Jessica Johnson
flute
Jason Price
trumpet, cracklebox, electronics
John Pickford Richards
viola, accordion
Jackie Leclair
oboe
Michael Clayville
trombone
Stefan Freund
cello, composer
Elisabeth Stimpert
clarinet, sax
Payton MacDonald
percussion, tabla, composer
Miles Brown
bass
Bill Kalinkos
clarinet, sax
John Orfe
keyboards, composer
Alan Pierson
artistic director, conductor, keyboards
Michael Harley
bassoon, voice, keyboards
Courtney Orlando
violin, voice, keyboards, accordion
Gavin Chuck
managing director, composer
Matt Marks
horn, keyboards, electronics
Caleb Burhans
violin, viola, voice, electric guitar, composer
Nigel Maister
staging director

Courtney Orlando

violin, voice, keyboards, accordion

Courtney Orlando

I turned 30 this year. I spent the first few months after I turned 29 dreading it bemoaning the fact that I'm getting older, noticing wrinkles between the outer edges of my eyes and my hairline, being unable to stay awake past 11 p.m., et cetera, et cetera.

Courtney Orlando

The remainder of my 29th year was spent realizing how much I learned about myself during my twenties, and being incredibly thankful and happy about the conclusions at which I've arrived. At the beginning of my twenties, I was in a degree program that was completely wrong for me, and playing music that I didn't enjoy playing with people I didn't enjoy playing with. Plus I embarrassed myself with one sartorial mishap after another. Of course, one can only realize that when looking at pictures after the fact (although I am considering campaigning for a jelly shoe comeback).

Courtney Orlando

Now, having made it to the big 3 - 0, I have a job I love, play awesome music with awesome people, and consider myself to be quite stylish (at least for now). And I'm going to be an aunt for the first time. I'd be lying if I said that didn't make me feel old for a few minutes (it's my younger brother who is having the baby), but after calling myself "Aunt Courtney" for an afternoon, it felt pretty great.