Still Normal?

Almost three years ago, I did a post about our third son. I can't believe it's been that long, but it has. And I am happy to report, that he is just as normal now as he was then.

Last summer, we heard about a new program sponsored by Carnegie Hall. The National Youth Orchestra.
This will be the inaugural year. The first ever. There of course was an audition process, BUT....if selected, the students would study free of charge for 2 weeks in New York. Perform a concert in New York, one in DC, and then travel to Moscow, St. Petersburg, London. WOWEEEE!!!! All of this totally paid for....IF ....you audition and make the team. I asked Ben if he would be interested...it would be crazy because kids from all over the USA would be auditioning. His response was a definite YES!!!! I WANT to do that!!!!!!!
We started the process, knowing his chances were slim. Essays, biographies, excerpts, solo piece, all with very specific requirements. Very stressful for mama, but he took it all in stride. He could see the reward, and the challenge was right up his alley. The final papers, recordings, etc. were due Nov. 1. Everything was turned in on time and then came the wait. NYO was to send out audition results on Feb. 1. That was a LONG wait. Again, we didn't expect that he would make the roster, but boy was it exciting to think about!
On Feb. 1, we checked e-mails, mail boxes...so excited...but by 10:00am...no news. Oh well...maybe they just meant the first part of Feb. At 11:00 Ben came to me and said, I got an e-mail from NYO. It read. "Dear Benjamin".....(my heart sank, trying to think of how to be encouraging over disappointing words).."Very many congratulations! On behalf of all of us at Carnegie Hall and its Weill Music Institute, I am absolutely delighted to invite you to be a member of The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America this summer."! I almost fainted. I remember screaming this strange scream that totally freaked Ben out:) Any way....he made it!!! June 30, we send him on a plane (He's never been on a plane before) to New York.....he'll be gone 4 weeks. We hope to see him in DC at The Kennedy Center on July 13, perhaps in New York on July 11...but we can't make it to all his other concerts. What an experience!!!! So very proud of this young man. He is the only violinist from the state of Tennessee!! You can go here and see a map of all the states that have students...click on the little balloons in the map and it will show pictures of the kids and the instruments they play. Still praying God will direct his every step. Many doors are beginning to open and it's important to go through the right ones. Yesterday, Ben performed at a fundraiser for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Lucas Richman.

He played Meditation from Thais...and Wieniawski's Polonaise No.1, in Dmajor. Amazing..... his first standing ovation!
Well....like I said previously.....normal or not...we think Ben is pretty awesome:)
Blessings friends.....
Thanks for listening to my bragging:)))))
Much love~~Shine