Celebrating a 15th Anniversary comes with some difficult opposing forces.
On the one hand, I want to celebrate the successes of the past, looking backward and even programming favorite repertoire from the past. That, of course, adds onto my routinely performed “Aces Standards.”
On the other hand, I want to have new successes, record a new album, and give my students fresh experiences to share…looking to the future rather than the past. With five albums in the past, none of the past repertoire will go on the next album, so every past piece I program gets in the way of that new album.
Negotiating those two opposing views is a challenge that I’m glad I only have to deal with every five years or so. It’s joyful to be able to celebrate this anniversary, but it’s not easy.