Klarinet Archive - Posting 000011.txt from 2001/08

From: Lacy Schroeder <LacyS@-----.org>
Subj: [kl] I'm baaack!
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 17:46:22 -0400

I had a great time, too! The campus is completely beautiful, and the
mountains are such a sight for this midwesterner's sore eyes!

I want to tell you all about my experience the first week of camp, which is
the most exciting and the best hookup: We had studio auditions the day we
arrived, and they made the assignments that night. I got principal that
first week playing Symphonie Fantastique, with Victor Yampolsky of
Northwestern University conducting. He also conducted the first Festival
Orchestra concert on the second night, during which at the intermission I
saw him and introduced myself to him and conversed with him in Russian (I do
speak Russian to an extent, and I think he found it rather amusing, since he
said I speak with an American accent.), and told him that I'm a clarinet
player. The next morning, Monday, was our first rehearsal, and I think I
read it pretty well. He came up to me after rehearsal and asked me what year
I was in school and what plans I had for graduate studies. I said that I was
interested in Northwestern and several other places as well. He told me to
sit down with him, so we did and he looked me straight in the face and said
to me about Northwestern, "Young lady, for you, it's absolutely not an
option." And he kept a straight face for about 5 seconds, during which time
stood still and I was thinking, I shouldn't even be talking to this guy, I
suck, I'm out of my league, I'll get eaten alive there. He knew he had me
going. Then he smiled real big and said, "It is a MUST. And you have to
audition for Chicago Civic as well." So we talked about the grad programs
and the teachers there and I felt much better. I just hope I can get a good
scholarship or an assistantship!

The following weeks were a blast as well! All sections worked on a rotation
basis, so it was rare for anyone to play principal two weeks. The fourth
week, the clarinet studio had auditions because we were doing Pines of Rome,
and I won the principal spot! Some of the others were upset, because I had
already had principal the first week and that not everybody was going to
have the chance to play principal. I understood their frustration, but at
the same time, I just do what I'm assigned. It was a blast to play that
piece, though. The control factor of the solo is a real challenge.

The other weeks were great, too. I played principal again in Polovetsian
Dances, which was great because of the audition excerptage of the piece, and
we played Sibelius's 2nd, Tchaikovsky's 6th, and Mahler's 2nd. James Paul
conducted the Sibelius, and it was a magical performance. He really knows
how to draw the best out of the performers! I also played in a great wodwind
quintet, and played some good pieces. The last week (which was actually last
week) I played 2nd clarinet alongside my teacher in the faculty's
performance of Strauss's "Der Burger als Edelmann," also called "Le
Bourgeois Gentillhomme," with all the cuckoo calls, menuets and such. Great
piece! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay, and made many new friends and
connections. So how has everyone's summer been so far?

Lacy Schroeder

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org