IMPORTANT January updates

Posted on by

Member update

Long-time member Ed Herko Sr. suffered a stroke on Sunday night. Ed Jr. reports that, as of Tuesday evening, his father was resting at Westchester Medical Center. Please keep Ed and the Herko family in your thoughts during the coming days.

Rehearsal/concert update and January 17 Zoom

The Board met on Tuesday evening to assess our situation and make decisions to protect our members as we try to navigate the Omicron surge. Please see below regarding a Town Hall Zoom we will hold on Monday to hear input and questions from you, our members. Please read and save these important dates in your calendars.

  • At this point, we remain committed to the February 13 concert, but in light of the Omicron surge, we are cancelling two more rehearsals and are continuing to monitor the evolving situation.
  • If we are going to produce this concert, we will consolidate rehearsals later and closer to the concert. it will be important for everyone playing to understand the abbreviated rehearsal schedule and be prepared with their personal best in order to succeed. This will be a quick turn-around, quicker than we’ve ever experienced before. In a way, this change of pace is an exciting challenge.
  • As we’ve noted before, no one should feel coerced to participate and play. If you have concerns, please attend the Zoom meeting, and then contact David as needed.

In order to realize this plan safely:

  • Rehearsals on January 17 & 24 are canceled. We will hold a Town Hall Zoom on January 17 at 7:30 pm in place of that rehearsal.
  • The following rehearsal times have been booked/confirmed with TMH:
    • Monday, January 31, 7:30 pm  – rehearsal at TMH*
    • Saturday, February 5, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at TMH – reserved for sectionals at TMH if needed. Please reserve the time for now and wait for updates.
    • Monday, February 7, 7:30 pm – rehearsal at TMH*
    • Wednesday, February 9, 7:30 pm – full rehearsal at TMH, including guests Matt Podd and Joey Bello
    • Saturday, February 12, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm – full dress rehearsal at TMH with guests
    • Sunday, February 13, 12:00 TMH opens, 1:00 pm sound check, 3;00 pm concert
  • *Depending on how the surge recessed, the rehearsals on January 31 and February 7 could be half-ensemble or full rehearsals. Updates will be forthcoming. Please reserve both dates for now.
  • Until we meet together again, all players should try to practice masked so you are prepared for the possibility of masked rehearsals, and possibly a masked performance if necessary.
  • All players who have not submitted booster documentation to David must do so before our next rehearsal. We are committed to a boosted/fully-vaccinated ensemble for everyone’s safety. Please do this ASAP.
  • The Board has committed to web-streaming the Winter concert, and will continue to review the success of each concert’s web-streaming on an ongoing basis.
  • Should the pandemic require further constraints, the Board may consider a performance on February 13 with web stream only and no live audience. I will also consider cutting the Galante (first choice) and Standridge (second choice) in order to ease the program burden.
  • If circumstances force us to completely cancel the February 13 concert, we will move key elements (Josh Idio world premiere, guest soloist/guest conductor) to the May 7 concert.

These have been difficult choices, and we value your perspective. In place of rehearsal this coming Monday, January 17, I’ll host a Town Hall Zoom for  all members interested in joining us. I’ll have the Zoom link open 7:30-9:00 pm, and you are welcome to arrive/depart as your schedule allows. In addition to having a chance to reconnect for the first time in the New Year, we will be eager to hear your questions and concerns about the plans described above.  I’ll send the Zoom credentials in a direct email on Sunday afternoon.

I hope to see you Monday evening.