I Performed at Lincoln Center. Here’s What Happened…
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In college, I studied music. My major was Bachelor in Music with an Outside Field (BMO) for my first 3 semesters. I switched majors to a Bachelor of Arts in Music (BA).
It was a fun and highly rewarding experience I’ll never forget!
Perhaps my greatest memory from college was performing at Lincoln Center.
Without further ado, here’s my experience performing there:
What is Lincoln Center?
Lincoln Center is one of the most renowned performing arts centers in the world.
Located in NYC, Lincoln Center is home to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, New York City Ballet, Metropolitan Opera, Julliard School of Music, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Lincoln Center is home to several performance halls.
I performed in Alice Tully Hall, which is located in the same building as the Juilliard School of Music. Alice Tully Hall is a chamber music hall designed for small chamber groups. But it can also host large ensembles too.
Why did I perform there?
Ithaca College (IC), my alma mater, hosts performances at Lincoln Center every 2-4 years.
The college sends 1-2 ensembles there to give a special performance. My freshman year of college happened to be a year the college was hosting a performance at Lincoln Center.
At the start of the school year, I auditioned for my ensemble placement.
I was placed in the wind ensemble, which was 1 of the top 2 ensembles in the school of music for my instrument. And the wind ensemble happened to be one of the 2 ensembles chosen to perform at Lincoln Center.
The top ensemble (symphony orchestra) didn’t perform at Lincoln Center during this performance. But I did play with the symphony orchestra for several concerts during the year.
Seizing opportunities
I'm a bassoon player, which is a long, wooden, reedy-sounding instrument. I was assigned to play contrabassoon for the year because the ensemble needed a contrabassoon player. The contrabassoon is a big, beefier bassoon.
Not many people play the bassoon. Even less play the contrabassoon.
Playing the bassoon got me into one of the top music schools in the country because it's an instrument that not many people play.
Playing the contrabassoon gave me more playing opportunities. I also got to play in the symphony orchestra for several performances, which is the top ensemble at IC that bassoonists play in.
Playing the contrabassoon allowed me to get into the top 2 ensembles in the school as a freshman.
The ensembles needed a contrabassoonist. So, I filled their need.
I was a decent, but not great musician. And that’s ok. I wasn’t intending to become a professional musician. I was also studying pre-medicine with the intention of becoming a doctor at the time.
I wouldn't have been in either ensemble or the college if I played a more common instrument. I wouldn’t have been good enough to compete with the caliber of musicians in each ensemble, let alone the college itself.
A special performance
This performance was a special occasion.
It was the 50th anniversary of IC professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Karel Husa's premiere of "Music for Prague 1968.” The piece was commissioned by Ithaca College. Music for Prague 1968 is now a standard part of wind ensemble repertoire. Husa composed the piece to honor the bravery of his homeland of Czechoslovakia when they were invaded by the Soviet Union during the Prague Spring.
We also premiered a piece commissioned for this special performance called "Labyrinth" by Carter Pann. The piece was inspired by the huge and melodic sounds of Music for Prague 1968.
What was it like performing at Lincoln Center?
The day of the performance was exhilarating.
We had a dress rehearsal the morning of the concert, where we got a feel for the concert hall... Hearing its reverb, projection, etc.
The concert hall was beautiful. It had beautiful wood paneling. And the concert hall had the best acoustics of any concert hall I've been to.
We got to explore the city before the concert, which was a ton of fun. We visited Times Square, Central Park, and more. I was on top of the world.
The performance was a blur.
I remember walking on stage, standing in front of my chair basking in the bright stage lights. I remember nearly falling into my seat as I sat down. The gravity of the performance pulled me into my seat.
I don’t remember much of what happened during the performance. I know I made some mistakes, but I don't remember what I messed up. They must've been small mistakes, which are normal during performances. There was a moment when the conductor messed up a measure, which confused the ensemble. But we got back on track together quickly.
I don’t remember walking off the stage. But I remember the joy and celebration backstage. Half the ensemble was cramped in the dressing room I was in. It was hot backstage, and there wasn’t room for personal space. Instrument cases, folders, and bags clogged the floor. But no one complained.
I remember lugging my heavy contrabassoon case to the concert hall’s lobby, which was packed with friends and family. It was a challenge navigating the sea of people with the instrument case. But I found my family. We hugged and celebrated the moment. The pride my parents had for me at that moment was special. The joy I had was through the roof.
I don't have a video of the performance. But there is a recording of the preview concert (same concert program), which we performed at Ithaca College before performing at Lincoln Center.
Here's a link if you'd like to check it out: https://www.ithaca.edu/academics/school-music-theatre-and-dance/live/2018-2019-archive/04252019-lincoln-center-preview-concert.
My ensemble’s part of the performance is listed under the “Wind Ensemble” video.
Final thoughts
I'm grateful to have had this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's an experience I'll always remember.
It was an honor to be able to perform at Lincoln Center.
The reason I'm sharing this experience with you is to inspire you to take advantage of opportunities. Pay close attention to areas where the competition is low... These areas are ripe with potential opportunities.
Being willing to do things others aren’t doing can put you in positions you’re not necessarily qualified for.
You never know what may happen to you.
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