Caramoor

I slept so well on Sunday night. The tempo changes and details of all those rehearsal notes were still swimming around in my brain, but the grip it had on me is finally dissipating. The performance was transformational in so many ways, because we emerged from 16 months of trauma to present a concert that was not just “good enough for a post-pandemic performance,” but truly exceptional in so many ways.

I am so very, very grateful that you all stuck together, and stuck with me through all the Zoom calls, Google forms, nudges to participate in the webcasts, and donations in spite of an unknown future. Your trust that eventually we’d persevere through the tentative outdoor rehearsals at Chez Serafin, small sectionals at TMH in April, challenging masked rehearsals in the tent at Masters, and final unmasked rehearsals, both in the tent and in TMH, were all needed for us to emerge on the stage at Caramoor with high energy and superior musicianship. We truly connected with that audience. 

My take-away list of warm emotions includes:

• Ed Lewis, the new CEO at Caramoor, came backstage immediately after we finished to pass on his sincere congratulations on the performance.
• Kathy Schuman, VP for Programming, was literally speechless. She said the key jingling stunt worked and really engaged the audience at a level she didn’t expect. She had high compliments for your energy and musicianship.
• Tim Coffey, Artistic Planning Manager, and my main point of contact for all the nuts and bolts, told me again that WSW is the #1 favorite concert each summer at Caramoor, not only for the audiences, but for the crew as well. He said that no one else treats the crew with such kindness and respect, and they truly look forward to work with us like no one else.
• Candice Hoyes and Jorell Williams were exceptionally kind with their words of gratitude, but what meant the most to me was Candice’s comments about the collaboration between the ensemble, arranger, conductor, and soloists. She said she’d never felt so engaged and included as part of the process as a guest artist.
• The Grice sisters (really WSW groupies) made the trip once again from Allentown, PA specifically for the concert, and they remarked how excited everyone around them in the audience was to be a part of a live performance once again.

Looking ahead

Our board meets again in two weeks to discuss plans for next year. Most of next year’s programs are already sketched out. We have the Percy Grainger House collaboration coming up on November 14, and I’m looking for a solid challenge for you in May as a springboard toward regathering our momentum for Maslanka 4 in 2022-2023. We learned a lot about reaching out to our audience and keeping them engaged through a pandemic emergency, and we are excited about the possibilities that our return to TMH holds for all of us.

We will also analyze the data submitted through the personnel form, and take up the discussion of the possible social event in August. I’ll write again in late July or early August to update you on that.

In the meantime, the most important dates ahead include:

• Thursday, September 9 – Auditions via Zoom (contact David if you have players to recommend, or are a sub who needs to complete the required audition)
• Monday, September 13 – first fall rehearsal at TMH at 7:30 pm
• Saturday, November 13 at 9:00 am – Fall dress rehearsal
• Sunday, November 14 at 3:00 pm – Fall Concert

Thank you all again. I really don’t have the words to adequately express my gratitude.