correspondence catchup

On Friday morning, I was finally able to catch up on WEEKS worth of emails. I came across a few that I thought I'd share...

This is from Eric Beltran, the director at Nazareth Academy. You can CLICK HERE to read more about this concert... in a nutshell, we performed Chaos Theory and received some mixed responses from the audience:

I just wanted you to know that after you posted that blog, my voice mail at school has been very active...in a good way for once. Many of the calls were from parents who were really appreciative of you coming and of how much they loved Chaos Theory.

What I really appreciate about this email is that parents are taking the time to recognize this director's efforts and good work with this ensemble. Eric is doing a great deal to share his passion and expertise with his students, and to provide them with resources and instruments. I'm very glad to hear he's getting some recognition for that.

This next one was from a band director who has been trying to procure a copy of TranZendental Danse of Joi for MONTHS:

Just wanted to let you know that I contacted Shattinger music, and I should have "JOI" by the end of the week. I don't know what in the world is up with Pepper. I contacted them again a few days ago and they said that they couldn't get it and mentioned something about "James Bond Music Publisher"???

Anyway, the music should be here this week.

I have no idea what I ever did to Mr. J.W. Pepper, but it must've been really, really bad. If I had a nickel for every email I've received, telling me that Mr. Pepper turned them away and told them my music was not available... well, I'd have a lot of nickels. Mr. Pepper deserves a out-behind-the-woodshed-pass-me-a-can-'o'-whupass-four-alarm rant... well, maybe another day. In the meantime, folks -- order your music from Shattinger.

This is from a school who will remain nameless:

XXXXXXXXXX is still interested in procuring your services for a performance next year in XXXXXXXXX. In addition to performing Chaos Theory, Concerto for a Gentleman by Rodrigo with our string orchestra sounds interesting.

WOW -- being offered the opportunity to perform Rodrigo's Concerto for a Gentleman (also known by it's Spanish name Fantasia Para Un Gentilhombre)... and yet, I had to turn it down?!?!?

The thing is, it's a 25-minute classical guitar workout, and with work and writing, it would be irresponsible of me to take this on. But man, it KILLED me to have to say no!

This is an excerpt from a musician at Chippewa Falls High School, where Threnody was premiered (CLICK HERE to read more about that concert):

I was on that bus and I was also a first responder. I knew who died before many of their own family members knew. I was awake when we hit and my window was hit from what we think was the tire from the semi. Some of the hardest things for me of the accident was being asked over and over what happened to G and knowing I couldn't tell them he was dead and having to explain to the families of the deceased what exactly happened. Your piece expressed what I have been feeling, thinking and seeing in my mind these past months. For the first time in months I have felt calm, almost at peace. Thank you so much for what you have done for me.

If my work was able to do anything for anyone that day, I am very humbly honored.