G.P.

In my previous year-end post I wrote how dramatic 2010 was for me in many fronts. Now that I think what kind of challenges I faced this past year it feels like someone just took 2010 and cranked it up one more notch - Nigel Tufnel style! Well, a lot of good happened as well, but man did I go through some stressful times. Anyway, here are the musical highlights of the year:

Working with The Cleveland Orchestra has been a great experience, and I have enjoyed my every single project with our fantastic players. We had some exciting moments like doing the Beyond the Score production about Prokofiev's 5th symphony with one short rehearsal, or rehearsing for our jazz festival debut without the soloist (!) due to force majeure. But all of it, in my opinion, has gone as smoothly as I ever could've hoped for. I also conducted two concerts with the excellent young musicians of Cleveland Institute of Music, experienced the Blossom Music Festival during the hot Cleveland summer, and made a dozen of new interesting friends during the year.

Being in residence in Cleveland continued to take a toll on my guest conducting, which was limited to just six concerts this year (compare to 20 concerts in 2009!). The most fun of them was my debut with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, which honestly speaking did not feel like work at all. The nice musicians, new friends, perfect climate and delicious food all made me wish I could return to the island every year. My other debut of the year was in Norrköping, Sweden, and I hope to return there soon as well. I did have the pleasure of returning to the Royal Northern College of Music in UK where I this time conducted a big program, the first symphony of Sibelius being the main course. This music school has the most positive vibe I have experienced anywhere and that's why I like working there so much.

Now that I look into the next year, it seems I have some tough resolutions to do. The coming spring is going to be very busy with about 50 scores in repertoire, and it means I have to be extremely disciplined in my study. I also need to get enough work for the season 2012-13 since I will be finishing my assistantship with The Cleveland Orchestra next September! Hopefully all those orchestras that tried to get me this season and the last one will ring me back. In any case, it means that I will be doing a lot of networking during the next months to fill in the slots for 2013.

Even though I seem to get busier every year, my New Year's resolution is to keep writing about my adventures for the readers of this blog. I wonder who you are! My blog gets over 200 hits per day, but I cannot believe that too many people would actually check it out on a weekly basis. Send me a note below if you do! Happy and successful New Year 2012 to you all!