Today’s feature is the fourth in a series of interviews with Northshore Concert Band members. Learn more about these talented musicians in each fun, thoughtful, and often touching feature.

Tyler Holstrom at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University.

Today’s member is Tyler Holstrom.

Tyler has been a member of the Northshore Concert Band for 6 years. He is a retail manager and plays Clarinet.

What part of your shelter-in-place have you come to appreciate the most? The least?
It's funny - at first the shelter-in-place felt somewhat refreshing for me. I'm so accustomed to burning the candle at both ends, so having time where I was forced not to leave the house was nice (despite having to turn my bedroom into an office). That said, being unable to see many friends and family members, as well as my students, in-person has made the last few months a little lonelier than normal!

What’s something that you miss that surprises you? What’s something that you don’t miss that surprises you?
Surprisingly, I miss my Metra rides to and from work. I do so much reading and tuning out of the world during that time, so I've had to force myself to find other times to read during the day. I'm surprised I don't miss shopping for unnecessary things more... probably because I've diverted my shopping attention to online retailers instead! But really, I haven't done "the Target" (roaming the entire store finding things I absolutely don't need) in a while, and I don't miss it one bit!

What have you been stocking up on (that isn’t toilet paper)?
Frontera Taco Bowls! I'm a horrible cook, so something tasty and microwavable is totally in my wheelhouse. My freezer has been well-stocked with the chicken verde and al pastor bowls since the quarantine started, so I've been able to get my fill of Mexican food (sadly, sans margaritas).

Is there something you’ve been putting off for a long time, but are now doing with this time at home?
Not much with my personal life, but I've gotten a whole slew of bizarre work projects done in the time we've been home! It's been a nice opportunity to plan ahead for the 2020-2021 season, do a lot of product design, have thoughtful conversations with my colleagues about things we can do better, and finally get caught up with a lot of the odds and ends I've blatantly disregarded for the last few years.

Please briefly share your history with NCB - how & why you joined, etc.
When I graduated with my bachelors degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, I had every intention of being a high school band director. I knew I wanted to keep performing, and, after student teaching with Nancy Golden in the flute section, I had my sights set on Northshore Concert Band. If I didn't get in here, I figured I would audition elsewhere (probably somewhere not an hour from home). Thankfully, there were two clarinet openings that summer, and I was invited to join the band! Since joining the band in 2014, I've been involved with our annual Lifetime of Music event, coordinating most of the back-end preparation with regards to gathering nominations, getting parts in hands, and getting kids in the door. It’s a nice way to still feel involved with the education community, despite my decision to leave the classroom to focus on my work at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I also like sticking my nose in other people's business (sorry, Alicia!) and helping out with incidental projects, like our website rebuild a few summers ago. I'm just a busy bee looking for things to do, and love doing my part to help the band! My hope is to be one of those members who makes it to 50 years in the band, though I fully expect to be a lot grumpier and less perky at the age of 72. So look out, 2063-2064 concert season - I'm coming for you! Heck, maybe we'll even play Lincolnshire Posy in my honor!

COVID-19 has forced NCB to cancel the second half of our 2019-2020 Subscription Season. What do you miss most about NCB rehearsals and performances?
Well, not band-related, but I really miss my drives to and from rehearsal (I'm such a commuter). I use my Wednesday driving hours for listening to podcasts, catching up with friends on the phone, and doing weird tonguing exercises with a metronome blaring through my car speakers... Needless to say, I'm behind on my podcasts and my tongue is moving a bit slower than it was in March! Though cliche, I really miss seeing the band every week! I'm someone who generally says hi to everyone I cross paths with on Wednesday nights. It's nice to have quick conversations with a whole bunch of band members as we're gearing up for rehearsal every week (and trying to cram in a last-minute practice section). This isn't something that can be replicated via text message, another dreaded Zoom call, or a Facebook group, so it's been something I've been really lacking in my week!

Please share anything else that you would like our audience to know.
Unlike many concert halls, Pick-Staiger is a great place for us to have an intimate connection with our audience members. While we're performing, it's super easy to see into the audience and see your reaction to the music we're making on stage. At our February concert, I remember looking out into the audience during the final section of Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and seeing a handful of audience members in tears. Little moments like that are great reminders to us, the band members, how important and meaningful this music is to our audience members!

So much has happened in our world. Concerts have been canceled and our musicians and administration are now sheltering in place and working from home. For the health and well-being of our musicians, staff, and supporters we are working in accordance with the CDC and Governor Pritzker’s guidelines. Music is more important than ever and we look forward to the time that we can share our music with you. During this unprecedented time, subscribe to this website and follow us on social media for NCB updates, member interviews, music news, and more.
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Northshore Concert Band At Home: Tyler Holstrom

Today’s member is Tyler Holstrom.