PERFORMING SABBATICAL ANNOUNCEMENT, JUNE 2, 2023: One thing that has always bothered me about classical musicians is when they write a biography or social media posts that over-sell their career. Too often, we make our lives and success to be much bigger than they are. I've always tried to realistically portray what I'm doing, and what I've done. I've had some accomplishments in my career, and am proud of them as they are, but I try not to make them out to be more than they are.
With that in mind, my greatest life accomplishment is to be married to a beautiful, talented, brilliant singer and educator, who has earned a truly successful career, teaching at one of the top public schools in Ohio, and to be father to two beautiful, feisty, intelligent daughters who are full of surprises. Upon daughter #2 joining us a couple months ago, having already stepped back from my position at Heidelberg University (due to their cutting monetary compensation of adjunct instructors such as myself) and taking on a position as church organist, it has become clear that I should focus my energy on my greatest successes: my family.
As a result, I'm embarking on a performance sabbatical in order to be a stay-at-home Dad (and part-time organist at Grace Church Perrysburg). I've got too many ideas (Why Mozart Matters, Praying with Bach, something new with Chopin Nocturnes that I've been cooking up), and all the writing, speaking, and performing I'd like to do with each of these projects, that I devote too little time to. Intermittently practicing leads to intermittent performing and intermittent writing, and I don't want to pretend that I am anywhere near full-time devoted to my career when I'm not. My website will remain, largely as it is, as a portfolio of what I've done. Feel free to peruse my performances, my writing, and feel free to reach out if anything moves you.
In a few years, I hope to devote more time to performing, content-creating, and creating online and in person communities with the classical music that I love dearly.
Jeff.
With that in mind, my greatest life accomplishment is to be married to a beautiful, talented, brilliant singer and educator, who has earned a truly successful career, teaching at one of the top public schools in Ohio, and to be father to two beautiful, feisty, intelligent daughters who are full of surprises. Upon daughter #2 joining us a couple months ago, having already stepped back from my position at Heidelberg University (due to their cutting monetary compensation of adjunct instructors such as myself) and taking on a position as church organist, it has become clear that I should focus my energy on my greatest successes: my family.
As a result, I'm embarking on a performance sabbatical in order to be a stay-at-home Dad (and part-time organist at Grace Church Perrysburg). I've got too many ideas (Why Mozart Matters, Praying with Bach, something new with Chopin Nocturnes that I've been cooking up), and all the writing, speaking, and performing I'd like to do with each of these projects, that I devote too little time to. Intermittently practicing leads to intermittent performing and intermittent writing, and I don't want to pretend that I am anywhere near full-time devoted to my career when I'm not. My website will remain, largely as it is, as a portfolio of what I've done. Feel free to peruse my performances, my writing, and feel free to reach out if anything moves you.
In a few years, I hope to devote more time to performing, content-creating, and creating online and in person communities with the classical music that I love dearly.
Jeff.
