What's a Cadenza?!

I swear, everyone I work with plays an instrument, and well. This is not a CSO musician, this is our VP of Communications, Chris Pinelo.

And we’re in the large rehearsal room, which I’ve not posted a photo of because I’ve only been here once before. I couldn’t find it a second time! Had to follow a more knowledgable coworker to get here today for a staff meeting.

Sometimes, in the middle of a meeting, the Pops conductor just shows up to snag a piece of chocolate and ask about sales figures.

Here’s a peek at my notes from our 2012-13 season preview wherein I’ve jotted down such fascinating phrases as: 

• “best-known trombone solo in orchestral literature”
• “dripping with Mediterranean sun”
• “poem about cuckoldry”

Any guesses as to which pieces I’m describing? ;) 

What looks like your standard PowerPoint presentation is not. This is an annual meeting where our Director of Artistic Administration walks staff members through the upcoming (classical) season, so we know what to get excited about (all of it) and how to talk about it. 

Many, many of my colleagues have music degrees but this is helpful to all of us. It’s a great look into why a concert is programmed the way it is, how specific pieces or musicians were selected, how the performance is meant to flow. 

It’s also great to hear Naimah talk about the series because she gets so unabashedly excited.

Yesterday we moved a meeting from our conference room to the carriageway outside. And by carriageway I do actually mean the place they used to park carriages. 

Sometimes our conference rooms are booked because there are musicians rehearsing in them. 

Or, sometimes we hold meetings in rehearsal rooms. 

Either way.