Rehearsal plan for this Monday

The rehearsal plan is posted on the home page. Please check it to stay abreast of the work we’ll be doing on Monday. Also, please be sure to complete the health screening form before coming to rehearsal. We need to continue to ask everyone to complete these quick forms weekly for everyone’s safety until we all get the final “all clear.”

Caramoor updates

In my latest discussion with Kathy Schuman, we agreed that our traditional 1812 Overture finale is just not appropriate this year. I’ve pitched several alternate plans and am hoping to have a final approval in the next week or so.

Regretfully, Matt Podd had to withdraw as our arranger for the vocal numbers this year, because of a family situation which currently requires a great deal of his time. (However, he is still on board for his solo appearance with us on May 7.) Fortunately, Kathy took my advice and invited Barton Green to write this year’s arrangements; we are very fortunate that he has agreed to do so.

This July we’ll be remembering the monumental work of composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim with three separate numbers, instead of a medley. Our soloists will be Caramoor Rising Stars Christine Price, soprano, and Thomas West, baritone. Our Sondheim collection will include:

• Being Alive, from Company (Thomas)
• Send in the Clowns, from A Little Night Music (Christine)
• You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow/Love Will See Us Through, from Follies (Christine & Thomas)

This set combines iconic and memorable numbers by Sondheim, and will end with an upbeat standout duo. Barton has agreed to complete the arrangements by mid-May, and we’ll start to rehearse them as soon as the scores/parts are ready.

I’ll investigate the discount ticket situation for this year and share when confirmed. What I do know is that they are planning on a return to full capacity seating (about 1700) again for 2022, along with printed programs.  

Just a reminder that there’s no rehearsal on Monday. We meet again next Monday, March 28.

Please check the rehearsal plan at wsw.ebernet.biz. Have a great week.

Sad news

I regret to inform everyone of the passing of Chris Larsen’s father-in-law, Douglas Marshall Schultz, on Wednesday of this past week. Please join me in extended sincerest condolences to Bethany and Chris.

First rehearsal – this Monday, March 14 at 7:30 pm

We restart rehearsals this Monday, starting at 7:30 pm in TMH with all personnel. Please continue to use the back stage door entrance. I’ve reconfirmed the use of the hall with both Megan and Karina, and have been told that all of our chairs, stands, and percussion are where we left them.

Please be sure to complete this quick health form on Monday before coming to rehearsal. 

The plan for Monday is to re-read through the entire program that was planned for February and migrated to May. But I also want to allow time for everyone to get reacquainted, welcome back players we haven’t seen in a long time, and welcome new sub players as well. The last time we were all together was November 29 — over 100 days ago — so we want to allow for the space that everyone needs to re-adjust to rehearsals once again.

The rehearsal plan is posted on the home page of this site. 

Vaccination required; masks optional

As we are about to restart rehearsals, please keep in mind that vaccinations and boosters are still required by both Tarrytown Music Hall and Caramoor. If you have not yet done so, be sure to send David Church a copy of your updated vaccination card (redact your birth date if you wish). Masks will be optional as we restart rehearsals. We want everyone to feel secure and safe. Please respect the decisions of players who wish to attend and rehearse with masks, as well as those who decide to attend and rehearse without them.

Barton Green accordion solo arrangements updated

After the Winter Concert was canceled, Barton and Matt Podd got their heads together and talked further about the arrangements. This resulted in some updates and corrections. So please pull and recycle those three parts from your folder (Oblivion, Tico Tico, and Clarinet Polka). We will hand out replacement parts on Monday night. If you are practicing and rehearsing from PDF’s, find the new parts updated in this folder. All the revised parts are clearly marked as REVISED.

Library/folders

For full disclosure, I have these folders and will bring them with me on Monday:

• 1 – Piccolo
• 9 – English horn/Oboe 2
• 16 – Clarinet 1
• 22 – Clarinet 2
• 24 – Clarinet 3
• 29 – Clarinet 3
• No folder/parts only – Bass clarinet
• No folder/parts only – Alto sax 2
• 50 – Trombone 1
• 59 – [empty]

I also have the file with all the extra parts, and will bring that as well. I believe Nancy has a few folders in her possession as well, and I expect that she’ll bring them as well.

In closing

As always, inform David Church, Personnel Manager of any anticipated absences or emergencies. You are welcome to cc me, but it’s critical that David know about any exceptions to your attendance. Our goal continues to be to run all rehearsals with all parts covered.

Enjoy the weekend, and get psyched for our return to the stage at TMH! I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone and making music with the full band in anticipation of the May 7 concert.

IMPORTANT! Personnel form for May/July

Here’s a reminder that we are asking everyone to complete this form to update your participation in the upcoming Spring (May 7) and Caramoor (July 2) concerts. Thank you to the 29 members who already replied. Everyone else — members and all subs — please complete this form by this coming Monday, February 28 so we have adequate time to cover subs as needed and be ready for our first full rehearsal on Monday, March 14.

Sad news

I’m very sorry to share the news that the father of Rachel Eckhaus, Allan Eckhaus, died on February 6, at the age of 86 at his home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  His wife, Naomi, as well as Rachel and her siblings, were at his side. Click here for Allan’s obituary. Please join me in extending sincerest sympathies to Rachel and her family.

Health updates

Ed Herko Sr., was discharged to rehab about 2 weeks ago after more than 4 weeks in the hospital after suffering a stroke in January. His son, Ed Herko Jr., reports that his father showed some initial progress in starting his rehab but unfortunately, various blood levels went out of range causing him to return to the hospital last week. His speech remains unintelligible and full feeding assistance is required. The family expects Ed Sr. to return to the comfort of his home in the coming days, where the care of hospice and love from family visitation will fill his remaining chapter. Our thoughts go out to Ed Sr and his family during this extremely difficult time.

Marge Hone has returned home after an unexpected vacation at Westchester Medical Center and Burke Rehabilitation Center, after a slip-and-fall on the ice outside her home on February 9. The surgeons repaired her broken hip and she is convalescing with physical therapy. She hopes to be driving again by the time we have our first rehearsal on March 14.

Baby news

Congratulations to Liz Day on the birth of her second child, a son named Isaac Austin, born on February 7! 

Isaac Austin Day

Congratulations as well to Janice Vuoso on the birth of her first child, a daughter named Julianne Patti, born on February 9! 

Julianne Patti Vuoso

Wedding Bells

I’m thrilled to share the news that my longtime friend and colleague (and WSW guest conductor), Mallory Thompson, has announced her engagement to Jay Kennedy, Vice Provost of the Berklee School of Music. They plan to marry in December in Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University. I am incredibly excited to serve as her Man of Honor, and Nancy Golden (flutist in the Northshore Concert Band, and Liz Day’s host during our Exchange Concert in 2015) will be her Woman of Honor. Mallory will continue to teach and conduct in her role as Director of Bands at Northwestern University, and Jay plans to retire from Berklee in October. The couple plans to reside in Chicago. 

Jay wrote two works in honor of Mallory, which were premiered last weekend at Northwestern: Catapult (premiered by the NU Symphonic Wind Ensemble) and Be Ever the Hope (premiered by the Northshore Concert Band). Be Ever the Hope is especially beautiful and meaningful; its acronym is Mallory’s middle name. And so I flew out to Evanston last weekend to surprise them both for the Northshore concert. I saw many of our Northshore friends, including Nancy, Laura Stibich, Dr. Joey Bello (WSW soloist and upcoming guest conductor on May 7), and Mislav Forrester, who “jumped ship” from WSW to NCB when he moved to Chicago a couple years ago. This was Northshore’s first performance in almost 2 years back in their home at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. The program also included several WSW favorites: Nitro, by Frank Ticheli and Whatsoever Things, by Mark Camphouse. The program concluded with the Finale from Symphony No. 2, by David Maslanka.

Plan to see both Catapult and Be Ever the Hope on future WSW programs!