The obsession with youth in the music world cuts both ways. While we can all relate to the days in conservatory or music school when all anyone talked about was how young so-and-so was when they won this job, etc., there is also a tendency for the audition-circuit-set (you know who you are!
) to obsess as well (though usually negatively).
For me, a 33-year old with a regional orchestra gig, Craig's article is reassuring, above all. I have ambitions, and some close calls, but I was lucky to determine some time ago that even if I never got a gig, I'd still be happy because a gig wasn't going to define my life for me.
Even now, I am reminded daily that even though I love what I do, I don't always love my job!
There's uncertainty, tension, frustration, committees, and sometimes beautiful music to play.