General
Questions
Do
you have a full time job?
Yes.
If
yes, what do you do for a living as a day job?
I
am the Director of The Neuse Charter School of Johnston County.
Are
you a full time student?
No,
but I am a part time student, pursuing my Ed. D. in Technology
Education at NC State University.
What
are your hobbies and interests?
I
enjoy sports, exercise, and riding my motorcycle.
What
do you like about Fayetteville?
The
local support system for the arts.
What
is something about yourself that most people don't know?
I
tend to drive a little too fast and average 2 speeding tickets per
year. I’ve even received a speeding ticket in Australia. However, I
am a safe driver and have never been involved in a car accident.
Musical
Questions
When
did you join the FSO?
I
first performed with the FSO in 2005.
Why
do you enjoy playing with the FSO?
We
play some great repertoire and I enjoy the challenge. Performing
under Maestro Fakhouri
is
very rewarding. He brings out the best in all of us.
When
did you start playing?
I
started playing trombone at age 10 in my 5th
grade public school band program.
Do
you play any other instruments?
As
an undergraduate music education major, I was required to learn every
orchestra instrument at an intermediate level. Besides tenor
trombone, I also play Bass Trombone.
Where
else have you performed outside of the FSO?
I
have performed regularly with the following organization: The Raleigh
Symphony, Durham Symphony, Toledo Symphony, The Long Bay Symphony,
North Carolina Theatre, Ann Arbor Symphony, Raleigh
Jazz Orchestra, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, the Jack Runyan Big Band,
Lawrence Welk Alumni Show, and the North Carolina Brass.
What
is your most memorable moment on stage (good or bad)?
While
in college, I was working as a seat attendant for a Toledo Jazz
Orchestra concert with guest soloist Dizzy Gillespie. I couldn’t
afford a ticket, so working as an attendant allow me to hear the
concert for free. At the last minute, one of the trombonist called
and could not make it to the concert due to heavy snowfall. Luckily I
had my trombone with me. I was given about 20 minutes to look over
the music and I subbed that night in the concert. Dizzy personally
thanked me for filling in. Three years later I won an audition with
the Toledo Jazz Orchestra and became a regular member of the trombone
section.
Who
has been the biggest influence on your musical career?
My
high school jazz and orchestra director. He taught me trombone both
in high school and later in college. His high expectations, great
sense of humor, and professionalism while mentoring me helped me
become the musician and person I am today. My parent were, and still
are, very supportive of my musical endeavours.
What
sort of music do you enjoy playing or listening to?
Jazz
and Classical. I also enjoy show tunes.
How
do you deal with pre-concert nerves? Nerves? What?
I
try not to think about it. If that doesn’t work I just act like I’m
not nervous and try to fool myself.
Who
are your favorite composers?
It
is difficult to narrow down this list, but here goes: Tchaikovsky,
Mozart, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Bernstein, Gershwin, John Williams.
What
is/are your favorite piece(s) of music?
Tchaikovsky’s
6th
Symphony, Shostakovich 5, Elgar Enigma Variations, Frank Symphony in
D, Mozart’s Requiem.
What
sort of music do you listen to in your car or when unwinding after a
long day at work?
Actually,
Orchestra rehearsals help me unwind after a long day of work. I
generally listen to National Public Radio during my commute to get
caught up on the news and world events. I listen to Jazz and
Classical music during the NPR fundraisers. J
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