NCB COVID Chronicles, Part 3: Member Reflections — Joseph Schorer
NCB trombones following a master class with Chicago Symphony Orchestra trombone Michael Mulcahy, April 2017.
Our next installment of NCB COVID Chronicles features an interview with Joseph Schorer, a member of the trombone section since 2012, and an enthusiastic leader and participant in many of the band’s fundraising activities.
Joe joined the band in fall 2012. He served on the Board of Directors for six years, leading the silent auction and program book advertisement campaigns during that time. In addition, he organizes master classes for the NCB trombone section with outstanding professional musicians, including Michael Mulcahy (Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Randy Hawes (Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Tim Higgins (San Francisco Symphony), and Mark Fisher (Lyric Opera of Chicago). You may recognize Joe from our annual raffle ticket drawing - purchasing a ticket from him increases your odds of winning a prize exponentially.
We asked Joe to reflect on his rehearsal experience at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome on August 26, 2020, in addition to recalling how the pandemic impacted his typical music routine.
Were you nervous to begin rehearsals given the current world climate?
COVID-19 did not make me nervous about rehearsing outside. I was more nervous that, in the outdoor setting with a smaller ensemble, I was going to be more exposed musically, so to speak.
What was the most exciting part of rehearsal at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome?
The best moment for me was seeing Mallory Thompson deliriously happy being back in her element. That really warmed my heart.
How did you feel leaving the velodrome?
I felt like I was home.
Was it liberating to be able to play outside, or did you miss being indoors?
The outdoor environment is challenging in a couple of ways. First, every little bobble or mistake I make can be heard plainly by me and, I assume, by others. The normal indoor environment tends to cover up small errors. Second, it was really hard to hear other people, even members of my own section. On one piece at the velodrome, Mallory instructed the trombones to back off so that we could hear and follow the lead of our principal (Bryan Tipps). When I and my comrades pulled back, she then chastised us for not playing louder. Hmmmm… We’ll see if the environment at The Grove is more acoustically satisfying. To be clear, the physical environment in the first couple of weeks has been terrific. Great weather has made for a most pleasant experience.
How did you feel making music with your section mates again?
In June, the NCB trombones regrouped in Northbrook to practice and record “Make Our Garden Grow.” We were particularly blessed when Mallory agreed to lead the rehearsal and recording. It was very emotional for me. My wife said she was glad the session went off when planned; otherwise, she thought I was going to explode. After this session, I told Mallory and Peter Gotsch (NCB board president) that engaging in this trombone project was like giving beer to an alcoholic – the taste was in my mouth, and I wanted MORE NOW! So, yes, reuniting with other NCB trombones is immensely satisfying.
How did your musical routine change when the pandemic hit? Did you continue practicing regularly, or did your trombone fall to the wayside?
Throughout this period I have continued to practice an hour a day, six days a week. In addition, I have continued to get one hour weekly Zoom lessons from my teacher (Bryan Tipps, NCB’s principal trombone). Bryan has an adventurous pedagogical spirit with lots of supportive, innovative ideas to drill into my weak spots and work through them. These lessons have become an anchor for my week, and they keep me musically honest.
What are you most excited about for the next eight weeks of rehearsal at The Grove?
Finding new ways to learn and enjoy music in a very different acoustical environment.
Which piece of music from your assigned group(s) are you looking forward to rehearsing the most?
Most of the pieces in our repertoire for this fall are pieces I have played before. For example, at the velodrome we played Henry Fillmore’s His Honor March, which I first played 51 years ago in the Minnesota High School All-State Band. Revisiting familiar repertoire is like reconnecting with old friends. Nonetheless, the music I am most looking forward to is Holst’s First Suite in E-flat. This is a classic among wind band literature, and I have never played it before.
Joe Schorer working Northshore Concert Band’s booth at the 2016 Midwest Clinic.
Next Week: Part 4, Member Reflections — Kelly McGregor
From the trombones in the back row all the way to the piccolo in the front row — or, this season, as far away as possible! Our next edition of NCB COVID Chronicles features NCB piccolo Kelly McGregor reflecting on her experience at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome and the dangers of playing piccolo during the pandemic. Don’t miss a moment — subscribe to our newsletter in the footer below and follow us on social media!