The Word 'Cool'

Hi All:

Few in our audience know about the ISO world class library head by Principal Librarian Mike Runyan (plus his colleagues Dave Gruender, Susan Grymonpre, and Laura Cones - and a wonderful volunteer!).  If you believe this to be a "large" department - you are wrong.  They really churn out the work!  

For instance in a given week we may perform:  2 Discovery concerts for school children, 1 Happy Hour concert, and 3 Classical Series Concerts.  So, that makes 3 folders of music.  When music is delivered from the publisher rental houses, it does not simply go into the musician folders. Next steps: string bowings need to take place, then circulation of the parts to principal strings and principal percussionist and to our Principal Harp, Diane Evans, so she can figure out pedalings and clean up her parts.  Practice parts made available.  Updating the programs with correct dates, spellings.  Information on needed equipment to our stagehands.  Planning for the next couple of seasons - AND CHANGES.  An ill artist, the wrong edition arrives.  I have seen a missing part arrive by fax in 5 minutes from another orchestra to save the day.

Pops series weeks - yikes.  Many of these weekends consist of world premier arrangements and a show never before performed.  They are really busy.  Actually I would love for one of our librarians to make comment and go into more detail.

But, here is their challenge.  Many times during a season we perform a Richard Hayman arrangement of Indiana fight songs.  If I remember correctly:  IU, Purdue, Notre Dame,  and I am forgetting one.  But, I know the Butler Fight Song is not included.  And so, our library is now on notice that in the future Butler is just going to have to be included.  (chuckle)

Hey folks - I am not sure if you are interested but on 4/19 the ISO Side-by-Side concert takes place with so many talented auditioned high school students given the opportunity to perform next to members of the orchestra.  It makes for an exciting, never to be forgotten, evening.  Come on down and bring your musical kids, cousins and neighbors.  It will inspire them to practice.

That is it for now.  Looking forward to the games tonight and after my full day at the University of Indianapolis (my students better have practiced) on Monday the championship game.