All State Orchestra Week-End For Nadine

DECEMBER 3rd -- ALLSTATE MUSIC WEEK-END -- A GO!

Off to All-State for Nadine! I felt better than the day before-- I can say antibiotics rule. All-State was at the Radisson Riverside Hotel in downtown Rochester, and "kids" came from all over the state. It was an honor for Nadine to have been chosen. She had placed into the Symphony Orchestra.

When we got the "forms" to fill out after she was accepted, of course there was a space for "medical" issues. I wrote one word -- "leukemia" -- and under medicines I wrote "assorted". I got a call from the head chaperone and thought Nadine might be disqualified, but instead the very nice man said they wanted her to be able to go and wanted to know how they could help! I said it would help if I could have a room at the hotel so she could rest and so I could take care of her if needed, and they got me one! They also were solicitous about just about everything.

As Nadine's "counts" were excellent that week-end, she had no medical restrictions other than common sense!

When we arrived in the bustling hotel, Nadine wanted to wait on line with everyone; however, the organizers had insisted she go to the front, and she was greeted very warmly. I met the head chaperones, whom I'd spoken with earlier. The judge who had recommended her after her audition was there; he very happy to see her (and me too). Apparently he'd been so impressed with her that a lot of people knew of her.

As for me, I got a wonderful week-end too -- I got to eat with the chaperones, to chat with music teachers and various music folks, to watch rehearsals, and enjoy the ambiance, which I did. The buffet breakfasts were delicious. It was a mini-vacation, and I was making the most of it.

Nadine had pictures taken at the "top of the escalator" near the chandelier with the other Cattaraugus County attendees (about 6 of them).

We got to see Ruth Fuller, the wonderful Hinsdale music teacher, band leader/conductor, and flutist, who has been so warm and supportive to Nadine from when she first met her about 5 years ago. (Okay Ruth, I don't care if you see this -- you know how much I think of you). We got to see other music teachers as well.

I enjoyed watching kids happily bustling back and forth up and down the escalator with the fabulous chandelier over it. :I loved watching the sparkly lights and lighted snowflakes and river and the moving lights of vehicles on Main Street from the glassed-in upper walkway between the hotel and conference center. The unreal glamour of a hotel in the midst of the rest of life felt comforting. There was a beautiful gingerbread house on exhibit, a reproduction of Eastman Theater in the 20's festooned with bright-colored candies. People scooted about the hotel in wonderful moods. Little jam sessions happened, especially around one of the pianos; kids singing; piano in varieties of styles.

I was installed in a room down the hall from Nadine.

The first night, I decided to go to bed early, enjoying the huge king bed with snow-white comforter, adjustable firmness, and zillions of pillows. If I had to get lots of rest, this was the place to do it.

First, I brought supplies to Nadine, as she gets hungry at night -- peanut butter, jelly, bread I'd procured from the desk clerk, more hand sanitizer, etc., and left it in a cooler outside her room door, along with a list of her meds.

The next day I enjoyed rehearsals, including hers. The symphony orchestra rehearsed in the Hyatt Hotel, an impressive walk including walkways first to the Conference Center, then to the Hyatt, then finding the room. About a hundred musicians with every possibly symphony instrument. Crowded room, small bald-ish conductor. Joan Towers, the composer who had created one of the pieces, "For The Uncommon Woman", was talking about her work, inviting comments and suggestions. The piece itself was pretty brassy and clanked a lot-- lots of percussion. The other piece, Respighi's "Pines of Rome", was massive and of course gorgeous. I sat near the big brass and enjoyed watching and photographing contours and reflections in the huge golden "bells" of the trombones and tuba.

Nadine had two excellent room-mates, and loved wandering around with her buddies. She also managed to find time to sneak off and practice the Cimerosa concerto with Victor. Friday, I also had to do a shopping expedition for supplies for Nadine.

Friday night Nadine joined a rock and roll dance,complete with professional DJ, loud music, disco lights flashing in the darkened room, and enormous masses of kids dancing, shouting and waving arms in the large hall -- a perfect event. I had gone in and enjoyed the scene, even danced a little with one of the other chaperones. I noticed Nadine was gyrating amongst the group, and succeeded in staying out of her way and hopefully even off her "radar screen". I was impressed that the organizers honored this side of the kids' lives.

Of meaning to me, I got to chat with a music teacher who told me she'd gotten into music teaching after her kids were grown, and she encouraged me to go ahead and study music myself if that was what I wanted. I needed that. I also enjoyed chatting with other teachers including two from Hinsdale.

On Saturday I visited various rehearsals, especially liking the String Orchestra, which did eclectic stuff including a piece by Perkins that included "slap" bass, and a Mozart divertimento or two. The conductor was amazing -- I liked him a lot better than Nadine's. It turns out he teaches at the University of Michigan, and after a wonderful conversation with him, I was quite impressed about Michigan for Nadine. He said to be sure to visit him with Nadine if we go to visit -- I'm sure we will. Later on, the two orchestras did a "rehearsal exchange" where each got to see a piece of the others' repertoire.

I explored the massive conference room, looking at booths with possible colleges for Nadine although I was dismayed that most were colleges to train teachers (although that's valid too); talked with folks from Ithaca College and Crane School, and hungrily sampled pizza from a vendor of foods for fund-raisers.

That evening Barry arrived, and we both got to her evening rehearsal. And after that, Nadine went upstairs; I stayed down a while, and watched an amazing jazz session by kids on saxophone, trumpet, piano, and probably others -- one of the best I've heard. I also passed a room with kids swing-dancing. I checked out the rock and roll dance again -- it ended with an announcement of curfew time. I left and saw the jazz jam still going on -- the swing dancers had found them and were out dancing to them. Eventually everyone scurried up, including me. Nadine was still independent and happy.

On Sunday was the Big Performance of the Symphony Orchestra in Eastman Theater. Nadine of course went with her group; Barry and I drove over, and I found us excellent seats in the second row center mezzanine. It was a super-AllState, crowded and fun. Nadine came out with her orchestra and they sounded spectacular, all of them!!! What a treat to see her up there in the big theater with all those other excellent musicians.

Afterwards, Nadine came down and wasn't sure if she'd have a bus back to the hotel; I stayed with her until the bus left, savoring the sight of those wonderful kids bustling around again. After that, I couldn't find Barry-- I waited and waited. One of the chaperones introduced me to the director of All-State, who was down there -- I think she'd known about Nadine too, and everyone seemed pleased she (and I) had had such a nice time. Barry was nowhere in sight -- and he had the car. Finally I picked up my stuff and trudged back the quarter to half mile or so to the hotel in the cold -- when almost there, I saw his car, and raced across the street and got in.

We all connected with each other upstairs, Barry took Nadine to the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra rehearsal (she was still full of energy), and I finished checking out of the hotel, and that was it.

A week-end well done, a Nadine who had been in excellent shape, and some beautiful concerts.