We start our third and final cycle of the 25th anniversary season tonight at TMH. Folders will be distributed with new music and we will be reading through the entire program.

We will also be talking about the Gala Concert on May 18. Special advertising opportunities are available — see the Gold & Silver page ad form.

See you tonight for a prompt start at 7:30 pm.

First, congratulations to Ben & Karen Acrish on the birth of their first child, Abigail Frances Acrish! We’re all very happy for you!

Second, if you are free this coming Monday, please come out to hear the horn and saxophone sections of WSW perform at the Hudson Valley Music Club, 1:00 pm on Monday, 54 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry. (Click on the image for a full PDF flyer to distribute.)

Remember that our next rehearsal is Monday, March 4, at TMH. We’ll be reading the entire May program, which includes:

• Persichetti – Symphony No. 6
• LoPresti – Elegy for a Young American, Tom McCauley, guest conductor
• Demersseman – Fantasie un sur theme original, Lois Hicks-Wozniak, alto saxophone soloist
• Shostakovich – Galop, Mallory Thompson, guest conductor
• Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue, Barbara Ciannella, piano soloist
• Kalinnikov – Finale, from Symphony No. 1
• Sousa – Golden Jubilee March

I had to go with a “golden” encore instead of “silver” for the 25th anniversary. The Silver Quill March would have been great, but it’s out of print. Oh well.

I will be sending out a form to allow you to register to play the Kalinnikov as a member of the massed band at my final concert at NVOT on Tuesday, June 11. Please save the date.

Have a great weekend.

Please click on the link and read this entire post. You really need to read it all!

Congratulations on your fine performance Sunday!

First, please accept my heartfelt congratulations for a magnificent performance on Sunday. The audience was just amazing. We had to start late because of patrons lined up at the box office. Thanks go to many of you, especially Jim Savage and Matt Kowalski, for helping to increase our audience, and bring many new patrons into TMH.

Like the last several concerts, you definitely peaked at this performance. I was really moved by many things:

• The Shostakovich hung together without rushing!
• Rest contained some of the finest interpretation and expression of the afternoon.
• Posy was definitely the best ever during this cycle. Kudos to all the soloists!
• Congratulations to Marge, Rachel, and Deb and their fearless flying fingers, and to Matt for his excellent performance of the Smith.
• The Hindemith had energy we never had before. It did sound triumphant!
• Thanks go to Bill for his artistry. His encore was perfect. (And it gave everyone a chance to rest before the Hindemith!)
• Emily had the best time working with you. She asked me to tell you: “Thank you for all of your excellent work in process and performance!  Schuman ‘felt’ the best it had and your focus and work was really an inspiration.  Have an awesome remainder of your season!”
• The Sousa encore worked – in a really big way! Thanks go to Tom Thayer, Marge Hone, and the Irvington Fire Department for coordinating our flag drop.

Next rehearsal – Monday, March 4 at TMH

We have a little break now before the next cycle begins on Monday, March 4. Please plan on this date as our next rehearsal, to being our Spring Concert rehearsals. This cycle includes the Persichetti Symphony No. 6,  Rhapsody in Blue, the Kalinnikov Finale, and more.

May 8 performance postponed

Due to scheduling conflicts at Mahopac, our Side by Side concert in conjunction with the Putnam Arts Council has been postponed. Please reserve Wednesday, November 20 (and snow date on Thursday, November 21) for this event. More info will follow.

Symposium clinic with Mallory Thompson on May 31

This event is a GO, at Northern Valley-Old Tappan, will provide us with a spectacular opportunity to work with Dr. Thompson. She will rehearse Ticheli’s Rest (one of her favorite works) and address rehearsal challenges with the Symposium participants (but we get the benefit of playing for her!). Please reserve the date, and plan to arrive at NVOT at 7:00 pm (end time, 9:00 pm). We will develop an online to form allow everyone to confirm their participation.

And a drumroll, please!

You, the members of the Westchester Symphonic Winds, have made an indelible impression on my life over the past five years. This is the kind of ensemble with which I always dreamed of working. It’s been tough, however. Trying to prepare scores, and review and prepare for rehearsals has been rather stressful, especially during marching and musical theater season. And so, a change is in order.

I have submitted my letter of intent to retire from Northern Valley, as of June 30 of this year. My primary objective for next year is to improve the quality of the work I do with you. I am also interested in pursuing more guest conducting opportunities, and plan to investigate adjunct teaching opportunities in Westchester County. I am also interested in writing and self-publishing a book. The beach house at Fire Island and roller coasters will also figure significantly into the plans for Tim and I in the coming years! The successful concert on Sunday and several other events of late pushed me over the edge. I’m very happy with my decision. I told my students yesterday, and – as you might guess – the announcement was met with a great deal of emotion (on both my part and theirs).

As part of my exit strategy, I am planning to program the Kalinnikov Finale at my final concert at NVOT on Tuesday, June 11. I am inviting colleagues, friends, and you to participate in this final performance. The plan is to rehearse this massed band at 5:00 pm on the day of the concert. We will serve pizza in the North Cafe following the rehearsal. The concert begins at 7:30 pm. A reception for everyone will follow the concert. Please consider this invitation to join us. Our preparation of the Kalinnikov for our May 18 concert will make this an easy encore for the season. I will develop an online form to allow you to sign up to participate, and will notify you when that is ready.

Thank you all for your support. I’m looking forward to the next cycle, our Gala 25th Anniversary Concert on May 18, our Symposium clinic on May 31, and (hopefully) my final concert at NVOT on June 11.

In general, we’ve learned that everyone in our area should have access to drive to TMH for the concert tomorrow, but we’d like to be sure. Please click here to respond to a quick form confirming your attendance tomorrow. I’ve spoken with several members today, and everyone seems to be very excited about tomorrow!

Marge drove to Tarrytown today, and sent the following message about the parking lots. If we’re lucky conditions will improve by tomorrow, but this is important information to keep in mind. Leave early and leave plenty of time so you arrive safely around 12:30-12:45 pm, so we can set up and be ready to start at 1:00 pm.

Marge writes:

The roads are good, though the smaller streets are really small now with most of the cars still plowed in, and most of the parking lots are OK, but not great.  The one behind the bank seems very clear, the big one on Washington Avenue has a lot of snow but people are parked there.  The small one on the west side of Washington is looking like it will be OK by tomorrow.  The small one on the west side of Broadway south of Main Street has a lot of snow.  The one behind the theater is a mess, but again, there were lots of cars there and Tom was out shoveling, so there’s hope.  Beyond that, the municipal lot a block north of Main Street on the east side looks good, and I notice that there is parking behind the Chase Bank.  There is also parking behind a large doctors etc. building on the west side of Broadway south of Main Street which looks totally clear and should be pretty empty on a Sunday.  Finally, the lot by the Washington Irving school is clear.