The manner in which this orchestra has continued to grow in musical style and discipline under [Maestro Michael Hall's] direction has been awesome. The citizens of Fort Myers should rally around their cultural gem and pack the house for every performance next year.

Indicators. Improved performance. Alpha generation. Unique hybrid models. Optimum mix. Policy portfolios. Key drivers. Private equity secondaries. Global view. Diversity.

Not just financial buzzwords, but also constituent buzzwords for life.

Famous tunes. Handel had the Hallelujah chorus. Beethoven had the "Ode to Joy." Brahms had a lullaby. And Sir Edward Elgar had "Pomp and Circumstance." What?

A Far Cry, a conductorless 14-17 member string ensemble from the Boston area, performed on Sanibel Island last weekend, an incentive for a journey out there. Being a maestro, I have always been fascinated as to the how and why of such ensembles. But I've never had an opportunity to actually witness how they work until I was invited to an afternoon rehearsal before their concert.

The program opened with a few remarks from the vivacious matron herself, Barabara B. Mann. She turned 98 years young last week. The audience responded with a resonant chorus of "Happy Birthday!"

And what better music should there be to follow this opening number than anything performed by the world-famous Emerson String Quartet?

Walking into the Bower School of Music's new facility for the first time was an awesome and surreal experience technically, architecturally, musically, and of great human interest.

Maestro Michael Hall and the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra hit a grand slam out of the park Saturday with [Shostakovitch 10th Symphony] at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers.

Now, the pianist thinks to oneself: "Which note will pop next?" "Should I avoid the broken Db, or just use it?" "Am I going to be this distracted the entire length of the concerto?" "I've got another entrance coming up, tell my brain to shut up and play!" Fliter took the last.