CRSO Update

We have a schedule update! Yay! As our conductor Tim Hankewich has said, the devastating flood that destroyed the Paramount Theater in downtown Cedar Rapids also provided an opportunity for the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra to extend their reach into the greater Iowa community. The adminstration has been working hard to find suitable venues so that our 2008-09 concert season could go on. They are (and I am!) optimistic that this will diversify our audiences even more (with two performances per set, one of which being held in Iowa City), which can only strengthen the life and spirit of this orchestra.

I've updated my own personal website with most of the concerts we will be performing starting in September. (And looking at my website for the first time in months, I now want to record more pieces to update my playing examples...and maybe some more recent photos??)

Reck Violin Shop

I received this email from Barb Reck, who gave me permission to post it on my blog.

We want to let people know that, while our shop is under 5 feet of water, Jim did get all the important stuff out last week and is working out of our home. He is able to do repairs and has instruments, bows, cases and accessories for sale. Within 4 - 5 hours of now, our shop phone calls will be routed here to our home. (We were out of town last weekend for our daughter's wedding in Ann Arbor, Michigan.) Jim has finally decided a website might be a good idea, so we will try to get that set up soon. If you need to get in touch with us, our phone numbers are listed below as well as our address. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time, and please pass the word on to your students and colleagues that we are still in business in a new temporary location.

Barb & Jim Reck
30 Hunters Glen (off Rohret Rd. in southwest Iowa City, near West High School)
home phone: 319 354-6906
business phone: 319 351-8374
cell phone: 319 621-6125

Concert cancelled?

By now you must have heard about all the flooding in Iowa. I'm looking out my back window to beautiful blue skies and green grass. If you were concerned about us, rest assured, we have not been effected by the flooding or tornadoes. Please pray for those hit in the east of Iowa, especially Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. I have many colleagues there from the Cedar Rapids Symphony, and I have no way of knowing if everyone is ok. I know it's the last thing on the administration's agenda, but I'm pretty sure next week's concert will be cancelled (for "Freedom Festival"--it's outdoors). I'm hoping that once things have been cleared, we'll have some sort of benefit concert for flood victims in the fall.

Eble Music is downtown Iowa City, next to the public library. They occupy a basement store.

Reck Violin shop is on the Coralville strip. Last I heard, this immediate area has been evacuated.

The Paramount Theater, where the CRSO performs, has water up to the marquis...so I've heard. I googled Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids, and I couldn't find any photos.

If anyone is reading this from that area, please let us know you're ok.

Here is an excellent blog I just found re. the current situation--someone with better perspective than me.

I feel so removed, looking out my window.

*Update: Yes, the rehearsals and concert have been cancelled. The Steinway and other instruments in the hall have been moved and protected.

*Other update: Evacuation of many parts of Des Moines is under-way.