| Great Old memory!
I don't know where this should be posted but I did want to share it.
50 years ago this month! I had graduated from West Chester U. (Pa), got a gig teaching instrumental music in Enola, Pa and, in July, 1958, was headed for my first pro audition with the Harrisburg Symphony - conducted by Edwin MaCarther (sp?) out of NYC. Did the audition and got the per-service position.
First concert in Sept., was with a piano player named Van Cliburn who had just won the gold medal at the Moscow competition that summer. So, my first ever pro symphony job was with this guy. He played the same Tsk. concerto that had won the gold and the audience went nuts, we went nuts and the checks were on the stand at intermission. I drove home thinking, "this symphony stuff is alright!"
Even after Van Cliburn won the contest, he honored his signed contracts for the 58-59 season. We paid him $600 bucks. I did a benefit with him about 5 years ago and it was $40,000. Still worth it.
Tom Gale
Sign in to disble this ad
| 
