Life in the Pit

I am principal timpanist of the Houston Ballet Orchestra and have served in this capacity for the past five years. Previous to that, I served as section percussion for 14 years.

I am also principal timpanist of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and have held this chair since its inception in the mid 1990s.I have served on orchestra committees and negotiating committees of both orchestras, and I am currently the ROPA delegate. I have almost exclusively performed in pit orchestras since my career began in 1977, first touring with Houston Ballet for two years and then with Texas Opera Theater for ten years.

[Moderator’s note: we sent a list of issues to the panelists that we plan to cover during the course of the week.]

All of the issues you have listed are problems we deal with on a daily basis. Temperature and wind problems are a problem as well. In addition to never having enough room is the question of safety in case of a fire. Entrances and exits are often hazardous. In some instances the musicians are trapped in the pit during performances, solely at the mercy of the person backstage raising and lowering the pit. There is also the problem of musicians leaving and entering the pit during performances and rehearsals, causing distraction to musicians trying to play.

Musicians who may have physical handicaps often must climb many steps to get to their place in the pit.