The Chicago Symphony doesn’t pre-screen audition candidates for their orchestra, allowing anyone who sends a resume and deposit check to get an audition time. While this is an extremely egalitarian approach to the audition process (anyone who wants a...
Chicago Symphony bassist and active blogger Michael Hovnanian just put out a post recounting a highly wacky gig that he played with other members of his orchestra. This gig (on Good Friday) happened to land on the day of a freak snow storm here in Chicago, with...
Reading Michael Hovanian’s recent blog story Bad Friday made me recall (for whatever reason) a tale that a Chicago Symphony bassist told me many years ago…. Sir Georg Solti, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s longtime music director, had a reputation...
Now this is a great gig story! Calgary Philharmonic bassist Matt Heller (formerly a member of the New World Symphony) recently found himself chasing down a bus, circling around downtown Calgary, all for a water canteen. Check it out here.
This story is also available in a video version. _____________ Ahhhh! Ahhhh! My focus shattered, I looked up from my music and all around me. Where was that yelling coming from? We were just starting the second half of an orchestral pops concert in a vast arena-like...
