I’ve updated the rehearsal plan for tomorrow night. I expect that all of you have reviewed and practiced parts seriously since last week. We need to have a “take no prisoners” style rehearsal tomorrow night (working rehearsal) and Wednesday night (dress rehearsal, with Ryan Silverman attending). Please arrive in plenty of time to help set up, warm up, and be in your seat ready to start at 7:30 pm. We have too many players week after week who do not allow enough time for arrival and warm-up, which only hurts the overall ensemble.

As I noted last week, there are many of you who simply need to woodshed parts. I hope you’ve done this, and have left some time tonight for that final practice before tomorrow. All of us — myself included — are only as good as our last rehearsal/performance. We cannot rest on the 2014 Caramoor performance, or even the May or June 2015 performances. We must continue to work to maintain the performance level for which we have come to be known.

Work hard. Rest up. Come prepared. See you tomorrow night at TMH.

At one early point in the schedule-writing process, we had included a rehearsal for this evening. But that was cancelled long ago.

There is no rehearsal tonight, June 24. Our next rehearsals are next Monday, June 29 and Wednesday, July 1, at TMH.

I have no words to describe my gratitude for your performance, positive attitude, and resiliency this past weekend in Chicago and Evanston. The challenges definitely brought out the best in everyone. There is much to reflect on, and much to discuss as we shift to the hosting phase of this project for June 2016 . . . but right now we have a concert again exactly 2 weeks from tonight! So we will table all the shared joys and tribulations for the moment. Please read below concerning our rehearsal this Monday, and the three important news items which follow it.

We are back at the Music Hall for this Monday’s rehearsal, starting promptly at 7:30 pm. Monday’s rehearsal plan for the Caramoor concert is posted, and includes a short amount of time at the start for Chicago players to share brief reflections on the weekend’s successes. Please arrive early to greet each other, warm up, and set up, so we can begin on time and make this rehearsal productive. Our remaining Caramoor rehearsals are Monday, June 22; Monday, June 29; and Wednesday, July 1. (Note there is no rehearsal on Wednesday, June 24; I cancelled this date months ago.)

Lastly, please see below for three important news items. Click the links for more information. (I purposely withheld the second and third items while the Chicago trip was pending, so I didn’t saturate and overload you prior to that performance.)

• Janet Duncan’s Estate Sale – Janet’s daughter, Dorothy Duncan, has organized this sale in Briarcliff Manor today and tomorrow, and asked that I pass the information.
• Columbia Summer Winds – Bill Tonissen, from White Plains HS, is once again running this adult summer band program, and has invited WSW members to participate. Rehearsals have already begun, but concerts don’t begin until July 11. Rachel played in the group last summer; see her for more info about the experience.
• Youth Wind Ensemble of Westchester – Bradley Morrison is running this group again next school year. Auditions occurred earlier in June, but if you have a private student or student to recommend from your school program who you feel would benefit (especially double reeds, horns, low WW, and low brass), I’m sure Bradley would still like to hear from you.

Try to stay dry through all this additional rain. See you Monday night!

Bookmark this page and check it through the end of the week and through the weekend. I’ll edit the page to reflect additional FAQ’s and announcements.

Q: Where do we park at Pick-Staiger?
A: There is a new parking structure adjacent to the concert hall and School of Music complex, along the lake. It’s a short walk to Pick-Staiger.

Q: What about comp tickets?
A: Complete the form below. I’ll process 2 tickets per member until Saturday night at midnight (“1st round”). If there are still tickets remaining, I’ll process the remaining tickets in the “2nd round” pool in the order the requests are received. Tell your friends and family to pick up all tickets at Will Call in the lobby of Pick-Staiger. All the comp seats are in the balcony (great sight lines!) in Rows II, JJ, and KK. Click here to see the Pick-Staiger seating chart.

Q: I’m on the group flight. How early do I have to check in at Newark?
A: 90 minutes before departure! This is critical. No one in the group can get a seat assignment until everyone meets the group leader (Matt or Gina) at the Southwest ticket counter. You should have gotten an email from Rachel with all the details.

Q: I’m departing for O’Hare immediately after the concert. Is there a place at Pick-Staiger to store my suitcase?
A: Yes. The rehearsal room at Pick-Staiger (off stage left) will be used by members of both bands as the Green Room. Although there is no place to lock your suitcase, there should be Pick staff on hand during the concert in their office adjacent to the rehearsal room.

As more FAQ’s develop, I’ll add them to this page for you, rather than sending a new post. Just check back here to wsw.ebernet.biz to see updates.