Late Summer

This lovely, busy Summer is winding down, and I'm eagerly anticipating a fantastic Fall! Here are some highlights from late August through September:

After being in the Field Band for a full year, it's nice to no longer be considered a "newbie." Here I am posing with one of our brand new members, Jeannie Wiesman, at her first TUSAFB concert. This gig was our rain-plagued Alumni Concert, that turned out great, despite the weather refusing to cooperate.

Chris and I are seen here performing the Fantastic Fast-Fingered Fandango at the same concert.

 

One reason I love Fall so much is NFL season! I love football- but I really only watch pro, I can't get into college. Of course I love the Houston Texans, and have recently adopted the Baltimore Ravens as my new home-town team. I did live near Dallas for six years, so I cautiously support the Dallas Cowboys, although it isn't a great idea to admit it around these parts!

 

I really enjoyed going to a Ravens pre-season game at M&T Bank Stadium. Nice to see that famous defense in person!

I decided to challenge myself to run a 1/2 marathon in September. I didn't do a great job of sticking to a training regimen, but I still wanted to go and do what I could. It was my first big race event and it was a blast. I ran with some other Army friends, in particular, my buddy CPL Dan Ord who teaches euphonium at the Armed Forces School of Music. Here we are hamming it up after the race. 

It took me 2 hours and 45 minutes to run 13.1 miles. That's not very fast running, but it was more about finishing the race and doing something I never imagined I was capable of. 

I've been trying to attend more music events outside of work. This M&M joined me in viewing a live broadcast of the Barber of Seville at Nationals Stadium. It was an amazing free event. I had never experienced a full opera before, and enjoyed it immensely. 

Here is a picture of the fabulous New York Voices with the Airmen of Note, the jazz component of the US Air Force Band. On September 11th they put on a stunning performance that I was so lucky to attend. 

This final shot is from the Field Band's Hispanic Heritage Recital in a beautiful Benedictine church in Baltimore. I played a piece with some incredibly talented percussionists, Todd Harrison and Jeff Lopez from the Jazz Ambassadors, and the fabulous Mr. Gene Cedras. 

Summer Tour Part II

The Field Band's second tour this Summer was very special to me because it marked my first time to be playing as a professional in my home state of Texas! I've collected some of my favorite pictures to chronicle events.... 

This lovely green monstrosity of a government van was my life for four days and 1,360 miles prior to our tour. I volunteered for a duty lovingly known as "dead-head" where a group of band members and our professional truck drivers convoy with the band's equipment to the site of our first concert. Our destination was Dallas, TX. By the time the rest of the band hopped on their flight out to the Lone Star State, I had mastered the art of the CB radio, been through a 4 lb tub of twizzlers, and listened to every small town radio station in the South. 

 

During our very first concert in Waco, I was in for a real treat when some of my family attended! This is Aunt Wanda, who is my Grandfather's sister, and her daughter, Vicky. They own a Mexican restaurant called "La Fiesta." I highly recommend you try it if you ever find yourself in Waco, TX. We went there for dinner and drinks after the concert and it was amazing. You can't get Mexican food like that up North! 

I might be a little biased, but Texas audiences really are the best! We were greeted by many packed houses, such as this one. I loved the enthusiasm for the Army and our show that was present every night! 

Our performance in San Antonio at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention was very surreal for me. Only a few years ago I sat on the same stage as a college student, and prior to that, a high school kid at All-state. To be back and playing for many of my teachers and mentors was a dream come true. Check out this monster audience! How could you not love to play for that?

This is John Ware, my private lesson teacher all through middle and high school. He is one of my heros and definitely a big reason I am playing the euphonium for a living today. 

Another huge influence on me as a young musician was Wendy Marquart, or "Ms. M," my high school band director. She is an incredible teacher and did so much for me. I am very lucky to have somebody like her in my life! 

My favorite concert of this tour had to be when I got the chance to return to my home turf and play for my family. Our concert in The Woodlands is very near to where I grew up. So many friends family members made the trip to see me play. It was truly overwhelming! My parents hadn't seen me play in a band since high school. Being able to come back to Texas and perform with the Field Band was the culmination of so much hard work and support from my parents in helping me achieve my goals as a musician. 

Of course, the Veronie's take any chance they can get to flock together for fun and to support one of their own. Here I am with my sister Roxanne, Sister-in-law Leatha, and niece Emma. 

I was so appreciative of my brother Tommy making it out for the show. He had open-heart surgery just a week and a half before! Can you believe it? Doesn't look like it! He has those good Veronie genes :) 

My dear friends from High School, Jonathan Martenson and Leslie Daniel, were also in attendance. We had a great time hanging out and catching up after the concert. 

The remainder of the tour went by quickly. Here is Chris staring in horror at the green slime that accumulated on his valve... looks like it is time to give the euphonium a post-tour 

bath!

One final picture is from Hot Springs, Arkansas where I enjoyed a phenomenal breakfast as the Colonial Pancake and Waffle House. Highly recommended!