Better late than never! 2023 has been off to a fast start, and I'm excited to share the amazing Fall 2022 season highlights that I've been fortunate enough to experience. I continued my full time work with the AMAZING team at the New Jersey Symphony as their Education Coordinator, had many performance opportunities, consulted on a very interesting bassoon product (more coming soon), and had a flourishing start to my NJ based private studio.
Alongside these professional successes, what made this year truly one I'll never forget was getting married to my best friend and (now!) wife, Catherine Heiba. I have shared some highlights from our destination wedding and honeymoon down below, be sure to take in the beautiful views!
June
18th - Wedding Performance at Blue Hill at Stone Barns
As I mentioned above, with my own wedding prep taking place much of the year, it was so nice to be on the other side of the equation! I joined a few colleagues in a wind quintet hired to perform at this BEAUTIFUL location. The courtyard at the Blue Hill Farm was a beautiful visual, location and acoustic space to perform in
July
9th - Brook Orchestra Repertoire Reading
It was a pleasure to join the Brook Orchestra for their season ending repertoire reading session, and getting to play famous music is always a good time! Very fun to know that a great young ensemble is located right in my own backyard! Check out the ensemble whenever you are able at:
18-21st - Lyndhurst Summer Music Camp
Another wonderful program nearby I was fortunate enough to work with was the Lyndhurst Summer Music Camp. This program brought me in to provide private lessons to their bassoonists for an entire week. I love seeing music programs supported by their townships, and Lyndhurst is the perfect example of that!
28th - Opera Performance at Pennsatauken
I ended my month of July with a pops performance down in Pennsatauken, NJ. This outdoor performance put us through all weather elements imaginable; scorching heat, wind, rain, and (eventually) thunder/lighting! Needless to say we ended early...but having a wonderful section-mate in Zachary Feingold made it all worth it!
August
Bridal Shower in Michigan
With our wedding happening later this year, we flew out to Michigan to enjoy a lovely bridal shower with my side of the family. So many fun traditions and superstitions that we didn't know about! This was a beautiful start to what was a year the two of us won't forget any time soon.
28th - Light Opera of New Jersey in Ocean Grove
I was fortunate enough to play at the BEAUTIFUL great auditorium in Ocean Grove NJ, alongside Dominic Panunto, for a wonderful performance of Beethoven's Overture to Consecration of the House. This was no easy piece! Something i'll be practicing starting at 5:20 in the video below for double tonguing regularly...take a listen!
September
20th - Recording of Pierne Concertpiece Op. 35
Part of my efforts in growing a strong bassoon studio was recruiting students who were in the midst of preparing for NJ Area, Regional and All State auditions. Luckily everyone was asked to play the same work! I recorded Pierne's Concertpiece op. 35 for student reference.
October
1st - Wedding in Aruba
Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Cat and I. With both of our families flying out to this amazing place in the world to celebrate our marriage together, I can't pick a favorite moment (after the actual wedding of course ❤️) among the scenery, family time, relaxing beaches and lifelong memories that were made in Aruba. All of it comes second to marrying your best friend!
12th - JP Stevens High School Ringer Performance & Lessons
My relationship with the music program at John P. Stevens High School in Edison has been growing week by week! Their wonderful band directors have encouraged students to play the bassoon, and have recommended me for all of their student's instruction. A fantastic program with wonderful support for the arts.
22nd & 23rd - Light Opera of New Jersey performances of Bernstein's Candide
The Light Opera of New Jersey put on a wonderful, and unique, performance of Leonard Bernstein's Candide. This production was in the beautiful Dorothy Young Center for the Arts concert hall at Drew University. Wonderful singers, colleagues and an engaging "semi-sitzprobe" performance setting made for a lovely performance and thoroughly entertained the audiences!
23rd - Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts Salon Series
Wharton's faculty showcase "Salon Series" invited me and my colleague Noah Kay to perform with their wonderful flutist Dana Nix. This concert featured my first (if you can believe it) performance of the famous Poulenc Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano. Listen below if you missed the live stream!
29th - Performance with Zombie Opera in Jersey City
The wonderful community of Jersey City came out to support ANOTHER very interesting performance of the Zombie Opera Circus. This outdoor performance featured a pops-style concert of some of opera's greatest and most recognizable hits, with some fantastic singers and a full presence throughout Hamilton Park.
30th - New Jersey Youth Symphony Ringer Performance
I was delighted to join the New Jersey Youth Symphony as a ringer on bassoon AND return to the contrabassoon (first time since my master's degree!). This was a beautiful performance, and cultivated in a wonderful performance of Kyle Newmaster's Impressions of Cheonmachong: Concerto for Korean Three Drum Dance. Take a listen!
November
4th - Long Island Concert Orchestra Performance
It's always nerve-wracking to come face to face with one of the most daunting technical excerpts for your instrument. I'm quite proud of how my debut of Mozart's Symphony No. 35 "Haffner" went! Take a listen below, the 4th movement begins at 16:23. The Long Island Concert Orchestra was fantastic to play with at the beautiful Broadway Presbyterian Church.
Honeymoon in Hawai'i
Cat and I celebrated our honeymoon on a beautiful trip to O'ahu, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawai'i. Here are some of our favorite experiences and views from this trip!
30th - Light Opera of New Jersey performance of Verdi's La Traviata
My final performance of the year was, fittingly, an operatic performance with the Light Opera of New Jersey! This production of La Traviata was held at the lovely South Orange Performing Arts Center, and was a perfect end to an incredibly musical season for me!
It was a wonderful end to 2022, with momentum carrying me into a successful 2023! Stay tuned and follow along for more exciting announcements and projects :)