Wanna Stroll...Again?

Do you remember the first time you strolled down the isle for the first time? I sure do! I was very nervous and wondered if I would even remember "Entrance and Opener" or if I would trip and fall over the table full of nice old ladies.  As a viola player, I was happy I didn't have the melody, but I was also aware that when I kneeled and serenaded a table, I would be a soloist...heart in my throat!  In Satin Strings, I had the time of my life.  I learned so much about performing and how to say "Thank You" when one of those nice old ladies told me we played well. What I wouldn't give to re-live that...

Well, you can now step back in time and "stroll down memory lane" so to speak.  The Permian Orchestra Spring Concert will also feature the 2nd Reunion Stroll for all former Satin Strings members.  The concert will be held in the Permian High School Auditorium on Saturday, May 19th at 3:00 pm.  All of the music will be posted online at the Orchestra Website: www.permianorchestra.com. If you can make it, please email me todd.berridge@ectorcountyisd.org or respond to the post on Facebook. 

Please mark this date on the calendar.  I'm sure this will be special and I hope you can make it.  Get crackin' on Feudin' Fiddles!! 

A Marching Orchestra? Further Video & Photographic Proof!!

This is how you wind-up an already enthusiastic Irish Parade Crowd in Limerick...

Satin Strings in Ireland at the Limerick International Band (and Orchestra) Championship:

Thanks to Trey & Josh at Director's Choice Tour & Travel for the videos and the photos!

Video Proof

Check out this YouTube video from the Dublin Parade.  Permian starts at 6:29 of the clip.

Wi-Fi...Why Not?

Back on-line and back in the USA!

According to the Odessa American, after I kissed the Blarney Stone, I ironically LOST my gift of gab.  Almost, but not quite.  I lost the gift of broadband internet.  Try uploading hi res photos with dial up!

With a decent Wi-Fi, I can make this post all about wrapping up this fantastic trip the Permian Orchestra and Band took to Ireland.  9 days flew by so fast, but we accomplished so much as a music program.  Several "BIG" events took place: Marching in a foreign country, performing in 1,000 year old cathedrals, learning that 2 weeks without rain in Ireland is a severe drought, the Irish really REALLY like potatoes and that if you fly near thunderstorms, you will be diverted!  Seriously, the Irish people were the friendliest hosts we could have hoped for.  Their open nature and willingness to make us feel at home was a blessing.  Thank you to DC Festivals, DC Tours & Travels, Atlantic Tours, the parents and students and the many people involved in making this a wonderful trip.

Photos from the trip:

The St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin:

Orchestra Performance at St. Patrick's Cathedral:

Thunderstorms:

As I close out this post, we had a blast.  Thanks to the community support.  See you soon!

We Are Home...Almost

There is so much left to be written and documented about this trip...but as I sit at the Sweetwater TA Truckstop I realized: THERE MIGHT BE Wi-Fi! But alas, my dreams were dashed. Sweetwater 3G coverage is still better than Dublin Wi-Fi!

The travel home has been a tough one. Some started as early as 11:00 pm Sunday (Texas time) and are returning home as I write this post: 6:15 am Tuesday (Texas time).  2 buses, 4 planes, 4 airports, meals at odd times, diverting planes because of thunderstorms...but I wouldn't change any of it! This trip was awesome.

I will post more after some serious shut-eye and a well deserved hiatus from potatoes!

St. Patrick's Day: It's Kind of a Big Deal!

Permian Orchestra Trip to Ireland: Day 6 & 7

The story of St. Patrick is a wonderful tale...too long to tell, but trust me on this one!

The Orchestra and Band has made their way from Galway into the capital of the Irish Republic: DUBLIN.  Situated on the River Liffey Dublin has been around since the days of the Vikings, circa 988 AD.  Now that MOJO has been here, the circle is now complete!

Day 6 started out with a whirlwind tour of Dublin.  Included in this tour was Trinity College, The Book of Kells, Grafton Street and St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The highlight of the tour was St. Patrick's Cathedral.  Even more of a highlight was performing in the cathedral. The acoustics were amazing and to be surrounded by so much history was outstanding!

St. Patrick's Day:  The band and orchestra marshaled at the parade staring point and mixed with several groups: a British Marching Band, The Mighty Mizzou Band (University of Missouri), and the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame Marching Band.  It was a blast to hear and see the many students and teachers ready to have fun and embark on a year's worth of work!



More pictures later...

A Royal Good Time!

Permian Orchestra in Ireland: Day 4 & 5

"On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again..." Truer words have never been spoken, unless they have driven on the back country roads in Ireland. Bumpy doesn't begin to describe it!

The plan yesterday was to visit very old castles. The first on the itinerary was the Blarney Castle in the County Cork. The Blarney Castle was built in 1480 by Cormac Laidir McCarthy. He was known to be a bit of a charmer and had a way with words. It is said if you kiss the Blarney Stone on the 5th story, you are gifted with McCarthy's "Gift of Gab". We shall see.

After a great meal and some shopping at the Blarney Woolen Mills, we loaded up and headed for the Bunratty Folk Park and Castle. The Bunratty Castle was built in 1425 and was originally owned and ruled by the famous O'Brien clan. After many centuries it fell into major disrepair until it was refurbished in the mid 1960's. We came for a great medieval meal, but what we got was a tremendous show and wonderful music! What a treat!

Today, we ventured out again...this time to the Cliffs of Moher and some down time in downtown Galway.

We started out taking the scenic route to the Cliffs of Moher.  This road took us through small villages and hamlets that looked as if they had just stepped out of the 1700's. Beautiful landscapes!

 Before we reached the Cliffs, we went through a really strange but beguiling portion of County Clare called the Burren.  In the Burren, massive limestone rocks have been brought to the surface through time and the elements.  Most were exposed during the ice age when the massive glaciers covering Ireland moved out to sea.

The Cliffs of Moher was a sight to see!  Expansive limestone cliffs rising out of the water at 900 ft!

After the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher, all of the students and chaperones shopped and gazed in wide wonder at the 1400th century city centre of historic Galway.  It is like a living page of medieval history come to life.  A lot has changed since then, but in this particular corner of Galway, NOTHING has changed...and it is great! 

Tomorrow it's off to Dublin and the orchestra concert at St. Patrick's Cathedral. 

The 50 Shades of Green...and the 100 Bumps in the Road!

Permian Orchestra in Ireland: Day 3

After a hectic day of travel, the students and chaperones were really looking forward to a less stressful day.  What we got was Connemara!

Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland comprising of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.  The scenery is breath-taking and the hospitality of the land and the people is so warm and welcome!  The roads on the other hand...lets just say the roads leave something to be desired. 

We went to Clifton and to the Connemara National Park.  Plenty of chances to take pictures, learn about "bogs" and "pete" and "Fairy Trees" and eat plenty of fish and chips!

The students then performed at the St. Nicolas Cathedral in downtown Galway.  This Gothic cathedral was the last place Christopher Columbus prayed in 1491 before he made his way West to the New World.  The students performed wonderfully and represented Permian High School with pride.

The 4th day will open tomorrow with the students sleeping late, practicing marching and kissing the Blarney Stone.  We'll see who is gifted with the "gift of gab"...

The Day That Would Never End...Until it Did!

Day 1 & 2 of the Permian Orchestra and Band Trip to IRELAND"

Travel is tough.  Going to Lubbock is hard enough on any spare weekend...but 2 or 3 connecting flights AFTER a 6 hour bus ride (totaling 25 straight hours of travel) is pure torture!

Most students wore the same socks for 36 straight hours! Whether Houston, Atlanta, JFK or Chicago...the final leg of this brutal travel experience ended with the students, adults and directors stumbling and weak-legging themselves through Irish Customs and on to the road to Galway.

After a much needed nap and shower, the traveling party made a scheduled stop at Monroe's Tavern in the beautiful city centre of Galway.  Along with a marvelous meal of Irish stew and home-made Irish Apple Pie, the students were entertained by local Irish traditional musicians and dancers.  It was a blast to be in the audience instead of on the stage!

Tomorrow proves to be a great day after a much needed session of rest .  To be continued...

When Irish Eyes are Smiling...

As we embark on this trip, I am reminded of the many sacrifices we have made this year to make the journey to Ireland.  The students have fund raised, practiced, performed and fund raised some more...all for a chance to walk down the main streets in Dublin and Limerick and see old world castles and perform the worlds' BEST music in 1,000 year old cathedrals.  And yet all of this immense fun and learning does not come without a bit of sadness: it will all be over soon!  13 months of preparation, payments, planes and performing will be memories in one week's time.  I am confident the students will perform to the greatest expectations and will represent home with the utmost respect and honor.

To all of the families and businesses who gave of their time and gave their dollars to this great adventure, WE say THANK YOU and we ask for your thoughts and prayers for a safe journey and a lifetime's worth of memories. 

We will see you in Dublin!

The Great Circle Route

The shortest distance between point A and point B isn't always a straight line...or so says the aviation axiom called "The Great Circle Route". 

Definition: n.

1. A circle described by the intersection of the surface of a sphere with a plane passing through the center of the sphere.
2. A segment of such a circle representing the shortest distance between two terrestrial points.

So...before 1492, we would have plotted the course using a straight line.  Now because of Chris Columbus (THANKS A LOT, CHRIS!!), we have to plot a circle route. Confused? Look at this nice diagram:

But why a circular path? A Great Circle Path is the shortest path on the surface of a sphere between two points on that sphere. Technically, the term geodesic path should be used in this page since Earth is not a true sphere, but the great circle terminology is common usage.

Who Knew? 4 DAYS!

I tried to look serious

Here I am again...trying to look serious in front of the students.  Luckily, the photographer actually caught the students looking and paying attention to me...

Check out the link here: http://www.oaoa.com/articles/ireland-83305-music-permian.html

5 days and counting.

WELCOME!

Welcome to the FIRST blog dedicated to the Permian Orchestra!  I will try to keep the info current and relevant...although I admit that will be easier said than done!

Congrats to our 3 Orchestras who competed last week at UIL! They did remarkably well.  Philharmonic recieved a 2 on stage and a 2 in sightreading.  Satin Strings and Symphony recieved all 1's.  23 years in a row for Satin Strings and 39 years in a row for Symphony!  LOVE IT!

After this weekend, the orchestras (along with the Permian Band) will travel to IRELAND to participate in the festivities surrounding the St. Patrick's Day celebration.  My ultimate goal is to post a blog everyday (it's a goal)! The Odessa American has agreed to publish this blog on its online newpaper.  Let the fun begin!

See you in Dublin, Ireland!