Bugs concert pictures

Hi everyone,

Thanks to conductor PATRICK REYNOLDS of the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, I’ve now enjoyed listening to a video of the whole “Bugs” concert, including the poems from bugs, poems about creeping things read by the orchestra’s talented pianist, MOLLIE STEEN and the two partner poems that Mollie and I read together. It was great fun to see it all happen.

The concert itself was wonderful. Such a talented group of young musicians!

These pictures are grainy because I took them with my camera of the video, but they still give an idea of how the show was put together. Thank you again, Pat and Mollie!

The Bugs Concert

Hi everyone,

Today’s the day that maestro PATRICK REYNOLDS leads the Dayton Ohio Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in a reprisal of The “Bugs” Concert. For the second time since it came out in 2007, my book, BUGS, POEMS ABOUT CREEPING THINGS, hilariously illustrated by ROB SHEPPERSON, is featured throughout the performance. The orchestra’s pianist, MOLLIE STEEN, will recite three poems from the book. She and I will also read together two partner poems: FLEA and FLY. I won’t be there in person but my video will be shown on a huge screen hung above the orchestra.

Founded in 1937 by Paul Katz, the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra brings together the greater Dayton area’s most gifted young orchestral musicians, providing the opportunity to study and perform a broad range of orchestral repertoire. The DPYO performs three concerts each season. The orchestra regularly performs on the Dayton Philharmonic’s DP&L Family Concert Series, which has recently included collaborations with the Dayton Ballet II Senior Company, performance artist Dan Kamin, and the Magic Circle Mime Company.

I thought about combining a trip to New York City with a drop-in visit to Dayton but the timing wasn’t good. Patrick has promised to send me a recording of the whole concert so I’ll look forward to that.

Getting there

Hi everyone,

I think I’m within three weeks of completing the Teacher Created Material book. That would make it March 11, two days before my birthday. What a nice gift to myself!

On another front, this Wednesday I’ll Zoom-storm with PATRICK REYNOLDS, conductor of the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and MOLLIE STEEN, pianist for the orchestra. We’ll discuss our respective roles in the upcoming “Bugs” concert on March 20. I’ll make a video later in the week of my part of two poems for partners that Mollie and I will read together during the performance. We’ll do “The Fly” and “Spanish Fly” from my book BUGS, POEMS ABOUT CREEPING THINGS. Will that be fun? Oh my yes!

Dayton concert in March

Hi everyone,

I’ve just discovered the program has been posted for the March 20 “bugs” concert.

As they did at the first concert a number of years ago, several poems from my book, BUGS, POEMS ABOUT CREEPING THINGS, will be read throughout the performance, which will also be accompanied by the Dayton Youth Ballet. I believe the cover of the book, wittily illustrated by ROB SHEPPERSON, will be displayed in some way. I can’t make it to Ohio at that time and get home in time for my birthday party at David Harrison Elementary two days later on the 22nd. Wish I could!

Brigadoon at the Symphony

Hi everyone,

Last night Sandy and I loved the performance of Brigadoon at Springfield Symphony’s Pops Concert. BFA students in Music and Dance at Missouri State University gave stirring performances, all accompanied by our great orchestra. There were few empty seats in the house at Juanita K. Hammons Theater for the Performing Arts. What a beautiful venue.

For no particular reason I wound up wearing black for the evening. It wasn’t really Johnny Cash sort of music, but Sandy didn’t urge me to change clothes so I got out of the house like this. After the concert we went to Houlihan’s for a late meal. We got there at 11:01. The kitchen closed at 11:00. We had drinks, went home, and snacked on cheese and crackers before calling it a night.