Lots of news here! Be sure to visit the sight by following the link to read this entire post. I will post information about Monday’s rehearsal, including directions to Pelham, separately over the weekend.

First, I want to clarify the information I posted about the SUNY-Purchase Symphonic Winds rehearsal and concert. The email was not written by me, but rather was from Graham Ashton, the Chair of Brass Studies at SUNY-Purchase (and was forwarded to me by Ben Acrish). In my haste, I failed to copy/paste his signature. I regret the omission and apologize if anyone thought that I had written the message or that I was conducting the concert.

Second, congratulations to WSW President, Jim Savage, who was honored by the First Bank of Greenwich at a reception last evening. WSW was represented at the affair by a brass quintet comprised of Denise Ruchala & Mary Eberling, trumpet; Tim Takagi, horn; Mandy Rimm-Hewitt, trombone; and Scott Rimm-Hewitt, tuba. Other WSW’ers in attendance: Rachel Eckhaus, Matt Kowalski, and Andrew Anello.

The quintet sounded wonderful! They played several arrangements from the Salvation Army brass books, which are wonderful. In the ensemble, we now have a saxophone quartet, a brass quintet, and a few “pop up” woodwind groups. I would love to see more of these ensembles as we expand our program in the coming years.

I am playing the clarinet solo part on the Joseph Turrin Concertino for Eleven Instruments and WInd Ensemble, this coming Saturday night at 8:00 pm at Kassar Theater at Montclair State University. Dr. Tom McCauley, one of our favorite WSW guest conductors, leads a concert subtitled “Students and Teachers.” All eleven soloists are practicing music educators, and the program includes the Schönberg Theme and Variations, opus 43a! Click here for directions, and here for more concert information.

Lastly, the internet if packed with stupid videos — but this one caught my eye today. Len Martello also saw it and passed it on to me, so I thought I’d share it with everyone. It’s just plain clever and fun: The Music Theory Song. And perfect for the season! (I love the “Meet the Flintstones” reference!)