Messiah part 1 at Bates and The AVCO string quartet at The Royal Oak Room

This weekend (12/2-/4) was busy with classical music-- which is how every weekend should always be.
Friday and Saturday at 8pm was Handel's Messiah Part 1 conducted by John Corrie with the Bates College Choir and a small orchestra (including me of course).

It was exciting, well executed, and the music was uplifting to say the least. I still get to play this music in two weeks with another orchestra so I have an excuse to keep the music in my head.

BTW-- for ballet dancers, The Nutcracker is the seasonal show that one can rely on. For orchestra members, Handel's Messiah is our seasonal standard. I play with musicians that personally own their own copies of the music (with marks from 10 years passed), and some feel right to show up for the performance only. This year marks my third year playing the Messiah-- I look forward to many more!

On Sunday I took part in something I have been inquiring about (even on this blog) for some time-- a string quartet! Former members of Androscoggin Valley Community Orchestra met together to play chamber music for the retirement of a Head Start program coordinator. We played at the Royal Oak Room in Lewiston and it was a good experience-- and something we all agreed should be repeated-- and it will should a need arise (we are all busy). I did get to find out that my Schellinger violin is in need of new strings-- my Obligatos are dead and cannot hold a pure note for too long. Good string quartets usually agree on  strings to use-- I sent out my opinions to the group-- we will see what happens when a new gig appears. Keep in mind that strings for classical instruments are very expensive-- I am looking at around $65 for 4 strings- and this is somewhat of a bargain (with hopes that my violin accepts their sound). For cello-- well, get a loan!

More concerts coming up. I will keep readers in touch!

Thanks!