Good Luck, Everyone!

Yes, you are right: it has been a long, long time since you received anything from the Chicago Bass Ensemble! And you are within your rights to ask "Why?"

The answer is that during the last several months just about every bass player in town has been preparing for tomorrow's Substitute List audition at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and more importantly, the audition for a regular position at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Big Time, folks! Who wants to work on ensemble music when there is a real job to be had?!

Auditions for the Lyric take place over several days toward the end of November and the beginning of December. But tomorrow, November 9, is the CSO audition.

I'm sending this message tonight to wish the best of luck to all my colleagues auditioning tomorrow. This is one where we can congratulate and commiserate without a hint of jealousy or rivalry. We can all just do our best. And I wish you all well!

I'm in the group who will audition between 3:00 and 5:00 pm tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that will be the end of the day, so if anyone wants to stick around for a beer afterwards, do so.

And to my non-bass-playing friends out there in the world, please send me good thoughts for accurate intonation, smooth shifts and solid rhythm tomorrow!

I think I'll write a blog post or two in the coming weeks (yes, it has been a long time since I've done that) on the subject of preparing for auditions. I'll send another email then. In the meantime, please join me in wishing the best to all the Chicago bassist community tomorrow.

Regards,
Jacque

Chicago Bass Ensemble...

... is a group dedicated to exploring the repertoire for three, four, five or more bassists, and bringing that music to new audiences.