Daniel Cloutier:
CLASS OF 1981
Trumbull High SchoolClass of 1981
Trumbull, CT
Daniel's Story
Life:
Never turns out how you expect, does it?
Since leaving Trumbull in 1981 (and never looking back), I've lived a lot of places. Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Paul, New York, New Orleans, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Knoxville (twice), Portland, and now Baltimore.
I've been able to visit lots of places along the way as well. I've seen most of the big US and Canadian cities: Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, LA, San Diego, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Winnipeg, Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, Detroit, Toronto, Cleveland, Buffalo, Raleigh, Baltimore, DC, Philadelphia, Ottowa, Montreal, Boston, Quebec City, etc. I've also been quite fortunate to do some travel overseas as well: Dublin, London, Edinburgh, Luzern, Zurich, Copenhagen, Salzburg, Baden-Baden, Cologne, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Seoul, Tokyo, and Osaka, to name most of them. Still would like to get to Paris, Budapest, Vienna, and especially Prague.
Family: Been married for 31 years. We met during my undergrad degree, and married shortly after graduation. Glenda is truly a gift. Beautiful, funny, and firey, she keeps me honest and keeps me from being the colossal bore I've always been. She is someone who'd rather hike than go to the mall, who'd rather watch a thunderstorm than the TV, who suffers fools lightly, and who doesn't put up with a lot of bullcrap. (Based on those two things alone, it is indeed a miracle that she married me at all.) She is my best friend. We have one son who is now 20 years old and is also destined for a successful music career. It's in his blood from both his parents.
The career in music has been eclectic and well-rounded. Freelancer, non-titled orchestral musician, titled orchestral musician, even some jazz, and now Professor and Doctor as well. For the most part, I don't allow anyone to refer to me as "Doctor Cloutier." What, am I going to heal your brass instruments? Gimme a break. It's just a degree that indicates a lot of PITA work, and too much time on my hands for a small handful of years.
Besides a career in music, which has been a tremendous blessing, I've done a few other non-musical things along the way. Aside from the obligatory hamburger-flipping (which thankfully I've only had to do for one summer), I worked in a bookstore, did some odd lawncare jobs, and sold computers for Gateway. Thankfully, for the most part, I've been able to make my entire living in music, a rare blessing in any age--especially in the US.
I'm working on a website as well as a blog (isn't everybody?), and...Expand for more
maybe someday I will publish them.
High School (answers based on the suggestions given):
Biggest crush? Well, infantile though the question is, it did set me to thinking about all the girls I asked out (or dated once or twice) that said "no" or cut me loose after that one date. I probably was too "serious" for them, most of which--by their own admission--were just interested in "having a good time" rather than a serious relationship, which was always my goal from the time I was 15 or so. I wonder how many of them--in their pursuit of "a good time"--got involved with douchebags and other selfish and abusive losers. One wonders how many regret their past decisions.
Speaking of regrets, there is one girl from High School that I was briefly involved with whom I treated horribly. She often comes to mind in my darker moments, and I deeply regret how I treated her. She is the only woman I ever treated badly, and to this day I regret it. I do hope she has forgiven me.
Most inspiring teacher? That's easy. Joel Parker, History. A little guy who took no crap from anyone.
If I could do it again, I'd have taken martial arts. Would have helped dealing with the godamned bullies, which were many at THS.
Noting a theme here?
College:
Undergraduate Degree at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Offering all that Chicago--still my favorite US city--has to offer.
Funniest thing I remember was when I was back in CT over Christmas break 1981, and someone chews me out for not visiting more often over the fall quarter. I said to them, "Well, I was a bit far away." They replied, "What do you mean, you were right up the road at Northwestern CT State!" Oops, way to show your higher education! Northwestern University is in Chicago! All that there is in Northwestern CT is a Communtity College!
Master's Degree at Carnegie-Mellon University (in Pittsburgh for those of you with the same higher education foibles as my forlorn friend above).
By that time I figured out how to play the system. I managed to set things up so I was directing and playing in the Trombone Choir, while at the same time being paid for being my own Trombone Choir Graduate Assistant and grading myself for my participation in the choir!
Doctorate Degree at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (just over the PA/WV border.
Great bunch of teachers and students, but the degree was just plain ditch-digging, back-breaking work. If you Google the term Ludwig van Beethoven's Orchestration of the Trombone, you can read my dissertation. Best cure for insomnia I've encountered yet.
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