saturday 9

Mahler's Symphony No. 8

1) Mahler's No. 8 is sometimes referred to as "Symphony of a Thousand" because it was scored for a large orchestra and choral force. Do you often listen to classical music? I used to listen more often than I do now--I have some great classical CDs, but I don't play CDs very often anymore and don't think to stream classical

2) This piece has solos for each of the main vocal ranges: soprano, alto, tenor, bass. Do you know which range your voice is in? I am an alto

3) Historians tell us Mahler kept fit by swimming and riding his bike along the Alpine trails. What's your favorite form of exercise? avoiding exercise is my favorite form of exercise

4) Mahler could be difficult to work with because when it came to his music, he was a stickler over even the most minor details and wouldn't give an inch. Would you rather work as part of a team or on your own? it really depends on the task--but generally I enjoy collaboration

5) This week's featured artist, Leonard Bernstein, said his father didn't want him to pursue music. Instead the elder Bernstein wanted his son to either join the family business (a beauty supply company) or become a rabbi. Did your family try to influence your choice of career? they did not

6) Bernstein's best-known work is West Side Story. Without looking it up, can you name a song from this beloved Broadway classic? Tonight, Maria, America--I can name a lot of them!

7) Born in Lawrence, MA, Bernstein "went home" when he performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. Tanglewood has played host to a variety of musical artists. In 2022, Ringo Starr, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor all performed there (with James Taylor scheduled to return this summer, as well). What's the first concert you ever attended? my first concert was Billy Joel's 1984 Innocent Man tour (I tried to score some James Taylor tickets for June but they were a bit pricey)

8) In 1968, when Bernstein released this album, a sitcom called Mayberry R.F.D. premiered. It was a spin off of the highly successful Andy Griffith Show, which ran from 1960 to 1968 and is still broadcast and streamed today. Were you an Andy Griffith Show fan? yes

9) Random question: When people ask for your advice, what do they usually ask you about? people ask my advice daily:  colleagues ask for information about certification or the union because I'm a representative for both of those; and students ask for advice about random things--from which toothbrush I use to where they should go to college