The weather was impossibly perfect. We loaded in at 11:30 a.m. and made our way up to Lincoln Center to set up. A fine day to stand around waiting. Although my search for a quick bite to eat was fruitless (not much in the way of to-go food in that neighborhood so I had to settle for a sandwich from Starbucks), I did enjoy relaxing and chatting with the other 199 guitarists at Damrosch Park. We took our seats around 6:30 and the crowd started filing in. And kept coming. And coming. I did not expect thousands of people.
Fortunately I was on the end of my section, right by the gate, so it was easy for me to catch Amy, Alllie, Caroline and Matt. They took up a spot right next to me. My boss, Marya, also stopped by to say hi. The crowd eventually had to be turned back because there were no more chairs.
Our hour-long composition started around 7:45, slowly building, section by section, into the final climax. Toward the end, the sounds became so huge and otherworldly that people started standing up to receive it.
We finished to a long ovation. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
UPDATE: The New York Times estimates 10,000 people showed up.
Absolutely Awesome!!!!! I wish we could have been there with you! Very cool!
Wow! That’s amazing!
Wow! It’s so gratifying to see your dreams coming true! and dreams much more beautiful than you had even imagined!
When I saw your performance at a school performance in Harrison a couple of years ago, I realized you were good, but I never imagined that one day you would be playing Lincoln Center in New York City! Congratulations! (Wish I could have been there!)
I watched the youtube video and got choked up. I can’t even imagine how it was in person. You are officially the coolest person I know.
And also, I gotta say… it was totally inspiring to see such a range of races and ages all so moved by the music.