Thank you for your amazing work on Sunday. The performance was spectacular in so many ways, but I was most impressed because:

1. The degree of focus and determination you brought to the stage was palpable. It was definitely a “take no prisoners” kind of afternoon.
2. The audience was so moved by your musicianship. You could feel the electricity in the room — for example, at the release of the final Bernstein chord, but in so many other moments as well.

We’ll talk more about the concert when we meet again on February 26.

I’ve laid out the rehearsal plans for the next two rehearsals. Our next rehearsal on February 26 is a read-through of the entire May 11 program for the Spring Concert personnel. Then the rehearsal on March 4 is our one-and-only-rehearsal for the Eisenhower Hall program for the March 9 West Point Concert personnel. Be sure to follow the links on the front page to the music folders for both programs and bring the required parts to each rehearsal.

The board meets tonight and we have much to discuss and much to plan as well.

Congratulations to everyone who performed on Sunday. It was a truly exceptional performance, and I am so proud to be associated with you all!

On to the next challenges!

Our dress rehearsal was solid, the weather looks great for tomorrow, and the stage is set in many ways for a great performance! Remember that this is a 2:00 pm performance, with a 12:00 pm soundcheck:

11:00 am – TMH opens. Please arrive early enough to assist with placing chairs, stands, and warm up carefully.
12:00 pm – Sound check, in program order.
1:00 pm – Break. Please clear stage no later than 1:30 pm, when house opens.
1:45 pm – Gather by sections to tune
1:50 pm – Take places on stage
2:00 pm – Downbeat
There is no formal group gathering after the performance because of the Super Bowl, it’s likely that you will find some of us at The Tapp, on Broadway, for a quick round.

Get some rest, and psych up for an epic performance tomorrow!

Curt

This week

We have a regular working rehearsal on Monday, our dress rehearsal on Wednesday, and the concert on Sunday. Please check the homepage for all rehearsal details, including schedule.

Tickets

We had an amazing house in November — attendance was way up, in part because of members like you sending friends and family to the concert ticket page, and using the coupon code to unlock the $15 tickets. Please spread the word liberally about the concert, the concert ticketing page, and the coupon code. You’ll find the coupon code in the direct email I sent on January 27, and I’ll repeat it again at rehearsals this week. (I’m not repeating it here in this public post for obvious reasons.) And note that the coupon code only works on the TMH ticket site — not the tickets sites posing as TMH when you Google the Music Hall (ticketsales.com,boxofficeticketsales.com, ticketsonsale.com, etc.).

The weather looks like it’s going to cooperate. It’s going to be a great week of music (and football — Go Chiefs!).

Calendar check: only three weeks until the Winter Concert! 

Rehearsal Monday, January 22 at White Plains HS

This rehearsal on Monday is a critical milestone on our journey toward the concert on February 11. Our tenor soloist, harpist, and pianist will all be joining us, so we can integrate these important musicians into this concert’s exciting program. Please make every effort to avoid last minute absences!

Directions to White Plains High School are posted on this site’s home page, along with the detailed rehearsal plan. We will return to TMH on January 29.

West Side Story screening and potluck TONIGHT

We have 20 WSW members signed up to attend this evening at Peekskill Yacht Club. If you find you’re free at the last minute, please feel free to join us. It’s going to be great fun! Find details here.

Address and parking info:

Peekskill Yacht Club, 1 Travis Point, Peekskill, NY 10566
From Route 9: Take Hudson Avenue exit. Go toward the river, go over tracks and turn left. After the fenced boat yard bear right up the hill. Park in the lot on left at the top of the hill, then walk down hill towards river and Yacht Club will be on your left.

Upcoming WSW events

Successful ensembles are busy ensembles! Here’s a quick rundown of our upcoming events through the end of our 2023-2024 season. Details/reminders and registration for special events will be posted as the dates approach.

• Rehearsals continue Mondays at 7:30 pm. Exceptions will be posted.
• Saturday, January 27 at 10:00 am – Percussion Master Class with Simon Boyar (music educators and their students are welcome — no charge to attend)
• Wednesday, February 7 at 7:30 pm – Winter dress rehearsal
• Sunday, February 11 at 2:00 pm – Winter Concert (sound check at 12:00 pm)
• Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 pm – Joint concert with West Point Band at Eisenhower Hall (snow date – Sunday, March 10 at 2:00 pm)
• Saturday, March 16 at 2:00 pm – Joint concert with West Point Band at White Plains HS (snow date – Sunday, March 17 at 2:00 pm)
• Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 pm – Prism Concert at The Masters School (volunteer players play for flash mob finale, Ravel’s Bolero)
• Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30 pm – Spring dress rehearsal
• Saturday, May 11 at 8:00 pm – Spring Concert (sound check at 6:00 pm)
• Friday, May 31 thru Sunday, June 2 – MEBCI/WSW Wind Conducting Symposium at Northern Valley Regional High School, Old Tappan, New Jersey (volunteer players/four wind ensemble sessions)
• Monday, July 1 at 7:30 pm – Caramoor dress rehearsal
• Thursday, July 4 at 8:00 pm – Caramoor Concert (sound check/dinner at 4:00 pm)

and . . .

• Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 8:00 pm – Spring Concert/world premiere of Viet Cuong commission (special rehearsal schedule TBA that week to accommodate composer residency)