We are playing Hungarian works by various composers this week in the Elgin Symphony. I have played all of these works in various groups in the past–in fact, I played a nearly identical concert with the Northbrook Symphony about four years ago. Click the seal (my...
I have had the unfortunate experience of doing many all night drives over the years to get from one gig to another. This is never fun. The main problem is that I work in Memphis, Tennessee and in Chicago and Wisconsin. IRIS Chamber Orchestra concerts will start in...
All of the IRIS bass section substitutes have gone on to have great full-time orchestra jobs:Charles Carlton – Cleveland OrchestraMatt Medlock – Naples PhilharmonicIra Gold – National SymphonyJeff Kail – Kansas City SymphonyMy stand partner...
The IRIS Chamber Orchestra does not operate like a typical symphony orchestra. It reminds me much more of a summer festival atmosphere (like Aspen or another such festival). We perform approximately one concert a month during the regular season (September through...
Believe it or not, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago used to advertise in Time magazine. Here is an ad from 1998 featuring the bass section. I am the second player from the right. One of my favorite things about this picture is the obvious empty stool in the middle of...
