Rehearsal site on Monday

Please remember that we have rehearsal this Monday at New Rochelle HS. Follow this link to see the detailed driving directions they supplied. Please do not use the school address coordinates on your GPS; this will not take you to the right part of campus. Instead, aim for the corner of North Avenue at Braemar Avenue. Drive onto campus at Braemer. Drive in past the tennis courts and park in the parking lot at the north end of the “new wing,” labeled the Museum of Arts and Culture. Walk along the length of the lake side of the wing, passing the doors that say “Faculty Entrance Only” and continuing to the far corner of the building. Go around the greenhouse and head for the “keyhole” arch. Walk through the “keyhole,” and look for the double doors on the right. The Band Room will be inside, first doors on the left. Please allow enough time for travel so we can start rehearsal on time.

Goals for Monday:

• Share and review highlights from the concert.
• Thoroughly rehearse the two new pieces, Boerma & Hazo.
• Review spots of concern in the other works.
• Collect travel, lodging, carpooling offers/needs and information from all for our trip to Syracuse. Please come prepared to complete a short questionnaire detailing your mode of travel, when you intend to arrive, if you’re staying overnight and where, if you can offer or need a carpool ride to Syracuse, and if you can offer or need a carpool ride on arrival between our hotel and the conference center.

If you wish to reserve a room at the Comfort Inn & Suites, where we have negotiated a $89.00 rate, the deadline is this coming Friday, February 10. The reservation rate expires on that date. For more information about the hotel, conference, and performance, click here for the WSW NYSBDA Bulletin. I have updated this bulletin with more information about WSW members attending NYSBDA workshops, friends/family attending the concert, and more.

We had a great concert — I’m looking forward to another spectacular performance with you at NYSBDA!

Superior teamwork!

I’m so very, very proud of your work yesterday. The concert felt solid from start to finish. We had a large, receptive crowd, and good weather. It all added up to a successful day, of which we should all feel proud.

I spent a good deal of time today thinking about why yesterday was such a great experience. Too often we spend most of our energy following a performance analyzing our mistakes and how to improve. Right now, I think it’s a good idea to recap the extraordinary, collaborative characteristics we shared that made the performance so outstanding:

• Individual members of the ensemble were extremely focused.
• The ensemble came in visualizing success.
• The ensemble gave latitude to the conductor, guest conductors, and soloist to allow the music to breathe, expand, and feel buoyant in the moment.
• Individual members radiated empathetic energy for one another, especially in moments of quiet, reflective repose, when it was most needed.

Please think on these things, and bring them along with you as we continue on our path together through the performances in March, May, and July.

Bob Bennett’s Buoyant Big Band Blast!

If you’re available, please remember Bob’s jazz concert tomorrow, Tuesday at 6 pm at The Shrine, 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard, Manhattan. Go to http://shrinenyc.com/ for more information (scroll down through to January 31 to see Bob’s listing). Click the graphic for a full-size version of his flyer.

R-13 Clarinet & spinet piano for sale

I have information about a Buffet R-13 Bb clarinet and spinet piano for sale. Contact me directly for more information.

More info for NYSBDA

I’m waiting for answers regarding WSW members attending NYSBDA workshops, family/friends attending the concert, plus making arrangements for carpools between our hotel and the conference center. All this will be forthcoming. We will also be asking everyone making the trip to confirm their transportation, arrival & departure times, and lodging (if you’re staying overnight) so we can account for everyone as needed.

Caramoor tickets

I’ve requested our discount code, but no one has responded yet. Although you are welcome to go and pay full price at www.caramoor.org, you might want to hold out a bit to get the discount.

No rehearsal tonight

Next rehearsal is next Monday, February 6 at New Rochelle HS. I’ll resend the directions at the end of the week.

Thanks again, all, for a fantastic experience yesterday!

We are set to go with our dress rehearsal tonight, 7:30-10:00 pm, at TMH. Please come energized and ready to focus on our important work together.

We will take a few minutes at the beginning of rehearsal to give an opportunity for members to remember and honor Rocco Polera, and review the details for his funeral tomorrow. Prior to rehearsal, at our 6:15 Board meeting, we will discuss some options for honoring his memory at the concert on Sunday.

There are many factors this week that could potentially pull us down and keep us from actualizing our potential. It turns out that the “Determination & Grit” theme for this concert is most apropos on many levels. Let’s keep that in mind as we gather tonight and on Sunday.

The Board agreed to cancel rehearsal tonight. All members were notified by direct email.

Our dress rehearsal, on Wednesday, January 25, will proceed as planned, from 7:30-10:00 pm.