Learning to say no

I've not been in the position before where I had to turn down opportunities to play. However, now that rehearsals have started for Loudoun Symphony, Mormon Orchestra of Washington DC, stake Messiah presentation, and MITS, I'm thinking that it's time to practice. Yes, the cello for sure, but also, the art of saying, "No".

It's that time of year...

This is the time of the year when I search for venues for the Loudoun Symphony venues. Actually, I started at the end of the last school year, and have 95% of the venues all taken care of. But why oh why (I feel a whine coming on) does there always have to be one date that causes problems?This year it is Dec. 6 for a Loudoun Youth Symphony concert. I've been turned down by six schools so far, and the end is not in sight....

Fun weekend!

I played two concerts this weekend. Friday night was an outdoor concert in downtown Leesburg with the trio that I just joined. We put pickups on our instruments and plugged them into pre-amps and amps and speakers and all kinds of electrical stuff. I had no idea what was going on but it was loud! We still played classical stuff, and rags and tangos; we even played "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay! We had quite a few people show up and more wandered in and out. Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Hannah started making her presence known in the middle of the concert, and we had to pack up really quickly!
Saturday night I played at a fundraiser. The husband of a violinist friend of mine was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis about two years ago. She has done an annual fundraiser for the MS Society since that time. Last night as I was playing, I thought, "It's nice to be able to play and really feel like I'm helping somebody". I love to play in the symphony, and feel like it is a great way to invite the Spirit in that setting, but playing at a fundraiser was an especially good feeling.

MITS First Friday concert

MITS first friday concert
Originally uploaded by ValerieBW

Tonight, barring interference by Tropical Storm Hannah, our quartet will play an outdoor concert in old town Leesburg. We're playing Baroque, tangos, rags and even "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay! Wish us luck!