A day off gets one of these. In case you're new here, I'll give a tl;dr thumbnail sketch. I have been Assistant principal violist of the Oregon Symphony for the past 30 years. During those 30 years I also have played in two nearly full-time string quartets, a new music ensemble, and whatever else came along. This season, my 31st, I decided to hit the pause button on everything but the symphony work.

This past Saturday at the Oregon Symphony's Music Box space downtown I attended an introduction of our new 'class' of musicians that have recently joined the orchestra to a select group of donors and supporters. This may have been something that the orchestra has done before – it's entirely possible that I missed it in the past – but it sure was a great idea to get to know these wonderful additions to the orchestra and have them answer questions from the audience.

Note: I've been drafting this post for close to two weeks. This was NOT due to being a recovering perfectionist! There is a insidious and prevalent trope of artistic life that boils down to this: to create (great) art, one must suffer. I don't think that this is true – but I only make pretty good art. But the notion that art requires suffering in order to be good has been around for a long time.

Sunset at the J. Christopher at Appassionata Estate vineyards. Just a week or so after my wonderful time at the Chintimini festival, it was time to begin rehearsals for what is truly the highlight of my year, the Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival. The founders and co-artistic directors - husband and wife team Sasha Callahan (violin) and Leo Eguchi (cellos) - are now dear friends after 8 years of making music together - as is their fellow Bostonian, violinist Megumi Stohs Lewis.

Summers are an interesting time for musicians - whether they are in a full 52 week orchestra, freelance performers, or members of orchestras that play less than 52 weeks each season. The Oregon Symphony plays 40 weeks a year - leaving 12 weeks where we find work where we can. 52 week orchestras often have brief vacation periods before and after their summer seasons (which they get paid for).

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