Chapter 14
After the final rehearsal on the Thursday before the concert, Alan took me out for a cup of coffee.
“This is going to be a wonderful concert,” he said. “I’m glad I programmed you last.”
“Yes, Shostakovich always gets good applause.”
Alan laughed. “Especially the way you conduct it. You’ve really built a fire under some of my musicians.”
“They’re good kids. You have a very good brass section.”
“That’s why I programmed that piece: to show them off.” Alan laughed. “A few of them grew up in drum and bugle corps so they like playing right out there.”
“That’s exactly what you need for that piece. That’s one of the things about public high school bands: most brass aren’t showy enough. Unless you’ve played in a drum and bugle corps or in a big university band, you tend to hide yo
