Tuesday, March 27, 2012

A stop in the queen city

by Musician 1st Class Patrick Martin

One of our final tour stops took us to Cincinnati, Ohio, to play at the renowned University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. The concert hall, Corbett Auditorium, was one of the smallest we had played in all tour, but also one of the best acoustically. The band was quite exhausted by this point of tour so playing in such a great sounding hall was a nice boost for everybody.

I was especially excited to come to Cincinnati since it is my hometown. I’ve only been in the band about four months, and the opportunity to perform in my hometown so soon was a real blessing. Just about all of my family lives within two hours of downtown Cincinnati, and I was lucky enough to have most of them there for the concert. My high school band directors and a few friends still living in the area also attended. They played a huge role in my initial development as a musician, and it was fun to show them where my musical endeavors had led me.

One of the perks of tour is the freedom to go just about anywhere within reason provided I am present for each concert and on the bus when it departs for our next destination. I took advantage of the opportunity to spend some time at my parents’ house, only a 20-minute drive from downtown, and to enjoy a home-cooked meal (the first in weeks). I also returned there after the concert to stay for the night, which gave me the chance to partake in a couple of my favorite Cincinnati delicacies, Skyline Chili and Graeter’s Ice Cream. Both are a must for anyone making a stop in the Queen City.

The end is in sight! By the end of the week we will be back in D.C.!

About the Author

Musician 1st Class Patrick Martin plays saxophone in the Concert Band, and is a graduate of Northwestern University.

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