White House 3rd time with company

So, here I go again to the White House. It's an amazing honor. The first time I was Joe Cool until I sat down with the President 4 feet from me.... whereupon I became Awadaginfreakingoutwiththepresidentsodamncloseby... The 2nd time was more like a normal concert, ( i.e. the President wasn't in my immediate or peripheral vision... ) This time, back at the East Room, at least I can picture, where President Obama will be.....

It will be a splendid day on account of the afternoon events, a High School workshop/masterclass, and concert. I was actually able to invite some of the attendees for this, so I chose students from the Pratt Music Foundation in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, and from the SCPA in Cincinnati.  There will be 40 students per workshop, ( violin with Josh Bell, cello with Alisa Weilerstein, guitar with Sharon Isbin, and mine). The Pratt Foundation students ( scholars we call them), and the SCPA students will go to the workshop corresponding to their instrument. After the classes will be a concert hosted by Michelle Obama with several young people where I will perform the Schubert Fantasie in F minor with a SCPA student, and a Scriabin Etude. In the evening, I'll be quite busy, with a performance of my transcription of the Bach Passacaglia and Fugue in c minor, Ravel Tzigane, with Josh, and the last movement of the Mendelssohn d minor trio with Josh and Alisa. Some or all of these events will be streamed so i'll try to let you know.

 Meanwhile,... what do you think I should talk to the High School students about???

 all best,

 ap

Comments

[Anne]

FYI: The entire evening concert (in segments) and the afternoon workshop/concert are all up now on the White House Web site under Multimedia/Videos (do a category search for Arts and Music to substantially reduce the videos you have to browse through). For starters, here is where you can find Awadagin's Bach/Hail to the Chief performance. They don't show the President and First Lady too much but when they do, you can see Michelle really getting into the piece, nodding along, etc.:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/awadagin-pratt-performs-white-house-2-8

[Chris]

Bravo, by the way.

[Chris]

Tell them to practice, practice, practice.

[Anne]

Just listened on my work computer to you play for Michelle Obama, Awadagin. You were wonderful and so was the young lady student who played the Schubert with you! I'll be tuning in again tonight for the big performance.

[Tammy922]

funny... I can't imagine you being anything other than "Cool" ... no matter the audience.

[Anne]

This time you'll be Mr. Cool, Awadagin! Honestly, I'm glad the Obamas are hosting this kind of event to promote musical education.

As for the students, the best thing you can do is not worry about what to say to them. Listen to them. Let them lead you. Invite their input. That is the greatest gift we "elders" can give the young.