Spring is (sorta, kinda maybe?) here, which means a new season, a new concert cycle, and meeting new members! Stepping up to the plate this month is Brooklyn Wind Symphony euphonium player Ethan Bourdeau! Ethan joined the BWKS in September and brings with him a laundry list of musical talents. (If there's ever a conch horn solo, Ethan's your guy!)
Name: Ethan Bourdeau
Occupation: Architectural Acoustical Consultant
What's your favorite thing about your day job? I enjoy learning about and practicing social responsibility in noise mitigation, especially in such an urban environment like NYC where everyone is likely to be affected in one way or another.
Instruments: Euphonium, Jazz/Classical Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Cello, Charango, Trombone, Tenor Horn, Tuba, Keyboard, Percussion/Kit, Conch Horn…I can go on, but I love learning new instruments, especially ethnic/world instruments…it’s totally an obsession.
How long have you been playing with the BKWS? I just joined this past September!
How did you get started with the MMC? Once I knew I was moving to the city, I wanted to find a way keep playing the Euphonium. Naturally, the BKWS seemed like a great community of skilled, passionate musicians that I am fortunate to now be a part of!
What's your favorite MMC memory? The day before the Michael Markowski CD recording I came down with pneumonia and was worried it would keep me from performing well for such a long period of time, let alone render me too sick to come out at all. I’m not sure what it was, but during the recording session, despite being sick, I managed to out-perform how I had been playing in the rehearsals leading up to it…it was wild stuff!
What's the first thing that comes up on your ipod when you press shuffle? Ov Zarmanali by Tigran Hamasyan (the dude is one of my absolute favorite musicians!)
Dream spring break destination? Mauritius
What is your typical Sunday routine? Cycle for the better part of the day, try a new recipe for dinner, and practice some guitar before bed.
Give us a "local" New York/Brooklyn recommendation: TØRST in Greenpoint is easily my favorite hang in the city. The best beers and, supposedly, exquisite dining in the back restaurant.
Finish this sentence: "I knew I was a musician when....” …I pleaded with my elementary school teacher to give the “stand-up-in-front-of-the-band" euphonium solo to me instead of the trombone player so long as I promised to practice more at home.