Thomas, relief percussionist

About 10 days ago Thomas's percussion teacher asked Thomas and Omid if they would both help out the FIM Youth Symphony Orchestra percussion section. It seems that the YSO had a really BIG concert coming up (a joint endeavor with some visiting French students from a music institute in Lyon). The YSO is the BIG kids (17 and 18 year olds, just about to spring on to college) so Thomas and Omid JUMPED at the chance. Then they found out what they had gotten themselves into--three 5 hour rehearsals, each of which with only one 10 minute break and a grueling 3 hour concert, which was last night. (And this is on top of his already overbooked schedule: weekly private basson lessons, weekly private percussion lessons, weekly 3 hour wind ensemble rehearsals with thier big concert next week, weekly 3 hour philharmonia rehearsals with their big concert in two weeks.) Here he is, all decked out in his finery:
We all look a bit flustered, not merely because we all hate having our picture taken, but because a mere 45 minutes earlier one of the 5 hour rehearsals had just ended and I had barely gotten Thomas in the door and Simon just about had time to stuff a few pancakes into Thomas (English-style, crepe-y looking things--so not really 'pancakes' at all, actually, but rather tasty nonetheless). Then we had a good 20 minutes of desperation, trying to find all the pieces of his wind ensemble tux which Thomas had cast to the far reaches of his closet after his Christmas concert ended many months ago. We were late, so Emily snapped a quick few picks and off we went for the concert. We dropped Thomas off at the backstage entrance and then went round the front to wait for the magic to begin. And, if the computer gods cooperate, we'll be able to upload something for you to watch. Thomas doesn't have big parts, since he was given list minute "fill" bits, but he was very excited to play chimes on the Great Gate of Kiev (especially after the conducter--an astonishingly wild Frenchie--instructed him to "HIT THEM!! SMASH THEM WITH HAPPINESS!!" Thomas's percusssion teacher frowned but didn't intervene, so Thomas really whaled on them.

UPDATE: here's the beginning of the concert (before the excitable Frenchman took over) with the beginning of Mussorsky's Pictures at an Exhibition (Thomas is in the middle at the back - he didn't get much to do in this one):