Gratitude for last Monday’s performance at White Plains High School!
Thank you — everyone — for a great event last Monday night! It was a little scary to just “walk on and perform,” as we’ve never done that before, and I’m sure it will help prepare us for a similar event in the future. Everyone stepped up and I’m grateful. I’m indebted to Kathy Davis and Bill Tonissen for being the consummate hosts, and to Ben Acrish for stepping up to sub in at the very last moment! I appreciate everyone’s kind and positive interaction with the students — I am guessing that will be something they remember for a long, long time. Thanks also to Rachel Eckhaus for keeping this idea alive for so many years.
We now have two positive Side by Side concerts under our belts, and hopefully we will repeat this type of program again in the future. We will use what we learned from the performance experience last Monday to finalize our trajectory for the TMH performance next Sunday.
This week
It’s performance week, so it’s a critical time for our ensemble. Visit the home page to see the schedule for Monday’s rehearsal, Wednesday’s dress rehearsal, and Sunday’s performance.
Please continue to share the info about our concert, and send “everyone you know” to our Box Office page to purchase tickets. I will have hard copy flyers on Monday night, or download the concert flyer here. And speaking of the flyer, kudos to Rebecca Weissman once again for a superb design!
You will note that Wednesday’s dress rehearsal is in performance order, with the exception of the three vocal numbers, which we will rehearse first at 7:30 pm. Our vocal soloist, Mimi Hilaire, will be joining us for Wednesday only, so we need to make that one rehearsal count. So we are rehearsing the three vocal numbers with Mimi and the sound engineer, then taking our break, then running the program from the beginning, in order, without the vocal numbers.
So you’re aware: I am doing triple duty on Sunday, starting with a rehearsal in the city, then coming up to Tarrytown. Jessica Stein-Natale will be in charge of leading the stage setup and getting everyone ready, so when I arrive for the sound check at 12:00 pm, we will be set and ready to go. After the concert, I will have to bolt for a second sound check and performance at Carnegie Hall and will not have too much time to greet patrons and thank the guest artists. The crew will tear down everything. Eric Milkie and Mark Dodge will check to make sure all percussion is cleared and ready for the crew to move to their proper storage areas. Michael Lucke will be on hand to act in my stead to answer any questions and direct any last minute tasks with the stage strike. Thanks in advance to everyone for stepping up before you run to your Super Bowl party!
And after the concert
There are no rehearsals on Monday, February 10 and Monday, February 17. Our next rehearsal will be on Monday, February 24, at a site to be announced, because I’ve learned that TMH will not be available. Watch your inbox for that announcement. This means we will be out of TMH from after the concert until Monday, March 3.
The Viet Cuong commission score and parts are due to be delivered to me on February 15. I will post the parts as quickly as I can. I’ll announce their arrival and the links to the folders via a post here, as you might expect. We will go from sight reading this new work to the world premiere performance in just 13 weeks.
The invitations for the Spring Concert Clarinet Choir went out this week. We already have 17 clarinets registered, and that doesn’t include 5 West Point clarinetists who have already committed to the project. This is going to be a great event, much like the saxophone ensemble (2022) and double reed ensemble (2023). The Choir will be performing arrangements of Festive Overture, the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, and (in the spirit of the Mouse Mashup March and Bohemian Rhapsody) . . . Born this Way by Lady Gaga.
Jane Rondin solos with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey on February 16
Jane Rondin, horn
Our own Jane Rondin will perform as horn soloist with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey on Sunday, February 16 at 2:00 pm at Grace Church, 4 Madison Avenue, in Madison, New Jersey. She will be performing the Hovhannes Horn Concerto on this program. Please consider attending — break a leg, Jane!