Sitting in the Hamilton pit was indescribable. To be “in the room where it happens” of one of the biggest smash hits to come to Broadway in recent years was so exciting. I had a copy of the score to follow along with and a great view of the entire orchestra. Hamilton was the eighth of eight shows I will observe from the pit in New York. In total, they were Amazing Grace, Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon, On the Town, Something Rotten!, Les Mis, Wicked, and finally Hamilton. It still feels like this has all been a long dream. Though I am in a way dreading leaving this dream project, I am also very excited and ready to come back to Evanston.
I have absorbed so much information for my research project, but also for how I am going to run my own orchestra in the fall. I am music directing and piano-conducting a fall show and I have learned so much about how I will lead this group of players differently than I’ve ever done before. I used last year as a way to learn from others and assist/play in pits, and now I’m looking forward to a year of leadership and big steps forward in my process. I have a major project lined up for each quarter and then many options for the summer. It’s a very exciting time in my life and I can’t wait to apply what I learned on this extraordinary experience.
I will post at least once more before I leave with a final reflection.