Images from the field

Late Sunday afternoon, with just enough sun to see us through, the members of our pops orchestra played outdoors at a local town fair.

Noteworthy images and moments:

Watching Maestro lift his homemade podium from the trunk of his car

Glimpsing the group of “penguins” gathering on the field (uniform du jour: white shirts/black slacks) and anxiously joining them

Waiting patiently in our chairs for our turn to play while exchanging smirky smiles as we “politely” listened to three deafening rock bands perform on the portable stage (alas, too small to accommodate our 40+ pops group)

Hugging my poor cello as it shook violently from the amplified blasts, and hoping that the intense vibrations wouldn’t dislodge the sound post

Feeling a bit isolated as we played in the middle of a vast field with a small audience (many having already been driven away by the previous ear-piecing cacophony)

Listening a little disappointedly as our own lovely music dissipated into the field … but (nevertheless)

Reveling in our awesome repertoire of old standards (especially comforting in contrast to the prior attack on our eardrums)

Feeling that wonderful sense of accomplishment that seems to occur after every performance

Knowing that we all played well, even after only 3 rehearsals

Chatting with other orchestra members and their families after the concert