Collins Trier
Collins Trier—our principal double bass for nearly two decades—has many colorful recollections of his years with Music of the Baroque, from jalapeño-eating contests to playing from the pulpit at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest.
"As soon as I won the audition for Lyric Opera Orchestra in 1980, Music of the Baroque concertmaster Elliott Golub started hiring me for commercial recording sessions, which were a big deal in Chicago at that time. Often I found myself paired with Joe Guastafeste (Music of the Baroque's then-principal bass). Not long after, I began filling in for Joe if he wasn't available for a particular concert, and when two basses were required, it was always Joe and me. When Joe retired from Music of the Baroque in 2002, I was appointed principal.
Playing with Joe really meant a lot to me. He was my double bass instructor and mentor when I attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, and moving from being his student to being his colleague was a true rite of passage. I'll never forget sitting across from him in March 2000 as we each played principal for the double orchestras in Bach's St. Matthew Passion (not to mention the jalapeño-eating contest we had after one of the performances). My first official Music of the Baroque performance following Joe's retirement was also quite memorable. I had to play from the pulpit at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest because there wasn't enough room on stage, and Jane Glover jokingly invited me to give a sermon (I declined)!"