Board actions

At last evening’s Board meeting, we discussed the input received from individual conversations at rehearsal on Sunday. We agreed that the COVID landscape continues to evolve, and there is certainly no way to predict anything at this point. We discussed all the ongoing safety factors with due gravity, and included Dr. Ron MacKenzie in our conversation. The Board has decided to take these actions, with Ron’s full endorsement:

• We will return to rehearsals at TMH on Monday, September 20, with reduced numbers of participants in sectionals for the next two weeks (see schedule below). This will allow for physical distancing between players. There is no rehearsal at Masters on September 19.
• We have confirmed with TMH that we will have access to use the MERV filtration system connected to the air conditioning system. In addition we will use the stage fog exhaust fan to further the air circulation.
• Any player scheduled to play for the Fall Concert who is not comfortable attending these sectionals should contact David Church. Use the email he has shared or personnel@westchestersymphonicwinds.org. Note that absences will not be counted against the two allowed per cycle.
• TMH has confirmed that they continue to require all performers at rehearsals to be vaccinated.
• TMH has confirmed that masks are now required of all audience members during performances. However, since we are abiding by their vaccination policy and there are no audience members at our rehearsals, masks are not required during our rehearsals. Any player who feels safer to wear a mask throughout the rehearsal, or during non-playing portions of the rehearsal, is welcome to do so.
• The Board will ask again for individual input from players during these two weeks of sectionals and then make decisions concerning upcoming weeks, whether to continue sectionals or return to full ensemble rehearsals at TMH. Although we have access to the tent at Masters through October 10, at this time we have no active plans to use the tent and have Sunday rehearsals again.

Sectional schedule

• Please plan for sectionals as follows:
  • Monday, September 20, 7:30-9:45 pm at TMH – all Woodwinds and Percussion
  • Monday, September 27, 7:30-9:45 pm at TMH – all Brass and Percussion
• Rehearsal plans for each sectional will differ and will be posted by the Friday before each sectional. For now, both sectionals should definitely plan to work on Posy and In a Nutshell.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these evolving waters.

I want to acknowledge a couple things

First, I want to acknowledge that many in our ensemble have been through a lot in the past weeks. The devastation of Ida affected many in ways both large and small. And the anniversary of 9-11 today evokes raw memories in every possible way. Gathering tomorrow is not only important as a first step in our continuing recovery from the pandemic as an ensemble, but gathering together at this time is a huge step for us all to support each other as we navigate the waters of these turbulent days. 

A few quick reminders and details for tomorrow:

• We are rehearsing again in the tent at The Masters School, 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, from 3:00-5:30. It’s easiest to park right on Clinton.
• Please bring a music stand. We’ll have access to the same white folding banquet chairs that we had in the spring. (If those were uncomfortable, you’re welcome to bring your own chair or stool.)
• We are excited to welcome new full-time members and new sub players!
• Folders will be distributed. You do not need to download/print your own music this time. However, if you intend to rehearse from an iPad, you can download the parts that were distributed to us originally as PDFs in this folder. (And I apologize for the glitch with the link last time.)
• We are sight-reading through the entire program, as is our custom at the first rehearsal of every cycle. Our primary goal is to familiarize everyone with tempi, basic insights into each work, and how all works on the program contribute toward the concert theme, which honors the life and work of Percy Aldridge Grainger.
• The Masters School requires all guest artists to be vaccinated. If you have not submitted your vaccination card to David, you must do so immediately.
• Please complete this health form tomorrow, Sunday, after 8:00 am.
• Midway through the rehearsal, we will spend a short amount of time discussing our safety protocols, our plans to return to TMH on Monday nights, and ask for your input. We will also briefly describe the new download option offered by Candlewood Digital, and how this will affect future production of CDs.
• I believe we still have access to the porta-potties down by the turf field, but the school has removed all the additional portable facilities elsewhere on campus. 
• Please keep in mind that all posts, rehearsal schedules, future concert dates, and lots of important resources are available on my site for members at wsw.ebernet.biz. If you don’t find an answer there, email me.

This is a challenging program, but one that I believe you will enjoy and be excited to rehearse and perform. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow and making live music again with you!

I want to send best wishes for Rosh Hashanah to all those celebrating this week. And I wanted to send this post before the holiday begins. Shanah tovah!

As announced on August 26, our first rehearsal will be under the tent at The Masters School next Sunday, September 12, running from 3:00 to 5:30 pm.

Music folders will be handed out at the rehearsal. We will ask everyone to sign for their folder so we can keep track of who has which folder. Rehearsal order is posted on the front page of my blog. 

We’ll also be discussing the upcoming season, fall concert, and the new digital download option that has been offered by our recording engineers, Candlewood Digital, for the recordings of the Fall 2019, Winter 2020, and Caramoor 2021 concerts. 

See you Sunday!

The Board has decided, after discussions with Dr. Ron MacKenzie, to act on behalf of the safety of our members. In light of the continuing pandemic and spikes in infections, and because the circus tent has been re-erected and offered for our use at Masters, we feel that it is a better overall choice to rehearse outside to start the season. We will rehearse on Sunday afternoons in the tent until such time as we are able to reinstate indoor rehearsals safely at TMH. This could be one or two rehearsals, or it could be more. We ask that you look ahead and be flexible.

Currently, Masters requires all students, faculty, and guest artists to be vaccinated. Access to TMH requires vaccination as well once we return there.

I recognize that this shift from Monday evenings to Sunday afternoons will be inconvenient for some players. We ask you to look ahead and try to clear Sunday afternoons for September and October. If you have an attendance issue, please contact David.

We are hoping that the next weeks will bring news that will steady the curve and allow us to make appropriate decisions to return safely to indoor rehearsals with the full ensemble at TMH. In the meantime, please plan to join us in the tent once more at Masters for our first rehearsal on Sunday, September 12 at 3:00-5:30 pm. Folders with hard copies of all music will be handed out that day. If you want access to PDF copies of parts, click here. Some, but not all, parts are available via that Google Drive folder.

Please use the menus on my site at wsw.ebernet.biz  to refer to detailed information for this season:

• Schedules
• Repertoire
• Ad forms, concert flyers, press releases (to be posted soon)
• Resources (including instrumentation details for each concert, flyers, ad forms, digital copies of our brochure, and resources for music educators).