"In the Mood"

Well, here's the biggest bit of news that has happened to me lately:

I auditioned for the second alto chair of the Glenn Miller Orchestra back in May. I have been taking auditions since I got to Maryland for military jobs and non-military jobs and nothing had panned out, so I just went for it.

Met up with them in Hagerstown, MD and auditioned during the sound check. It was pretty scary, b/c they basically just had me sit in with the band and even though I tried to look at every chart I could get my hands on the charts I read were ones I had never seen.

I did ok at the audition. The concert was great. They played great together. Told me that they would be in touch, but I felt pretty good about the audition. Organizer said they were impressed with my doubling skills.

Well Ed Walters called m for a gig at the Kennedy Center and the guy I sat next to was Walt Borys. Great player and gentleman. I had told him about this audition and he said he knew the leader Larry O'Brien really well. So he said he would call him and put in a personal recommendation for me.

Well after about a month and a half of waiting for them to get everything straightened out. Bart, the road manager, calls me during Big River when I checked my message he said that I had the 2nd alto chair when the current guy left!! I am so excited to have this opportunity. Can't believe I will be traveling across the country,Canada, and going to Japan to play my horn, then getting to play with such a great group, then getting paid really well to do so!!!

Gonna be fun!