I sat at the end of the bass section- there were nine players. My stand partner was the quiet but good hearted Bill Blossom. He was a former student of principal bassist, John Schaeffer and had had been in the orchestra since earlier that same year. Previously Bill had played in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic so he had solid orchestral experience. He was Midwestern born and lived up in Rockland County with his family. He had a little boy he about all the time.
William Blossom
Walter Botti
You may wonder why it is that I didn’t sit alone as the last bassist in a 9 player section. It seems that Walter Botti, because of an eye problem, always sat by himself on the third stand. Walter was a big strong guy with a love of opera and traditional symphonic music. His son, Robert, is an oboist in the orchestra today.
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator