We all started somewhere. When I started teaching at the university level, I didn't want to teach freshmen. Then I saw that you have the biggest impact on people who have the least experience. I have a special place in my heart for the novice player.

Look at his face! He's serious about this! This ain't no joke.

It was for a quartet and we recorded two CDs for a record label in Germany. It came up after a conversation on an airline flight and it was great that we got together.

We are now part of a bass community. You came here today by yourself, now you're part of a family, a network. The bass circle works as a metaphor for that.

the single most promising composition student that I have worked with in my 37 years of university teaching.

I've been a university president now for about 20 years and I have never found any relationship between alumni giving to academic programs and the success of the athletic program. Most senior fundraisers understand that raising money for the academic program is not going to be affected by that. They may be able to build a bigger stadium or put new seats in the gym, but it is not going to put more endowed chairs in their faculty.