Another trip to Marlboro

Today, we are back at Marlboro. Originally, we were going to be here with my friend, Phil McKean, and a friend of his was coming with him. They were going to come over from Maine yesterday and spend a few days with us. But that had to be cancelled, unfortunately, when we went to Shutesbury to be with Savanna while Katie and Brendon went to Oxbow Lake. We also worried about the heat wave we are enduring. Even if we had not had to go to Shutesbury, would our guests be comfortable in our un-air-conditioned house? It has been pretty warm at night these past couple of days, and that continues to be the case. So, probably, all was for the best. But I hope there will another chance next year! But here we are - a good way to escape the heat during the day. At the moment, we are listening to the Mozart Seranade in C Minor, K. 388. It is for eight wind instruments: two clarinets, two oboes, two horns and two bassoons. I happen to know one of them - not clsoely, but she is Rose Vrbsky, daughter of Judith Serkin and Rudy Verbsky. One or another of them have been in orchestras at the New England Bach Festival at various times when I have been singing in the chorus - back in the 1980's, 90's and early 2000's. So I have "known" Rose Vrbsky since she was a teenager and started playing in local orchestras. I haven't seen her for many years. She is now married to Will Amsel, and they both are members of the Rochester (NY) Symphony Orchestra. Will plays clarinet. He is not in the group playing today. Here they are:

Will Amsel and Rose Vrbsky.

The octet performing today. Rose Vrbsky is hidden, unfortunately, behind a clarinet player from this perspective. Actually, there is even an older connection with Rose - her grandmother, Irene Serkin, came regularly to the Guilford Church, was very fond of Shirley and became a good friend. We would attend Wednesday evening concerts with Irene often, and sat with her. It is because of her that we started receiving a pass to the Wednesday evening concerts. And of course, Rose's grandfather, Rudolph Serkin, was one of the founders of the Marlboro Music Festival.