I knew that Mr. J., the orchestra director who followed Mr. D. at my high school, had raised the bar when I watched video of the ensemble years after graduating. The orchestra was playing Claude T. Smith's "Our Creed Is Our Shield," which has one of the most difficult bass parts I've ever played, at its proper fast tempo.
The fact that those musicians could perform such a demanding piece so well in concert impressed me. When I was in high school, our orchestra played it, too--but not in concert and at a much slower pony trot of a tempo.
As soon as I heard Mr. J. and company's rendition, I thought, "Talk about turning the orchestra into a powerhouse. No wonder the orchestra and this new conductor are so acclaimed."
