And now, a Q&A with one of our percussionists — the very fabulous Mike Wingo. No drumsticks actually flew during the making of this interview.
VCS: 2 pianos, about 95 singers total, a full house! How do you feel about taking center stage?
MW: Isn’t that where percussion should always be?
VCS: Random stranger offers to help you move the percussion kits. You:
- Accept with loud and grateful thanks. You only have two hands!
- Say yes, but watch nervously like a new parent.
- Do your best Gandalf “You Shall Not Pass!” imitation.
- No one helps. Humanity leaves much to be desired.
MW: B – Say yes, …
Mike Wingo, with drums and pencil, but no spears.
VCS: Things you ban around your percussion kit.
MW: Sharp objects, especially spears.
VCS: Things you sneak in with the kit but the audience won’t see.
MW: Pencils
VCS: At least one percussionist will do this during the show:
MW: Look to his neighbor wondering where the heck we are in the music.
VCS: The drumstick accidentally flies out of your hand. What do you do?
MW: Pretend it was called for in the score….it is a theatrical piece, right?
MW: “Knock ‘em dead.”
VCS: The first thing you’ll say to your crew when the show is over will be….
MW: “I screwed up section ‘X’”
VCS: True or false: Your score has no notes. Just a bunch of Xes marking the spot. Everything else is magic.
MW: True in parts, false in others.
VCS: True or false: You’re just there to make sure everyone who hasn’t had enough coffee WAKES UP after the pianissimo parts.
MW: More or less.
Mike Wingo will be joined by Jeffrey Gilliam, Joe McIntyre, Alvin Chung, and Leo Simon at VCS’ performance of Carmina Burana.
We sing Carmina Burana at 7:30 pm, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Vienna Baptist Church (541 Marshall Road SW, Vienna, VA 22180). In addition to Mike and his crew, we will be joined by two soloists, two pianos, the Mosby Woods Elementary School’s “Mustang” Choir (playing Orff instruments, singing, and turning themselves in set pieces), 75 VCS singers, two soloists, a bassoon, a cello, a giant wheel, a garden, a ballerina, and a baby ballerina. Please join us!
Tickets are available online until 11:30 pm, Friday, May 20, 2016. Tickets are $25/adults, $20/Seniors(65+) and Students (15-18). Youth aged 14 and younger attend free if accompanied by a paying audience member. Tickets are also available through VCS singers.