A dozen or so years ago, the department head while I was in grad school was Dr. Peter Cooper, an accomplished performer and educator. Peter taught me conducting, theory, and several other subjects, often on a one-to-one basis. (I was the star pupil and the class dunce all at the same time.) He mentored me in many ways, and approved the meager stipends that, along with much heftier loans from Uncle Sam, allowed me to make ends meet while pursuing my degree.
A few years before that, I studied horn (that’s French horn to you) with the CSO’s principal, Gordon James. Gordon, out of the four professional horn instructors who taught me over the years, was the one who helped me really “get” what the instrument is all about. If I have any tone at all, it is thanks to Gordon’s patient guidance and creative illustrations.
Now the two of them will appear on stage together, at the first concert of UTC’s season, in an all-Brahms program. Joining them is an ensemble collaborator of mine from many years ago (I’d say, but it might be considered rude), Laurie Redmer Minner; and a superb violinist with whom I am somewhat acquainted, Mark Reneau; among still others.
I can’t not be there, given this historic (to me) collaboration, and given that the Brahms Horn Trio will be performed. I hope you will consider it, because it promises to be an excellent performance. Thursday, September 4, 7:30 p.m.
Oh, and one final thing ties this all together: the excerpt chosen by Peter for the analysis portion of my comprehensive exam was the first movement of Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E Minor.
