Dress rehearsal Monday

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This week:

  • Personnel forms
  • Dress rehearsal
  • Caramoor details
  • WSW’s 38th season highlights

Personnel forms

We still have a number of members who have not completed the 2025-2026 personnel form. Please, please, please complete this by Monday! Note that the September performance at Croton Point Park has been adjusted to Sunday, September 28 at 1:30 pm (call at 12:30 pm), and the form now reflects this.

See the bottom of this post for 2025-2026 highlights.

Dress rehearsal

As announced, our final, dress rehearsal for Caramoor is this coming Monday at 7:30 pm at TMH. See the rehearsal plan posted here. Mimi Hilaire will be joining us at the top of the rehearsal, and then we’ll play through the rest of the program in order.

BIG NEWS! Thanks to our president, Chris Larsen, this will most likely not be our final Monday rehearsal at TMH. Chris spoke with Björn Olsson, TMH Executive Director, on Friday and successfully negotiated an extension for us through January. This is a much more reasonable timeline. There are many Mondays that are not available for us at TMH in the fall, but at least we don’t have to hurry to get our percussion out before the first rehearsal on September 8. When you have a minute, please thank Chris!

Caramoor performance details

Please keep this information in mind for next Friday’s performance:

  • Arrive at Caramoor between 3:30-3:45 pm. Tell the parking attendant’s “I’m with the orchestra,” and they will send you the long way around the Rosen House and the picnic area to the artist parking lot. It’s a longer drive, but the reserved area is actually adjacent to the Venetian Theater.
  • If you want to leave immediately after the performance and not stay for the fireworks:
    • Tell the parking attendant that you’re performing but not staying for the fireworks, and you need to park in the audience lot as close to the exit as possible. You cannot park in artist parking, because the fireworks block the exit route.
    • After Stars & Stripes: If you have a black folder, give it to a section-mate and ask them to turn it in for you. Leave immediately to get to your car, and go!
  • The schedule on Friday is:
    • 3:30-3:45 pm – Arrival and setup
    • 4:00 pm – Sound check rehearsal. The only full runs are the vocal numbers with Mimi.
    • 5:45-ish pm – Sound check with bell ringers for 1812
    • 6:00 pm – Picnic supper, supplied by Caramoor. I’ve indicated that we need both veggie and gluten-free options. They don’t need names or a count for this.
    • 8:00 pm – Downbeat
    • Following the concert, if you have a black WSW concert folder, please clear out any music and all other items, and place your folder in one of the green bags backstage. If you have questions, speak to Nancy Mattson.
    • The cell phone signal is notoriously poor at Caramoor. Please plan to use the artist wifi; user name and password are posted backstage.
    • Attire – White tops and black bottoms, comfortable black shoes. No ties or jackets, but you’re welcome to bring a white sweater if you think you’ll be chilly in the 80º weather that is predicted. As always, no cologne or perfume in consideration of others, thank you.
    • Many of us will be hanging out at the tables between the artist parking lot and the Venetian Theater to watch the fireworks and debrief the season. You’re welcome to bring your own adult beverages if you like. It’s a nice opportunity to unwind, have a great view of the fireworks and enjoy the company of your colleagues. It’s also a great chance for me to thank you individually for all of your diligent efforts throughout the season.

2025-2026 – WSW’s 38th season

At this point we are planning on performing all three concerts at TMH. Details are in the right column on this site’s home page. We will be rehearsing at TMH in the fall, with some alternate sites necessary because of TMH availability.

  • Major works include (Fall/Winter/Spring): The Pines of Rome / Bamboo Shoots and City Streets, Trittico / Maslanka Symphony No. 4
  • Guest conductors include: Dr. Brian Cardany / Jasmine Britt / Col. Timothy Holtan and Jessica Stein-Natale
  • Apprentice conductors include: Katherine Filatov / Devon Toland
  • Guest soloists include: Morris Northcut, trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn / SSG Keith Kile, tuba / MaryKay Messenger, vocalist

And of course, we will celebrate our nation’s semiquincentennial on Saturday, July 4 at Caramoor with an extra-special Independence Day program!

It’s going to be another top-notch season. I look forward to continuing to work with you all!