Pops at the Post

Tonight the Salisbury Symphony will be performing their annual pops concert at the Salisbury Post. This is the 9th such concert, which originally began as a one-off concert in 2005 to celebrate the Salisbury Post's centennial. This marks my first time performing with the Salisbury Symphony. (It's nice when you get a call saying "so-and-so recommended you for this gig." Makes a person warm and fuzzy inside.)

Conveyers that move newspapers to trucks in loading docks.

In addition to my first time with this group, I am also meeting and playing with the other percussionists for the first time. Even though we are all in the same area and we all gig, I normally do not perform with orchestras, so we just have not crossed paths before this weekend. But they have been a pleasure to work with, so, that's a bonus.

My spot for most of the evening's festivities.

Being the addition to the group, I play a lot of bass drum, but I have a fun (albeit brief) bongo part in the UP medley--yes, the Disney/Pixar movie; this is a pops concert. We are also playing Monti's Czardas with Miss Rowan County 2013 as the soloist (no repeat of this gem). The highlight of my evening, however, is playing chimes for 1812 Overture. It's some of the most fun that can be had. Throw in a few Sousa marches and a Beatles medley and we have ourselves a Fourth of July concert!—on June 1st.