Utah Wind Symphony

So last year I overheard my stand partner in the 23rd Army Band, Elizabeth, mentioning the creation of a new wind symphony. The goal was to have professional level players tackle challenging and rewarding music. It would begin as a volunteer organization with the goal of becoming a professional wind symphony. There are tons of extremely talented musicians in Utah and not very many opportunities to showcase those talents.

So I thought I would be supportive and mentioned that if Elizabeth ever got in a pickle and needed a bassoon player, I would love to help them out.

"You're not good enough." she said completely deadpan.

Unfortunately she was completely accurate in her assessment. That being said, the chaotic forces of unforseeability smiled on me and I was privileged to play third bassoon for all three of the inaugural season's concerts.

The music was wonderful, and it really has made me fall in love with playing the bassoon again. (I love playing in the 23rd Army Band; I'm pretty sure Sousa had a personal vendetta against bassoon players.)

The concert we played last night concluded with David Maslanka's Symphony Number 4. I have very rarely felt emotionally and physically spent after concluding a piece, but last night I was. Elizabeth invested so much of herself that she ended up in the hospital after the concert.

Steven and Anna came with me and sat in the audience. They both remained attentive throughout and extremely well-behaved - or so I thought. When Mary asked them questions about the Maslanka piece, Anna asked how she knew about it. Mary replied that she heard it on YouTube.

Anna, with a horrified expression on her face, replied, "Oh no! Could you hear me whispering?"

Salt Lake Tribune article

Edit:  Salt Lake Tribune Review