Everybody just stay calm
NCO Music Director Paul Gambill and Executive Director Connie Valentine (Paul and Connie herafter) have been in constant, blurry motion getting ready for one of the busiest and most remarkable weeks in the history of the orchestra. The next six days will include two concerts, two world premieres, a recording session at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and the launch of the first of two Uncovered projects, not to mention this blog. And it all happens during the annual convention of the American Symphony Orchestra League, something that's never happened in Nashville before. For Paul and Connie, this is not what you'd call a pressure-free week...
Friday night, the NCO presents "Gypsy Nights," which includes a world premiere by composer-in-residence David Balakrishan, as well as two pieces co-composed by our guitar-god-in-residence John Jorgenson. Details are HERE. It's the last concert of the 2006-7 season, which also makes it the start of the 2007-8 season, the one we'll be documenting through NCO Uncovered. When NCO Uncovered goes live in the next week or so, members will get their first chance to meet the individual musicians of the NCO, plus Balakrishnan and featured guests Gilles Apap (violin) and Lawrence Kaptain (cimbalom). And yes, we'll let you in on what a cimbalom is.
Meanwhile, John Jorgenson's Uncovered project launches in the next day or two. Our first features will include video of John playing the freakishly fast and fervid "Ghost Dance" with the NCO at the Ryman Auditorium. Also, Uncovered editor Craig Havighurst interviews John about the pieces he'll be performing at Gypsy Nights, as well as the "Tarantella & Reverie" that he'll record on Saturday. Before the week is out, Uncovered members will have fresh rehearsal footage to check out, as well as discussion among the recording team how to handle the unique opportunities and challenges of recording in the Schermerhorn Hall.
Hang on to your guitar picks. It's going to move fast...
Stay Calm!!?? Good advice, Paul. I'll try my best to be a solid support for this incredible experience, and my interns are psyched. This is what we live for!
(audio engineers for the NCO)
Posted by: Gary Hedden | June 18, 2007 at 10:43 PM
Every time we rehearse a series of concerts lately there is a world premeire on the program. So...there is always a little tension associated with it. However, I don't believe I have ever seen the NCO as full of new ideas and flourishes as this week with all the intense music making going on, the excitement of the premeires, plus the uNCOvered project.
I'm exhausted at the end of these rehearsals
David Hancock
NCO's Principal Cellist
Posted by: Cello1 | June 21, 2007 at 06:33 AM
Dear Connie, Paul, and members of the NCO,
You're dedication and constant ability to push the boudaries of excellence and art in Nashville enriches our community and is an inspiration. I am happy to have gotten to know the NCO on a more personal level as of late. It is a pleasure to get to know your organization and help lend our ideas to the advancement of music without boundaries. Ever since the launch of the NCO, you're group continues to find new and exciting ways to bring originality and creativity to the music and shows you put on. All of your hard work has payed off in manifold. Keep up the great work!!!!
Posted by: Caroline Yoder | June 28, 2007 at 08:24 AM