It’s taken me a couple days to process the concert on Sunday. The breadth and depth of your concentration and focus through a challenging program with three conductors, one soloist, and our first-ever 30-minute work was truly amazing. As some of you noticed, I was feeling pretty good as Pictures developed (pun intended) through all the programmatic and emotional twists and turns, and landed squarely at the Great Gate. It was a milestone concert in many, many ways. I’m grateful to all of you, and hope to have the chance to look each of you in the eye to say thank you in the coming weeks.
Remember that our next rehearsal is Monday, November 14 at TMH. Meet by 7:30 pm at the front door, and be ready to move in quickly when Random Farms clears the stage. Please plan for the possibility of staying until 10:00 pm if necessary. Jeff Ball, our next guest conductor, will lead you through the entire Winter program (except the Hanson). I’m going to ask that we collect Pictures from everyone that night, in order to expedite the return of the loaned parts. Please pass all your parts to your principal, and in turn, pass them to Nancy.
Our friends in the Connecticut Symphonic Winds have a concert this coming Saturday night, November 12 at 7:30 pm. Please see the flyer for details. I hope some members of our group might be able to attend. It looks like a terrific program.
With the change of concert cycles comes new music, new challenges, new interpretations. Sometimes it’s difficult to accept that change is actually the norm, musically and otherwise. It will be a formidable task to take on these challenges with a buoyant heart and forward-looking mind. I hope that together, in both the immediate and greater realms, we can make sense of these changes together. I will be clinging to the amazing impression of your Sunday performance of The Star Spangled Banner in the days, weeks, and years ahead. It is truly a gift, and I am extremely grateful for that.
Have a good rehearsal on November 14 with Jeff, and I will look forward to seeing you on November 21.