I landed my first orchestra gig!

[Tubajug]

I've been wanting to do more playing lately and there was an opening in our local community orchestra. I went to high school and college with the director and asked him to keep me in mind if there was ever an opening and he called and asked if I was still interested!

I'll be borrowing a 186 BBb for now (my little Bach tuba probably wouldn't support the group of 70) while saving up for a larger horn (probably a King 1241. I've got a Bach three-banger with a custom-made bell on it and a Yamaha 103 I'm fixing up if anyone has a 4-valve horn they want to trade. I don't really care if it's ugly and/or needs work).

Anyway, our first concert is Dvorak 9, so at least it's not too taxing on my first go (14 notes, whoo hoo!)!

Wish me luck!

[Mark E. Chachich]

Congratulations!

Dvorak 9 may not be many notes but treat it with care and caution, your part is very beautiful and very exposed. The only time that I played it I was the principal bass in an orchestra and the tuba player player could not make the gig. Dvorak 9 was the only piece on the concert that required tuba so the conductor asked me if I would play the tuba part. I played bass, put the bass down, picked up the tuba for the slow movement and went back to bass for the rest of the piece.

enjoy playing in an orchestra,
Mark

[Lectron]

Hey, that's great.
Congratulations

[Z-Tuba Dude]

Congratulations! I hope you have fun.

I'm not sure that I would broach the subject of using the altered Dvorak part on my first go-around with the orchestra, but you never know, maybe he'll go for it!

[windshieldbug]

There is no better seat in the hall than on stage!

Enjoy!

[Donn]

Because you're closer to the violas?

[bort]

Very cool!

The most important thing I learned from my first orchestra gig -- your volume will not be an issue. YOU ARE LOUD ENOUGH.

[k001k47]

Cool stuff, man
I wish there were more opportunities like that close to home; I'm jealous!

[UDELBR]

Heh: that's the one piece I take off whenever I can. Insulting to be 'disincluded' to that extent...

[davidgilbreath]

There is no better seat in the hall than on stage!

Enjoy!

Ditto. Enjoy it like a six year old enjoys Christmas morning while you're up there.

[Rotaryclub]

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(Dvorak’s wife slept with a tuba player, so he got revenge in the “New World” symphony: the tuba part doubles the bass trombone for about 15 seconds at the beginning and end of the second movement, and rests for the rest of the symphony.)

[opus37]

I have just joined a quintet group which for the Christmas concert expands to a 30 piece orchestra. They want me to play the tuba parts. I done a few orchestra gigs in the past, but this is the most formal. I'm playing a Kanstul 66 Eb which I hope has enough guts to hold up. By the way, there is now a listing for a relative inexpensive 1241 the Ebay section that you might be interested in.

Good luck on your gig.

[Tubajug]

Thanks for all the "congrats" and other encouraging words everyone! I still haven't rehearsed with them yet due to football/volleyball season (I'm a rural-school band director), but I'm excited to get started.

There are several Kings I've seen for sale that I would love to get my hands on, but alas, no cash at the moment.

Thanks again everyone!