Rehearsal Monday

We’re back at White Plains again on Monday night. We have one additional rehearsal there in this cycle, on Monday, May 8. The rehearsal plan is posted. 

I sent last week’s recordings to all three guest artists, and got positive feedback from all three in regard to tempi. I have notes from each, and we’ll pursue these details in the next rehearsals.

Rich Williams Recital

Rich Williams, principal trombone, is presenting a brass recital this Sunday, April 23 at 3:00 pm. The program Includes works for solo trombone and brass ensemble, including compositions by Rimsky-Korsakov, Camille Saint-Saëns, Brandt Adams, and Gala Flagello (world premiere).

The performance will be held at Larchmont Avenue Presbyterian Church, 60 Forest Park Avenue, Larchmont, New York. Admission is a free-will donation.

Joe Natale Quartet

Joe Natale, saxophone, has subbed with us in the past, and he is presenting this program on April 29 at 7:00 pm at the Lasdon Players Club, 9 Haven Street #1 Elmsford, New York. Click the graphic for more information.

Reminder

Please continue to use the Google Absence Form for long-range absence notices, and contact Katherine Filatove directly by phone/email if you have a last-minute absence notification, 24 hours or less before rehearsal. This helps us plan most effectively!

Rehearsal on Monday at White Plains HS, 7:30-9:45 pm

We’re rehearsing on both Monday, April 17 and Monday, April 24 at White Plains High School, on stage in the auditorium. See directions at the bottom of the home page. The rehearsal plan (updated since last week) is also posted on that page.

Vocal director position posted at The Masters School

We have posted a job description for a part-time/no benefits vocal music position at The Masters School for 2023-2024. The position includes directing two curricular Upper School vocal ensembles (80 minutes, twice per 8 day cycle), one co-curricular Middle School vocal ensemble (75 minutes, after school once per week), and other related departmental duties. Please see the official job description here, and please share the link with colleagues who might be interested. Relevant education/experience is required, but a NYS teaching license is not mandatory.

I hope everyone has had a good holiday week. Some public school teachers were off last week, some are off this coming week. We are forging ahead anyway!

Rehearsal Monday

We’re rehearsing Monday at TMH (the rehearsal plan is posted), but then we have two Monday nights at White Plains High School on April 17 & 24. Please mark your calendars. Directions to WPHS are posted at the bottom of the home page.

Flyers and tickets

Our beautiful concert flyers are available for pick up at rehearsal. Friends & Family tickets at $10 each are available from our TMH Box Office page (enter the coupon code shared via email) or by request in person at rehearsal.

Reminder – absence notices

Please remember that Katherine Filatov is acting as our interim personnel manager while David is on leave. To report absences:

• Use our Absence Form to report long-range absences, up to 24 hours before rehearsal. This is the most efficient method of reporting your absence, because it pulls all the info into one place, including where we can expect to find your folder to pass on to the sub.
• 24 hours before rehearsal (typically, after 7:30 pm on Sunday), please contact Katherine directly by email or phone/text. Please avoid messaging David or me; the message may get lost in the shuffle and we won’t know about your absence.

Carmoor on July 2

We’ll dive into our Caramoor repertoire on May 22, including Highlights from La Cage aux Folles, a vocal medley of Lerner and Lowe favorites, and a reprise of Desert Sage pllus Stars and Stripes as our finale. Tickets are already available on the Caramoor site — click here for our WSW Box Office page. We have a coupon code again for the two lowest-priced tiers of tickets; it’s a new code, and I will announce it at rehearsal Monday.

Last year, it seemed that tickets were prohibitively expensive. But they have restructured pricing to make seats more affordable for 2023. Part of that plan appears to be making the center seats in each section less expensive (the two aisle seats are priced one tier higher than the center seats). So tell your friends that they can find less expensive seats if they are willing to crawl over the patrons seated at the end of the row!

Back at TMH

Thank you for the successful sectional rehearsals last week. I’m indebted to Ben Acrish, Andrew Hill, and Marc Tartell for preparing the sectional scores and running extremely effective sectional rehearsals, and to Eric Milkie and the percussion section for an extremely productive percussion sectional at TMH. And a big thank you goes to Marge Hone for retaining the Irvington Presbyterian Church for this purpose.

This week, former WSW member Mislav Forrester will be sitting in with the trumpets. Please make him feel welcome! The rehearsal plan is posted.

Our upcoming rehearsals/sites in April are:

• Monday, April 3 at TMH
• Monday, April 10 at TMH
• Monday, April 17 at White Plains HS
• Monday, April 24 at White Plains HS

Tuba soloist

Unfortunately, Rachel Hertzberg had to withdraw from her solo tuba performance with us on May 13. But fortunately, she took the steps necessary to retain the principal tuba with The West Point Band, SSG Keith Kile, so Keith will be going us to play the Beckel Concerto and Kling duo. We’ve updated all of our press materials. I’m looking forward to introducing all of our guests to you in May.

Commission composer confirmed

After starting with a long list of composers who I thought would be perfect for the new commission project, I narrowed it down to a short list, and then identified my first choice. After several emails and a wonderful phone call with them, and I’m thrilled to announce that the 15th Anniversary Commission Project composer is . . . going to be announced Monday night.

Desert Sage at Lincoln Center

This Sunday is the New Trier High School Wind Ensemble performance at Lincoln Center. Conducted by Matt Temple, the band will be performing Michael Markowski’s Desert Sage (all movements) on their tour program at David Geffen Hall tomorrow evening, Sunday, April 2 at 7:00 pm. Marc Tartell and I are joining Michael Markowski for the performance. This concert is open to the public; you can purchase tickets here. FYI – Tickets range from $20-$100.

Register anticipated absences

Thank you to everyone who has been using our new Google Form for WSW Absences to register anticipated absences and how your music folder will make its way to the sub. This is particularly important now, while Katharine Filatov is stepping in as Interim Personnel Manager. For reference, the link is also posted on this blog’s home page.