Happy August! I’ve got lots of exciting news to share about our upcoming 30th Season, including guest artists and focus works, and more. Here’s a summary of what you’ll see below:

• Last call for 29th Season Recordings
• Do you shop on Amazon? AmazonSmile Foundation benefits WSW!
• Breathing exercises for brass (or anyone!)
• Perk performances survey
• Auditions for 2017-2018
• Repertoire and guest artists for the 30th Season

So here we go:

• Our 29th Season Recordings orders doubled after my last post. Here’s your last chance to order, by clicking here. I’ll send in the order to Candlewood by the end of the week.
• Did you know that you can help raise funds for WSW by shopping on Amazon? The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to our organization every time you shop through the AmazonSmile link. Chris Larsen registered our group and we’ve already received foundation funds! To set this up:
  1. Go to smile.amazon.com and sign in with your credentials
  2. Go to Accounts & Lists > Your Account > Your AmazonSmile
  3. Select Choose Charity (or Change Charity if you want to switch)
  4. “WSW” is actually a DBA; legally, we are still the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony. So, under “Or pick your own charitable organization,” type HUDSON VALLEY WIND SYMPHONY, then select HUDSON VALLEY WIND SYMPHONY. Please DO NOT PICK Hudson Valley Symphonic Wind Ensemble Inc — that’s a completely different organization! (If you need an explanation, ask any Board member.)

When you shop, start at smile.amazon.com. The site will provide a bookmark link you can drag to your bookmark bar. Everything on this site will still look like your regular Amazon shopping experience, but “Supporting Hudson Valley Wind Symphony” will appear just below the search bar (see screenshot below). If you don’t start from smile.amazon.com, we won’t earn the donations! So please bookmark the site and make your purchases there.

Lastly, and most importantly, share this information with family and friends. It costs nothing and it’s free money for our ensemble!

• Breathing exercises for brass (and woodwind!) players: Jim Savage shared this YouTube video. This simple exercise improves circulation and strengthens your breathing.
• Perk performance opportunities – The Board is already planning for our 30th Anniversary Gala next May, but is also looking farther ahead. We’d like your input regarding possible perk performance opportunities that we might consider for the future. This includes performances at Carnegie Hall (along the lines of our 2010 appearance at Avery Fisher Hall), convention performances (like Midwest), exchange programs (including local and long-distance collaborating ensembles), and international performance trips. There’s also an opportunity to volunteer for a committee (such as our 30th Anniversary Gala Committee) and the WSW Board. Please follow this link, or continue reading to find the form at the bottom of this post.
• Auditions – We will be holding season auditions for full-time and substitute players on Tuesday evening, September 5, at Irvington Presbyterian Church. If you know of qualified players on any instrument, please have them contact David Church for details and an audition time.
• 30th Season Repertoire – Our new season is filled with exciting new compositions, traditional favorites, magnificent focus works, great marches, young aspiring composers, and amazing guests:
  • Brooklyn Bridge, by Michael Daugherty, with internationally acclaimed clarinet soloist, Steve Cohen
  • Music for Prague, by Karel Husa (50th anniversary of the invasion and the composition itself)
  • Jack Stamp, guest conductor/composer, who will conduct his latest commission,  Prayer, written in honor of WSW favorite, Dr. Emily Threinen
  • And much, much more! Click here to see the entire listing. (This link has been corrected.)

That’s all the news for now. More to come in September! Dion’t forget to complete the Perk Performances form via the link above, or the form below.