I had a scary audition today

I auditioned for a gig quartet today consisting of Ole Miss professors and one really good student (but sometimes with rotation, it's all profs). There are basically no violists in town, so there are a handful of trios but not really any quartets. The professors were really good and I was quite nervous about playing today - we read through Mozart, Beethoven, Ives, Dohnanyi, and many more. Some of it was really difficult music, and I haven't practiced all that much since I finished at Wheaton. I made it! I think they were somewhat pleased. I am a terrible sight reader, so I had to really concentrate, wear my glasses, and COUNT nonstop. :-) I am SO excited about playing with a group regularly and playing gigs and maybe a recital! I didn't realize how important being in chamber groups and orchestras were until I left Wheaton. The people are really nice.

I guess I haven't written about how I am going to be playing in the Ole Miss orchestra. I will rehearse with them once a week on Wednesdays and play in the concerts. I'm excited about this because I will hopefully make some friends and some connections, as well as keep up my 'chops' and have some very non-competitive playing (compared to playing in the orchestra at Wheaton). I am thankful for the experience I had at Wheaton, it's such an amazing orchestra, but it's time to move on to something a little less stressful. I'm too competitive and that caused for a very stressful few years. I also had some interesting personality conflicts with certain members of my section. We'll just leave it at that! Basically, I'm not in it to be principle this time, so now I can have fun and enjoy the music! :-)

Ole Miss has a music grad school and a few profs who play (including one of the quartet members), so I will fit right in. I'm not the only non undergrad in there. Plus I'm only a year older anyways! First rehearsal is Sunday! Normally its Tues, Wed, and Thurs (and I will only go Wed) but it's the kick-off rehearsal and pizza night. I'm both extremely nervous (because I don't know anyone) and really excited. :-) It'll be nice to know some other music people.

Well, I'm pretty tired...the "audition"/reading was 2 1/2 hours...that's a long time for me to keep my concentration on one thing!