This past Saturday, October 16th, was a full-immersion music day, and boy, was it fun!
About two dozen musicians gathered at the home of Judy Moslak, one of the founders of the Orchard Lake Philharmonic Society. Judy has just obtained a beautiful two-manual harpsichord, and it sounded wonderful as the group played a number of selections from Bach.
After a morning of practice, we performed a living room concert, featuring performances from Bugs Beddow on trombone with Judy on the harpsichord, and a trio of Ann Konopinski on flute, Walter Dean on bassoon, and Judy on the harpsichord. Then the entire group played the first movement from Bach’s 4th Brandeburg Concerto, featuring Ann on flute and Andrew D’Allemand as the principal violin.
The highlight for me was performing as part of the orchestra with Pauline Martin, who played Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto #1 brilliantly, despite closing a car door on her left hand earlier in the day. It was the first time I had ever been part of an orchestra playing with a soloist, and I had a ringside seat – nearly sharing the same piano bench as Pauline!
The day was an unqualified success – leading members of the group to think seriously about performing as the Pebble Creek Chamber Orchestra and scheduling public performances in the near future.
The first performance will be at the OLPS FUNraiser at Harrison High School in Farmington Hills on Sunday, November 14th, at 2pm. For more information, go to OLPSMusic.org and click on “FUNRaiser Tickets.”
Later in the afternoon, I joined the crew at WRCJ-FM for two hours of conversation. The station is in the midst of its fall membership campaign. Two-thirds of the station’s operating budget comes from member contributions. If you feel passionately about the need for a radio station in Southeast Michigan which provides free classical and traditional jazz music on a daily basis, please make a contribution at WRCJFM.org or by calling 1-866-909-9725.
Since work schedules have prevented me from taking part in the OLPS Symphony this fall (now 60 members strong!), the day of playing and fellowship was a very refreshing one for me, allowing me to open the new work week with recharged batteries and a renewed sense of purpose.
Midlife Musicians 