It was an energized performance, an amazing evening! How could all of the pieces fit together any better? I have no idea.

Lois’s solo was superb. Ryan was a gem. I still can’t get over Matt’s arrangements. Bob nailed it with the free advertising for our next season at TMH. The individual solos from within our ranks were spot-on. The handbells and sound effects topped off 1812 at a level far above what I had hoped were possible. The Caramoor staff made us all feel like world-class musicians; they were completely accommodating and kind. I’m not sure what was going on with the stilt walkers — apparently they were miscued and sent out too early. Oh, well. (They owe us one.)

I was so impressed with your focus and determination. Fatigue did not seem to be a negative factor. Once again, you peaked at the performance. We were all united as one — and that is the greatest thing that I can ask of you.

I’m grateful to Jim Savage and the Board for their support of this project, Mark Dodge and our amazing percussion section for packing-moving-unloading-setting up-tearing down-loading-moving-unpacking all of our equipment safely to and from Caramoor, and to Matt Kowalski for handling the 68 handbell ringers last evening. And I’m grateful for the untold personal sacrifices you made to prepare the music at this level and deliver it last night.

Paul promised a recording. As soon as I have access to it, I will share it. In the meantime, here is a recording of See Rock City which Deb Dashnaw’s husband recorded from the audience. The quality is amazing!

I’ll be in touch again over the summer. Everyone: please confirm your return in the fall by emailing Claudia by July 15. We need to assess personnel needs, advertise, recruit, and audition new players to fill vacancies before our first rehearsal on Monday, September 8. Until then, have a great summer!

The weather report seems to have this system stalling a bit. Who knows what the weather will be like for our 4:00 pm sound check or the concert for that matter. Everything is still GO, but especially in light of this, do remember to bring several clothes pins, music clips if you have them, or a sheet of plexiglass to put over your music.

Arrive in plenty of time to enjoy the hospitality provided for us. We start our sound check at 4:00 pm. See you then!

Thanks for your determination on Monday evening. I know it felt like an oven in there. That’s what June rehearsals are like in an un-air conditioned room. But we accomplished the major goal – attending to the rigors of playing this 60 minute program with relatively little stops and no intermission.

I have some helpful information about parking, picnics, and dressing rooms at the end of this post.

I recorded everything Monday night, and I’ll review it before Friday, and bring some final, short thoughts to the sound check.

Please review memory of 76 Trombones soli and Stars & Stripes. I know I keep repeating this, but the memorization is not at the level needed to be effective. I can’t overemphasize this.

If you didn’t complete the CD order form, please do so no later than next Friday, July 11. At that point we will place the order. Find the order form here.

Here are answers to all (I hope) of the questions I had raised, or you brought up on Monday night:

• Parking – Announce to the attendant that your a member of the band. You will be directed to orchestra parking unless there is overflow. Those of you who signed up to depart early will probably be directed to a special lot.
• Those departing before the fireworks – You need to quickly pack up and get to your cars immediately.  No other procedure, the parking people will expect them to leave, but will not wait for them. If you don’t leave within the prescribed timeframe, you may find yourself enjoying the fireworks nonetheless.
• EMS Services – Some of our tech people are EMS-trained and there will be firemen on site.
• Picnics – Families should meet you at the bathrooms at the back of the Venetian Theatre. The campus is very large with multiple areas to picnic in, so better to meet at the Venetian theatre and walk elsewhere.
• Dressing rooms to change into concert attire – There are four dressing rooms on the main level of the Venetian Theatre, upstage, to be divided as needed. Bathrooms are available backstage on stage level.

IMPORTANT! I need to ask you to complete two forms, below, at the bottom of this post:

• Order form for our 3-CD box set for 2014-2014. Please complete even if you already signed the form on Marge’s clipboard.
• Poll form for vegetarian or gluten-free meals at Caramoor and departing before the fireworks (if you need to leave immediately you’ll need to park separately, not in the orchestra parking section; otherwise no one leaves until after the fireworks for safetry reasons). Please complete before rehearsal on Monday.

I have a few notes based on last Monday’s rehearsal – only 3 pages this time! Download these notes here. This includes special instructions for the trumpets regarding part distribution in The Gallant Seventh (thanks, Jen, for the heads-up to address this).

See you Monday for our last rehearsal! Practice, memorize, play standing up! This is going to be an exciting and pivotal week for us!