IMPORTANT! Personnel form for May/July

Here’s a reminder that we are asking everyone to complete this form to update your participation in the upcoming Spring (May 7) and Caramoor (July 2) concerts. Thank you to the 29 members who already replied. Everyone else — members and all subs — please complete this form by this coming Monday, February 28 so we have adequate time to cover subs as needed and be ready for our first full rehearsal on Monday, March 14.

Sad news

I’m very sorry to share the news that the father of Rachel Eckhaus, Allan Eckhaus, died on February 6, at the age of 86 at his home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  His wife, Naomi, as well as Rachel and her siblings, were at his side. Click here for Allan’s obituary. Please join me in extending sincerest sympathies to Rachel and her family.

Health updates

Ed Herko Sr., was discharged to rehab about 2 weeks ago after more than 4 weeks in the hospital after suffering a stroke in January. His son, Ed Herko Jr., reports that his father showed some initial progress in starting his rehab but unfortunately, various blood levels went out of range causing him to return to the hospital last week. His speech remains unintelligible and full feeding assistance is required. The family expects Ed Sr. to return to the comfort of his home in the coming days, where the care of hospice and love from family visitation will fill his remaining chapter. Our thoughts go out to Ed Sr and his family during this extremely difficult time.

Marge Hone has returned home after an unexpected vacation at Westchester Medical Center and Burke Rehabilitation Center, after a slip-and-fall on the ice outside her home on February 9. The surgeons repaired her broken hip and she is convalescing with physical therapy. She hopes to be driving again by the time we have our first rehearsal on March 14.

Baby news

Congratulations to Liz Day on the birth of her second child, a son named Isaac Austin, born on February 7! 

Congratulations as well to Janice Vuoso on the birth of her first child, a daughter named Julianne Patti, born on February 9! 

Wedding Bells

I’m thrilled to share the news that my longtime friend and colleague (and WSW guest conductor), Mallory Thompson, has announced her engagement to Jay Kennedy, Vice Provost of the Berklee School of Music. They plan to marry in December in Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University. I am incredibly excited to serve as her Man of Honor, and Nancy Golden (flutist in the Northshore Concert Band, and Liz Day’s host during our Exchange Concert in 2015) will be her Woman of Honor. Mallory will continue to teach and conduct in her role as Director of Bands at Northwestern University, and Jay plans to retire from Berklee in October. The couple plans to reside in Chicago. 

Jay wrote two works in honor of Mallory, which were premiered last weekend at Northwestern: Catapult (premiered by the NU Symphonic Wind Ensemble) and Be Ever the Hope (premiered by the Northshore Concert Band). Be Ever the Hope is especially beautiful and meaningful; its acronym is Mallory’s middle name. And so I flew out to Evanston last weekend to surprise them both for the Northshore concert. I saw many of our Northshore friends, including Nancy, Laura Stibich, Dr. Joey Bello (WSW soloist and upcoming guest conductor on May 7), and Mislav Forrester, who “jumped ship” from WSW to NCB when he moved to Chicago a couple years ago. This was Northshore’s first performance in almost 2 years back in their home at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. The program also included several WSW favorites: Nitro, by Frank Ticheli and Whatsoever Things, by Mark Camphouse. The program concluded with the Finale from Symphony No. 2, by David Maslanka.

Plan to see both Catapult and Be Ever the Hope on future WSW programs!