Soon after arriving in Baltimore in 1963 and being settled in our apartment on N. Calvert Street, I received a call from Feen Yula explaining that he was a music contractor (and violinist) and asking if he could come by to introduce himself. I had no idea at the time, and over the years, how he got my name and number. Nevertheless, he came by one day when my best friend, Keith Kummer, principle oboe with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, was visiting. The three of us talked and Feen, based on Keith’s recommendation and my credentials said he like to call when looking for a reed doubler (saxophone, clarinet, flute, etc.). I said fine and that I would look forward to hearing from him. Within a week he called about a gig at the Ford’s Theater for the traveling road show of Camelot. Not long after that run, the theater closed for good and a year later yielded to the wreaking ball to make room for a parking lot. That gig lead to others with Feen including run-outs to Emmitsburg for a production of Music Man. Throughout that initial the 63’-64’ school year, I taught at Peabody, worked on my DMA and free-lanced as did Missy as we collected our W2s and managed our budget carefully.
(For the ‘64 – ‘65 academic year I accepted a temporary position at the University of South Florida and performed with the Tampa Philharmonic. During the spring I received a call from Leigh Martinet, Director of the Baltimore Municipal Band (BMB), asking if I would be interested in joining the band. I was! Upon our return to Baltimore I performed with the BMB during it’s summer season of outdoor concerts.
The next summer (1964)the American Conductors project orchestra connected with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra was in residence at Peabody. Because Eddie Palanker, the BSO bass clarinetist had a summer gig at Bevard Music Festival, the contractor, Ruth Van Hulstein, asked me to be his replacement. I gladly accepted. It felt great to get my toe in the door, so to speak. One of the students during that summer was James Levine, who later became the conductor and music director of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
The following summer John Melick, music contractor and former BSO principal Trombone, asked me to join the Painters Mill Music Fair orchestra and also to play for shows at the Morris Mechanic Theater and Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Zimm Zemeral Band Over the years his “orchestra” provided backup for many well-known entertainers.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra