Every musician and especially freelance ones hit this end of the year feeling ready to collapse... actually, I think I hit that point several weeks and a few projects back... but as a freelancer, you have no choice but to burn through to the end. Unlike salaried musicians, we are always remembered for EVERYTHING we do... and there can be no let up in ability or professional quality as that will forever be remembered. On the other hand, there is nothing like the thrill of trying to be on the peak of your game at all times!

We concluded our public facing part of our ensemble year with a temperature test to see if a community focused day of playing and workshopping would be interesting for people... and to our great surprised, people turned out in bigger numbers than we had imagined! Superb!... and that meant that we had to get cracking on planning the next one for next year! We had left that on the to-do list as we weren't sure about how this one would turn out... but we had great positive response and an enthusiasm to do more! So... we will do it! Planning, booking, grant-writing, and preparation... yay, what we do for our passion!

But this coming weekend is the last final burn for the two of us...

... a concert tonight as a guest leader for a local ensemble. It is a varied mix of players, and mostly not in my field of music... but playing the music that is in my field (hence the guest lead position...)... and it has been a week of mixed success in bringing the players over to my way of thinking... some are very receptive and adaptable... and others are much less aware of what sounds are coming out of their instruments, and often it doesn't have any relation to how "established" they are!

But it has been an enjoyable project... the is a large enthusiastic choir which is nice to feed off their energy, and the guest director is also in the same field as me. Plus a really nice soprano soloist as well! And most of the orchestra are trying hard as well!

Then sadly, a memorial service for a dear friend and mentor tomorrow... my wife and I were incredibly honoured that we were asked to provide music for the service. That will be a tough one...

Followed by an entire recording day... to have demo material for festivals and concert organisers. A whole day of just the two of us (and the recording engineer)... something will come of it, but that will be the last performance engagement of the year...

... and the FINAL last thing... putting together a large arts grant application for multi-year funding for our ensemble. It is a really long shot... but we have to put our hands up for it... and in the end, if we don't get it, it doesn't change what we do! But the best thing about it has been the heartwarming letters of support that we have been receiving... such individual and earnestly written letters. Sigh...

Then we are in house cleaning mode for Christmas! EEEEEEEEPPPPPPPP!

... but first, survive till this coming Friday!

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