QtP - Concerts 1 and 2

The first two performances of Queering the Pitch are over, and next week it's off to the west coast to begin some exciting performances in the San Francisco Bay Area!  This weekend I performed Bach, Saint-Saens, and Muczynski for a service at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta where I played my Atlanta concert Monday night.  During the service, I heard a fantastic meditation from a member of the UUCA congregation, Russell Washington.  His speech, "I am what I am (be what you are)," was wonderfully moving.  Read and listen to it HERE.

The performance went well; there was a sizable audience in attendance and I received a number of wonderful comments afterwards.

This weekend, I'm spending a few days with members of my family in both Atlanta, GA and Ocracoke, NC before heading off to San Fran.  In SF, I'll be busking in the Castro, hopefully spending some time playing at Maitri, and performing two recitals, at UUSF and the LGBT Center.  If you're from the Bay Area, please consider attending one (OR BOTH!) of these performances.  If you have friends in CA, let them know!  Details HERE and HERE.

One of the joys of traveling is schlepping my cello through airports and onto planes.  There are always enjoyable comments from fellow travelers about my 'travel buddy,' the 'guitar' that is strapped to my back.  I'll be keeping track of the best and brightest comments. :)

For now, keep on keeping on!

Justin

Six days!!

Six days from now is the first 'Queering the Pitch' recital in Atlanta! I'm super excited to get started with performances! Yesterday I played the complete program for David Starkweather, Megan Chisom, David Peyton and Ryane Dunnagan.  Playing for colleagues is always much more nerve-wracking than performing for an audience.  After listening to the recording, I've set out a practice plan for the next six days!

I'm also getting ridiculously excited for my west coast trip and the performances that I have planned over the next three months.  Ned Rorem's, After Reading Shakespeare is really growing on me.  I'm really loving the beautiful, lyrical lines that Rorem spins throughout the piece.  It's really an exciting, roller coaster work.  I'm sure that audiences will love it!

Gallery: Suite for Solo Cello is equally as wonderful and I think audiences will really cling to the angular rhythms and beautiful harmonies.  It goes without saying that Benjamin Britten's Third Suite for Cello is a modern masterwork that ranks up there with any and all of the Bach Suites.  It is my favorite of Britten's works to play, and I think that comes through in the passion that is written in to the piece.

Did I mention that I'm getting excited?!  Only a few days away from the premiere!  Will you be there?

Click HERE for more information on the June 27 premiere recital and HERE for information on me and the trip!

Warmly,
Justin

Operation: Total Practice Seclusion

I'm back in Athens today after a long two weeks out of town.  On my flight yesterday, only two people asked me if my cello was a guitar.  Only two!  People must be getting more aware of the cello!  There were a few lines:

[about my cello in the seat next to me] "Hey, is that your travel buddy there?!"  Har har.
[TSA] "Pretty big viola!"  Ooops.

Today begins my practice immersion week where I'll be secluding myself in my practice room with the goal of complete mastery of the Rorem After Reading Shakespeare.  This is different from my usual tactic because I'll be taking a total time-out from the real world.  No phone calls.  No internet.  No TV.  Nothing.

This thing will be done soon!  If you miss me durin this time, visit my website, Facebook and Twitter to keep up on my life!

On the road again...

After a fantastic week on the Brown Farm in Salem, NY, I'm traveling again, this time to Harrisburg, PA.  After this brief vacation from life, it'll be back to Atlanta where I'll go into seclusion for the next 17 days preparing for the commencement of my recital series on June 27 in Atlanta.

I love traveling for a few reasons, not the least of which are the questions I receive when carrying my cello:

-"Is that a cello?"
-"So how long have you played the guitar?"
-"Do you ever wish that you had a smaller instrument?  Like the flute?"
-"Do you have to buy a seat for that thing?  Full price?!"

I think over the course of my tour, I'll steal an idea from my dear friend, cellist Jen Bewerse, and keep a tally of my favorite traveling-musician-questions.  Does anyone else, cellists and otherwise, have these issues with curious co-travelers?  I'd love to hear stories!

All for now,
JD

The Cello Farm, round 3

I've been spending the week in Salem, upstate NY.  It's been a fascinating musical experience that I can't rave about enough!  Salem is quite rural, very different from Boston and Atlanta, and we live, rehearse, and coexist for the week on the Brown Farm.  Living quarters include a chicken coop, two barns, and a farm house.  A grand piano and rehearsal space is situated in the former hay loft of one of the barns.  Technology is not so up to date and my iPhone doesn't have service but in a 10 square foot area on the front yard.  Internet is spotty.

It's fascinating to immerse yourself in music in such an environment with no distractions.  I'm currently surrounded by some of the most fascinating and talented cellists and musicians that I've had the honor to meet.  I'm playing a work by John Harbison, Abu Ghraib, which was written for my fantastic teacher, Rhonda Rider to premiere in 2006.  It's gritty and contemplative and a joy to play, considering I'm working with the outstanding pianist, Judith Gordon.

Next week is back to Atlanta, going into practice seclusion before Queering the Pitch: music for solo cello recital tour begins on June 27.  Check my website for details!

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In the name of the cello,
JD