The end and the beginning...

It would be an understatement to say that this year has flown by! Sure, during the really difficult days, time would seem to drag. But I couldn't have imagined how much I was going to enjoy my job. We are just about to have our first live, in-person concert, and I couldn't be more excited. This will be my premiere with the Nanuet Orchestra. This is only one of the many joys that this year has brought amidst the hardships. For several months, I wondered what kind of relationship I was building with my students. I only saw some virtually, and if I was lucky, two days a week for others. Now, I'm getting to see the virtual students in smaller groups and about half of them I rehearse with five days a week. And already the high schoolers are jumping at the opportunity to help out with various responsibilities of the ensemble for this and next year. The most hopeful part of it is looking to the fall. With the vaccine now being available to 12-15 year olds, I envision a practically full return to normalcy.

While many of my colleagues and peers are waiting for this day, I feel that caution must accompany the unbridled anticipation. I have a better idea of how injustice and access manifest in public schools. Simply returning to business as usual will continue to exclude the increasing demographic of students who require free and reduced lunches, for example. Again, I am looking forward to playing concerts and sharing music with the community again, but I also realize and hope that our understanding of normalcy will evolve with us.