It all comes down to the salsa!

Let me start this off by giving credit where credit is due: My life-long friend, Leslie Bahler, accomplished violist and soprano, living in the Buffalo, NY area. She is an active instrumental and vocal performer, as well as a teacher, wife, and mother – and married to my other life-long friend, Peter Bahler, also an accomplished double bassist and singer, teacher, husband, and father. (Oops – they’re both also grandparents!)

Leslie was recently invited to perform as the soprano soloist on a concert series. The series does not pay, but it is well worth participating in because of the publicity and the possibility of there being future performance opportunities. This is just too good to pass up. Leslie worked incredibly hard, preparing arias by Mozart and Handel (perfectly suited to her lovely voice, by the way). She spent hours rehearsing with the chamber orchestra and hours of vocal coaching with her teacher.

The performance was a rousing success. Leslie was truly “on her game.”

There was a reception for performers and audience following the concert – and the performers actually had to provide the food! (See? Told you the pay was nothing.) Leslie brought a mango salsa and the chips. Part way through the reception and mingling, a lovely lady approached Leslie, program and pen in hand. You all know where this is going – the autograph! Here’s what the lady asked for:

“Where did you get the salsa?”

So, perform your hearts out, do your very best work – and

DON’T FORGET THE SALSA!