Only in Aspen

Only in Aspen will you find part of a Steinway piano in the back of a pickup truck. The music festival and school has over 200 pianos for the summer that are constantly moved back and forth between conductor/artists hotel rooms, rehearsal spaces, practice rooms, etc. The downtown of Aspen is also full of strange things including designer stores like Fendi, Gucci, Dior as well as parking meters that take credit cards.

Although I am living in this strange place, I am also constantly surrounded by beauty. The music campus backs up to a mountain, has a creek rushing along the practice rooms and the administration buildings have three ponds around them. What a beautiful place filled with music.

The orchestra that I manage, Concert Orchestra, is huge! Over 40 violins, 16 violas, 16 cellos, and 8 basses. They are a great group of musicians, who just completed their first concert. At times it can be stressful making sure all of them are where they need to be and when, but for the most part this has been a satisfying job working with them.

Even with all the work, I have made time to go hiking, white water rafting (terrifying, but lots of fun) and have had some cook outs with my fellow fellows. Michael has become the offical chef of the group, while Kareem is our photographer. I think the best part of Aspen is sharing this experience with the other fellows before we are scattered throughout the US with various orchestras.

I hope you will enjoy some of the pictures I have included, so you can see how much fun we are all having.