Hey everyone!
Work at Caramoor is going really well. Right now we’re in preparation for Opening Night Gala, which is the biggest night of the season! We’ve been getting everything ready. The tent is getting set up and RSVPs are still coming in. All of us here are getting excited. Susan Graham, an opera performer will be singing with the Orchestra of St. Lukes.
The week after opening night we have a very exciting week. We will still be catching up from Gala and still have to manage a busy week!
They just started a family program that has a concert series called “Dancing at Dusk.” I worked the first one, which was a country/blues/bluegrass concert. The kids really got into it, they were dancing and jumping to the music! Unfortunately it was raining, so we had to create a plan for the rain, which thankfully worked out. I hope that for the other two, the sun will be in our favor and the families will be able to walk the grounds.
The next Dancing at Dusk is the Wednesday after Gala, features the Doc Wallace Trio with Texas-style improvisational fiddling, which should be fun for me to watch since I play strings. There will also be a Tango family concert in August.
That Friday, July 3rd, is the concert I am most excited about. Bela Fleck, who performed on campus in 2007 will be performing with African Musicians. He is exploring the African roots of the banjo. Again, I am looking forward to this concert. On my radio show on campus I played African music and country so this is the ultimate fusion!!!
Then, of course, on July 4th, we have a Pops, Patriots, and Fireworks concert. The Orchestra of St. Lukes will be performing Disney hits and classic patriotic songs. This is another family-oriented performance. Caramoor has picnic grounds so there will be tons of people picnicking. After the performance, there will be fireworks. Even though I will be working, I hope that it will be a 4th of July to remember.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Pacifica Quartet with Joyce Yang will be performing on Sunday. I won’t be working then, but it should be great. I learned that the Pacifica Quartet won the 2009 Grammy Award for the Ensemble of the Year. They were also Caramoor’s Ernst-Stiefel Quartet in Residence in 2001-2002, which helps train and expose string quartets to the public, as well as educate the local schools about music.
So as you can see, lots of busy things coming up. This weekend is my birthday, hooray!!! (And, Father’s Day.) So I’ll be spending time with friends and family and relaxing and preparing for Opening weekend! Wish me luck!
--Sarah
