I went today to the retirement party for Patricia Miller (known to all as "Pat"), who has played viola with the Oregon Symphony for the past 55 seasons. Can you imagine - 55 seasons? I can't, but I'm only 20 percent through her term of service (or should I say 'servitude"?). There were many emeritus members of the orchestra present, and there were some great stories told of doings in the orchestra way back when. I thought that the political intrigue was interesting now - I clearly have a lot to learn!

There was a story of how the first stand of cellos got into a row while the conductor (Jacques Singer) just stood by and let it happen: the principal flutist protested to the 2nd chair cello that he was not to use foul language in front of his wife (violist). A cellist who was pregnant (unknown to most in the orchestra) fainted, and her husband (trumpeter) came in and pushed said cellist to the ground. And this was just one rehearsal!

One noted difference between the orchestra now and then which came up in discussion was the great diversity in opinions about where the orchestra should go and what its priorities should be - years ago, it would seem, the orchestra presented much more of a united front. Do we do ourselves a disservice by trying to moderate the tyranny of the majority? Much is made of standing one across but one hundred deep, rather than one hundred across and one deep. How well are we living up to that standard these days? How much are we crippling ourselves when we're clearly bargaining with management, which is beholden only to the financial bottom line and audience attendance figures?

Have a good summer - I'll report in on the viola congress doings in a couple weeks, and also my summer festival reflections. Be well!