I’m in withdrawal. Three recitals that I’ve been responsible in the past week and three additional performances involving my own children to boot. What do I do with this calm? I’ve devoted every week of this school year to one or more student ensemble at Laurel Elementary, Preston or Lesher Middle Schools or Ridgeview Classical Charter. I’ll miss’ seeing them, joking with them, being ultimately sarcastic with them in their springtime fits of energy, and drawing higher levels of music making from them. They’ve been a complete joy and I don’t know who learned more.
Our last and final recital program for this school year occurred this Sunday. I’ll be posting pictures as they come in but this video just says it all.
I have so many people to thank for the great success of our second year of In-School coachings and first year of our After School Chamber Music program. I should begin with much heartfelt thanks to our most valued sponsor, Don Park, without whom we would not be nearly as poised for the future. Continued thanks are necessary to our PSD music teachers: Heather Cowan, Chad Fisher, Loni Obluda, and Kris Rangel. Special acknowledgement goes to the continuous support of Ridgeview Classical Charter School and Domenic Carpine, who never say ‘no’ to giving us a home. Tom Miles and St. John’s Lutheran Church for also never saying ‘no’ to us….ever. (How did I get so lucky twice over?)
Continued thanks to the parents of our students who drive them to lessons, make sure they practice, stay up on our schedule and read all of my emails. But a special shout out to Sonia Kreidenweis, who supports our program so much she joined our board (!), Florian and Elaine Hild who always encourage our plans, Lisa Cunningham who acts as sounding board and wise counsel, and Elliot and Barbara Bernstein, who never tire of my stories and the retelling of the day’s events.