This blog will track the experience from my particular perspective (“This backward man, this view obstructer”) of the process of building, from the ground up, a performance, with gifted, but very busy students, of a long and complex symphonic work. I’ve been asked, not infrequently, by interested audience members about this process, especially with students, and I’ve even given talks on it. So perhaps this topic may be of interest to any who have ever wondered about how an orchestra and conductor arrive at the public part, the concert where it all just seems to happen. The answer to that question is, brick by brick. I’ll here try to describe the bricks, and how they are laid.
Princeton’s Tours
One of the most exciting parts of being in PUO is going on tours! They are a great bonding experience, and are the perfect way to share our music with a wider audience. Stay tuned for pictures and stories from our most recent tour! In the mean time, here are the places we’ve gone recently:
Princeton University Orchestra Tours
March 2025: Greece
Athens Conservatory in Athens, Greece; University Cultural Centre Great Hall in Patras, Greece; Ceremonial Hall of Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece
March 2023: Eastern Europe
Bulgaria Concert Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria; Kolarac Hall in Belgrade, Serbia; Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary
January 2019: Spain
Zaragoza; Barcelona; Madrid
January 2017: Central Europe
Dvorak Hall in the Rudolfinum, Prague; Slovak Radio Hall, Bratislava; Vienna; Franz Liszt Academy, Budapest
January 2015: Ireland
January 2013: Germany and The Netherlands
Marktkirche, Frankfurt; Royal Conservatorium, The Hague; Amsterdam Conservatorium
January 2011: United Kingdom
University of Manchester; University of Oxford; Royal College of Music, London
January 2009: Germany and Czech Republic
Gasteig, Munich; Kulturni dum, Pilsen; Old Town Hall, Prague
January 2007: Central Europe
Minoritenkirche, Vienna; Slovak Radio Hall, Bratislava; Liszt Academy, Budapest
January 2005: Portugal
Lisbon; Coimbra; Porto
January 2003: Central Europe
Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna; Great Synagogue, Pilsen; Rudolfinum, Prague
January 2002: East Coast September 11 Benefit Tour
Stuyvesant High School, New York City; Irvine Auditorium, University of Pennsylvania; Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University
January 2000: Spain
Madrid; Zaragoza; Barcelona
June 1998: United Kingdom
Royal Academy of Music, London; Durham Cathedral, Greyfrairs Kirk, Edinburgh; Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow; Lyric Theater, Carmarthen, Wales
June 1996: Central Europe
Rudolfinum (Dvorak Hall), Prague; Brno Conservatory; Konzerthaus, Vienna; Reduta Hall, Bratislava; Jagellonian University, Krakow; Liszt Academy, Budapest; Kromeriz Palace, Czech Republic
January 1994: United Kingdom
Cambridge University: Eton College: Salisbury Cathedral: Royal College of Music, London
January 1992: California
University of California–Los Angeles; University of California–Davis; Stanford University
January 1990: East Coast
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill; Georgetown University; Goucher College, Baltimore