I have unfortunate news. I spoke with Amy Wilcox this morning. She started to feel ill on Thursday morning, worked through it at her musical theater pit rehearsal Thursday evening (the reason that she could not attend our re-scheduled dress rehearsal), but felt worse through yesterday to this morning, and went to the doctor. She has bronchitis, but worse, she also has conjunctivitis (“pink eye”) and is contagious through tomorrow. The doctor even recommended that she stay home from school on Monday. So please join me in offering our best wishes to Amy for a quick recovery.

This means, of course, that she cannot attend or perform with us tomorrow. In the wake of this news, I will conduct the Hackett. Since Amy cannot come tomorrow, there is no reason to ask everyone to come in early. So I’m moving our setup time back to 12:30 pm, and our downbeat time for the sound check back to 1:00 pm (the usual times for Sunday afternoon concerts). I intend to stop by 2:00 pm to give everyone a full hour rest before the concert begins. The saxophone section had graciously offered to foot the bill for pizza for everyone, but we are also canceling that. We’ll take the saxes up on their kind offer another day. So please eat before you arrive.

The forecast is calling for light snow in the late afternoon/evening, accumulating 1-3″ by Monday morning. So I think we will dodge that bullet.

Rest up, play a little today to keep your chops in gear, and invite one more neighbor to the concert. Remember to leave a little extra time to find parking in the snow, and we’ll see you tomorrow at 12:30 to set up, 1:00 to start our sound check.

The TMH administration asked me specifically to announce: Tomorrow evening, please do not cross the yellow safety tape put up along the side street. There is ice falling from the roof, and the tape was put in place so no one attempts to use the side doors, under the falling ice. Please use the front door or back stage door only. Apparently some players broke through the tape on Tuesday evening. Please respect the implied warning and use the front or back doors only. Thanks.

We are canceling the scheduled dress rehearsal tonight. We will act on the contingency plan to have our dress rehearsal tomorrow night, Thursday, 7:30-10:00 pm. I have conferred with the majority of the Board, and we agree that 1) the potential for freezing temperatures and ice make for dangerous conditions tonight, 2) members are likely to be physically exhausted from shoveling and dealing with personal/family needs today, 3) the performance will be better served by rehearsals that are not back-to-back.

Like Tuesday, I understand that there will be members with conflicts they simply cannot work around. We understand, but feel this is secondary to the overriding concerns for safety tonight. If you cannot attend Thursday evening for the rescheduled dress rehearsal, please email Claudia and put the gist of your message in the subject line.

We will also definitely use the 11:00 am setup, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm rehearsal on Sunday, prior to the 3:00 performance. I am asking the Board to help us with some pizzas and soda for the break. Again, if you have a conflict you cannot work around on Sunday, email Claudia.

Thanks — you are the best. See you tomorrow evening. Be safe and careful until then!

Thank you — everyone — for the birthday cake and all the birthday cards last night. Special thanks go to Rachel and Claudia for organizing and executing the surprise. I opened all the cards before I went to bed, and they were all wonderful.

I’m going to write later with rehearsal notes and the decision about whether we will rehearse tonight or postpone until tomorrow. With all the snow, cancellations, and postponements, I thought I’d brighten your day with the winning Top Ten birthday cards!

#10
From: Marc Perler
Why chosen: Creative promotion of the horn section

#9
From: The Sax Section
Why chosen: Creative use of alcohol in a birthday greeting (are you surprised?)

#8
From: Dan Salvi
Why chosen: Creative use of combining cats and the expression on my face when I dropped the “Nimrod bomb”

#7 (Outside)
From: The Trumpet Section
Why chosen: Creative application of Mexican theme on the Arutiunian Concerto

#7 (inside)
Mariachi meets Arutiunian!
Click here for the “Mexican Arutiunian” which plays when you open the card!

#6 (outside)
From: Gerould McCoy
Why chosen: Outstanding combination of a pun and a temporary tattoo

#6 (inside)
“Mantique” — get it?
If you play real, real good, I’ll wear the tattoo for the concert.

#5 (outside)
From: Mark Dodge and Nathan Brewster
Why chosen: Entertainment value (it’s worthy of a TED video, seriously)

#5 (inside)
Note that you can play the cow bells and play the indicated melodies. Insightful, creative, and educational. It’s kept me “a-moooooo-sed” for hours.
.

#4 (outside)
From: Tim Allport
Why chosen: Seriously, you have to ask?!?! Spectacular coordination of dance, music, 3-D effects, and more cows!

#4 (inside)
Click here to hear the dynamic music heard when you open the card!

#3
From: Allyson Bellink
Why chosen: Creative use of . . . . well, you know.

#2
From: Claudia Mickelson
Why chosen: Perfect combination of roller coasters (my favorite hobby) and Star Wars (my phone plays R2D2 when I get a text message)

And the #1 Birthday Card (drum roll, please)
From: Jim Savage
Why chosen: No explanation required

Thanks, everyone, for helping to make last evening so special. You are an incredible group of kind and creative people.

Watch your email later this afternoon for our final announcement regarding tonight’s dress rehearsal.