We’re starting to come down to the wire here. The next weeks are critical to our success in May, June, and July. This week we’re rehearsing Maslanka (mvmnt II only), Bernstein, Lauridsen, and both Ives pieces. See the complete rehearsal schedule, through July, here.

Please focus on the May concert and our ticket sales. Promote and invite at least 6 people who’ve never attended before. If we could all do this, TMH will be packed to the rafters!

Download May concert flyers here: Click here for the hi-res print version, click here for the low-res web version for emails, Facebook, blogs, and websites.

Also, the contact for the tuxedo offer is Cory Fontana, Fontana Couture, 51 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich CT 06830, 203-204-8600.

Lastly, here’s a little gift. When I visited Sydney last month, I learned about Vivid Sydney, an annual outdoor lighting festival with immersive light installations, including massive projections on the “sails” of the Sydney Opera House. Since returning, I looked this up and found several videos, including this YouTube of the 2014 performance. It is a transcendental experience. If you are looking for 15 minutes to relax and be transformed by music and light, I really recommend this. Try to remember it’s live — not an animation (you’ll be reminded by the occasional boat floating by in the harbor).

The visitation and memorial service for Janet Duncan was truly beautiful, and the room was full, standing-room only. About a dozen WSW members were in attendance, and it felt good to be a part of the circle of family and friends. I spoke with Janet’s children, Dorothy and James III, and suggested that we perform the Lauridsen O Magnum Mysterium in memory of Janet on May 16. They agreed that this was a fitting tribute. I hope that you’ll agree that this will be a beautiful way to remember Janet.

As promised, I have one more form to ask all the Chicago personnel to complete – and we need it completed by Monday evening. You’ll find it below. This data is very important, because it will pull together the information for purchasing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra tickets, confirm travel/hotel details, and (especially) collect important information for those requesting homestays. If you are traveling with us to Chicago, please complete this form before rehearsal on Monday night. Only one reply is needed from each WSW member traveling. We need to send this data to the Northshore hosts on Tuesday. (If you are not traveling with us, you do not need to complete the form.)

Check out the rehearsal plan for Monday, at TMH. See you then.

This has been a rough week. Janet was not only a loyal member of our ensemble since the year it was founded, she was a symbol of longevity in our group and in the American band movement. She will certainly be missed.

As noted in the obituary that Claudia sent out to everyone, the visitation for Janet is tomorrow, Saturday, from 3:00-5:00 pm at Waterbury and Kelly Funeral Home,1300 Pleasantville Road, in Briarcliff Manor. A memorial service will be held during the visitation at 3:30 pm. I am planning on attending, and I believe several of our Board members will be there as well. You are most welcome to join us.

I will write one more post tomorrow to discuss Monday’s rehearsal. It will include one more important form for the Chicago trip players, designed to collect the last information needed by our NCB hosts. We need to tie up this information by Monday night’s rehearsal.

I’m back, safely, slightly jet-lagged, and eager to see you all tomorrow night. I heard wonderful things about the sectional rehearsals with Matt & Rich and the workshop rehearsal with Tom.

I’ve planned, as best as I can, every rehearsal between now and July 4. Go to Rehearsal This Week to see the full plan. I’ll be fine-tuning each week, of course, until the week before each rehearsal, but at least I have a plan in place to help the various segments of the personnel plan for this array of performances in May, June, and July.

We now have specific questions from Northshore about accommodating the homestay people. I’ll talk more about this Monday night, and we’ll have another form for just the homestay people to complete. They also sent some more information about the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performance.

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. See you tomorrow night.