Paula Liebschutz |
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Flute |
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A Vermont native, I began playing flute as a high school sophomore. I think our small school music teacher recruited me to help fill band seats. We were, well... enthusiastic. In early September of my freshman year at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, I auditioned for the UMass Symphony. And to my utter surprise, I made the "list". (A typed, paper list. Pinned up on the bulletin board in the Music Department Chapel.). Over the next six weeks or so, I experienced rehearsals as an entirely new and challenging experience. The musicians were accomplished, I learned a lot. But there was so much else going on as I tried to adapt to life in a large collegiate community. So I met with our conductor and told him that I planned to withdraw. It is one of my few life regrets. This kind gentleman worried that I might never play again. He was right...almost. Until all these years later, Eastman's New Horizons brought music back to my life. I am so happy to play again, with our musicians, our conductors and our mentors.
Beyond music. I've been in greater Rochester for the last 40 years. After graduating from the Simon School at the U of R, I worked at Xerox as a financial analyst for strategic and product planning. When my two children were young, I became a stay at home mom and community volunteer. The U of R beckoned once again, and I became Program Administrator for a Simon School program. Then on to URMC as an Administrator for medical research study compliance. My husband, John, is an attorney with Woods Oviatt. On a pandemic whim, we bought a keyboard and both tinkered a bit with our childhood piano. John's tinkering now has him playing with the newly formed Green Jazz Band. His "honey do" list is growing because instead he says he "has to practice"!! Our two children are both in the DC area, along with our 3 year old granddaughter and 9 month old grandson. (Music lessons to follow!!!) Since last January's masked initiation to the New Horizons experience, I have enjoyed meeting so many of you. Good musicians, wonderful people. I am grateful and look forward to getting to know you all. |
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