Hey All,

I’m back from the cruise of the Mediterranean. It was an amazing trip!! I had not been to those countries before and my first time doing the cruise travel. The cruise included Naples Italy, Barcelona Spain, Florence/Pisa Italy, and Rome. We were suppose to go to Marseilles France but the waters were too choppy to dock so the captain decided to keep us out to sea that day. That was a rocky day on the boat that day.

It was a wonderful trip but it is great to be back in the states. I always appreciate this great country that we live. And now it is time to get to work on this season with the SOST. First concert is coming up on September 25^th but first we have auditions for openings in the orchestra on September 2^nd and 3^rd. I am totally pumped!

Have a super week.

Peace,

Chelsea

Hey All,

Ok, I have made it to TX with my brother (Thank you William), a U-haul and my car hitched to the back. 7 states in 2 days. It was a nice time to catch with my brother and recalibrate my mind for my new adventure. We got down here and WOW, it is CRAZY hot down here. And like 200 percent humidity which really just means that we are breathing water. I have a nice apartment and people have been helpful in getting me settled but no AC the first two days here. That was uncomfortable but we adapt. Starting to figure out the restaurant scene here and checking out a few dojos to see if I can get my martial arts thing happening here. It is exciting but not always easy.

We had a board retreat this week looking at the long range plans and directions for the SOST. I am really excited about all of the ideas and energy that were brought to the table. We really want to see what type of impact we can make with the SOST. Today I am heading over to the TV station to record this season’s commercials. We are going to try a different format this year so let us know what you think.

You all take care and stay cool. Summer is almost over. Where did it go?

Peace out,

Chelsea

July 3, 2010

Hey All

Well, I’m here in Beaumont, sitting in Barnes and Noble enjoying my tea having finished looking for a place to live. We have our July 4^th concert at the Julie Rogers Theater tomorrow. I am sooooooooooooo glad that we are not trying to perform this program outside. When I lived in Savannah we did a number of outdoor concerts each year and although they can offer a nice ambiance for fellowship there are the mosquitoes, wind, rain, noise distractions and here in Beaumont especially, HUMIDITY! I went for a run this morning for a light workout and was just drenched when I got home. I couldn’t imagine trying to draw a bow across a string on a violin in such saturated air.

No matter, the concert is indoors and lots of AC! Yes!!!! We have a great program that will last about 50 minutes and then we head outside for the fireworks. This will be my first July 4^th concert with the SOST. I’m really excited about the move to Beaumont and working with the SOST. I see great things on the horizon for the orchestra and the community.

If you aren’t doing anything July 4^th come down to the Julie Rogers Theater at 8 PM to hear some patriotic music and have a little fun. It will be a great way to celebrate Independence Day. Hope to see you at the show!

Peace,

Chelsea

Officially summer is about to start and it is nice to slow down for a spell and collect thoughts.  Below I included some pictures from my final concert as Resident Conductor with the Toledo Symphony.  It was a really positive conclusion to my tenure here in Toledo.  Many good memories, friends and gifts to take away from the experience in the Glass City.  And now it is time to focus on Beaumont and the SOST!   I like to have the summer off as it offers an opportunity for reflection and gratitude.  Of course the summer is not completely off in that we are preparing for the opening of the season as well as some guest conducting for me here and there. But the energy with the orchestra is much different during the summer period.

I often comment to audiences about the fact that the orchestra is really face of the organization as far as the community is concerned.  However, there are so many people that work in the background to make a concert and a season come to life.  The summer is period where those internal gears are hard at work planning the upcoming season.  Travel arrangements, part preparation, meetings, library acquisitions, bowings, schedules, personell issues are all dealt with during the “off’ season.  My Mother always told me that “If you fail to plan then you are planning to fail” and she is right.

So the summer is fun and a different energy is in place however it is an important time to cultivate the seeds for the coming season.  Stay cool and never let them see you sweat.

Peace,

Chelsea

Final piece with kids and Toledo Symphony

I just had my last weekend of concerts with the Toledo Symphony this past weekend.  A very bitter/sweet occasion.  Although I am excited about the future there is a sadness that accompanied the weekend’s concerts.  On my final performance we had Mark O’Connor playing/fiddling on the violin, the great clarinetist David Shifrin played some solos and we did the Mendelssohn Concert Pieces for 2 clarinets and orchestra.  It was fun to get back on the clarinet and be on a big stage again.  Scary but fun!  Doc Severinsen came and played with us.  He so much fun and humble.  At 85 he still has some chops.  Also joining the Toledo Symphony on stage were the Toledo Youth Orchestra, Suzuki Strings and student soloists.  It was a crazy concert with 2 intermissions.  It was billed as my farewell concert and benefit concert for education, a prominent platform that I worked on while with the TSO my seven years here.  And to cap it all off my parents came to town to hang with me and attend the concert.  That just made it so wonderfully special.

Great fun.  And now the next chapter will begin as I make preparations to head to Beaumont, Texas.  Yeee HAAAAaa, I am moving to the Lone Star State.

Peace,

Chelsea

Hey All,

Spring has sprung but you wouldn’t know it here in Northwest Ohio. It is cold up here like you would not believe. But the leaves are beginning to come out once again. We are busy planning for the next season with the Symphony of Southeast Texas. Although concerts have been completed there is always the gaze to the future.

I had the pleasure to do some adjudication in Texas last week in the Corpus Christi area. I listened to 5 string orchestras and 2 concert bands. The groups hailed from the Dallas area. They were all very technically proficient in many ways. My comments to them centered around continuing to strive and focus on phrasing and musicality. That is hard to teach to young groups. It was also my first time in Corpus Christi and had some good fish and chips in addition to an excellent steak. Good food and good music what a dynamite combination for the visit.

Have a wonderful week.

Peace,

Chelsea

The Beethoven 9th concert really rocked this weekend.  And pairing the Lincoln Portrait with Evelyn Lord narrating was just the right touch.  We had an exhausting week of rehearsals but it turned out to be some of the best playing by the orchestra all season.  I continue to enjoy seeing the growth of the orchestra and the SOST making further in roads into the community.  Today we are having a strategic planning meeting to try to map out the future and direction.

If you have not been to see the orchestra this season you should definitely come and check us out September 25 when we kick off the new season with Brahms Symphony No. 1.  Also on that program will be Brian Shook featured as the soloist performing the Neruda Trumpet Concerto.  Dr. Shook is our principal trumpet player in the orchestra and just an outstanding performer.  I am excited already for what is to come. I have wonderful memories from my 1st season as music director. There can never be another first and this is only the start of great things for the Symphony of Southeast Texas.

Peace Y’all

It has been a crazy couple of weeks with many concerts with the Toledo Symphony and guest conducting.  I am not complaining but I have a day off in Alabama and it is nice to catch up.  So I conducted the Indianapolis Symphony several weeks ago.  What a great orchestra.  We had a great time and wow, they can play.  The weather wasn’t too cooperative but the die hards came out to see what was going on.  Now I’m in Birmingham with the Alabama Symphony this week.  I was here about 10 years ago and it is nice to see how the orchestra has grown over the years.

I am heading back to Beaumont in April for my first Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.  I am really excited and studying hard these days.  Lots of music to learn.  This also closes out my first season and it has been a good one.  We already have next season locked in and in place.  It is bitter/sweet to leave Toledo.  It has been my home for 7 years but it is time to move on.  But I am not done in Toledo yet.

That is all for now.  Check back in a couple of days for some more updates.  If you want to hear some good Beethoven, Texas style, come and check us out April 10, at 7:30 PM.

Peace,

Chelsea

I am about to head to Beaumont next week once again for my first Pops concert there.  It should be interesting.  We are headed to Broadway in Beaumont.  Wish us luck and if you are in the area come and check it out on January 23 at the Julie Rogers Theater in downtown Beaumont.  It is an exciting time of transition for me in my career.

You all take care.  Prayers and blessings to the people of Haiti.

Peace,

Chelsea

The adrenalin-charged finale with its witches and monstsers was exhilarating, and even after the end the excitement hung in the air.

Bill Varble, Mail Tribune, September 27, 2009