The End of an Era

Saturday found me in the studio for one final session for Queenwood/Kjos.

I don't remember the exactly when I first participated in this yearly recording of band music from talented composers Anne McGinty and John Edmondson. I'd guess I've been doing it for about 14 years.

It was wonderful to see Anne and John year after year. It got so Anne began to write little solos for "the regulars", including juicy bits for my piccolo playing delight.

It is hard to say good-bye.

It's the end of an era...

and the beginning of a new one!

I'm in the Muni

I got the call this morning.

I'm in the Muni...Band that is.

The work call for the 99th season of the Long Beach Municipal Band is out and I'm in.

Our summer season begins Tuesday, June 24 and runs through Friday, August 15.

So all you who couldn't quite find the time to join us in the parks last year, mark your calendars now.

Summer begins when the music starts.

See you there!

Recital Picture Teaser

Here I am surrounded by fellow flutists following last night's blazing recital. Thanks for attending, ladies!

Although Bob got a bunch of great recital pictures, between this post and the last you have now seen the sum total of the pictures from my camera. Uploading pictures and actually blogging are beyond my capabilities right now.

I'll be spending many, many hours at APU over the next two days, but will try to re-surface on Friday.

Meanwhile, to all of you who took the time to join us last night, thank you, thank you, thank you for your support! You helped make that recital my favorite of all time. Thank you!

An Irish Tenors View

My view yesterday was of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts where The Irish Tenors were set to perform.

One of my favorite views is of a stage door that I am authorized to enter:

Finbar Wright (standing, right) and Karl Scully (left) join the orchestra for a rehearsal.

Here's another view of Karl Scully:

Anthony Kearns completes the trio:

This was my working view: My eyes were glued on wonderful director Arnie Roth all day:

Had I been paid by the number of notes played, I'd be able to retire in Fiji right now.

Bob and his mom Nellie were able to attend the concert last night.

A good time was had by all.

I love my view!

Express Arrival

It was a beautiful morning at Ontario International Airport.


Bob and I were there to pick up his mom Nellie from her ice-delayed flight from Oklahoma City.

She was ecstatic about her Express Jet flight. She said it was the smoothest, best flight she'd ever taken, even through the very stormy weather out of Will Rogers Airport.


She is now safely home with us. We are so thankful that she is here.



Bonus: We were able to get tickets for Bob and Nellie to the sold-out Irish Tenors concert I'm playing in tomorrow. We're all looking forward to that. I'll see what I can do about getting some pictures from that job. Maybe yes, maybe no.

I'll keep you posted.

An Irish Tenors Pay Check

For the past 2 years I've been fortunate enough to play along with The Irish Tenors for their holiday show at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

I'm very happy to say that I just got the work call for this year's performance.

It is an excellent show.

Please come check it out.

You won't be disappointed.

February Recital

Dr. Joel

My excellent accompanist Dr. Joel and I are preparing for a faculty recital.

We've got a date: Monday, February 11, 2008

We've got a time: 7:30p.m.

We've got a venue: Munson Recital Hall, Azusa Pacific University

We've picked out some of the repertoire.

We even have weekly rehearsal time carved out.

We start this Wednesday.

I'll keep you posted.

On The Road Again

It's time to morph back into the professional road warrior that lurks within each freelance musician.

I greatly enjoyed the summer hiatus. The farthest I got away from home was 7 miles. Working in the parks of Long Beach has many advantages.

Today, however, I made the 74 mile round trip to Azusa Pacific University. Classes don't officially start until Wednesday, but I was on a mission of fear: Flute Auditions.

It wasn't fearful for me.

Pity, though, the freshman flutists who just yesterday bid their family good-bye and moved into a completely foreign environment.

Today, said flutists are required to play for the flute professor they've never met (me) to determine their flute-playing fate for the entire year.

Yikes!

I am happy to report that each and every flutist walked out of the audition under their own power.

Meanwhile, the traffic was light.

I'm just getting warmed up...

Auf Wiedersehen Marine Stadium, Good Bye El Dorado Park

A large crowd packed the park Thursday evening as the Long Beach Municipal Band said Auf Wiedersehen to Marine Stadium.

It was blazing hot on the band stand.

The sound system tried to go down repeatedly during the concert.

Bob resuscitated it, but it wasn't pretty for him.

Friday saw the final set up at El Dorado Park:

The three Men In Pink spent a good part of the night smoking brisket in this marvelous contraption:

Mike, Greg, and Justin not only set up the risers, stands, chairs, and mike stands, but provided amazing barbecue for the band.

My niece Bethany and her husband Tim vamped it up Hollywood style.

They stopped by on their way back to Templeton from Palm Springs.

My sister Janine drove down from Paso Robles with her youngest son Peter (left) and our nephew Mason (right) especially for the concert.

Beverly, Mom and Dad are in the background.

Bethany and I take a break in front of the band stand before the concert:

Bob was trying to grab a bit of brisket while praying over the sound system.

It was on its last legs.

It limped through the last concert.

Fortunately for us it didn't quit altogether.

Aunt Charlo and Uncle Joe joined in the fun:

My brother Ken was feeling goofy after a long day at work:

A bit of serious warming up was required after ingesting such a large amount of brisket:

My view of the final concert:

After the final tear down in the park, all the equipment was unloaded here...

...where it will hibernate until next summer.

So long, Muni Band.

You will be missed!

Farewell Los Cerritos Park

The Long Beach Municipal Band farewell tour continued last night at Los Cerritos Park.

It's time to say so long for another year to my marvelous recipe source and friend Betty:

Singer Tony Galla sat on the other side of the rope to take in the first half of the concert:

Oh, and the Men in Pink?

They STINK!

Tonight we're cruising into Marine Stadium.

So Long Bluff Park

We froze our socks off at Bluff Park last week.

The weather was decidedly warmer last night.

We're doing our farewell tour this week.

The great Tony Galla returned:

As of Friday we're all unemployed.

Hurry on down while you still can!

A Time To Sit Down

A week from today I'm going to sit myself down on this bench with my dear husband Bob and drool.

Drooling is the most effort I hope to expend while vacationing in beautiful Cambria, California.

I love my job. I love playing for thousands of people a week. I love my university teaching jobs.

However, I need a break.

So Bob and I will be heading for the peaceful Central Coast next week.

We are planning days of recreational eating, reading, walking on Moonstone Beach and the East West Ranch, and lots and lots of naps.

Maybe I'll blog.

Maybe I won't.

Meanwhile, Muni Band Week 8 begins tomorrow.

See you in the park!

The End Is Near

The end is near but, thankfully, not for Patti and Jonathan.

They survived a head on collision with a drunk 20 year old male early Thursday morning as they were driving to LAX.

Fortunately Jonathan's Mercedes protected them from the under age drunk's Lexus SUV.

They escaped with air bag injuries alone.

Jonathan's car gave its life to save theirs.

Marine Stadium looked inviting Thursday afternoon:

The weather was perfect as John typed his heart out:

Greg looks like he was blessing the band as he guest conducted:

The crowd got to whistle the Colonel Bogey march accompanied by the band.

Unfamiliar with Colonel Bogey?

Think Bridge on the River Kwai:

Barbara Morrison was back.

She lit up the crowd with her powerful set of songs.

Friday we were back at El Dorado Park.

John was back at the typewriter:


Greg was back on the podium:

Then the band was off to the annual band party in this lovely setting:

Four more concerts are left in the Municipal Band's 98th season.

Will we see you there?