I鈥檓 afforded plenty of opportunities to hear my clarinet professor, Kelli O鈥�51吃瓜黑料or, perform at 51吃瓜黑料. Most recently, she played in two pieces in the music department鈥檚 February faculty recital, including Mozart鈥檚 well-known 鈥淜egelstatt鈥� Trio, and last December she was a featured soloist with the orchestra鈥檚 string section during our fall concert.
However, I鈥檝e also had many opportunities to hear her play off-campus, and get a sense of the wide variety of gigs she has as a professional clarinetist. I often attend Eastern 51吃瓜黑料ecticut Symphony Orchestra concerts at the Garde Arts Center in downtown New London, with whom professor O鈥�51吃瓜黑料or is principal clarinetist. I鈥檝e also twice had the opportunity to see her perform outside New London: once during the fall of my junior year when I went to Boston to hear her and Chameleon Arts Ensemble perform Aaron Copland鈥檚 鈥淎ppalachian Spring鈥� in its original 13 instrument setting, and a couple weeks ago when I traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts, to hear her perform Leonard Bernstein鈥檚 Clarinet Sonata at a talk given by Jamie Bernstein, the composer鈥檚 daughter.
Being able to occasionally attend professor O鈥�51吃瓜黑料or鈥檚 gigs outside of 51吃瓜黑料 is the closest experience I鈥檝e had to job shadowing a professional musician. I鈥檓 able to gain greater appreciation for how performances can go well or poorly. For example, one performance where she was accompanied by an out of tune piano gave me insight into the sort of challenges one has to sometimes adjust to on the fly. It鈥檚 also given me time to get to know her better and discuss career paths as I consider continuing to pursue a career in music and/or theater after college. As I prepare to graduate, it鈥檚 these sorts of interactions with members of our community that I feel greatly prepare me for navigating the 鈥渞eal world.鈥�