My newfound career as a concert clarinetist turned out to be a brief one. After one rehearsal, the sky rained down and the river spilled its banks. So I had rehearsals and scheduled concerts canceled ever since.
This morning, I finally had my second practice with the group. And -- with any amount of luck that we, thus far this season, have not seen much of -- we'll perform on the downtown Pedestrian Mall tonight.
During my first rehearsal, I was asked to introduce myself to the band, and I shared with them the story of my niece regifting the refurbished clarinet to me. There were lots of "awwww"s and a smattering of applause. Several people came up to me after to thank me for sharing and for joining the band.
The most jaw-dropping moment for me came when the band director looked to the first-chair clarinet player and said, "Himie, a C for the band, please."
Himie? Himie? There surely cannot be another Himie who plays the clarinet?! Those of you from out of town or out of touch with the music world may not know. But the first-chair clarinet in my community band is...
Himie - Freaking - Voxman!!!
He is a LEGEND. The UI's Voxman Music Building is named after him (alas, one of the multiple buildings flooded on the arts campus). He has been recognized as one of the most influential American music educators of the last century. Originally trained as a - of all things - chemical engineer, he joined the UI School of Music in 1939 and became director in 1954, remaining until his retirement in 1980. He's now in his 90s.
And he's in my community band. Excuse me while I swoon.
This morning, I finally had my second practice with the group. And -- with any amount of luck that we, thus far this season, have not seen much of -- we'll perform on the downtown Pedestrian Mall tonight.
During my first rehearsal, I was asked to introduce myself to the band, and I shared with them the story of my niece regifting the refurbished clarinet to me. There were lots of "awwww"s and a smattering of applause. Several people came up to me after to thank me for sharing and for joining the band.
The most jaw-dropping moment for me came when the band director looked to the first-chair clarinet player and said, "Himie, a C for the band, please."
Himie? Himie? There surely cannot be another Himie who plays the clarinet?! Those of you from out of town or out of touch with the music world may not know. But the first-chair clarinet in my community band is...
Himie - Freaking - Voxman!!!
He is a LEGEND. The UI's Voxman Music Building is named after him (alas, one of the multiple buildings flooded on the arts campus). He has been recognized as one of the most influential American music educators of the last century. Originally trained as a - of all things - chemical engineer, he joined the UI School of Music in 1939 and became director in 1954, remaining until his retirement in 1980. He's now in his 90s.
And he's in my community band. Excuse me while I swoon.
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