 400 k-12. Over there, I taught almost everything. We had 2 music teachers, and we shared the elementary duties at one point (which is why I left...not what I enjoy doing, and not in my personality). I also taught theory (at one point I had three levels). I taught there for 10 years before leaving. Before that, I was in Saratoga Springs, NY teaching 7-8 general music classes. Again, not my bag.

While I was doing my master's degree (trumpet performance, at Crane School of Music... a great school, by the way!), I began to do more serious performances with the Orchestra of Northern New York (at that point it was the Chamber Orchestra of Northern New York), and got to play a week choral condicting workshop with ther Gregg Smith Singers. They put together a small chamber orchestra and a brass ensemble to do some Gabrielli, an original work by Gregg, and the Lord Nelson Mass. Margaret Hillis led us in Lord Nelson. I got to play 3rd, along with Joe Burgstaller on 1st and former Crane instructor John Schorge (for whom the O'Reilly Concerto for Trumpet and Winds was written...a piece I did for my level A audition as a freshman at Crane). Joe was literally just finished with Dave Hickman, and was hired that week by the trombone player in the brass ensemble to join them in the Meridian Arts Ensemble. That week made a tremendous impact on me. Joe was just so laid back and easy going, but man he had some chops! (Still does!)

It had enough impact that I began to think seriously about my playing. A few years later, I auditioned forthe Albany Symphony, where I met Eric Berlin after I finished my audition. He followed me in spot #2, and had a warm-up room next to me. I'll never forget the sound through the walls and through the door. Man, what a huge sound.

Currently, I play with the Northern Symphonic Winds, a 45-60 piece wind ensemble made up of Crane faculty, area professionals, area music teachers, and select Crane students. It's a freebie gig, 3 concerts per year, 3 rehearslas each (except for the summer one...we do one rehearsal for that as it's usually much more standard fare that most of us already know). I play Cornet 3/Trumpet 1, so as a result I get alot of solos and independant playing on pieces where the section splits. I've been with them for about 5 years, now. I do some local musicals, too, but try to limit that to no more than 2. I am also looking for extra paid orchestral work in my area (no further than 3 hours drive), so I have been known to show up at local orchestra auditions (such as Glens Falls... had a bad audition... and Syracuse... not the resume they're looking for, and they're full time anyway... but I'll never find a match if I don't keep trying).