Well, actually this time around, it really is my circus.

Rehearsal this Monday, October 26

On Monday evening, we are reading and rehearsing four of the anchor works for our January 31 concert, “Circus Antics.” We are doing this for two reasons: 1) Give a bit of a diversion from the Fall Concert preparation to re-invigorate our work together, and 2) Kick off the Winter Concert rep a bit early and get some basic work done, just in case weather plays a role in our rehearsal schedule.

See the rehearsal plan posted here. If you have not yet done so, download the two Mackey works, Starr, and Shostakovich here.

This an especially exciting rehearsal, as we will be working on Three-ring, by Delia Starr, our guest composer for the Winter Concert, with Jessica Stein-Natale conducting. This is Delia’s first work for band, having attended young composers’ workshops at both Tanglewood and Berklee. Our performance will be the preview of the premiere at Haldane High School in April, as she finishes up her senior year under Jessica’s direction. This is a ground-breaking project in many ways, and we are thrilled to be a part of Delia’s journey as a young composer.

Ads – bring final forms, copy, payments on Monday

If you missed last Monday’s deadline, please bring these materials on Monday so I can start putting the 2026-2027 book together.

Tickets, tickets, TICKETS!

Please send friends, neighbors, and everyone else you know to our ticketing page at:
www.westchestersymphonicwinds.org/ticketing
Remind them that season tickets will no longer be available after the Fall Concert, so they should consider this option before it expires. Also, the Friends & Family codes (for both season tickets and Fall Concert only) are posted on Slack. Go to #_general_band_chat and tap the heading to reveal Pins. You’ll find the codes there.

Diller Hall seats 550, almost 300 less than TMH. It is a reasonable possibility to sell out the hall. Keep promoting the concert and sending folks to the ticketing site. Let’s fill up Diller to start our residency!

Rehearsal Monday, 7:30 pm in the APR

The rehearsal agenda has been posted. I have a particular vision for entering the stage for this debut performance at Diller, and will explain how this will work along with the flow into the Star-Spangled Banner. I have discussed this with the board, and I will explain it to the full ensemble at the rehearsal on Monday.

Ads due on Monday

Ads help fill our program book, generate easy income, and help our visibility. All ads run in all three season concert programs.If you are taking an ad, or submitting an ad on behalf of a business, please be sure to download and return the 2026-2027 Ad Form along with payment. You can give the ad form, paper ad copy, and payment to Tom Sweezey, principal alto sax. If you are submitting ad copy digitally, please send it as an attachment to westsymwinds -at- gmail.com, and use the subject line Ad Submission.

Rehearsal on Monday, October 26 – Winter program music

This rehearsal will move away from the Fall program, to give us a headstart on the Winter concert. Planned for January 31 to work within the Hackley schedule, the Winter concert is scheduled earlier than usual and there is always the chance of weather issues. October 26 is not a full concert read-through (that will be on November 30), but it will include the Shostakovich, both Mackey works, and possibly more. The Shostakovich parts are ready now. I’ll announce when the other parts are ready.

Reminder – feel free to use the multi-colored music stands at rehearsals in the APR

Using the multi-colored music stands frees up a lot of traffic to/from the basement and makes it easier for the percussion to move more quickly and safely. So feel free to use these stands. Just put them back where you found them at the end of the evening. You are also welcome to bring your own stand if you wish.

Everyone else, please use the WSW-owned stands stored in the basement next to the percussion. Return them as well to the same location at the end of rehearsal.

Rehearsal on Monday

As noted on our schedule, we are rehearsing this Monday, in the APR, even though it’s Indigenous People’s Day. The rehearsal plan is posted here, and I also copied it into the #general_band_chat channel on Slack.

The rehearsal is in the APR again. Isn’t it wonderful not to drive all over Westchester County from week to week for rehearsals?

Membership dues

Please remember to bring your dues on Monday.  They are $125 cash, check or pay by Zelle to treasurer [at] westchestersymphonicwinds.org. We need to tie this up as announced by this coming Monday.

Ads are due next Monday, 10/19

Please give ad forms and payments to Tom Sweezey. Send ad copy to westsymwinds [at] gmail com. There is so much excitement about our first concert in Diller, and so we’re expecting the ad impact to be greater than usual. Keep in mind that all ads appear in all three concert programs for the season.

WSW Finance Presentation

Thanks again to Marge and David for their financial presentation last week. David posted a summary of the presentation on Slack, in the #general_band_chat channel. Please refer to it as needed.

Winter rep

As announced last week, it is likely that I will dedicate one rehearsal before the Fall concert (date yet to be announced) for reading/rehearsing a portion of the Winter concert. The Fall cycle is long, and the Winter cycle is short by comparison. Plus it’s winter, and we’re more likely to have rehearsals cancelled if Hackley closes (a new dimension we’ve never had to coordinate before!).

I don’t have all the parts ready yet, but the Shostakovich Finale is ready here. This will definitely be the prime target to address at such a Winter rehearsal before the Fall concert. I encourage you to consider downloading the Shostakovich sooner than later!

Rehearsal Monday

We’re back in the APR in the Lower School at Hackley this week, starting at 7:30 pm. Please review the rehearsal plan here.

Program ads — please support our program journal!

Click here for the 2026-2027 Ad Form. Ads will be due Monday, October 19. Email graphics to westsymwinds@gmail.com, hand ad forms/payments to Tom Sweezey. Please remember to complete and return the ad form! It has critical information that is important to the program graphics designer (which happens to be me!).

State of the Band

We are starting on Monday evening with a financial report from Marge & Dave. This has been something in development for several years, and I’m glad it’s coming to fruition. In the spirit of transparency and our united efforts, this is an important report. I’m grateful to Marge & Dave for putting this together.

See you Monday!