25 Random Things

25 Random things about me. 

This little game is going around Facebook and I thought I’d share mine: 

1 - I am totally addicted to Facebook, I can't WAIT to hear that little popping sound. I'd like there to be a way to send ALL of my friends the same note. Is there? 

2 - ALL the food I love to eat is bad for me. I hate vegetables and salad. I am scared to death of getting diabetes, but still eat all the carbs within grabbing range. Forget about ice cream. 

3 - I'd rather ride my motorcycle than anything. 

4 - I love conducting and wish I could get a foot in the door. I'm really good at it, too. 

5 - I still love my wife, after 21 years of marriage. 

6 - There have been 4 men in my life that I have loved, My Dad, My Brother, Phil Zahorsky & Vic Steelhammer. The other close men in my life, I have respected and held in deep regard. 

7 - I am deeply religious, but choose to keep it to myself. I have EIGHT versions of the bible on my nightstand and read them regularly. At heart, I am still Catholic. 

8 - I fear people think I am smarter than I really am and I try not to let them down. 

9 - I really LOVE my fellow man and take it VERY personally when people don't like me or misunderstand me. 

10 - I like doing Union work, I feel like I am actually DOING something to help my friends. 

11 - I am really frustrated by "process." If everyone involved is in agreement, why can't we just do it without all the dancing around? 

12 - I really hate Mahler, listening or playing. If I never play Mahler again, it'll be too soon. EXCEPT his first symphony. 

13 - Prokoffiev's BEST work, after "Romeo & Juliet" is his SIXTH Symphony, and no one plays it. 

14 - I am TOTALLY addicted to television. Hooked, like a drug addict. 

15 - I am still really mad at the old San Jose Symphony, I feel like they really fucked me. 

16 - I wish marijuana was legal and alcohol illegal. More people's lives have been ruined by alcohol than grass. 

17 - I wish we could start over. Bag all the constitutional amendments and simply state this: It is illegal to treat people unkindly. Doesn't that cover it? Fuck the lawyers. 

18 - Restructure the income tax law. Everyone pays 5%. PERIOD. You also get to earmark your taxes, like a donation. I'd give all my money to have a decent freeway to ride on, like the Autobahn. 

19 - 50 states are not needed. Divide the country into 10 zones, that are politically disparate. Then people can move where there are people who believe the way they believe. This whole Proposition 8 thing has me EMBARRASSED to be a Californian. SHAME on us! 

20 - Gas should cost a buck. The obscene profits made by the oil company should be returned to the consumer. 

21 - Men who hit their wives should be flogged. No judge, no jury. Kick their ass! 

22 - I deeply regret not practicing harder as a young man. I was always 'good enough.' Should I have followed my teachers' advice, who knows where I may have ended up. Maybe I wouldn't be scuffling for a living now. 

23 - I wish I was kinder to people. Sometimes I say stuff, I wish I hadn't. This is the hardest lesson for me to learn. 

24 - Baseball is the only REAL sport. Basketball is for criminals and football is just legal mayhem. You call GOLF a sport? Don't get me started about Hockey! 

25 - I wish I could be in the moment a little better. I tend to dream, instead of appreciating what is right here in front of me.

Show, or Symphony

Show or Symphony.

Recently, I came up against every working musicians dilemma; which gig to take. Frequently, it is an easy financial decision. Which gig will make me the most money; either for the run, or on a ‘per service’ basis. As I get older, I discover I have 3 criteria for taking on a musical project.

1 – Do I really want to do this? I haven’t played Prokofiev’s SIXTH symphony in almost 30 years, I’d LOVE to do this again before I hang up the spikes. Other tunes I’d really like to play: Stravinsky’s “Jeu de Cartes,” Revueltas’ “Sensemaya,” I’d love to be in the brass section for ANY of the Ring Cycle, tuba, bass bone, bass trumpet, ANYTHING! Later this month, I’m playing “Carnival d’Aix” by Milhaud. I’ve never even heard of this piece, much less played it. It’s way up at Mills College and the commute is going to be a bear, but I can’t WAIT!

2 – Am I helping out a friend? Often I do stuff simply because a friend asked me to do it. DO I need to play “Trumpet Voluntary” at a wedding again? Not really, but playing in a quintet WITH or FOR friends, just seems like a good, fun thing to do. Honestly, I’ll never get tired of playing “Die Bankelsangerlieder.”

3 – IS the pay good? Yes, every so often I get called to do something I REALLY don’t care to do. Then it’s all about the money. I have discovered the less they pay you, the more poorly you are treated. If this is the case, there is a dollar figure I have in mind. If the job offer is less than that, I’d rather stay home and watch Law & Order reruns.

There is another criteria that I use, that really doesn’t fit under either of these three and it is, “Who’s on the gig.” If it is a bunch of people I haven’t seen in awhile, or people whose company I always enjoy, I’ll take it.

This month, I had to choose between playing “Chicago” and playing with the Symphony Silicon Valley. The symphony was playing a brand new piece by David Amram (and you know how I LOVE new music) and “Roman Festival” by Respighi, which I have NEVER played. I had to choose. The pay was about the same, I’ve played “Chicago” and both were in San Jose. I played the show. It was fun, I got to hang with my stagehand friends, the parking was better and I got to see some terrific costumes! I met a new friend, Lee, the percussionist and Billy’s wife put out a beautiful spread for the band between shows on Sunday.

I wish it ran another week!

 

Take the Train

I hate flying. The American Airline industry has outlived its usefulness. Commercial flying has no redeeming social value, EXCEPT that you get there fast. The seats are small, they recycle the air you breathe, there is ALWAYS a crying baby, the 3 year old that spends the whole flight kicking the seat in front of him is seated every time behind me. They don’t feed you. You can’t get a blanket; you can’t get a drink of water. The airline people are arrogant and rude, they cancel flights with no obligation to get you where you are going and their pricing policies are as unfathomable as ancient Sanskrit.

Not to mention that our government has totally violated our civil liberties for “security” reason. “Take off your shoes. “ “Remove your belt.” “You can’t take 4 ounces of shampoo on board.” “Sorry you can’t take your water or food, but you can buy some at our vending machines.” They have confiscated 4 nail clippers. NAIL CLIPPERS! I’m going to attack a stewardess with NAIL CLIPPERS?!? Now they are charging to take your bags. Forget about sometimes I need to fly with a tuba. Hey President Bush, the terrorists have won! Every time I go NEAR an airport, I am reminded about that. Orange alert, what the hell is that?

Take the train. I just got back from an Amtrak trip to & from Chicago, 5 days, 2½ days each way. We left from San Jose, taking the Capitol Corridor to Emeryville. Then we caught the California Zephyr into Chicago. After spending a couple of days in Chi town, we took the Southwest Chief into LA, and then caught the Coast Starlight home.

The California Zephyr goes through some of the most beautiful landscape our country has to offer. We saw frozen waterfalls, the Colorado River frozen and incredible snow formations. A majestic elk buck was standing right next to the train. When crossing the Mississippi, we saw FLOCKS of bald eagles. FLOCKS! Just standing on the shore, and 3 – 4 in a tree. I was aghast! We saw also the devastation of the recent floods, some truly poor Americans, hard working farmers, eking out a living off the land. We saw miles of rolling farmlands, the sight of America’s breadbasket. On the way back, on the Chief, while the scenery is not quite as striking, one gets a true taste of our America. The train goes through some amazing small towns. Places like Green River, Utah; Glenwood Springs, CO; Holdrege, NE; Ottumwa, IA (yes, THAT Ottumwa), Princeton IL. On the return, we went through Galesburg, Il, where the debate of Lincoln-Douglas took place in 1858; Newton, KS; Raton, NM & Holbrook, AZ. I believe these small towns truly reflect that for which America stands. Not the bumper-to-bumper, rush hour, how’s my portfolio doing lifestyle with which I am acquainted. But a simpler, smell the roses, slower life pace that seems healthier and more honest.

Not only did we see some wonderous things, but we met some fascinating people. I met a man who lives in Paducah, Tennessee, who spent his whole life working in the power plant. I met a woman violinist who pays in the Honolulu Symphony. I met a woman who went to school with Michael Tilson Thomas. Boy did SHE have some stories to tell! Another confirmed bachelor, who met his soul mate at 55!  A young man, from Escalon, CA, who just spent a whole month on the train, and told us some incredible rail history centered around Altoona, PA; A woman & her mom, from Milwaukee, who spent Xmas with her grand children in Santa Barbara, a couple from San Diego, who were going to New Orleans, the woman who has NEVER flown, but had been riding trains for 30+ years. We met train personnel, who have GREAT stories to tell; people, at stations, who confirm my belief about the misery of air travel, Native Americans selling arts & crafts on the train platform in Albuquerque. The list goes on & on.

Did I experience some sort of catharsis? Who knows, but I never would have experienced any of this waiting to get my shoes back.

The Nutcracker (Updated 12/10/2025)

The Nutcracker. For the purposes of this discussion, when I refer to the Nutcracker, I mean the full-length ballet. I played my first Nutcracker in 1979, for a local dance company. When I got my job with the now-defunct SJ Symphony, I started on a lifelong love/hate relationship with the Nutcracker. This is really wonderful music, well crafted, FULL of passion and emotion. It’s fun to play, and really enjoyable to hear. I sat down this year and tried to calculate exactly how many times I have played the Nutcracker. I AM fond of saying, “I’ve played the Nutcracker over 600 times.” I played 3 in 1979 & 1980; I’ll add these six in later on. Starting 1981, Pat O’Gara hired me to play the Nutcracker at the Flint Center with, I believe, The Peninsula Dance Theater. This was 6 or 7 performances. Also, we did a weekend at the CPA with the SJ Dance Theater. My recollection is that this was 5 or 6. It seems to me this went on through the early 90’s. So figure 12 a year for 12 years, 144. In the late 80’s the Cleveland Ballet did a co-venture in San Jose, calling themselves the San Jose/Cleveland Ballet. In Cleveland, they were the Cleveland/San Jose Ballet. In the early years, we started right around Thanksgiving and ended at Xmas Eve. So I believe we did between 20 & 30 Nutcrackers a year. Figure 25 for 10 years (250), then the numbers dwindled to today’s 14. We’ve done 14 for about 10 years (140). I have done some in SF with that GREAT Ballet Orchestra (around 10), a few in Sacto, when Mark Wolfe was the tubist (about 5) and a run in Modesto (6). Added 12/23/12 - Since this blog was written (2008) there have been a few changes. Lets add 48 (12 x 4 years) to the total. This year (2012) there has been some upheaval in Ballet San Jose. Dennis Nahat is out, Dwight Oltman (the stick) is also gone. One of the premiere ballerinas of our time (Karen Gabay) has choreographed the entire ballet. We are playing the music as written (minus Mirlitons) and it is shorter, 2:05 by my reckoning. Not counting the countless times I have played the Ballet SUITE or ANY rehearsals the number is (including the 6 in LA) 609.

Here are some Nutcracker stories: One year, my music disappeared. I have a set of low brass parts for the ballet, but OUR Nutcracker isn’t THE Nutcracker. Not only are there cuts and jumps all around the work, but also right in the middle, we play “Capriccio Italien.” And near the end, instead of playing the real Nutcracker music, we put in the Polonaise from “Eugene Onegin.” This is not a problem for me, because anyone who really KNOWS me knows that I use the Nutcracker to catch up on reading all my motorcycle magazines. Yes, it is true; I can play the Grand Pas de Deux while reading “Easyriders.” I needed to miss a few services so poor Vicki had to come up with a part. We (she) called the old Cleveland Ballet librarian to see if SHE had a part; she did. So we got their part and my sub had something to read. We have since put together a really nice part that I use to hold up my magazines. 

In the old days, we used to play AM student matinees (now they use a tape). Once some students started throwing frozen grapes into the pit. One of them hit Joanne Tanner’s violin and cracked the top. Another time, the little darlings started throwing quarters into the pit; Phil’s horn got hit. We had to activate the Players’ Committee and Bob Havlice, Ed Church and VOODY (IATSE stagehands) came up with this pit cover to protect us. It had a big HOLE where the conductor (Dwight) stood. So only he’d get pelted. It was good protection, but it got hot as hell down there; I started bringing a fan.

In our Nutcracker, during the fight scene between the rats & soldiers, our crew uses R/C mice that scurry all over the stage. How those dancers DON’T step on those damned things, I’ll never know. Well one year, for some reason there was a bit of radio interference, and the mice went out of control. Those things were running all over the CPA stage. At one point, several of them came FLYING into the pit. One went right over my head and landed on the timps. One of the heads was damaged and it scared the heck out of us as it got caught on the tuning handle and the wheels kept running producing a rather unique rolling sound.

I was telling one of my students about the number of Nutcrackers I have played and he asked, “How can you stand it?” I point to my BMW 335i and say, “See that car? The Nutcracker bought me that.” “Ahhhhh. NOW I get it,” was his reply.

I had a GREAT time playing "Nutcracker" this year (2012). We are playing the score as intended, the orchestra sounds great and I have a new clean part that is really legible. PLUS the pit is set up differently. With the horns moved, I can hear our wonderful woodwind section. 

Starting last year (2024) Symphony San Jose started a collaboration with the New Ballet in San Jose. We played 16 last season, and we will play 16 more this 2025 season. That would bring my total up to about 640. Perhaps I'll hit 700 before I RETIRE!

I complain a lot about the Nutcracker, but really, I am SO lucky to be making a living playing the tuba.  I thank God each night that I have managed to make a good life and career out of music. The business has been good to me. The “Grand Pas de Deux” is STILL in, Grrrrrr.....

Bail ME out!

Seventeen point four BILLION! So, our president, in his infinite wisdom has agreed to an emergency LOAN (hack, hack, cough, cough) to GM & Chrysler to bail them out. This fries my cookies. Where were the Feds when I wasn’t making any money selling tubas? Jeez, two hundred grand would have been plenty for me. I was buying a Christmas tree last Saturday and this topic came up. The guy was blaming the Auto Union. He said, “These guys are making $78 an hour. THEY (the union) sunk the automobile industry.” Whoa! My lawyer charges me $450 an hour. A shrink will cost you $300 a session. Hell, a decent massage will cost you a hundred bucks. Let’s say he’s right and most autoworkers will make $78 an hour. This totals about $162K a year. Figure a 30% tax bracket. This brings this down the yearly salary to $113K. If the average home in the US were about $250K the payments would be $2,500 a month, that’s ABOUT 25% of the monthly income. Right about where it SHOULD be for a decent standard of living. Even if he (the tree guy) WAS right, what about the guys with the seven- and EIGHT-figure salaries? Aren’t THEY the individuals who decide on what to build? Aren’t THEY the ones who decide what the American car buyer wants? Aren’t THEY the ones who design the autos? Aren’t THEY responsible for marketing? Unfortunately, the tree guy isn’t alone. My Dad (a STAUNCH Republican) feels exactly the same. I would guess many (if not all) Republicans would feel the same, or find the Union Men (AND WOMEN) to blame. Hey, how about building a car I would buy? My wife’s last FOUR cars were not American cars. The last American car I bought was in 1984 and had it for 3 years. Since then, I’ll buy well-crafted, German engineering, thank you. Except for my brother’s Vette, his family has been buying Nissans since they were Datsuns. Except for a few Saturns, I don’t know if anyone I know owns an American car. I see a lot of Japanese cars and a few Volvos. I have no faith in the American Automobile industry and it has NOTHING to do with the men & women who actually BUILD the vehicles. It’s the pencil pushers and the bean counters.

 

So, Mister President, when is this loan due and what interest are they paying? How come you can give them $17.4 BILLION, and I haven’t gotten my “Economic Stimulus” check yet.

Christmas Music

Christmas music. What is it about Christmas music? I LOVE Christmas music. With both my Wind Ensembles, my brass band and tuba ensemble, we just did a Christmas Extravaganza. Something about those familiar tunes that just gets me in the Christmas spirit. 

         It could be my first chamber music experience. In 6^th grade, I played a Christmas concert (At Kellum Street Elementary School) and on the concert, I played my white plastic Conn sousaphone with both the brass ensemble AND the woodwind ensemble. I loved standing out in front of the curtain with a small group of my friends playing those songs; Let it Snow, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, O Christmas Tree. When I got older (High School), I put together a group of my band friends and went around to the convalescent homes and played Christmas Carols for the people who couldn’t get out. We even played a parade once and won first prize for special music. 

         When I moved to San Jose in 1982, I had to put on a Tuba Christmas, later changed to Christmas Tubafest®. Over the years, hundreds of people have said to me, “Christmas season doesn’t start until I hear Tony’s tubas.” God, I miss that. 

         Maybe because at Christmas time, people are more kind to each other, generous with their time and hard earned resources. Even when Valley Fair is so crowded, I seem to get more smiles from people during this time of year. Why is it only this time of year? Imagine what our world would be like if we were that kind & generous all year long. 

         My tuba friends came over this morning to play tuba quartets. What did we play for 2 ½ hours? Christmas Music! Thanks, guys! 

         I love Christmas Music. What about you?

First Blog

Seems like everyone is blogging these days. Most seem self serving and boastful, that's why I have hesitated. Hopefully, I'll post something of interest and can stimulate a dialogue.

The thing that has been foremost in my mind these days is how a middle aged man can alter his career and his view (opinion) of himself. Many people judge who they are by what they do. SO much of my own self impression was (is!) tied up into being the tubist of the San Jose Symphony. When that went away, I had a heckuva time figuring out who the hell I was. Working 40 weeks, sitting next to my best friend, Phil Zahorsky, was a life I loved and the only one for which I was really prepared. I LOVED that life. Went to work in the same place, parked in the same place, knew what to expect from week to week. We even had a lot of fun in the trombone section. I was so fortunate in that both John Russell (2nd trombone) & Phil were students of our principal trombonist, Bob Szabo, that we knew each other so well and we really enjoyed each others' company. Even as Bob was readying to retire, I still felt like the new guy in the section.

After the San Jose Symphony went bankrupt, not only did I have to find work, but I was struggling with self image. LUCKILY, Phil passed the baton of the Ohlone Wind Orchestra to me, AND I had been made Personnel Manager of the Ballet Orchestra, here in San Jose. At the same time, I was hired to conduct the El Camino Youth Symphony's wind orchestra.

To make a VERY long story short, I became more of a conductor, and less of a tubist. As of now, I get about 13 weeks' work with the new Symphony & Ballet and I have 4 wonderful ensembles to conduct: The OWO, the Ohlone Community Band, the newly formed Silicon Valley Brass Band & the terrific Ohlone Tuba Ensemble.

In January of 2008, I was installed as President of the Musicians Union, Local 153; I LOVE this. The Union has been very good to me and I love serving. I feel like I can actually help out my fellow professional musicians, rather than just sitting around, complaining about stuff.

Over the next weeks, I'll post more info about our ensembles and bands, brass & Union happenings in the South Bay.