I am really enjoying the CBDNA national convention. There are amazing ensembles performing, and I had the best barbeque today! So far, I’ve heard the Michigan State University Wind Symphony with Kevin Sedatole, a great presentation about Carter Pann’s Symphony for Winds, My Brother’s Brain (which I will hear in performance tomorrow), and the Frost School of Music Wind Ensemble from the University of Miami. Tonight I’m hearing the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Wind Symphony (the host ensemble). Tomorrow I’ll hear the Northwestern Symphonic Wind Ensemble, with our friend Mallory Thompson conducting, and the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, with Jerry Junkin.  The venue for the performances is the amazing Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, an amazing venue with two auditoriums. The center, to me, clearly resembles the Sydney Opera ouse, both inside and out, with an immense glass-enclosed double lobby on the southern side. The acoustics have been simply fantastic. I’ve seen many friends, including Mary Schneider from Eastern Michigan, who was our guest conductor a for the Fall 2015 concert. This is my first time attending the full conference, and it is absolutely amazing. I feel very fortunate to be here and in awe of these ensembles.

We will start to dig into the Spring repertoire on Monday. Two large portions of rehearsal will be devoted to the first movement of the Bolcom and Machu Picchu. Next week I’ll focus on the second and third movements of the Bolcom. We’ll have one more rehearsal (April 3) before the Monday off for Westchester schools spring break.

I hope you’re excited by the music in our next cycle — I’m excited to work with you on it, and especially excited to welcome our guests in May: Christopher Creviston, Patrick Burns, and Robert Sherman.

See you Monday!