Category Archives: News

Current news andupdates

Post-concert kudos

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A chest cold flattened me immediately after the concert and I’m just now coming up for air. I apologize for not getting this note of sincere thanks out to you sooner.
I recognize that I ask you to perform programs that are beyond the ability of most other groups. I recognize that no rehearsal or performance is perfect. I recognize that the standards I try to maintain test your mettle, even on your best days. And yet, time and time again, even in the face of adversity (or perhaps because of it), you extend your effort, you reach forward toward the ideal. I think this was especially evident on Saturday evening.
Thank you for the contributions toward the gift of music written in my honor, and for us as an ensemble. Thank you for hanging tough and trusting me to examine the dots and then step back to see the entire painting. Thank you for welcoming our guest artists, including those from within the group. Thank you to the Board and to all the contributors in the ensemble for your time, talent, and treasure which you have so freely given, which has allowed us to promote this ensemble and succeed on multiple levels. In other words, thank you to each of you for the myriad of complex musical, financial, and uniquely personal contributions you’ve made, often in quiet and inconspicuous ways, to maintain our mutual success.
Video recordings (via our YouTube channel) and audio recordings (via our BandCamp page) will be posted soon. Please bookmark these links if you have not yet already, and check back to watch and listen to our archived recordings.
Our Caramoor rehearsal cycle is posted on the home page. Our next rehearsal is Monday, June 2 at White Plains High School, and rehearsals continue on June 9, 16, 23, and 30 at TMH. Mimi Hilaire will join us on June 30 for our dress rehearsal before the Caramoor performance on July 4. Therefore, I am cancelling the tentative rehearsal planned for Wednesday, July 2. Parts will be available via download links on the home page by Monday, May 19. I have all the parts, I just need to format and add the score order codes.
Once again, thank you. Enjoy our three week break, and I’ll see you on June 2.
With immense gratitude,
Curt

Spring Concert tonight!

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Here’s the run-down tonight. Remember to leave plenty of extra time to park! Concert black, no cologne/perfume please, remember the reception afterward the concert.

Thanks in advance for your dedication, support, and superior musicianship!

Saturday, May 10 – Setup, Sound checks, Performance at TMH

  • 5:00 pm – TMH opens for us to set up. No risers to accommodate getting the piano as far downstage as possible.
  • 6:00 pm – Sound check for full ensemble (Creston, Markowski, Navarro, Cuong; max 8-10 min each)
  • 6:40 pm – Full ensemble to house seats, Clarinet Choir to stage
  • 6:45 pm – Sound check for Clarinet Choir. Announcements and run-throughs (Shostakovich, Mascagni, Lady Gaga)
  • 7:20 pm – Clear stage.
  • 7:30 pm – House opens to audience
  • 7:50 pm – Full ensemble takes stage
  • 8:00 pm – Downbeat
  • Intermission – Full ensemble retreats from stage via stage left/right passages. Once clear, Clarinet Choir takes the stage, and full ensemble takes seats in orchestra seats. For ease of movement back to the stage, I suggest sitting on the audience right side of the house.
  • After Lady Gaga: Clarinet Choir uses stairs to move to seats (Marc & Ian will be on hand to assist players coming down the stairs). Full ensemble uses audience right passageway to backstage area, then take your seats from stage right and stage left.
  • After concert ends, TMH staff will clear the stage. Take photos/celebrate your wonderful work, then join us at the reception at Christ Episcopal, 2 block south on Broadway, in the Church Hall at the rear of the property.

Caramoor cycle

I’ll send a separate post to remind everyone of the coming weeks and download folders for Caramoor parts. Our next rehearsal is June 2 at White Plains HS.

Performance week!

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Spring Concert this week

And in the blink of an eye, it’s performance week of the final TMH concert of the season! The year has certainly flown by.

Remember that there is no rehearsal this coming Monday, May 5. Our dress rehearsal is Wednesday, May 7, 7:30-9:45 pm at TMH. The Clarinet Choir has their only rehearsal on Thursday at 7:30 pm at KoC in Port Chester. The concert is Saturday evening at 8:00 pm at TMH.

After the concert, please join us for a reception for all performers at Christ Episcopal Church (2 blocks away) at 43 S Broadway, Tarrytown. The reception is in the church hall, a separate building at the rear of the property, at the corner of Elizabeth and John Streets. This is the same church hall where we had the saxophone ensemble reception after the November 2022 concert. Many thanks to Steve Cohen, Ed & Michelle Herko, and the board for underwriting this reception.

Caramoor

There will be no rehearsal on May 12. Our first rehearsal for Caramoor will be either Monday, May 19 or Monday, June 2. We have some venue conflicts that need to be resolved before that decision is finalized. The music parts for Caramoor will be ready this coming week, and I’ll notify everyone when that folder is ready, at the same time I confirm the first rehearsal. The performance again is Friday, July 4 at 8:00 pm, followed by fireworks.

Thank you for your dedicated work on this program. I’m truly looking forward to sharing this with our audience!

Final working rehearsal on Monday at TMH

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Returning to TMH on Monday

While holding my breath, I’m moving ahead to say we are back in Tarrytown on Monday. The rehearsal plan is posted. This is our last working rehearsal, so please help to make this a focused and successful evening.

If you didn’t already listen to the Cuong run-through on Slack, here it is. Many players have commented to me that hearing the “big picture” has been very helpful.

Band Camp releases

We have released “Landscapes,” the Fall 2024 concert recording. If you missed the distribution email, check out the album here. This album is now available for our fans to download for $10. Previously, we released this album privately to all dues-paying members for free.  Contact Rebecca or Eric if you need help with your individual download code.

Listening to and reviewing the recordings of our performances is critical to our self-review and growth. Our move to Band Camp ensures that everyone will have access, and we’re helping the environment by eliminating plastic discs.

F&F tickets and flyers

Half-price tickets for Friends & Family ($15, no box office fee) are still available from Marge at rehearsal. You can also send out-of-town friends and family to the TMH WSW Box Office page; they enter the coupon code we’ve shared and the $15 tickets (plus $6 Box Office fee) become available. We also have a few hard copy flyers left. Pick up one at rehearsal on Monday. Let’s fill TMH with applause and excitement!!!