Everyone else here is lugging their horns - here I am lugging this laptop.

I actually had a 'rehearsal' to make sure that we could get the laptop connected to the internet here and to see if there were any problems hooking the PC to the overhead display unit (which isn't overhead, but you know what I mean). There were a few problems which were worked out. So, I guess that I'm ready to go tomorrow.

The only problem with the rehearsal (and indeed my presentation tomorrow) is that both occur smack in the middle of the ensemble sessions. So, this means I won't be playing in any of the ensembles. Unfortunate timing…

But enough about my troubles. I ran into John Kowalchuk at lunch today - he is trying to get some of his arrangements played at the Gala concert on Saturday. Talking to him just know, it looks like his "Oh, Canada!" will be performed. Great!

After fighting jet lag all morning, I finally go attend the first master class, given by Froydis Ree Werke. This is a wonderful addition to the conferences - giving many students of all levels the chance to work with a world-class teacher. Froydis, as always, does a wonderful job of putting people at ease and her advice makes an immediate difference to the people who are the subjects of the master class. As always, she offers succinct, meaninful tidbits, such as the following:

• 'when you are stressed, play louder and faster.'
• 'you need to know the rules - but you need to know when to break them'
• one that got some laughter, after handing a student a small black rubber inflatable bag: 'fill up this bag .. with air'
• 'tune sharper - play flatter'
• a quote she attributed to Christopher Leuba: 'If you've got the brains to play the horn, you should have the brains not to play the horn'

Froydis closed with 'Dream of the Rhinoceros,' a charming short work,

After lunch, it's time for the first afternoon session, on the life and times of Phil Farkas. Nancy Fako, who has just completed a wonderful new book, chairs the panel. It's obvious from the comments of the panelists and the audience members that Mr. Farkas' influence on the classical world was immense. I hope this isn't news to anyone reading this.

Time for the concert, which featured:

The best work of the evening is turned in by Liege Horn Quartet, which performs works outside the ordinary horn repertoire. Bruce Richards even sings a tenor line (and plays when not singing) on the Missa Mater Patris.

Unfortunately, I am still not feeling too well so elect to skip the evening concert. Gail Williams and James Sommerville were scheduled to be the feature artists, but Sommerville was unable to come for reasons that were not shared with us. As a result, I don't know what the program was.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Boerger