| Mine was both musical and non-musical… sorry, I just didn’t have time to get to know the waitress at the Landmark…
During my “lost” days in High School… btw, I have continued in that tradition…
I have my “College lost days”, “Mid - out of college lost days”, “returned to college lost days”, “post college music lost days”, “post college non-music lost days”…. Etc, etc…
Anyway, I digress….
My highlight was being reunited with my High School Trumpet teacher Gil Mitchell. You may have read his interview in the latest ITG Journal. He is now 81 years old and…good Lord, I hope that if I live that long I’m as sharp as this man is.
Not only was he an incredible trumpeter and teacher, but he was also a beacon for many of us young “lost” kid trumpeters… most of them turned out much better than me. Jeff Work the newly appointed principal trumpet of the Oregon Symphony is a good example.
During the conference we shared many meals together and really didn’t have to reminisce very much. It was like we just picked-up where we left off. I tried calling him Gil… you know, kind of like I had grown-up to his level… but it didn’t sit well with me. It made me realize that either he was so far ahead of me that it was impossible to ever “catch-up” (very true), or that he just kept on growing (also very true). He was wise 30 years ago, and it was clear to me he had become wiser still.
He picked on me. Making light hearted jokes and making me feel even more comfortable with him. It’s just what he did before… and it was fine with me. I introduced him to my wife… and of course he offered her his sympathy.
I knew I was going to see him at ITG. But what I didn’t know is that the time I spent with him would overshadow every other event that week!
I’ve had many teachers since those high school days. And without taking anything away from those fine individuals, I can honestly say that combined – they still fell short of the enormous influence this man had on me.
Post-horn-Script: We were later joined by another one of Gil Mitchell’s students, our very own Bill Seigfriend. That was an extra bonus. Bill is a fine gentleman and excellent trumpeter… of course he is, he too was influenced by Gil Mitchell! |