Two conductor spots added!

The response to the 2024 Wind Conducting Symposium conductor registration was immediate and all 12 conductor spots were claimed in the first 24 hours. In order to try to maximize the opportunities for conductors, while maintaining the experience for those already registered, we are adding two additional conducting spots, increasing the group from 12 to 14 conductors.
Please visit wcs.ebernet.biz for more information about the symposium, running from May 31 to June 2. You can also register directly using this link.
Join us! And please share the news about this professional development workshop! Consider enrolling as an auditor or wind ensemble lab performer.

West Point concert info

Quick reminders and news

  • Incredibly, the 12 conductor spots for the Wind Conducting Symposium were claimed within the first 24 hours last Saturday. IMPORTANT: Watch your Inbox for further important news and updates — coming soon.
  • I’m sorry that the embedded form for the flashmob performance Ravel’s Bolero did not publish correctly last week. Please click here for details and to register to play on April 9 at The Masters School Prism Concert.
  • Congratulations to the members of the Bear Mountain Brass, who performed last evening at the NYSBDA Winter Symposium in Syracuse!

Important info for March 9 performance at Eisenhower Auditorium at West Point

Here is the run-down of the details for this Monday’s rehearsal and next Saturday’s performance. Please be sure to read all of this carefully. Send follow-up questions by email, or speak to me on Monday night.

Monday, March 4 – rehearsal at TMH at 7:30 pm
The rehearsal plan is posted. We will review/rehearse both the WSW program and combined WSW/West Point program rep.

Saturday, March 9 – Sound checks and performance at Eisenhower Hall, United States Military Academy at West Point
11:00 am – Eisenhower Hall opens for us to enter, unpack, and prepare for sound check. Please arrive for attendance check-in with Katherine no later than 11:15 am. I urge everyone to plan extra time for security clearance and finding parking! (See details below.) Like our TMH concerts, I strongly recommend that you arrive dressed for performance. We cannot assume that they will have enough changing areas in the green rooms.
11:45 am-12:15 pm – WSW sound check (Day, Giroux, Markowski)
12:15 pm – Setup conversion to combined ensemble setup
12:30-1:00 pm – Combined rehearsal (Simple Gifts, Sousa)
1:30 pm – Stage is completely cleared, doors open
2:00 pm – Concert downbeat. Concert order: WSW, West Point, Combined bands
4:00 pm (approx) – concert ends, clear stage and hall

Security clearance and access to campus: At this point in time, this concert is considered to be a “special event.” All visitors to the USMA campus 17 years and older will be required to show a government-issued photo ID to access the grounds at the security gate. Linked here is a map with directions to Eisenhower Hall and parking; the same map is inserted into this post below. This map is quite detailed, and I encourage you to examine it carefully before Saturday; you can zoom in with your mouse/trackpad. Additional parking is available on the river side of Eisenhower Hall via Pitcher Road to Upton Road, but the hill is extremely steep, and I do not advise making that parking lot your first choice.

SSG Keith Kile (Spring 2023 tuba soloist) shared these tips for security clearance and parking:

  1. Please enter through Stoney Lonesome Gate.
  2. Everyone above the age of 17 will need a drivers license or other state-issued ID to get on post
  3. All vehicles entering West Point may be searched. A gentle reminder that not all substances considered legal in the state of New York are recognized as such by the Federal Government.
  4. Parking is designated on the map below.  We’ll have some spaces reserved for you and your guests with parking needs in the loading dock area of Eisenhower Hall.*
  5. Backstage will be open by 11:00 am.

*If you would benefit from a reserved handicapped access parking space or a parking space that you can unload a significant amount of equipment at the Hall stage door, please advise me by Monday’s rehearsal so I can give Keith a total space request count.

Here are two maps that Keith shared with me to pass along. The second shows the stage entrance into Eisenhower that we are asked to use. Click each map to enlarge:

Setting up the combined ensemble:
(This is the procedure for the March 9 sound check and both performances on March 9 & 16):

  1. West Point brass will move off stage.
  2. West Point staff will add 19 chairs/stands.
  3. WSW seated members* will move on stage.
  4. WSW standing members* and West Point brass will create a new standing row in front of percussion.
    *West Point Band Ops has determined that the way to do this effectively and efficiently is with some players standing for the two combined numbers. The rough seating chart is below; the seating chart with specific placement assignments will be shared at rehearsal on Monday, March 4.

This is a rough sketch of the combined seating. A detailed plan for WSW members will be distributed on Monday evening.

Additional notes:

  • A string bass stool has been requested.
  • There are no rules at Eisenhower Hall which prohibit water bottles, so you may bring them on stage as needed. However, we advise everyone to bring only what you truly need onto the stage, to help facilitate quick entrances/exits, especially in regard to the combined numbers.
  • Attire is usual concert black (tuxes/bow ties and black dresses/tops and bottoms).
  • Please leave perfume and cologne at home.

The call time for Saturday, March 16 at White Plains High School will be announced at the rehearsal on Monday, March 11. We are trying to align the two concerts as closely as possible to keep it simple.

As noted, please email me specific questions, or bring them to the rehearsal on Monday night.

Spring/West Point cycles

Monday night rehearsal at TMH

I hope everyone had two good Monday evenings off. We return to our work together on Monday with a full read-through of the Spring program scheduled for May 11. On the following Monday, March 4, we will devote the rehearsal to the preparation of the concert at West Point on March 9. See the rehearsal plans posted here.

Wind Conducting Symposium site has launched!

We have everything ready to go for Robert Ambrose to join us for the reboot of the Wind Conducting Symposium this spring. Dates are May 31-June 1 & 2. WSW is co-sponsoring the workshop this year with Music Educators of Bergen County. Volunteer players are needed for the wind ensemble lab sessions. Click here for complete information for joining us as a conductor, auditor, or lab ensemble player.

Prism Concert volunteers sought for Ravel’s Bolero on April 9

As I announced several weeks ago, I’m looking for some WSW players to volunteer to play for a “flash mob finale” for my Prism Concert in Estherwood Mansion at The Masters School on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 pm. The finale is an arrangement of Ravel’s Bolero, and parts can be found here.

For the past two years, I’ve gathered all of my instrumental players for a massed finale in the foyer of Estherwood Mansion. The first year it was a total surprise for everyone. Last year, I included a flamenco dancer as a surprise in the finale. This year I hope to involve WSW volunteers to play for this finale. The vibe will be: “I’m a regular audience member attending the concert. Oh what’s happening now . . . it’s Ravel’s Bolero. Well I just happen to have my instrument with me – I’ll join in and play along.”

I’ll rehearse the Bolero parts with the players who can volunteer at the end of our regular WSW rehearsal on April 8. There is a dress rehearsal in Estherwood at 5:00 pm on the day of the concert, April 9; volunteers are welcome to come to the dress if your schedule allows.* Otherwise, I plan to “wing it” with the volunteers at the concert, which begins at 6:30 pm. Sounds scary, right? But I think it will work.

*I’ll have pizza on site for everyone staying through from the dress through the concert.

If you’re interested, fill out the quick form below.

Next rehearsal on February 26

No rehearsal tomorrow!

There’s no rehearsal tomorrow, February 19. We meet next on:

Monday, February 26 at TMH – first rehearsal of the Spring cycle.
All parts are ready and are posted here. This rehearsal will be a read-through of the entire May 11 program, and all Spring personnel for the May 11 concert should attend.

Monday, March 4 at TMH – rehearsal for our first WSW/West Point concert on March 9 at Eisenhower Hall. Parts are posted here. All personnel for the March 9 performance should attend. Everyone performing on March 4 should expect to meet at Eisenhower Hall at 11:00 am. You will need a government-issued photo ID to be admitted to the West Point campus; expect delays at the access gates. We’ll have access to the building at 11:15 am, and our sound check is 11:45-12:15 pm, followed by a WSW/West Point combined rehearsal  from 12:30-1:00 pm. Concert begins at 2:00 pm. More details will be forthcoming.

Rehearsal plans for both February 26 and March 4 are posted here.

New Conductors Orchestra Concert

Chris Carbone, Debbie and Rich Dashnaw, and Andrew Hill are all playing on this concert and Andrew’s partner, Sydney Kucine, is the soprano soloist on the Henryk Górecki’s Symphony 3.
 Venue: Good Shepherd-Faith Church
152 W 66th St, New York, NY 10023
You can read more about the other concert repertoire and featured artists here: