Saturday, May 3, 2014

Malo!

It registered today that I've been in Samoa over three months now... Crazy! Have lots to update on but I'll share one piece now.
 
Two months ago, I joined the Samoan National Pasefika Orchestra (SNPO). Having learned the clarinet in intermediate and played sporadically at high school assemblies (all-boys catholic high school band always needed help...), I anticipated only playing the clarinet in the Orchestra. However, the Orchestra possesses a number of unused instruments as membership hovers around 10 members. Instead of waiting for more musicians (finding dedicated members is a problem here...), we realized it made more sense to learn these instruments ourselves (duh, right?). I have since taught myself to play the bassoon AND cello. Freakin' random, huh! 
 
We've already performed one major concert for government officials but I'll post pics/videos from the next one (which will include a bassoon solo from yours truly...)  

Back in the States in two weeks. Will be interesting to see how different it is...