A Season Ends

Prior to the dress rehearsal for Sunday's concert.

Yesterday was my last concert as Music Director for the McHenry County Youth Orchestras, a position I've held for the past three years (plus one concert, which I wrote about here). It was an amazing three years during which I learned a lot about conducting, music, teaching, and relating with people. It has been fun to watch the orchestras grow and change over the years, and I really hope for the best for everyone involved as the organization moves into the future. Yesterday's concert: Holst Jupiter from The Planets, Bernstein Overture to Candide, Copland Hoedown from Rodeo, and two very talented concerto-competition-winning student soloists. It was a good way to go out.

As much as I will miss the orchestra in Crystal Lake, I definitely look forward to not making the 344 mile round trip drive from Champaign each week. Next year my life will be more centrally located in Springfield, IL as I move into my second year as Music Director for the Sangamon Valley Community and Youth Orchestras. What will I do with all that extra time not spent on the road you ask? Well, there still is that minor detail: my DMA dissertation project.

Life is all about balance.