Story by Deborah Stinchfield
Los Altos resident Larry Blake has been playing trumpet for 40 of his 51 years. "When I was 11 years old I heard Louis Armstrong play on the Ed Sullivan show and fell in love with the sound and the music," says Blake. "The kid down the block had a trumpet. I played a bugle call on the first try and that was it. My parents were really glad I didn't take up the drums!"
On March 11, Blake will play as a member of the Foothill College Orchestra in their GRAND MASTERS Concert in Smithwick Theater at 7:30 PM. The concert program includes two brass fanfares, Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, and Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor. The concert is the second concert of the orchestra's premier season.
Blake is also the principal trumpet player in the Palo Alto Philharmonic and Nova Vista Symphony. He has been playing professionally since he was sixteen in jazz and show bands, backing up such great artists as The Temptations, Patti Page, Mills Brothers, and Lou Rawls. He holds a bachelor of arts in music from Cal State Hayward and studies with Jim Dooley, Principal Trumpet, San Jose Symphony.
His love of the trumpet hasn't waivered since that day 40 years ago when Louis Armstrong knocked his socks offs. He does, however, admit to having been so frustrated at times that "I've wanted to wrap the trumpet around a tree!" His prescription, "Practice! That and plain old desire to play and improve. That's why I'm still studying. I'll be better next year than I am now."
Blake is enthusiastic about playing in community orchestras like the Foothill College Orchestra. "You play the world's best music and performing is a blast." Foothill Conductor Michael Paul Gibson "is a terrific conductor. And he knows how to help musicians with limited orchestral experience sound really good. What he needs now are advanced string players to round out the orchestra. "
When not playing the trumpet, Blake is a fundraising consultant to bands and choirs. He moved to Los Altos 6 years ago. "My wife, Tsuki, always wanted to live in Los Altos," he explained. "So here we are!"
For tickets and information about the March 11 concert, contact the Foothill College Box Office at 650-948-4444. For information about the Orchestra and spring auditions call (408) 873-9000 or check Conductor Gibson's website at www.bach2music.com.
Send e-mail to: maestro@bamusic.org