It’s the day before Thanksgiving Day (the US version, Canada’s was last month), and it’s time to reflect upon what has happened up to this point and to find things for which to be thankful and glad.
I’m mostly thankful for the fact that, in addition to being relatively healthy and happy, I have a job in my chosen field – playing in an orchestra. Not just an orchestra, but a kick-ass orchestra. People who have never heard the OSO play live before are going to have their socks knocked off by what they hear from us day in and day out. The orchestra has superb artistic leadership in Carlos Kalmar, a steady hand at the tiller in Elaine Calder, and a highly-capable staff of people who make it possible for us musicians to just go in and play without being totally consumed by worry every single day. We couldn’t do it without all of them, and our many, many volunteers around Portland and the state of Oregon. We also have our amazing pops conductor Jeff Tyzik, and our indefatigable resident conductor Gregory Vajda, who is long overdue for landing a “big job”. I’m surrounded by many musicians who are truly inspiring to come to work with and make music with every day – the recent stellar performances by the wind quartet for the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante is a great reminder of the depth and breadth of musical greatness that we’re privileged to have in our orchestra! I’m also thankful that I live in Portland. I was recently sitting in a coffee shop in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles when I struck up a conversation with the woman sitting next to me. She was a designer of fine, lightweight woolen wear for women, and when I mentioned that I was from Portland, her face lit up, and she said (she was from the UK) “oh! Portland is the best city in the United States!” I couldn’t agree more – it’s a wonderful city, with many advantages intrinsic to it, I just hope that fully supporting its many arts organizations becomes even more of a core value for Portlanders in the coming years.
So, count your blessings, and enjoy a warm, wonderful, and festive Thanksgiving Day!
