Two days ago, I was back to the grindstone, playing my audition for NUSO. This was the same day where I got what must have been a migrane, even though I didn't get my usual visual warning (thanks, brain, for getting rid of that convenient window to take some excedrin or something). But it was just a dull ache as I walked into my audition, so I was still mostly alert. Despite the VERY ANNOYING DRILLING in the next room that seemed to overshadow everything good I did in the Tchaikovsky, I made it through. Played 5 out of my 7 excerpts that I was to prepare, and honestly had no idea where that would land me.
Fast forward to today - Yampolsky comes up to me, flanked by two of his nicest conducting students, and tells me that I am his new principal second. Between all the crap I felt like I went through last year and hearing this news in a Russian accent just puts everything into perspective for me. I AM SO PROUD OF ME RIGHT NOW!
But it gets better... about half an hour ago, I went to the music office to pick up my 2nd vioin stuff (otherwise I'd be sightreading tomorrow, and yikes), and Yampolsky is there again, asking me to play in a piano quintet. "Now, who have I assigned for first violin... someone new..." We figure out who it is, and he says, "Oh, yes, but I want to switch that, because he doesn't have your sound."
If I was operating on a little less sleep today, I would have started to cry. I had no idea he regarded me that way. To trust me enough to give me the first violin in a contemporary piano quintet... pardon the awful pun, but it was music to my ears. He even suggested that I had a Russian style of playing, which is the second time in three months I've heard that from an incredibly respected Russian violinist.
Alright, so my lessons with Ribeiro have been a pain to suffer through lately. I'm not convinced they won't get better (yet). And now I have the support of my loving conductor beside me...
This year involves an orchestra, a potentially very challenging chamber group, rip-you-apart lessons, a suzuki training class, orchestral rep that I have just GOT to sound better on to get a job, and 20 hours a week working in the music library. Frankly, I'm not sure how I'm even going to get to Christmas.
But when I'll do, I'll feel like I've accomplished so much. I will take today to just be proud of being me. Pardon my arrogance... but I'm pretty damn cool.
Previous | Next