Clinic with Mallory Thompson

We need to make sure that everyone recognizes Friday, June 1 as the final performance of the year. We will be playing a clinic again with Dr. Mallory Thompson, Director of Bands at Northwestern University, as part of the 2012 MEBCI Wind Conducting Symposium. the site is my school, Northern Valley Regional High School, 140 Central Avenue, Old Tappan, NJ 07675. Call time is 7:00 pm, the clinic is 7:30-9:00 pm. Dr. Thompson is one of the most sought-after conductors and clinicians in the world — this is an unequaled opportunity! If you have a irreconcilable conflict, please alert Claudia immediately, so that you can work with her to arrange for a sub.

Rather than a thoroughly rehearsed performance, like last year, we will be working with Dr. Thompson in a sight-reading type of workshop. Her goal: rehearsal techniques for working with a band rehearsing a work for the first time. Our repertoire: Eric Whitacre – Lux Aurumque and Johnny Vinson – Echoes of the Hollow Square. “But,” you say, “we’ve performed Lux Aurumque in concert in 2010!” Well, that is true, but we’re not going to publicize it! I will have these parts ready for distribution next week, so — yes, Virginia — you can practice them before the clinic. But we will not have a separate formal rehearsal.

July workshop

A few people have asked me about the music education workshop I’m running in July. There are still openings. We will be looking at score preparation, rehearsal strategies, conducting “Boot Camp,” and more. Please speak to me if you have any questions. I would love to see a few more of you attend!

My rep

Also, I have taken the plunge and published my personal list of conducted repertoire, 1982-present. Please feel free to browse.

Concert week

This week: Rehearsal Monday at Pelham (please remember!) and dress rehearsal at TMH on Wednesday. Our only rehearsal with Joey is Wednesday night, so the emphasis on Monday will be the ‘dress rehearsal’ of repeated works from the ACB program, to allow for the time we need with Joey on Wednesday. Sound check Saturday is at 6:00 pm, concert is 8:00 pm. This is going to be a great program!

Schedule for 2012-2013

As announced, here are the performance dates for 2012-2013. Please copy into your personal calendar:

• Fall Concert – Sunday, November 4 at 3:00 pm (dress rehearsal Wednesday, October 31 or possibly Thursday, November 1, TBA per TMH)
• Winter Concert – Sunday, February 10 at 3:00 pm (dress rehearsal Wednesday, February 6)
• Spring Concert/25th Anniversary Gala – Saturday, May 18 at 8:00 pm (dress rehearsal Wednesday, May 15)

I have my Hershey Festival trip tomorrow and my NJ All-State Orchestra concert Saturday. My goal for Monday is to be able to stand unassisted without any caffeine assistance. See you then.