In the Lowcountry

I'm in Charleston, South Carolina tonight, preparing for rehearsals and performances with the Charleston Symphony. We'll be doing The Orchestra Moves, part of our LinkUp program from Carnegie Hall. Lots and lots of kids singing and playing their recorders - probably about 5000 of them.
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Speaking of service, as we did recently over MLK Day, I volunteered for the gig. My hometown band has had it rough over the last ten years. The former music director, David Stahl, died in 2010, and soon thereafter the orchestra folded. It has now come back to life, thanks to some persistent musicians and supporters. The new music director is Ken Lam, and there is great new energy around the reboot. When Charleston decided to take on LinkUp, I offered to host the first set of concerts here at the new Gaillard Center (the same place where Porgy & Bess will be performed as part of Spoleto USA). I knew the Charleston Symphony had been having a hard time, and hey, it's home. I can only boast so much - it's also an excuse to visit with my 91 year-old father.

If you want to learn more about LinkUp - check out this short film.