Tonight is my last orchestra concert of the 2024-2025 season (unless I get a last minute call to sub somewhere)! It is an appropriate concert, a symbol actually. This week I’m subbing with the Jacksonville Symphony and Cirque de la Symphonie…a literal circus performance + orchestra. The show features aerial artists, a contortionist, jugglers, etc.
This season has very very much felt like a circus. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, being a freelance musician is wild.
I started the season of orchestral concerts in a mildly bumpy way…
My last day of my fancy non-profit executive job was July 31, 2024. My first orchestral concert for my new/old life as a freelancing musician was on August 24 with the Savannah Phil. I love playing in Savannah- it's a great orchestra and a really lovely community.
That weekend was also my 2nd week at my new job teaching lessons and working with the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra- lots of new things, lots of juggling, lots of spinning plates.
With all the chaos of ending one job and starting up multiple new ones, I forgot my concert clothes when I went to Savannah! I hung them up in a very safe place…so safe I forgot to pack them.
I ended up shopping for the concert outfit the day before the concert. Always fun. Why not spend most of your paycheck from the first concert of the season on the clothes for the concert? I did pack two pairs of dress shoes for the trip- so at least my feet were covered!
While the start to the season was mildly chaotic for me and I found myself juggling a lot of performances and new teaching ventures, the end has been slightly more calm. I’m happy to let the actual jugglers do that this evening while I enjoy playing the notes.
Last weekend I played in Savannah. I had a wonderful stand partner, got to see friends, and stayed with an extremely kind and welcoming host family.
This weekend, I also have a wonderful stand partner and am getting to play with really great musicians and the commute is awesome- 9 minutes from my house to the hall. Sometimes I think of my Houston years driving an hour to get from Houston to Houston. IYKYK
While the end of my 2024-2025 orchestra season is in sight, in fact just hours away, it will soon be summer camp season! I’m already in summer camp mode- picking repertoire for the GIYO June camp in Brunswick, GA and promoting the TexStrings All-State Camp in Houston, TX. Today, however, I’m focused on reflecting and playing the concert tonight.
It isn’t easy to leave a W2 job and start new things as a fully self-employed person. This orchestra season has been a good one, and I’m really grateful for the subbing work in Savannah and Jacksonville this year. (I haven’t even mentioned the other concerts this season…more on that soon.) I’m also extremely grateful for the invitations to play in other orchestras and very glad to have been busy. While those parts of my work life have been really good, I’ve also been grieving leaving a job behind and processing the changes and upheaval that go along with transitions. I’ve also been navigating an entirely new freelancing market and region.
While this season has been full of ups and downs, I find myself full of gratitude. I’m thankful for the orchestral opportunities this season presented. I’m also grateful for my outfit from Savannah purchased for the first concert of the season. It has served me well. I’ve worn it in many concerts, to interviews, and gigs all over the place.
Perhaps leaving my old clothes hanging on the back of my bedroom door that weekend wasn’t a mistake at all. Perhaps it was the universe nudging me to get something new and start fresh.
Sometimes new beginnings need new outfits…I’m just glad I don’t have to wear clown shoes or be suspended from the ceiling tonight. While I’ve felt that way multiple times this season I’m glad those are just metaphors for me. I’m happy in my orchestra chair doing what I love.
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