Winning the Concerto Competition

Nadine and her buddy Victor won the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition on Dec. 10th. This means they'll get to play the Cimerosa Concerto for Two Flutes at Eastman Theater (Kodak Hall) in front of a full orchestra on March 7th. Nadine will also get to wear a full-length gown for the event.

As background, Nadine and her buddy Victor had decided to enter the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition with a double flute concerto -- they didn't want to compete with each other. This had been decided well before Nadine was diagnosed with leukemia. The chose the gorgeous classical-era Double Concerto for Two Flutes by Cimerosa, and had begun practicing while Nadine had been staying at Ronald MacDonald House for a few days. His mom and I had gleefully watched from the "mezzanine" balcony at the house.

They had found Joe Werner, the RPO pianist and a wonderful accompanist and person, to accompany them. The very first rehearsal had been jeopardized by Nadine being delayed at clinic during a chemo treatment (sigh), but it had been scheduled later the same evening and sounded stellar.

Victor and Nadine also did numerous fun and busy practices at our house. They even did some shenanigans like playing single-flute pieces with one blowing into the mouthpiece while the other did the fingering, which was very humorous to watch.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 8th -- REHEARSAL FOR CONCERTO COMPETITION

That night Nadine and Victor had their FINAL REHEARSAL with accompanist Joe for the Concerto Competition.
Joe managed to book the bit Hochstein Performance Hall for the rehearsal, and the two of them were magnificent!! I asked to video and also sound-record it, which I was granted, and this was a perfect opportunity. The music was beautiful, and Nadine and Victor were amazingly coordinated together, and obviously were having fun, and Joe was having fun too. Joe the accompanist said that if they didn't win, there was something wrong. They played through it once, then did details, and then did the whole thing again and I did the recording; they were gracious when it took a while for me to get the recording device on.

After Joe left, the two of them did a few details and then sprawled out on the stage to work on their required essay. Happily, I had found out the essay wasn't part of the judging, but it was still due (by email) that night. Victor had done the draft; Nadine had made additions; the two of them looked comfy and I left them to it and went to the lounge, where I ran into Ming-Fong, Victor's mom, with whom I chatted and joked, including about what the two would wear. They wanted "casual"; we thought that Victor should wear a suit and Nadine should wear a dress. The next day, Sophia informed them both that she wanted them to wear suit and dress, and her word was law.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 10TH --CONCERTO COMPETITION DAY AND SNOW SNOW SNOW

It was super-snow, and Nadine was starting to feel yucky -- after all, it was Day 10 of the chemo cycle, so this wasn't unexpected. She warmed up a little and mostly took it easy.

We left the house early -- I had to wipe snow off the car, I wanted to find a nice practice room at Eastman for all of us. Joe was coming around 5; their slot was 6:15. Left later than desired, found a decent parking spot right across the street from Eastman, dashed in with Nadine, and raced upstairs -- and I found a practice room with a grand piano and no lock on the door. Joe the accompanist arrived early and I ushered him and Nadine to the room, then waited downstairs for Victor, whose car had gotten stuck in snowy-road traffic, but he made it a few minutes later and they practiced.

Susan Basu (the manager) and David Harmon (the conductor) were downstairs; there were the usual greetings. Eventually Nadine, Victor and Joe came downstairs, Nadine and Victor got suitably dressed, and they were ready. Nadine had on her wonderful sleek silky brown knee-length dress with the transparent and brown overlay that she'd gotten earlier.

The time arrived. I stationed myself outside the door and listened -- they sounded wonderful! David Harmon was listening from outside too, and said they sounded like a "well-oiled machine". He wasn't judging, and it was still nice to hear his comment.

Unknown to Nadine, Bonita Boyd, the renouned flutist and collegiate professor at Eastman, was one of the judges -- Nadine might have been too nervous to recognize her. Nadine had been slated to study with her over the summer at Aria Institute at Williams College before leukemia ended that -- Dr. Boyd still plans to give her one or two lessons to compensate.

After they left, Nadine said Victor played well and that she was off pitch or something, and we left. It was over. Finished. It felt like a victory, no matter what happened.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 11TH -- WINNING PHONE CALL!!!! THEY WON!!!!

In Friday morning -- it was Susan Basu, the orchestra manager. "CONGRATULATIONS", she said. They had won.

I handed the phone to Nadine, who was in the kitchen, without telling her. Nadine got to hear it. EXCITEMENT!!!

What an event!