This week:

• For the first time since 2020, we are rehearsing at New Rochelle HS on Monday
• Important information for program ads
• Please connect with Marge to pay membership dues

New Rochelle HS Band Room this week

Through the help of Steven Foti (NRMS band director), Scott Byers (NRHS band director), and Matt Lucero (NR Director of PreK-12 Performing and Visual Arts), it looks 99.9% sure that we will be able to use the New Rochelle HS Band Room on Monday. The minor margin of error is due to the fact that I haven’t received the official calendar software notification (possibly due to the fact that the district was closed last week on Thursday and Friday), but I am hopeful that this will be confirmed Monday morning.

Please recheck your email on Monday afternoon for the final confirmation of the use of the NRHS band room.

Directions to the New Rochelle HS Band Room — DO NOT use GPS to drive to the high school address!!! You will end up at the opposite end of campus, and you won’t be able to walk through the building to get to the band room! Follow this link for directions from all points.

Please bring a folding music stand – We think there will be enough stands in the band room, but to be sure please bring a folding music stand as a backup, just in case. We can reassess this need after Monday’s rehearsal.

The rehearsal plan is posted. Remember to recheck your email on Monday to confirm the rehearsal site at New Rochelle.

Program ads – Deadline is October 28

All subscribed ads run in all three TMH season programs. We depend on member submissions to help us fill the program book.

All the prices are the same as last year. We welcome and encourage section ads, which have really added a great personal dimension to the programs for the last several years.

Please give all ad materials to Tom Sweezey (principal alto sax), at any rehearsal through and including October 28. He will be looking for you to hand him:

• Completed ad form (download a copy here). This form is CRITICAL so I know how to set up your ad!
• Location of graphic copy (disc, Dropbox, Google Drive, or email). If emailing, send it to westsymwinds@gmail.com, and use the subject line Ad Submission
• Payment (checks payable to WSW)

Please give everything to Tom. He’s helping me to organize it all before handing it off to me.

Membership dues

If you have not already, please see Marge to pay your 2024-2025 member dues. Thank you!

I’m sending this a bit early this week to give plenty of notice for the rehearsal site on Monday, and to promo the Ossining High School concert tomorrow evening.

Rehearsal Monday, September 30 at Knights of Columbus in Port Chester

We are rehearsing this coming Monday at Knights of Columbus in Port Chester, 327 Westchester Avenue, Port Chester, NY 10573. Please park on the street; there is no dedicated parking lot. Enter through the double doors on Westchester Avenue. IMPORTANT: Bring your own music stand! The rehearsal plan is posted here.

We will not be rehearing at Tarrytown Music Hall again until Wednesday, November 6. Be sure to watch your inbox and listen for announcements regarding each week’s alternate site.

Ossining High School Benefit Concert – Friday at 7:00 pm

Submitted by Joanna Green Delgado

Ossining High School’s Marching Band has been invited to perform at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii this December. We are hosting a benefit concert (I will be performing a solo marimba piece) this Friday, September 27 at 7:00 pm, as well as a silent auction throughout the month. We would love your support! Many thanks!

Rehearsal at TMH

We are rehearsing Monday at the Music Hall. See the rehearsal plan, posted here. We will further the work began in sectionals last week.

Please remember that we are currently collecting annual member dues. See Marge to submit your payment. As announced this summer, dues are $125, and will now include access to our recordings on Band Camp. We prefer cash or checks made payable to WSW, but we can also accept Zelle (no surcharge; use treasurer@westchestersymphonicwinds.org) and PayPal via this link (please add 3.5% to cover the convenience fee, for a total of $129.38). Please plan to pay dues as soon as possible. Thank you!

Job openings

Rich Dashnaw reports two recent jobs posted:

1.  Leave replacement position for 6th, 7th, and 8th chorus with one period of music tech every day. Through June, 2025.

1. HS tenure track position for two choruses, one music tech class, and chorus lessons.

Apply through OLAS. Contact Lakeland Schools at 914-245-1700. Contact Music Department Coordinator Rick Russo at rrusso@lakelandschools.org with questions or referrals.

September 16 – Sectionals

As announced, we are working in sectionals this coming Monday, in two different locations. These sectionals will be a great resource for us at this point.

• Woodwinds and Brass meet at Irvington Presbyterian Church, 25 North Broadway
  Irvington, NY  10533. Google Map. Please bring music stands!
  • Woodwinds will rehearse in the annex building behind the main structure of the church.
  • Brass will rehearse in the Parlor of the main church building. Use the door closet to the annex.
  • IMPORTANT: Woodwinds and brass – please bring music stands!
• Percussion will meet at TMH and use WSW equipment and music stands.

The rehearsal plan is posted here for these sectionals..

September 23 – Full rehearsal

We will return to TMH for our next full rehearsal on Monday, September 23.

Food for thought

Yes, I acknowledge that this could happen!