Just came back from my first ever trip to Denver.
For me it was a rough 30 hour trip… After conducting the Horn Conference the night before, I took a super early flight from Phoenix Sunday morning. Arrived at Denver airport, had a quick cupcake and coffee

and then took the shuttle to Newman Center; Lamont School of Music. Lawrence Golan was doing his Dress Rehearsal of Strauss Also Sprach. The Newman Center is one of the most beautiful venues I’ve ever seen on a University Campus. Wonderful acoustics and a warm architecture.

I had a quick dress rehearsal of the Tchaikovsky and then ate lunch with the orchestra.

To read the review of the concert, click HERE

After the concert we took the bus back to the hotel. I thought we had 30 minutes to get ready for dinner… It turned out to be more than 1 hour. (see.. at this point, I was OUT!!!!) So I took advantage of the extra time in the lobby.

I also participated in a game of SPOONS. Since we didn’t have spoons, we used cell phones. The loser had to spell their name with their butt. That was hilarious.

Dinner and night time activity was at DAVE & BUSTER’S. My first time ever. Fun place. The PYS musicians combined their tokens to give a gift to Lawrence’s daughter and niece. That was super nice.

Late night, I met up with former Tucson Symphony Orchestra Principal Clarinet, Jeremy Reynolds. He is now on faculty at University of Denver.

(p.s. that is not a soft drink)

Before I went to sleep, I set my alarm to 9:15AM on my iPhone. But, to my surprise, I woke up to the hotel phone ringing at …. who know what time…..  I was in total PANIC MODE!!! I thought, “SHOOT!!! I overslept, everyone is on the bus!!!!” Well, it happened to be a friendly wake-up-call. Not so friendly at that point (7:30am). Went back to sleep.

Woke up, showered, and changed.. I had some down time so I flipping through scores on the sofa.(9:58am ish) On the printed schedule, loading was 10:30am. So I thought I had lots of time. At 10:02am the hotel phone rings, it was like déjà vu, so Panic Attack #2.
Me: hello?
Front Desk: Your party is waiting outside on the bus.
Me: what!???!
PSY Staff in the background: we are just loading!!!
Me: okay, I’ll be there!!!!

Sure enough, when I got down to the lobby, everyone was on the bus!!!!!!
Me: did I misread the schedule?
Staff: nope, but the musicians were all ready and clogging the lobby so we decided to leave early.
Me: ah….

At the airport I checked-in on FourSquare at the restaurant. They had a check-in deal so I got 40% off my meal! SCORE!!!

Flight back to Phoenix was quiet. Majority, including myself slept. I got home, ate dinner around 4pm. Took a nap which lasted 6 hours. Woke up, had a rice cracker, brushed my teeth and went back to sleep.

Congrats PYS on a wonderful tour to Denver. It was a lot of fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Following are random pictures from the tour.. It’s okay if you don’t get it… most of them are inside jokes.