I grew up in a small town in rural Pennsylvania, and though I left home at a young age to live closer to my cello teacher, I have always felt a deep connection with my home community. Since high school some of my most rewarding experiences have been returning to Gettysburg to perform and teach, so when Kristen approached me about forming this ensemble, the strength of her conviction and a project that felt so familiar to me was inspiring and exciting. The chance to work with this diverse, talented group on such an innovative project is a wonderful opportunity for us to develop a truly communicative program and I am so excited to share it with the students and audiences of Kristen’s home state.
A very close friend of mine is from KC and I have been hearing about the BBQ since we met a decade ago. I must admit that my first thought when I heard we would be traveling to Kansas was that I might finally get to try burnt ends.