Orchestra

Subtitled on a bad day: The Queen of Being Mediocre
Subtitled on a good day: Music, the Great Equalizer

So every Tuesday I head to orchestra. Nothing fancy, I don't get paid, we give free concerts (with cookies and punch at intermission), but it is orchestra and I get to keep up with playing my cello and I get to make music with wonderful people. Really, this is one of the nicest groups of people in Seattle. The real name of our group is Musicians Emeritus Symphony Orchestra (MESO) and it was formed about 30 years ago by a group of retired musicians who wanted to keep playing their instruments. There was an age limit at first but now it is open to all ages. Our oboeists are both in high school and the oldest member of the group is 93 and he and his granddaughter sit in the second violin section together. Every concert we accompany a young, brilliant soloist in a concerto. And that is where the Mediocre comes in.

These past few weeks we have been rehearsing with our soloist, a violinist who is a senior in high school. He is amazing. He is playing the Sibelius concerto in D minor. This concerto is more difficult to play than the Beethoven symphony we are playing for our other piece this concert. So here is this young man playing violin so beautifully, so perfectly. I can't see myself ever playing my cello like that. I'm just a mediocre cellist. I think I play great orchestra cello, I can come in at the right places and I can blend in with everyone, but as a soloist I'm pretty wheeshy. So on bad days I go home feeling like I'm just mediocre at playing my cello and that leads to me feeling mediocre at life because I start to compare myself to everyone else (though I shouldn't because my job in life right now is important as well), but most of the time I feel like I'm so lucky to associate with all of these incredible people who are happy to be playing beautiful music together, with me of all people. My stand partner is a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Washington. He started playing the cello about 8 years ago and already plays Bach much better than I do. Note: he was already an accomplished pianist. The principle violinist is as pleasant as can be and always commiserates with me as a mom* as she is the mother of three boys. Barbara Lundquist just joined us and she is such a delightful person. My favorite person that I get to work with is Frances Walton. She is the most gracious and uplifting person. She makes everyone else feel like they are playing as beautifully as she does. She doesn't usually rehearse with us so playing with her is a treat. Erica Hamlin plays violia and sits next to me and is just so kind and engaging-- it is easy to see why she has her job as "head of school" at University Prep. Without my cello I wouldn't have the chance to associate with these and so many other wonderful people. The great equalizer.

*More than half of the time when I leave for orchestra the boys start crying, "no, don't go! We don't want you to leave." So of course Laine now does the same thing, poor Eric. You'd think that I told them I was leaving forever or that I never go anywhere without them or that they have a terrible father. But none of those things are true. Every Tuesday for what, 4 years now, I've been going to orchestra and I always come home; I leave the house without them a few times a week (always in proper care of course); and they have a fabulous dad.