South Bend Symphony Concert

Today (October 26th Sunday, 2008 @ 3:00pm)I performed two magic routines with the South Bend Symphony at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana. They were holding their annual family series concert under the direction of Maestro Tsung Yeh.

This event was two years in the making for me. Why is that, you may ask. Well, a good friend of mine (Dawn V.)has connections with the Symphony. She introduced me to a director. We had a good meeting but did not hear anything back from them for that year. The following year I got a call about maybe doing something. Then as time got closer for the October Family Concert, they made the decision to put me in the 45 minute show with two quick routines.

So there I am standing in the wings, beside the thick curtain, in the dark. As I look out onto the stage I see the Orchestra positioned and ready. I see Maestro Yeh standing on his riser with baton in hand waiting for my arrival. The lights are shining bright with warmth. My heart beats faster as Michelle the host finishes her wonderful and humbling introduction for me. I step into the lights and am enveloped in the applause. I come out smiling looking directly at the audience. I get half way to my mark on the stage and I look at Maestro Tsung Yeh. I smile at him and nod my head. I stand on my mark, look back to nod that I am ready.

The music starts, the magic begins.

When I am done...I smile. Again I am washed with the sound of applause coming from the theatre. I bow humbly accepting their approval. I turn and look at Tsung Yeh, who is smiling, giving me an open gesture with his hands. I slightly bow towards him and then turn to walk off stage.

I walk back into the darkness. I breath deeply, thinking about what has just happened. I can say that those 3 minutes on that stage were the highlight of my performing career.

Magic is something that should bring you to a sense of awe, a wonderment, bordering on inspirational. Music meets that criteria for me. So to put the two art forms together is inevitable. Another characteristic that goes with these two art forms is beauty. Music is beautiful! I see Magic the same way. When DONE RIGHT! Both are beautiful! Both should be self-expressive, emotional, colorful, passionate, and somewhat cathartic.

It was a pleasure working with everyone from the South Bend Symphony. Everyone was very respectful and attentive to what was needed for the performance to go well.