WoOt! Here's one for Classical fans...

[Yeshanu]

I play in a small community orchestra (http://www.cambridgeorchestra.ca/), one that's less than ten years old. I'm one of the founding members. :)

We've had some fantastic concerts so far, but and upcoming concert on Feb. 13 is going to be the highlight so far of our short existence. We're going to be playing while this guy (http://www.benheppner.com/main2.cfm?id=EF1DDBC6-B6A7-8AA0-684E080AA0E346FE) sings! :D

If any of you are in the area of Cambridge, Ontario, on February 13, I'd love to see you there. I'm in the viola section.

[Yeshanu]

This all got real tonight, when we started to practice the music for the concert.

Eek! I'm not normally terribly nervous doing stuff like this, but Ben Heppner is one of the top Wagnerian tenors in the entire world, and I'm going to be playing in the orchestra that accompanies him!

I think I'd better practice...

[P.H.Delarran]

That's so exciting. I applaud community orchestras and bands..and may get the courage to join one myself one day (I play violin). And having a guest performer would add pressure but an even better sense of accomplishment..not to mention fun.

What instrument do you play?

[Yeshanu]

Viola. :D

And I'm really not very good. I encourage you to go out and join an orchestra. You can be like me and sit in the back and fake half the notes, but even though I'm not great and I don't practice a lot (though that's obviously going to have to change) I still have a lot of fun, and I've improved a great deal since I started with the orchestra.

As for your instrument, it needs to be played. Many people are amazed to find out that string instruments, if played regularly, don't deteriorate, but increase in value and quality. The cello my daughter plays will be 100 this year or next, I think. It's worth about $20,000. Her former teacher was briefly considering buying a cello that was worth half a million dollars, and had been in continuous use since the time of J.S. Bach.

[P.H.Delarran]

Viola players are awesome. ;) (would that be a violaist? )
I agree about playing, I have phases where I will play almost daily and then go months and months without practice. Having an ensemble or orchestra to play with would be motivating.

[Yeshanu]

Three and a half days until dress rehearsal...

News article here. (http://news.therecord.com/arts/article/483924)

[Michael J. Hoag]

Congrats! Cool for you. I've heard him about a dozen times. The first time, I was disappointed that it would be Hep instead of somebody else! I thought his voice was kind of thin and pointy.

Then I heard him.

Live, it has a warmth that just envelops you. You can almost see it pour into the house. I go gaga just thinking about it....