Thanks for such a great dress rehearsal last night. I appreciate and am grateful for your patience through the process of bringing in the chorus members and tweaking the movements to get the balance and coordination to a workable point.

I know there are still points to address in all the pieces. There’s one specific place in Carmina I’ll rehearse in the warm-up on Saturday evening. But otherwise, I vote to buckle up and let it ride.

I am also writing to pass on this unique opportunity. Jeff Ball, the conductor of the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, which performed at the Midwest in 2013, is conducting a performance of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale – declared “one of the great ceremonial pieces of all time” by critic Virgil Thomson – in Bryant Park in Manhattan on June 21. This is going to be one huge massed band, and it looks like a great experience. Apparently West Point players and other professionals are involved. You can read more about it and register at:
http://makemusicny.org/blog/come-play-in-berliozs-symphony-for-band-in-bryant-park/

I’m on the verge of signing up myself to play. If you do register, please do note Westchester Symphonic Winds as your home ensemble — we’ll get program credit.

Otherwise, I’ll see you Saturday at 6:00 pm for what promises to be an epic event.