It's about that time. Less than 48 hours before I get into my car and start driving back to Oklahoma. There is a lot of sweet and sour emotions along with this realization. I'm glad to be going home to see my family and start to get ready for school. I'm going to a new school this semester and I have a lot of things to get all together before I go. Plus, a little less hectic of a schedule will be nice before school. At the same time, I've had such an amazing summer; I can hardly describe how much fun I've had. From making some amazing friends and acquaintances, to making some life changing music, a lot has happened this summer. While a part of me wants this to continue forever, I take comfort in the fact that it's ending while I still feel that way. Ending happily, with good thoughts is the way I would want to leave Breck. I feel like this place is my second home. I definitely want to come back for a second season. I've decided I don't want to come back next year, but come back the year after that. That way, I can hopefully improve enough to land a position higher up, maybe even solo with the orchestra.
Looking back, I don't know how I've survived without a summer festival these last 2 summers. Summer festivals inspire, motivate, and make you such a better musician. No wonder I've had such hard semesters, there wasn't any wonderful music making time to look back on or look forward for that matter. I know I need and want to go to festivals as much as I can, whenever I can. Hopefully, it will always be an option. Now that I've got my foot in the door with one really good festival, I hope that will help me elsewhere. If nothing else, at future auditions, I'll have a little confidence to fall back on.
I've realized also since I've been how lucky I am to have the friends that I have. For me, I've come to appreciate the importance of being surrounded by people who aren't self-destructive. I've managed to reach a good place since I've been here and I accredit it to the fact that I have friends who are confident in who they are. It might not make sense, but it's been very crucial to my well being. You mimic those around you whether you intend to or not. Being around people who love music, love life, and love being around you can make all the difference. So here's to Melissa, Joe, Christa, Jennifer, Tim, Christine, and Calvin.
I've heard comments all summer from patrons about how enthusiastic the orchestra is and sounds this season. I think there are two distinguishable characteristics as to why this is. For starters, we all wanted to be here. This is one of the festivals for our age group and level. The people here aren't here because they didn't get in somewhere else. That I think has been extremely crucial to our continued enthusiasm and success throughout NRO season. Secondly, just about all of us are good people. We're easy to work with, we love what we do, and we're looking how to get as much as we can out of this experience. It really only takes one person to ruin the group atmosphere, and it usually doesn't take much. I've appreciated the fact that while maybe the rehearsals directly after a concert at 9 am in the morning are not exactly our best, we get right back on the band (orchestra?) wagon and get back to how we were and how we know we can play. I've also immensely appreciated (and learned from) the level of professionalism within the group. I know I'm leaving here with a better understanding of what It is to be a part of such an enormous ensemble and learning how to make it work. It's such a vital part to the orchestral experience and it will be needed/used from here on out.
Well, bed is calling and I have our last rehearsal tomorrow at 10am. I will hopefully get up early enough so that I can start loading my car. But, considering my usual waking patterns I don't foresee getting up in time to do anything else besides getting showered and dressed. 36 hours left. So sad, so glad. I'll miss you Breckenridge!
