Backstage at Berkeley
The sprawling campus at the University of California, Berkeley, is majestic, with its lush redwood trees, buildings of Beaux Arts style, and a backdrop view of the mountains. This university, called “Cal” in short, is often portrayed as the heart of free speech. It has a widely diverse roster of alumni, ranging from China's "Madame Curie" Chien-Shiung Wu (Wú Jiànxióng) to Japanese IT firm founder Masayoshi Son. The engineer, Doug Engelbart, who invented the computer mouse had also spent time at Cal.
The Zellerbach Hall on campus here at this remarkable institution was AYO’s venue for its second performance in the United States. Our guest soloist Sarah Chang dazzled the audience with her crystal perfect and passionate solo in Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor. The audience loved the piece. The orchestra's Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 mesmerized and moved hearts. As the music ended, a standing ovation met Maestro Pontzious and the AYO. The orchestra glowed.
As a rookie AYO stage hand, there was so much to learn behind the scenes on how professionalism backstage helps drive energy up to ensure the best show for those performing on stage. Cal Performances was our concert’s organizer and presenter at the Zellerbach Hall, and its crew was simply stellar. They had thought of everything and everything was in place. Was there sufficient water, fresh fruit and snacks to fuel the musicians throughout the night? Was the wardrobe steamed so everyone looks their best on stage? Was there a button on a shirt or a gem on a dress that might fly loose during the performance? If yes, let us sew it on again tightly.
Our own AYO stage manager, Harty Tam, was totally impressed. What really counts are the sensitivities for the little things as well as the focus on the big so we leave no room for regrets that we didn't do the best, I reminded myself.
The Zellerbach Hall on campus here at this remarkable institution was AYO’s venue for its second performance in the United States. Our guest soloist Sarah Chang dazzled the audience with her crystal perfect and passionate solo in Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor. The audience loved the piece. The orchestra's Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 mesmerized and moved hearts. As the music ended, a standing ovation met Maestro Pontzious and the AYO. The orchestra glowed.
As a rookie AYO stage hand, there was so much to learn behind the scenes on how professionalism backstage helps drive energy up to ensure the best show for those performing on stage. Cal Performances was our concert’s organizer and presenter at the Zellerbach Hall, and its crew was simply stellar. They had thought of everything and everything was in place. Was there sufficient water, fresh fruit and snacks to fuel the musicians throughout the night? Was the wardrobe steamed so everyone looks their best on stage? Was there a button on a shirt or a gem on a dress that might fly loose during the performance? If yes, let us sew it on again tightly.
Our own AYO stage manager, Harty Tam, was totally impressed. What really counts are the sensitivities for the little things as well as the focus on the big so we leave no room for regrets that we didn't do the best, I reminded myself.
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