Providence

One of the dictionary definitions of Providence is “divine guidance or care.” Yesterday, as we drove to visit the eye clinic of a relative in Taiwan, the word Providence came up beside the road in the name of a Catholic university we drove by. This summer the beginning of this time in Asia has been a great time to reflect on where I have been and the opportunities I have had.

Eleven years ago I was finishing up a year of serving as Visiting Associate Professor of horn and trumpet (!) at Tunghai University in Taiwan. I knew then that I really enjoyed studio teaching but in the near term my future was as a full time player in Nashville, it was the best option for my family. Visiting the campus again yesterday was very interesting. Our favorite noodle/dumpling store was still there under the same management and just as good! But, moreover, walking around the campus with my son who could not walk eleven years ago and reflecting, wow, a lot has happened in the intervening years in my musical career, things I could have barely imagined at the time.

My word of encouragement for hornists out there would be as you start your summer keep steadily working in positive ways toward the best uses of your talents; I believe that what you accomplish in the next ten years will also be more than what you can imagine now.

This summer [2007] I am performing in recital in Taichung, Taiwan on the campus of Tunghai University, as a soloist with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Wind Ensemble in Wufeng and Tainan, and again in recital at the Shanghai Conservatory in China. I will also be presenting master classes in Taipei and Taichung, Taiwan and in Shanghai where I will be in residence June 6-11. I have not been in Asia in over ten years and look forward to putting my Chinese to good use there to make a positive impact on horn playing in Taiwan and China.

I have not started in teaching and performing yet, these first days were in the schedule as recovery time from travel, but I really look forward to this time in Asia. My Chinese seems to be as good or better than it was eleven years ago, and I certainly hope to make a positive impact on the horn students, players, and teachers I come in contact with here.