I hope everyone enjoyed the remainder of the summer. As always, it flew by way too fast for me.

Announcements, nuts, and bolts

• The updated rehearsal/performance calendar can be found here. You can always recheck it on this site from the menus at the top of this website: Schedules > Rehearsal Schedule Grid.
• Please note, as in the past several years, we have several rehearsals during the week leading up to the Fall Concert, including Monday, November 4; Wednesday, November 6; the dress rehearsal on Saturday, November 9; and the concert on Sunday, November 10. We need the Wednesday rehearsal to accommodate a rehearsal for our guest conductor. It’s my hope to cancel the Monday rehearsal, but that will depend on many factors, including our rehearsal progress and (I hate to say it) the weather. 
• The Resources page has been updated with the new season repertoire, new season brochure, season repertoire, updated Member Handbook, and ad form. Please visit the page, download these forms, and share them liberally. Ads for the new season (resubscribed and new advertisements) will be due on Monday, October 14, so please start to think about these ads. You may want to consider soliciting ads from friends, family, or your workplace to congratulate you, your section, or the band as a whole for winning The American Prize. Please consider this angle.
• The new season brochures were labeled last week and should be in the mail soon.
• The two-CD compilation from last season is currently in production by Candlewood Digital, and I expect to have copies ready to sell ($30 per set) at rehearsal on September 16. We didn’t take pre-orders this year. Just bring a check or use your debit/credit card to purchase. The best of all five concerts (including ACB and Caramoor) are included. Also, check out the Candlewood website; we are listed among their featured performers.
• If you didn’t see it already, you can read the announcement noting our win of The American Prize. Even though the deadlines for submission for 2019-2020 have passed, we are still waiting on the remaining two nominations. When we hear about our standing on all three nominations, we will send out a big press release as well as an email blast to our website subscribers.
• Update on Mislav Forrester: He landed on his feet in Chicago. He has a new job in the Chicago Public Schools, and he was accepted by audition as a new member of the Northshore Concert Band. We wish him all the best!

There’s more to share, but that’s enough for now. Enjoy the weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday evening for a prompt start at 7:30 pm!