Congratulations and June 1 Clinic

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First, please accept my heartfelt congratulations for the successes of last Saturday’s concert. I hit the ground running the next day with an off-site school concert, and it’s taken me this long to catch up. Both Brian and Joey spoke at length about the quality of musicianship, program content, and (especially) your kind and welcoming warmth. I echo their sentiments. I received a number of emails regarding their impact on the program, and I agree that it was a positive exchange of energy all around. Thank you for making the last concert of our 2011-2012 season so memorable.

The three concerts, plus the ACB performance, made for an outstanding experience for us all. Next year, I have wonderful soloists lined up: TSgt. Troy Messner, horn (West Point Band), TSgt. Bill Owens, trumpet (West Point Band), Lois Hicks-Wozniak, alto saxophone, as well as Barbara Ciannella, piano, to play Rhapsody in Blue. I have also committed to programming Canticle by Elliot del Borgo, which will feature three of our WSW flutists. Our committed guest conductors thus far include Dr. Tom McCauley (who is very excited to return to work with us), and Jeff Grogan, Education and Community Engagement Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (Jeff is formerly Associate Director of Bands, University of Michigan). I’m still waiting for confirmation from our third guest conductor.

Our final “gig” of the year is this Friday, June 1, at NVOT, with Dr. Mallory Thompson. The clinic is focused on rehearsing a new work with an ensemble, and will center on two works we did not play this year. Although I will have hard copies on the stands, please take a look at the parts (links below) to help you prepare for the clinic, so we play our best for Dr. Thompson. Please note that the scanner created 11×17 pages — you might be better off playing from the computer screen than trying to print this particular set of parts. Click here for directions to NVOT. Please park in the back and arrive by 7:00 pm so we can be warmed up and tuned, ready for the session to begin at 7:30 pm. Links to parts are at the end of this post.

Lastly, there is an interview on NCCMC – New Castle Communications Media Center, Cablevision channel 75, FiOS channel 45 – of Robin Zablow and her “Music Then and Now,” featuring the Westchester Symphonic Winds. I’m not sure when it’s airing (getting a schedule has not been easy), but you can see the web version by clicking here. It’s great advertising for our ensemble, so please pass along the link and channel. (Credit goes to Emily Harrison for acting to bring Robin into the loop so this interview could happen.)

For those of you available to play on Friday, see you then. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you in September. The Board is meeting in June, and will undoubtedly plan a CD event close to the beginning of next season, like we had last year. Thanks again for a great year!

Vinson – Echoes of the Hollow Square

Whitacre – Lux Aurumque