Klarinet Archive - Posting 000232.txt from 2003/03

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] re: anger and jealousy
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 22:49:38 -0500

--- Cindic@-----.com wrote:

>> Even if you can't support yourself wholly with your music, if you're happy, you have lived your
dream. <<

This is wonderfully stated. I was once on the professional orchestra career track, but found
myself devastated by a planet-sized curveball thrown at me by "life" in my early 20's. It
derailed my professional ambitions for good, and I was compelled to seek a more conventional path
toward financial self-sufficiency. Now in my 30's (which may seem young yet, but that depends on
context), I do have one of those conventional day jobs, working at a consulting firm on Wall St.
It certainly keeps me busy. It also keeps me nicely housed and well-fed, which is more than I can
say for many of my former conservatory classmates. Meanwhile, a healthy portion of my former
musical skills has returned with persistence, and I have so many orchestral and chamber
performance opportunities in New York that I must guiltily turn most of them down. Life has never
been so good. The phrase "dream come true" pops out of my mouth quite often when talking to and
corresponding with friends these days. I even have time to take classes at night to finish off my
MBA!

Happiness in life can take any number of forms, and while I would have preferred something other
than that stellar curveball in my 20's, the balance I now enjoy might just be better than what I'd
originally planned. Whatever happens, whatever else you do, don't stop playing!

Neil

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