Eugene Kavadlo
Eugene Kavadlo, 70, is the Principal Clarinetist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. This is his 41st year with CSO.
Right out of college, my first job was a teaching position with the Manhasset Public Schools on Long Island.
I was the woodwinds specialist on the music faculty. It was a very good job. I had three bands I was in charge of, two elementary schools and one junior high school band.
The position paid well for the time and I was doing what I wanted to do as far as teaching. At the same time Ali (Kavadlo’s wife Alice, long-time former Principal Viola with CSO) was teaching in a different school district.
In the back of our minds, we always felt we wanted to try our hands at a performing career. After four years teaching in Manhasset, I was offered a position with the Jacksonville, Fla. symphony and also an adjunct faculty position teaching at the university there.
I wanted to try playing with a symphony. Even though I had the good teaching job, this opportunity was more in line with where I saw my career.
I was 25 and reticent to leave the good teaching job though I was able to work it out where I got a one year leave of absence. I’ve always felt like I needed a security blanket. I was hedging my bet, so to speak. Ali was also able to get a leave. She was offered the principal viola position with the symphony in Jacksonville.
Our plan was to evaluate after one year and see if we wanted to return to New York. We had a wonderful first year. We loved it, though it was a big cut in salary. I still was reticent to give up the good job, though Ali didn’t hesitate, she wanted to stay. Ultimately we made the decision to stay.
Performing was what I wanted do in my heart. I found joy in what I was doing. This was worth more than the cut in salary. It was also a time we felt we could take a gamble with our lives, we were young and we felt we could take the chance.
For me I came to the realization I had to prioritize what’s most important when making tough decisions.
I discovered finding joy and happiness was most important. Being in a position to take advantage of an opportunity that presents itself has been my good fortune. I discovered that if I’m doing what I love to do, it doesn’t feel like work.
As told to Michael J. Solender
This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Eugene Kavadlo."