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!

With all the hoopla concerning the concert, I completely forgot to invite you to participate as a wind ensemble performers in this year’s conducting symposium. Mallory Thompson is back, and Matt Kowalski is one of the conductors this year.

The symposium is next weekend, Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. The wind ensemble lab sessions each day are 1:00-4:30 pm. It is still being held at Northern Valley-Old Tappan High School, as it has been for several years.

Click here to read all about the symposium, now in its twenty-something year, and use the Registration Form below to sign up. I really need flutes and percussion! I wouldn’t mind a few more brass players (all instruments). But we are overflowing with clarinets already at this point.

I’ve been trying to decide what I could possibly say to you in this post-concert message. There is so much to say, so much we are all feeling, so much potential before us. No matter what I say, it will fall short of expressing fully how impressed I am with your dedication, focus, and musicianship.

So rather than try to write about the concert, I’ll just let you see and hear for yourselves. With the help of Rachel’s son, Daniel, I managed to record some pretty good videos of every piece on the concert. These are not intended to replace the concert CD — so please do still plan to buy your copy of the high-quality audio CD once it’s produced!

Remember that our next rehearsal is Monday, June 2 at 7:30 pm at Port Chester Middle School. I’ll be writing again prior to that rehearsal to remind you of the details.

But first, here, in two YouTube playlists, are our “Hymns, Sacred and Profane!” (Please share, email, Facebook, Tweet at will!)

Thanks for such a great dress rehearsal last night. I appreciate and am grateful for your patience through the process of bringing in the chorus members and tweaking the movements to get the balance and coordination to a workable point.

I know there are still points to address in all the pieces. There’s one specific place in Carmina I’ll rehearse in the warm-up on Saturday evening. But otherwise, I vote to buckle up and let it ride.

I am also writing to pass on this unique opportunity. Jeff Ball, the conductor of the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, which performed at the Midwest in 2013, is conducting a performance of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale – declared “one of the great ceremonial pieces of all time” by critic Virgil Thomson – in Bryant Park in Manhattan on June 21. This is going to be one huge massed band, and it looks like a great experience. Apparently West Point players and other professionals are involved. You can read more about it and register at:
http://makemusicny.org/blog/come-play-in-berliozs-symphony-for-band-in-bryant-park/

I’m on the verge of signing up myself to play. If you do register, please do note Westchester Symphonic Winds as your home ensemble — we’ll get program credit.

Otherwise, I’ll see you Saturday at 6:00 pm for what promises to be an epic event.