Sho-Mei Pelletier is the winner of the Alumni Contest for the "best story of the impact of the National Repertory Orchestra on your life." Pelletier is a 1972 Alum of the NRO, and is currently the Associate-Principal Violin in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Read her story below:

"I was in the NRO when our Dear Maestro, "Wally-Chuck" was still in his prime and quite a character!  It was Carl Topilow's first year as Maestro Charles' Assistant Conductor, and Carl had an opportunity to perform and rehearse a Brahms Symphony with all of US, in the "Evergreen Philharmonic."  Guess WHICH Brahms Symphony it was that Carl was rehearsing?  He told all of us String Players to "Think of the Opening Phrase as - 'FOR You. . . . . AND You . . . . . AND You  . . . . . and You . . . . . AND YOU . . . . !"  I have NEVER been able to play this Opening Phrase, SINCE, without thinking about WHAT Carl said, way back then!  I have been playing as Associate-Principal Violin in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for 34 years, now and have written and published 2 FUNNY BOOKS ("The Simple Dictionary for Classical Musicians" and "Funny Composers!  In Full Color and Black & White", which, by the way, JUST CAME OUT!). I have taught and prepared MANY students on Violin and for Orchestral Auditions, as well as coached the Texas All-Regional and All-State Orchestra Auditions, and, whenever a CERTAIN BRAHMS SYMPHONY comes up, on the Audition List, Carl's "Motivational Description" gets RETOLD, again and  again . . . . and again! THANKS, CARL!"

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