Today I took a lesson from Ryan Anthony who was a member of The - TopicsExpress



          

Today I took a lesson from Ryan Anthony who was a member of The Canadian Brass, perhaps the best and most popular brass quintet in the world. Hes pretty fantastic. He told me a little about the people in his life who he felt did the most to help him become the musician he is today. It started me thinking about the people who were the greatest blessing in my life and the most influential in making me who I am today. I recall a line that Burt Lancaster spoke in the movie Field of Dreams. He played the role of old Dr Moonlight Graham. Graham was a small town doctor who, as a youth, had a brief brush with his dream of batting as a major league baseball player. In a poignant scene in the movie, Graham is speaking Kevin Costners character named Ray when he leans back in his chair and says, you know, we dont realize the most important moments of our life AS they are happening. I think it tends to be the same with those who were so important to us when we were young. It often crosses my mind how easy it would have been for me to skip college, never pursue a career in music, and simply settle for a job in a feed store somewhere in Ellis County. Or even worse, I could have gone to a university that was a family tradition, fail, and return home with no skills and with no chance of me doing what I loved the most. I thank God for my high school band director, Irby Martin who introduced me to the likes of the Persichetti Symphony, Adolph Herseth, Fritz Reiner, Eddie Green (who would later have a huge impact on my life and career that was beyond measure), and lit a fire in me to do something I had never done before-pursue being the best I could be. Thank God for my first university director, Eldon Janzen, who was the second rock star in my life (after Adolph Herseth). His influence, kindness, and incredible dedication to musical excellence became part of my DNA that continues to inspire and drive me today. I remember the first time I met him. We met in a backstage dressing room prior to a concert in the University of Arkansas student union. The instant he spoke I was sold. Thats who I wanted to be like! Thank God for Robert Bright (Marge Bright) who I still view as a second father. Hes the first person I think of every time I pick up my trumpet. Everything I know and love about trumpet and, more importantly, how to care for others, I owe to him. I couldnt imagine my life without him. He is still a rock star to me. He also introduced me to something called a practice room and never hesitated to remind me when I needed reacquaint myself with the concept. Thank God for my director at Baylor Richard Floyd who cared for me during one of the most difficult and tumultuous times of my then young life. His incredible passion for art and music will always be part of me. Mr Floyd introduced me to a new world of music--new forms, types, and teaching concepts. He taught me that music is not just about the performance. Its also the experiences you have on the way to the performance. He gave me the gift of playing Stravinskys Octet for Winds and countless other great works in our profession. And finally, thank God for my high school principal, Harold Dorsey, who literally made me miss a day of school so I could drive to Richland College and visit with Mr John Paynter. That was the day the fuse was lit. Id gladly take any of these men as a second father, if for no other reason, for they way each of them took a personal interest in me and demonstrated the highest level of kindness and especially patience. I mean profound patience. I value my college years and the people that I had the opportunity to learn from more than any experience I could have received at places such as Julliard, NEC, Curtis, Eastman, or any other icon of music. Words could never express my admiration and respect for them nor could I ever thank them enough for what they have done for me. Thank you, Benny Davis
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 02:05:03 +0000

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