IMPROMPTU
by Rosie Constantine
Randy Campora
TROMBONE
Celebrating 35 years with the Orchestra this
season, BSO Trombonist Randy Campora joined
the Orchestra when he was still a student at the
Peabody Institute in 1985 — the Orchestra’s first
season with then-Music Director David Zinman
and a few years after the opening of the Joseph
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
Randy’s fondest BSO memory was during the
1987 tour to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
“No American orchestra had been there for
at least 20 years,” said Randy. “The American
composer Christopher Rouse was on tour with
us, and we did some unexpected encores. At
the end of the performance the trombones
stood up, and we played the melody to “Twist
and Shout” — like we were the Beatles!”
“As soon as we stood up, the whole place went
wild and erupted like a nuclear explosion! It was
a big moment in the orchestra’s history, and this
was also when Yuri Temirkanov, who became
the next Music Director, heard us for the first
time,” said Randy.
This year, Randy reaches a personal milestone
— 5 years cancer free. While Randy was
at Howard County General Hospital with
trouble swallowing, Dr. Mahmood Solaiman
(pictured right) discovered something he
found concerning.
“It’s called Barrett’s esophagus, which is a
pre-cancerous condition,” shared Randy. “Dr.
Solaiman then found cancerous cells, leading
to testing, treatments and surgeries at Hopkins.”
Randy was fortunate enough to not have to
undergo chemotherapy or radiation, but for
most it’s rare that esophageal cancer is found
in early stages.
“To go through that process of being able to
play again, to come back to see everyone and to
feel the excitement of our audience again, was
really incredible.”
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“There was always a chance that I would try to
play my trombone, and it would be painful,” said
Randy. “Anybody who goes through something
like this learns things. You remember to take the
time to be more humble, more thoughtful.