Getting to Know...Ethan Bourdeau

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.

Getting to Know....Matt Torrey!

Happy New Year everyone! We hope everyone is successfully keeping all of their unrealistic resolutions (I've managed to put fifty cents in my savings account so far!). One thing we should all resolve to do is get to know more of the amazing musicians in the MMC! Taking the plunge this month is Brooklyn Wind Symphony percussionist and everyone's favorite bar owner, Matt Torrey! 

Name: Matt Torrey

Occupation: Bar owner, bartender

What's your favorite thing about your day job? My job hours give me the flexibility to spend time with my kids during the day.

Instrument: Percussion (actually, I'm a drummer but I play in the percussion section.)

How long have you been playing with the BKWS? My first cycle was Lord of the Rings, so 5 years I think.

How did you get started with the MMC? Some of the members came into my bar after practice one night about 5 or 6 years ago. It just so happened they were looking for a triangle player. I passed the audition, and the rest is history.

What's your favorite MMC memory? I would have to say Carnegie Hall--definitely the greatest venue I've ever played. I also remember being able to hear a lot better.

What's the first thing that comes up on your ipod when you press shuffle? Probably the band Spoon.

New Years Resolution? I think they're overrated so I never make one.

Favorite drink to make/favorite to drink? Beer and tequila.

What's your typical Sunday routine? Hang out with my kids (Dylan 6yrs, Sara 9yrs).

Give us a "local" New York/Brooklyn recommendation: Favorite breakfast - Jimmy's Diner on Union near McCarren Park.

Finish this sentence: "I knew I was a musician when...." I learned to play the recorder in elementary school music class.  It came naturally.

Getting to Know....Dave Smith!

A new season with the Metropolitan Music Community is underway! With rehearsals in full swing and 175 members tuning up their instruments for an exciting fall concert performance, let's get to know the talented musicians seated all around us! 

First up--Dave Smith, President of the MMC and a trumpet player with the Grand Street Community Band! Read on to hear about Dave's Sunday routine, his favorite MMC memory, and what "A Barrel of Monkeys" has to do with his path in music! 

Name:  David L.B. Smith

Age:  55

Occupation:  Higher Education Administrator

Instrument:  Trumpet

How long have you been playing with the MMC? Since the second rehearsal.

How did you get started with the MMC?  A friend of mine who I met in the now defunct Williamsburg Community Orchestra call me and told me she found a great place to play.  I emailed Jeff Ball (director of Brooklyn Wind Symphony) and told him I was an adult beginner and he said, “Come on”.  So I did.

What is your favorite MMC memory? Alice Tully Hall for sure.  As a child my parents brought me into the city regularly but since we were of limited means it was mostly for free things to do.  But we often visited Lincoln Center, just to gawk.  She used to go to the free rehearsals when Zubin Mehta directed the Phil.  I know for sure that if she hadn’t already died and gone to heaven, she would have the day she saw her “little Davie” play at Tully!

What's the first song that comes up on your iPod when you press shuffle?  Something from the Roches most likely.

What was the last concert/musical/performance you saw?  I just saw Garrison Keillor’s farewell tour this summer in Maine.  I’m going to miss A Prairie Home Companion very much.

What I did over my summer vacation….. Eat, sleep, golf, repeat.

What’s your typical Sunday?  I get up late and waddle down to Bagel Boy.  I pick up a poppy with butter for Marion, a chocolate chip cookie for Hannah and an everything bagel for me.  I stop in Brooklyn Market on my way back and pick up the best tomato they have.  I watch Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood while eating the world best smoked salmon bagel known to man.  Then I head across the street to church where I sing bass in the choir.  Then…who knows.

Give us a “local” New York recommendation.  Katz’s Deli serves the best pastrami in the history of humankind.

What was your favorite Halloween costume?  Now, now…my daughter might read this!

Finish this sentence: “I knew I was a musician when…..” On my third birthday one of my gifts was a large cylinder.  “It’s a drum”, I exclaimed.  No it’s not a drum said my mother.  Not understanding the difference between a birthday present and a Christmas present I had no way of knowing that my mother was probably right—how would she know what Santa got me for my birthday?  “I think it’s a drum” I persisted.  “No sweetie, it’s not a drum; open it and see.”  It was a barrel of monkeys (and I know none of you are old enough to remember but they came in a much bigger barrel back then).  But I was not out done; I emptied out the monkeys and exclaimed, “And it’s a drum too!”