Photo courtesy of Cindy Majane
Silver Spring native Jay McRoberts II graduated from Springbrook High School in 1977 — only a few short years after one of his favorite concerts, Chicago at the Baltimore Civic Center (now Royal Farms Arena).
The rock and roll band impacted Jay as he picked up the electric bass for garage bands: “I wanted to play guitar, but [the bass] only had four strings instead of six, so I thought it would only be…two-thirds as difficult. It’s a challenge. It’s fun though.”
He graduated from the University of Maryland Dental School in 1987 and opened a dental practice in 1992.
After moving to Frederick to be closer to work, Jay decided to become a residential landlord and tree farmer at his family’s nursery, Naughty Pine, in Dickerson. He also took on Orchestral Coodinator at musical theatre group The Fredericktowne Players.
In his spare time, the double bass player is learning piano and drums “just for fun” and polishing his guitar and mandolin skills. He talked with us about his inspiration, advice for young musicians, and more:
Who inspires you the most?
“Well, this is going to sound kind of corny, but…[FSO Music Director] Glenn Quader. Glenn is a great guy, and we’re friends. I’m proud to claim him as my friend, and he’s very good at what he does. He’s very clear, and he’s never unkind to the musicians. There’s more cohesion as a result because he’s in charge. He’s great.
I played in another orchestra before…and the leadership was terrible, and there were a lot of people who are just mean…for no reason. No one’s like that in the Frederick Symphony. They’re nice people, and it’s a sense of community, a sense of family. It’s a beautiful thing.”
What was your first instrument?
“I started the trumpet when I was 10 [years old]. I was in the fifth grade, and the music teacher had a trumpet mouthpiece…a clarinet mouthpiece, and a trombone mouthpiece, and I wanted to play the clarinet, but I couldn’t make the sound.
So, he looked at my mouth. He said, ‘You look like a trumpet player. Try this.’
And I could make a sound. I was awful.”
What advice would you give younger musicians?
“Don’t doubt yourself. Failure is not defeat, just go home and practice.”
When and where was your first concert?
“I could tell you exactly. It was in the fifth grade, and Bob Libby was playing the clarinet, and I remember it like it was yesterday. Tom Schiff was playing the trombone.
I was playing the trumpet, and we got up on stage in my elementary school, put on these Styrofoam [red, white, and blue] hats…and we played for about 90 seconds. It was fun. It was pretty cool.”
Why do you love music?
“I have no answer for that. It’s just something that’s always been very important to me. Some people like plants, understand plants or dogs or something like that. It just occurs to me.”
How has music changed your life?
“I’m better at math. I can present myself…from having to be in front of an audience, and I’m almost immune to public humiliation — almost. You develop stronger friendships [with] people you play music with, and you get better at it.”
To hear more of Jay and the rest of the FSO, grab tickets to our next concert, Forbidden Love, on June 17, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.