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
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