Dear music lover,
Thank you for visiting our website and
seeking information about our pioneering
ensemble. We are currently suffering the
triple whammy of a sagging Michigan
economy, inflation and amateur management
(me).
That being the case, we deeply REGRET that
we have pitifully FEW performances to
offer you THIS season. Despite this
temporary setback, every audience we DO
entertain IS amazed at the
versatility, virtuosity and power of our little band!
We hope to continue expanding our repertoire
of music with stories like The Sorcerer’s
Apprentice, Peter and the Wolf,
Fur Elise,
The Three-Cornered Hat and Carmen. In
upcoming seasons we
hope to premiere a few new transcriptions including
The Incredible
Flutist suite by Walter Piston, plus a
love story based on the Slavonic Dances by Dvorak.
Over the years CutTime Players has developed educational programs for elementary,
middle & high school students, which
illuminate our instruments and the ability of the composer to
suggest a character, animal or emotion.
These were becoming more interactive,
featuring only short works, having ALL
of the players engage the students, and illuminating
the importance of concentration,
teamwork and listening
skills. We were often lecturing students
and giving sectionals or masterclasses to whole
student orchestras!
We have grown tremendously as an ensemble!
Initially, since we are conductorless,
we've had to carefully work out who, when,
and how they would lead/start any
necessary tempos. More often than not, that would
fall to DSO Principal 2nd Violinist Geoff
Applegate, a pragmatic leader! But there were
many times when someone ELSE had the lead voice (melody). So
variously we’d ALL need
to call on our best skills of timing and
controlled movement to bring the others
WITH them... preferably all with good
attack (or NOT),
character, and tempo (speed)... much like
a conductor does, but WITH an instrument!
These are chamber music skills that orchestral
musicians aren't required to use. So it
makes us better musicians to have to sharpen
these skills!
We were pleased to have attempted some
very important steps in recent seasons;
including seasons with frequent bookings,
the release of a non-commercial CD Live
in Dearborn in 2002, the stirring
MLK concert of 2003 took us to a new level
of programming, which we repeated our 2nd
EVER self-funded concert of the MOZART
CELEBRATION in 2006. These were all
SMASHING successes (ARTISTICALLY)!
So we hope you choose to keep in touch with
us! CHECK BACK OFTEN to our updated list of
NEXT CONCERTS!
And PLEASE, set yourself up! Just send
us contact information for any
CONCERT PRESENTERS NEAR YOU that we may
show you HOW WORLD-CLASS QUALITY CLASSICAL
MUSIC CAN ENHANCE YOUR LIFE! When you do, be sure to
stay and say HELLO after the concert!
Sincerely,
- Rick Robinson
Director, CutTime
Players
