CONGRATULATIONS! I am so very, very proud of all of you for the musicianship, intensity, and dedication you brought to last evening’s performance. It was exciting and thrilling and moving and more!

I invited Rachel to share her thoughts. This is what she sent to me to share with you:

Curt, words cannot express my gratitude, pride, joy, elation and utter exhaustion today… my thoughts? 

• What a performance – everyone brought their A game…like we were all more comfortable in our shoes. As if the repeat pieces had a chance to settle in…we really showed the best of what we do (even my improv on S&S lol).
• What an audience – well over 200 people – they were completely engaged and energized when we started… and completely blow away by the time we were done. I felt the excitement the entire hour…the entire temple was buzzing about it today.
• The soloists – they were sizzling with excitement – David is over the moon.
• And what a reception – I loved mixing the two groups together – the love flowed both ways. Some of the comments i heard…
  • “We should do this again… every year”
  • “We want to hear more”
  • “I can’t believe you are not a professional group”

From our oldest congregant who is 102 – she said she felt like she was back in Vienna and she knew we were playing just for her – this is how they did it back then…

I lost count of the number of “Thank You… you guys were amazing!”

I could go on and on… I am honored and proud to share the stage (and all the praise) with such an incredible group of musicians and friends. 

Especially to you Curt – for letting me run with this idea and truly getting how important this was to me.

I’d also like to point out that Marge left a stack of brochures at the welcome table, and all of them were taken by evening’s end.

Thank you, everyone. I really feel that the performance last evening helped to assert WSW as a leader in community outreach.

I wish everyone all the best for a wonderful Thanksgiving! See you next on Monday, November 30 at TMH for the first reading of our Winter cycle!

Tonight – dress rehearsal at Congregation Kol Ami, 252 Soundview Avenue, White Plains,(914) 949-4717. Everyone must bring his/her own folding music stand to this rehearsal (and again for the performance)!

7:30 pm downbeat — see you then!

I hope everyone has reveled in your successes last Sunday! The energy and drive in the performance was amazing! That combined with a very strong audience attendance really made for a great day. Well, that and Darth Vader standing in the corner!

Today I learned that both Roger Zare and Viet Cuong were awarded residencies at Copland House here in Westchester for 2015-2016. Roger wrote to me to say he is arriving this week and will be in residence through mid-December! I’m hoping that we can arrange to have him come by one of the rehearsals or the performance this week. Both composers have added our performances to their sites – click the links above to see the WSW performances listed and read the Copland House news.

I’ve planned Monday’s rehearsal. Note that we learned last Sunday that TMH has an event booked prior to us on Monday and we can’t enter to set up until 7:30 pm. But I ask that you arrive at your ‘regular’ time, so we can set up quickly and start as soon as possible, earlier than 8:00 pm if at all possible. This will be our only review rehearsal of the rep for this Saturday’s benefit concert at Congregation Kol Ami. Wednesday is the dress.

Enjoy your weekend – See you Monday!

Thanks, everyone, for your concentrated efforts during today’s dress rehearsal. Here are a couple reminders/announcements about tomorrow:

• Many thanks to Jessica Slotwinski and Eric Milkie – they contacted Rachel to say their spouses can assist us tomorrow with the raffle and videotaping. We appreciate their offer to volunteer!
• Expect that parking will be difficult tomorrow. Please anticipate this by allowing more than enough time to park and make your way to TMH. I just discovered that the TMH website has this page devoted to parking information, which might be useful.
• Please assemble tomorrow between 2:30-2:45 pm at the front of TMH. We’ll all go into together once we get the signal that the crew is ready for us. We are counting on that being no later than 3:00 pm. The TMH crew will handle the shells and risers, and hopefully we can also harness their help with chairs, stands, and percussion. No matter what, I promise to wind up the sound check by 4:00 pm.
• Mary Schneider was very complimentary of your work with her two pieces today. Thank you for providing such a great experience for her!
• Click here for the Caramoor news brief posted this morning, which includes mention of us under “Music News and Artist Updates,” and references a link to The New York Times article. This recognition by Caramoor is significant!
• After sending the general ‘thank you’ email to all the commission participants regarding Vignettes winning The American Prize, David Avshalomov sent me this additional email. I didn’t realize he had submitted the WSW recording with his application!

Dear Maestro,

I wanted to share with you that I submitted your concert recording of the Vignettes to The American Prize this year–and the piece won First Prize! I sincerely believe that the high quality and musicality of your performance contributed to the win (even with the talking toddler from time to time).

Please share this news with the band and thank them on my behalf.

(PS., I have sketches for a second set, and as soon as this piece spreads widely I’ll be looking for commissioners for that too.)

All best,

David Avshalomov

Composer, Singer, Conductor

Santa Monica, CA

• Your continued dedication is reflected in all this positive publicity, and it benefits all of us.  There is a strong air of excitement and anticipation for tomorrow — I’m looking forward to experiencing it with you!