Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia:

    One of the highlights of this season was my recent trip to the Republic of Georgia, a place I had never before been. I received a wonderful honor and invitation to be the Guest Soloist on a concert at the Tbilisi State Conservatory in Tbilisi, Georgia, as part of the 9 th International New Years Music Celebrations. The guest conductor of the orchestra was Misha Rachlevsky, Music Director of the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin – www.chamberorchestrakremlin.ru. We performed in concert on December 21, 2006, then I gave a masterclass to the horn students of the conservatory the following day. The people were absolutely wonderful, warm, generous, and the students were wonderful, talented, and eager as well. We performed in the Grand Hall of the Tbilisi State Conservatory, which was beautiful. The concert was sponsored by the Embassy of the United States in Tbilisi, Georgia. I look forward greatly to a return trip.