They say if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. This old chestnut is arguably more about the here than the anywhere but what exactly happens when you go to that mysterious place that is not here? People leave New York City for all kinds of reasons. Some leave for jobs, some for relationships. For some it was a always just a part of the path.

Oboist Emily DiAngelo was in NYC for her masters degree at the Manhattan School of Music following her undergraduate studies at Ithaca College. She left the city in 2012 when offered a teaching position at her alma mater as a sabbatical replacement, even though she was still completing her doctoral degree at MSM (which she is schedule to complete this coming May).

For Emily, what started as a temporary gig ended up as the foundation upon which she now bases her musical life. She currently teaches at Cornell University, Hamilton College, is a newly appointed faculty member at the summer Luzerne Music Center, and holds a full-time studio of students. In the Ithaca area, what it lacks in skyscrapers and 3am pierogies, it makes up for in natural beauty and room for ideas to take hold. In addition to her teaching, Emily also started the Ithaca New Music Collective where composers and performers collaborate on presenting new works and is, in Emily's words, not unlike The Chelsea Symphony's model for supporting and performing new works.

The thing Emily misses most about NYC, though, is the people, her close-knit group of friends who all supported each other as they were coming up. Geography aside, it is often who you spend your time with that makes a difference. The thing is, once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker - which is more of a state of mind, anyway. The landscape changes and the bodega turns into a Chase but Emily will always have a home here, as a musician and in the hearts of her friends and urban family.

Tonight, Emily will perform L'Horloge de Flore (The Flower Clock) by Jean Françaix. This piece was commissioned by Philadelphia Orchestra oboist John de Lancie, a legend in his own right and a great influence on oboe repertoire. In addition to the Françaix, de Lancie is also famously attached to the Strauss oboe concerto. The piece on this concert series is a more recently composed work and firmly in Françaix's vernacular - sprightly and delightful. While preparing for the piece, Emily followed a rigorous plan of practice, run throughs, and reed making. Non-reed players may be surprised to hear that an astounding forty reeds were made in preparation for this performance! As much work as needs to be done in the practice room, we return to another old chestnut, "reeding is fundamental."

TCS is proud to welcome Emily DiAngelo back to our musical family for this one-night only performance - come hear her perform the jocular L'Horloge de Flore tonight at 8pm in Cary Hall at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music!