Let's Make Summer Music

Hasta la vista amigos – au revoir nos amis!

I was so exhausted last night that I didn’t get to say goodbye to many of the faculty who left early this morning. This was not helped by there being a second concert in Kilrush, after the grand finale concert in UCH. Personally, I don’t think this was a good idea, because it meant that the faculty and staff didn’t have the chance for a final farewell party which has always happened in the past.

Some of the people I missed were:

1. Oboe master Tim Hurtz from Penn State, who left early Monday morning while I was still dead to the world. When SMS 2006 came round I had been dithering for about a year as to what instrument to take up and had more or less plumbed for the clarinet. It was Tim’s marvelous rendition of the Oboe Concerto at the Georgian House that finally tipped the balance in favour of the oboe. Curiously, I was seated in the front row in UCH when Ray Still, one of the all time great oboe players, played at one of the first SMS concerts in UCH I was at – I think the year was 2003. I got some great shots of Ray playing. I hardly knew what an oboe was then, let alone that I would fall in love with it enough to take it up through one of Ray Still’s star students within three years!
2. Clarinetist Gene Ramsbottom and his lovely wife Maureen and their two gorgeous sons, for whom SMS 2009 was their first year.  Hope to see you all again in 2010.
3. Pianist Mina Perry, who left last week, and whom I didn’t get to say goodbye to for the second year in a row! I’ll send you on some haiku, Mina! In the meantime stay well and happy.

If I missed you and you’re not in the above (very short) list, it’s because it’s late and I’m tired and still not left Brookfield Hall as the SMS Office in UCH is only half dismounted. There’s another half day to go!