by Kenneth Woods | Oct 13, 2008 | A view from the podium
In a rare sign that sanity (at least pockets of sanity) does still exist in the world, New York Times contributor Paul Krugman has won the Nobel Prize for Economics. Paul Krugman is one of two political writers that I read pretty religiously (the other is Salon’s...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 13, 2008 | A view from the podium
At our season opening concert last week, the OES did our first Audience Survey in many years. The results were surprising and interesting in several ways. Below see the results and my comments Please rate your Overall Experience with us tonight- Overall Experience...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 12, 2008 | A view from the podium
I’ve just returned from an intense day’s rehearsal with the Lancashire Chamber Orchestra for our concert this coming Saturday, October 18. I had to share a little random moment with Vftp readers. In the run up to this concert, I’ve been in regular touch with our new...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 11, 2008 | A view from the podium
Tonight’s rehearsal promises plenty of challenges, but others await that I have not foreseen. Our work in the first rehearsal on Thursday had convinced me that we needed a lot more time on the Bloch. Fortunately, we don’t have to stick with a pre-announced rehearsal...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 11, 2008 | A view from the podium
UPCOMING CONCERT Lancashire Chamber Orchestra Kenneth Woods- principal conductor Saturday, October 18, 2008 7:30 PM Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Program Mozart- Overture to “The Impressario” (“Der Schauspieldirektor”) Gal- Violin Concerto op 39 (UK PREMIERE)...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 11, 2008 | A view from the podium
The first quote of the week is paraphrased to protect the identity and location of the speaker…. “She’s been playing in two orchestras. The first one’s claim to fame is that they were founded one year before the oldest professional orchestra in the country and, having...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 10, 2008 | A view from the podium
Friday Schedule- 10AM Rehearse Schubert and Tchaikovsky with Suzanne, Adam, David and Parry 12 Noon Rehearse Beethoven op 18 no 1 with Adam, Suzanne and David 1 PM Lunch 2 PM Meet with Christina to finalize press release announcing my departure 3-5 PM String Sectional...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 10, 2008 | A view from the podium
7:05 and it is time to begin. Starting rehearsals at 7:05 has been a masterstroke of planning for us, as it has cut down late arrivals enormously, but finishing at 9:35 has been more problematic. Funny that the very musician who always remembers they have that extra...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 9, 2008 | A view from the podium
Acknowledging the dichotomy between real time and blog time, I’ll begin by admitting I’m back in Cardiff after all the excitement and brouhaha of the week in Pendleton, but rather than starting with the end, or even cutting to the chase with thoughts about my...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 4, 2008 | A view from the podium
October 3, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Pendleton – The Oregon East Symphony regrets to announce that Kenneth Woods, will be stepping down as the orchestra’s Conductor and Music Director at the end of this season. Woods made his announcement at a Board of Directors...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 2, 2008 | A view from the podium
The latest audio ad for the current OES concert can be heard here. In other news- “Best Damn Redneck Orchestra in the World” T-shirts are now available. They come in all sizes, and any color you like, as long as that color is black. $15 + shipping. Email...
by Kenneth Woods | Oct 1, 2008 | A view from the podium
I’m sorry that this blog has been so quiet of late. It turns out there is such a thing as “too busy,” something that I always thought of as more of a state of mind than a state of reality…. It is a quirk of this time of year that not only do I have a lot of concerts...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 20, 2008 | A view from the podium, Explore the Score, Favorite posts, Nuts and bolts
It’s a bit of a cliché to say that an artist bared his or her soul in a work of art. One of the few pieces I can think of for which that expression is truly apt is the Schumann Violin Concerto, which we are doing next week with the English Symphony Orchestra and...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 19, 2008 | A view from the podium, Performing Life
7:30 AM: Sunday morning and I’m up too freakin’ early- I’ve got a short window to meet my dear old friend, the marvelous horn player Nancy B, for breakfast. I’ve got to walk to Central Park South in time for a 9 AM meetup, then David Y can pick me up at 10:30 to head...
by Kenneth Woods | Sep 17, 2008 | A view from the podium
From my sister, the conductor Cynthia Woods, explaining to a board member why it might be better in this instance to start a concert with an overture by Brahms or Wagner than one by Mozart…. Mozart is the string bikini of composers- if you can pull it off,...
Recent Comments