This, my friends is Dr. Russel Mikkelson. And me, (and the reflection of my cellphone taking the picture for this blog because it was easier to just email it to myself instead of scanning it) but try to stay focused on Dr. Mikkelson thanks. This was a couple years ago but you get the gist. I hope.

Now you may ask. Who is this and what is the point of this blog? No worries. I shall explain. After which you still may wonder about the point of this blog but I think that’s most of my blogs right? Right. Moving on.

About Dr. Mikkelson…

He’s the director of University Bands at THE Ohio State University. He conducts the “Wind Symphony”. Which back in the day I think used to be called the “Concert Band” but I don’t think that was a fancy enough name for the top band in the School of Music so it was eventually changed. He’s in charge of a lot of other stuff irrelevant for my story but he’s pretty important. As a side note his looks kind of remind me of my dad. Kind of in the same way that Tom Selleck in his Magnum P.I. days did. Although Dr. Mikkelson and Tom Selleck don’t look much alike do they? In which case maybe neither one look much like my dad.

Anyhoo.

Upon starting as a music major at OSU I quickly became acquainted with Dr. Mikkelson. We had to audition for what band we would be in for the year. I decided to play the infamous “Improvisation et caprice” by Eugene Bozza (everyone knows that piece right?) I had played it in several competitions in highschool and I’m pretty sure I got some good scores. Or maybe not, I don’t remember, let’s pretend that I did. Either way I played it. It’s a fast song and if I could still play it you may be impressed. Or not. Whatever. Dr. Mikkelson was anyway. He said something to the effect of “that’s a lot of notes; very good!” Actually maybe he wasn’t that impressed but as a freshman it made me feel good. Coming out of the audition I decided that this is the best professor ever and ooh he is one good looking guy. I hope I’m in his band.

But I wasn’t. Dang it. I was placed into the symphonic band directed by Professor Blatti. He is a very good conductor and picked some good music. And somehow was always quite sweaty by the end of practice.

I think it was my third quarter into the year. A couple weeks into the quarter Professor Blatti slipped on the metal ramp on his way into Hughes hall; the mothership of the School of Music. You may be asking, why a metal ramp? That doesn’t seem very safe, especially in the winter with ice and snow. Well, it may have something to do with the fact that Hughes Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus and has never had any renovations. Clearly this fact had many drawbacks. Metal ramps, no air conditioning, and practice rooms with ancient doors that occasionally, or at least once, locked you inside the room forcing you to climb out the window, crawl around on the roof, while looking into other practice rooms to find someone who could let you out of the practice room you were just in. Not that I ever had this happen. Although I might mention that for such an old building, the gutters are quite sturdy. Just an observation.

As a result of Professor Blatti slipping he pulled something, I don’t remember what but clearly important, and had to be out the rest of the quarter. Now what? Who’s going to conduct? Then Dr. Mikkelson comes in to provide us with an update and who will be taking his place for the rest of the quarter. Him. Omg Dr. Mikkelson is conducting the rest of the quarter? Omg omg omg. Did I look ok? Did I brush my hair before I left my dorm today? Do I have anything in my teeth? Have I practiced any of this music yet? What are we even playing? I don’t remember. I’m holding a saxophone. Do I know how to play a saxophone?

I guess the practice went okay though, I don’t remember any odd looks, although I do remember forgoing food or anything else and going straight to a practice room (not the one that locked people in) promptly after classes.

Anyway. It was a grand quarter and I’ve been a Dr. Mikkelson fan ever since. It’s a shame he’s married, has kids and is a bit older.

Oh. The point of this blog. I saw him today. Me and a few friends went to the marching bands pre-game performance and he conducted the Star Spangled Banner. It’s a little bit grayer but ooh… he still has that nice hair. I also noted that distinct conducting style that I always liked while making a mental note to get to the Wind Symphony concert this quarter.

Go Bucks!