In 2015 I had the pleasure of playing a house concert in Ohio for parent’s of a friend of mine from college. Lindsey, now married to Joe, both musicians, sang and played the piano during the program. I played a Bach concerto and several compositions by Green Dot Competition winners. And then the three of us performed the last piece on the program together.
Wally, one of the Green Dot winners lives in Ohio and was able to come out and see the concert, so of course I programmed his piece Suite America. He happily gave the audience a very personal background on the piece, what it meant to him, and how it came to be. I just love moments like that.
That concert feels like a lifetime ago, and in a way I guess it kind of was. A ton has happened (and not happened) in the last six years. There were a lot of ups and downs emotionally and creatively during that time. By 2015 the Green Dot Journey project had turned out differently than planned and I couldn’t help but be sad, even though the composer competition part of the project was absolutely amazing. I’ve learned a lot, these last few years, about so many things and know (hopefully) what to do this time to make it happen.
Currently, with the whole covid thing, I appreciate those moments of audience connection even more, having not performed live in what seems like forever. Virtual concerts are all well and good and I appreciate them as a creative outlet but I really, really, really miss connecting with a live audience. I don’t know how long it will take for things to get back to normal or what that new normal will look like but I do know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’m waiting with bated breath…
