I neglected to include the link to the Information Sheet I created for interested handbell choir directors. Click here for complete information and share with handbell contacts as necessary.

Thanks.

We have our second rehearsal for Caramoor tomorrow evening, 7:30 pm, at Port Chester Middle School. We’ll have access to the large bass drum and the podium. I expect that the chairs and stands situation will be similar to last week. The rehearsal plan is posted. A large portion of rehearsal will be devoted to the Tchaikovsky.

If you have contacts in the Handbell community, please share this post and the form at the bottom. Directors of handbell choirs are asked to register once, with all the names of participants.

The Board agreed on Thursday night on this attire for July 4 for Caramoor:

• Men: white shirts (short sleeve shirts are acceptable or long sleeves turned up) without ties, black pants, black shoes, black socks
• Women: white blouses, black tea-length skirts or black dress slacks, black shoes

Thanks go out to Denise Ruchala, Mary Eberling, Ben Acrish, Tim Takagi, Marc Perler, Lisa Romeo, Rich Williams, Kirk Silver, Chris Carbone, and Nate Brewster, who braved the brilliant sunshine and played for The Masters School commencement ceremonies today. I do appreciate your stamina and musicianship. There were all kinds of great comments, ranging from “How did you survive in that constant sun?” to “We really liked the new recessional!” So bravo and thank you!

I’m writing with a quick reminder that we are rehearsing on Monday evening at Port Chester Middle School (click here for directions). We will not be rehearsing the Caramoor cycle at TMH because of issues connected to moving our equipment back and forth to the annex.

The rehearsal on Monday will include some discussion about the May 17 concert (I want to encourage a discussion about how you felt about the various successful moments in the program), and then we will read the entire July 4 program.

See you on Monday for a 7:30 pm start!

I’m pleased to announce our guest conductors for the 2014-2015 season:

• Dr. Peter Martin, Wind Ensemble Director at the University of Southern Maine – November 9
• Dr. Tom McCauley, Wind Ensemble Director at Montclair State University – January 25
• Dr. Emily Threinen, Wind Ensemble Director at Temple University – May 16

I am so excited that these exceptional colleagues will be joining us next season!

I also want to share these thoughts from Tim Tull. His father, Fisher Tull, was an award-winning composer, I had the good fortune to meet and work with him on several occasions. During my tenure with WSW, we’ve performed Tull’s Sketches on a Tudor Psalm, The Final Covenant, and Introit, and Tim made a kind donation of 12 of his father’s published works to our WSW library about three years ago.

I’ve known Tim since graduate school at Northwestern, where we were both in the wind conducting program. We’ve stayed very close over the years. He is now the Orchestra Librarian for the Houston Grand Opera, which is coming to New York in July to present The Passenger at Lincoln Center. I sent Tim the YouTube links from last Saturday’s concert, and he just sent this to me. He suggested that I paraphrase, but I think Tim underestimates the power of his words. I know that you will appreciate his thoughts.

You know, that Ticheli piece is hard. I looked around at “community” groups around here and NO ONE is doing anything like what you are doing. You are practically operating on a professional level. I know that your players realize and appreciate the challenges and opportunities that you afford them. I watched the video from UT [University of Texas at Austin] with Ticheli himself conducting this piece and it was only slightly more polished than your performance. That is unbelievable from an amateur group that rehearses once a week. It will probably not mean anything to them but if you want to paraphrase this and relay it in a rehearsal, feel free. I am so impressed and they are so lucky to have you. I know you told me some of the backstory of the group and I don’t really remember it but the players must have been hungry to move to another level. Some groups would resist and dig in heels but your people have obviously embraced your vision in spades.
Curt, I am so impressed and I can’t wait to see you.
Tim

Third party compliments are always the best, especially from such an expert. Congratulations on making such a fine impression!