Powell River’s fifth annual Pacific Region International Symphony Music Academy (PRISMA) closed last evening. Once a year students and instructors from around the world gather in our little community for two intense weeks of instruction and performances; we locals are blessed and enriched with the quality and availability of this music.
While attending a concert earlier this week I gained an insight into the precision required of high-calibre musicians and at the same time, was reminded of an important life lesson.
The setting was a concerto concert performed by PRISMA instructors. I can’t begin to describe the beauty of the music but I admit it was Marcus, a trumpet player; whose playing – or rather the lack of playing – caught my attention. Sitting slightly apart from the rest of the musicians, Marcus sat while everyone else played; in fact, if I am correct, he only played a few bars of music during that entire concerto. I was fascinated watching him. Trumpet on his knee, he appeared to be simply observing the entire performance and I honestly wondered how he could possibly know when to come in. But, come in he did. On time and with the vivre demanded by the piece. After a few bars of music the trumpet went back on his knee where it remained until the piece was ended. My admiration for his and his role was immense.
Have you, like me, sometimes felt that you had no influence or input into life or its situations? Has the seeming lack of a meaningful role in helping others become a source of frustration? Perhaps you also can add Marcus to your list of worthy examples. The important thing is to be alert, be prepared and be willing to step in when needed. The size of the job isn’t the important thing, faithful service is.
