So Far and Commitments

Hello All,
Well so far, I have had a good semester. Some of my classes are easy; some are difficult...but those are the ones I like. I have been spending much more time with practicing, and focusing on trombone stuff. I have been receiving information about graduate schools, and there are a few that have caught my attention. One of them is the San Francisco Conservatory. I know I know SAN FRANCISCO!!! It's hard to believe that I am considering the other side of the country, but I don't know if I am just a little crazy, or if this could be a possibility. Who knows but only the Good Lord. It's hard to say right now, and there are many factors involved in picking a school and getting into it, but I got more on my plate to worry about than grad school.
But for now I have been focusing a lot on excerpts and going through a top 40 list, just to know them backwards and forwards. There are a few competitions I am looking into entering. The Van Haney Philharmonic Prize which I entered last year, and personally wasn't too pleased with how I did. Another competition I am going to being looking into is the Zellmer-Minnesota Orchestra Trombone Competition which is much like the Van Haney Competition. The great thing is over half the excerpts asked are found in both competitions. One last thing that I will be sending a resume in for is the opening for a principal/assistant principal trombone in the National Symphony Orchestra, my teacher's orchestra right before he came to Grace.
So as you can see there is a lot going on this school year!! Oh and how could I forget my Junior recital in the spring. Even today I was looking into some possible pieces and can not wait to play. With all of these competitions, auditions, and recitals, I realized that I have to make some commitments....long-term commitments. The Van Haney Prize requirements are not due until December, so I have to (HAVE TO) start working now on the required excerpts. And I am excited about these next few months, and how much growth and progress there will be--especially with my "new toy."
I was talking with a friend a few nights ago about what I wanted to do in life, and they thought it was so exciting. Playing in a professional orchestra...exciting? I have to admit I just love talking about what I think the Good Lord wants me to do. I can't help but be excited about these opportunities. It can be a long journey, but boy oh boy, I think it will be a fun one. It has been so far! I'm enjoying this journey and absolutely can not wait to see where the Good Lord will take me in graduate school and/or an orchestra. San Francisco? Chicago? Nashville? Zurich? It could be anywhere, and that's what makes it so exciting, cuz I have no clue about anything!!
I close with being reminded of a scene in Gods and Generals where a adjutant asks General Stonewall Jackson what they should do about some desserters of the Stonewall Brigade. Jackson says that we are to do our duty by sending them through court martial; the rest is up to God. That's the way I feel about all of this--I gotta do my duty as a Christian trombone player, and let God do the rest.
Sure takes some pressure off of me!! :)

Whelp gonna go and practice some more William Tell and Rhenish!!

From
J-man (Ps. 31:14-16)