Recent Posts
| • | Congratulations, Ron! |
| • | Uncorked has popped ... |
| • | In the news |
| • | Fired up, ready to go! |
| • | About to pop |
| • | Beethoven's (Belated) Birthday |
| • | Seasons greetings from the double reeds |
| • | Back in action |
| • | KinderKonzerts: Day 1 |
| • | Moppets on parade |
| • | Uchiwa-daiko, or when does it start to slow down? |
| • | Giving thanks |
| • | Monday catch-up |
| • | Friday night concert report |
| • | Mahler, Mahler, Mahler |
| • | Mahler sneak peek |
| • | Quite the domestic dispute |
| • | Symphony family: CAUGHT ON TAPE! |
| • | Honoring those who give |
| • | Awesome kids |
Congratulations, Ron!
The Symphony's dear friend Ron Boyd was named the Globe-News Man of the Year for 2008, and we're hard pressed to come up with a more deserving person for that honor.
As this article details, Ron is a faithful friend of the Symphony. It doesn't point out one of his latest honors: He and wife Cheri were named the winners of the 2008 Beethoven Society Award in recognition of their immense and generous support of the Sym
Uncorked has popped ...
... and we're all still pooped.
But man, what a party! Steve Lippia gave one heck of a concert, with the help of our fine, fine orchestra and guest musicians like Sean Vokes on the piano. Putting on Uncorked is an exhausting thing, but I'll tell you, as I was counting down to midnight, I couldn't think of any place else I wanted to be.
Here are a couple of videos from the party for your enjoyment:
In the news
We have been all over the news the last couple of days -- not just for tonight's Uncorked celebration, but also for some big news that we announced just yesterday. William F. Russell (but you can call him Bill) starts Jan. 19 as our new executive director, and we're thrilled to have him here tonight to introduce him to the Uncorked crowd.
Here's the Globe-News writeup about Bill.
Fired up, ready to go!
I can't believe that Uncorked is here! In just a few hours, we'll be at the Globe-News Center, ready to ring in the New Year with the biggest party in town.
Last night, I got a chance to listen to a little bit of rehearsal, and Steve Lippia is going to rock your socks off. He's an incredible singer, and the music can't be beat. The Symphony sounds awesome, too, of course.
And the atmosphere is going to be phenomenal. Freeman's Fresh Flower Market is doing the decorations, and they look incredible. Everything's
About to pop
We met the other day with Tonya Freeman of Freeman's Fresh Flower Market, the guru behind the decorations for our Uncorked party. If I wasn't already excited about Uncorked before the meeting, talking with her about the possibilities for the hall certainly would have cinched it.
We'll be turning the Pool Grand Lobby into an elegant supper club -- lots of blacks, whites and silvers to give it that classy touch. Below the lobby, on the first floor, Insufficient Funds will be playing on the dance floor. And that's w
Beethoven's (Belated) Birthday
Oh, good grief.
I totally meant to blog yesterday about Beethoven's birthday, a holiday I grew up knowing all about as a major fan of Peanuts. But time got away from me and, alas, I goofed.
But even Schroeder once forgot, so I know I'm in good company. So happy birthday anyway, ol' Ludwig. We'll be playing some of your greatest hits in March. Hope that helps make up for this slight.
Seasons greetings from the double reeds
Perhaps you've seen the JibJab dance mix, but in case you haven't, here's our double reed players wishing you a merry Christmas. They first sent this to Kimbo before the first performance of this year's Nutcracker.
From the left at the first of the video, that's Ted DuBois, Tina Carpenter, Bob Krause, Janet Lanier and Kathy Kendle.
Make sure to watch it by Jan. 19 before it goes off into the Internet ether.
Back in action
Sorry about the lack of blog activity since last Friday. I had my wisdom teeth taken out Monday and have been taking things a little too slow since. All better now, though.
This weekend, the Symphony partners with Lone Star Ballet in Amarillo's premiere Christmas event -- the New Nutcracker. We're thrilled to take part in such a beloved holiday tradition -- particularly this year, Kimbo's first. This isn't a side gig to him; he's taking this as seriously as he takes any of our subscription concerts, so you'll def
KinderKonzerts: Day 1
The kids have left the building.
About 2,500 or so students from all over Amarillo and the Panhandle swarmed through the Globe-News Center today. At least that many more will be back on Friday.
You'd think it would be exhausting -- and it is, but in a fun way. As I posted yesterday, those kids are so thrilled to be in the Center that it's absolutely infectious. Everything about the experience seemed to thrill them. Paula Steele, our indefatigable Guild president, was dressed as an elf, so naturally, some of the
Moppets on parade
Tomorrow, the Globe-News Center will be invaded by about 2,100 kids, mostly kindergartners, who will witness us kick off the holiday season with our annual KinderKonzerts.
This will be my third year to watch the concerts, which are frankly adorable -- even to an occasional Scrooge like me. Our musicians love the energy they feel from the kids in the office, and who can blame them? No one gets an ovation like Santa Claus when he comes out on stage.
I remember my first year helping out. I wasn't in a particularly
Uchiwa-daiko, or when does it start to slow down?
Our last subscription concert was a few weeks ago, and our next one isn't until mid-January, but you wouldn't know that with all of the activity going on around here.
I'm in full Uncorked mode. I dropped off the proofs for our invitation at the printer today, so those should hit mailboxes next week. Let me tell you -- they're awesome. I'm a big fan of the work of Stephanie Bybee, our graphic designer, but I think this may be the best piece she's designed for us yet. Our radio ads should start up in a couple of we
Giving thanks
Our offices will close this afternoon for Thanksgiving break, so don't look for an update on here until after the holiday has passed.
That's one thing I'm thankful for, definitely. We've had a long run with little break since the season started. I'm thankful for a lot more, though:
- for this blog and its readers, which have reminded me how much I enjoy writing;
- for our musicians and my co-workers, for working their hind-ends off for all of our concerts and everything else we do;
- for Kimbo
02:11 PM Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday catch-up
Just a few items on this post-Mahler Monday:
- Saturday night's concert went just as well as Friday's, I think. Better for me: I actually got to sit in and listen to the entire concert for the first time in way too long. Kimbo has warned me repeatedly that Mahler can be addictive, and after having chills all the way through the First Symphony, I think it might have happened to me. I told Kimbo after the concert that I plan on borrowing a lot of CDs from him in the near future.
- Though I'm sure h
02:11 PM Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday night concert report
Ooh, what a great night.
The Symphony reached new heights tonight playing two phenomenal works by Mahler. It's not just me saying so, either. I got raves from everyone I spoke to as they were leaving the hall.
Kindertotenlieder sounded absolutely incredible -- rich and intricate and moving in ways few works can be. Royal Brantley gave powerful readings to the English translations of the poems, and Susan Platts! I mean, what can I say? She found such depths to the work, and her voice was pure velvet. I
Mahler, Mahler, Mahler
In honor of tonight's Mahler-palooza, here's a preview of what you can expect.
First, from our neighbors down south, here is the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra and baritone soloist Jesus Suaste performing the first in the Kindertotenlieder song cycle:
Mahler sneak peek
I got to be the chauffeur for our guest artist, mezzo soprano Susan Platts, last night to and from rehearsal, so I got to sit in on about half of last night's runthrough. I wasn't alone -- a couple of our longtime donors dropped in because they're such Mahler fanatics that just attending the concert won't be enough to satisfy them.
Even if I weren't being paid to say so, I would still tell people that this isn't a concert to miss. The orchestra sounded phenomenal last night. It's obvious that they have been
Quite the domestic dispute
I am quite pleased with our program notes, but it's always fun to look around at what other symphonies publish about works that we're about to perform. I'll post our notes on our Mahler-palooza later this week, but in the meantime, take a look at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's take on Mahler's Symphony No. 1.
It's a great write-up of the symphony's convoluted history, but what I particularly love is this revelation in the first para
Symphony family: CAUGHT ON TAPE!
Here are a pair of videos celebrating the accomplishments of a current staffer and a former staffer.
Up first, a joyous occasion in the life of Sue Buelow, our director of operations:
Honoring those who give
Some phenomenal friends of the Symphony and other great causes around the area were honored today at the annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon.
T.M. "Red" and Genevieve Caldwell, longtime Symphony supporters and sponsors of the March 2009 concert weekend, were named Outstanding Philanthropists. They were nominated by several nonprofits, including the Symphony, and received a warm, well-deserved standing ovation by the crowd. Red and Genevieve are two of the most gracious people I've had the h
Awesome kids
Four Amarillo ISD strings players made the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra -- and all four have strong ties to the Symphony.
Violinists Erin Weber and Lynsi Porterfield, violist Isaiah Chapman and cellist Noah Littlejohn all made the final cut, they learned this weekend. The audition process began all the way back in May, and these four certainly earned their seats. They'll perform in February during the TMEA convention.
Erin, Lynsi and Noah are all members of the Symphony. Along with