Category Archives: Schedules

NJSO comes to WSW

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A new season, a new look for our poster!

Jeff Grogan, our guest conductor for the Fall Concert, will be rehearsing the Hearshen this coming Monday night. This will be the first of two rehearsals (plus the dress rehearsal) he’ll be attending. You may remember that Jeff is one of the assistant conductors of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and it is a special privilege to have him working with us.

Jeff will be arriving fresh from a weekend at University of Michigan, where he served as Assistant Director of Bands. They are presenting him with a distinguished alumni award at the football game tomorrow. Congratulations, Jeff!

I’ve taken direction from the Board to re-design our concert posters. You see the result above. Click on the poster above to download your own copy to distribute electronically or print and post. Remind friends and family that they can purchase season tickets and save $15/ticket at www.seatyourself.biz/westchestersymphonicwinds – just tell them to click on November 4 and they can purchase their season tickets from that date.

I’m still working on rehearsal notes from last week. It’s especially important for the Hearshen notes. I will post those notes tomorrow so you can read them before Monday’s rehearsal.

Have a great weekend and don’t forget to practice!

Dress rehearsal change

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Fall Concert Dress Rehearsal Date Change

Unfortunately, we must announce a change in the dress rehearsal date for the Fall Concert. TMH has accepted a booking for our original date of Wednesday, October 31, and informed us as such. Thursday, November 1 is already booked at TMH. Tuesday, October 30 gives us no positive dress rehearsal reinforcement, as it’s one day after our regular Monday rehearsal, and five days away from the concert. And it’s not possible to simply use the Monday night rehearsal as the dress, as we already have only 7 rehearsals in this cycle.

Considering all our options, the Board has backed my decision to move the Fall Concert dress rehearsal to the only slot possible with TMH — Saturday, November 3, 1:00-4:00 pm. We recognize this is not ideal, but I am asking everyone to do everything possible to help us make this work with minimal collateral damage. Please take a hard look at that afternoon, and “clear the decks” if at all possible. It’s not ideal for me either, but I will make it work so we can make this happen together. We will not ask anyone to refrain from playing the concert for missing this dress rehearsal, but for the benefit of our best performance possible, I am asking you to please do what you can to help us make this work. This is the best we can do in the wake of a booking that was out of our hands.

 

Rehearsal May 14

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Please remember that we are rehearsing tonight at Pelham High School, 575 Colonial Avenue, Pelham. Click here if you need directions. Remember that we use the Middle School entrance on the north side of the building. Also, avoid parking on the street adjacent to the building. The parking signs are a bit ambiguous and members have gotten tickets in the past. Stick to the “real” parking spaces.

Also please remember that I asked that we be prepared to work until 10:00 pm as necessary. I’ll do my best to keep it on the early side, but I can only do so if all members arrive on time, and are warmed up and ready to go for a prompt 7:30 pm downbeat. Joey Bello will be attending the Wednesday rehearsal at TMH, and we need to be prepared for another 10:00 pm end that night as well.

See you tonight!

Only 2 Mondays remaining!

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This cycle is going by at blazing speed. It’s hard to believe our next concert is less than 2 weeks away, but it’s true.

Brian Worsdale, our guest conductor, will be attending our rehearsal tomorrow night (at TMH), and next Monday night (in Pelham), to rehearse the Hazo – Arabesque. We have a lot to work on. Please check the current rehearsal schedule and be ready to roll promptly at 7:30 pm. If you haven’t already listened to the sound files, I strongly urge you to do so. It will be a tremendous help.

Because we’re running on a tight schedule, I feel I need to ask for your support to rehearse  until 10:00 pm on both May 7 & 14. If you ride the train to Tarrytown and need to leave at 9:45 pm to make the return train, please do so — I don’t want to create hardship. But I do think that extra 15 minutes is needed, and I think you already agree. If you haven’t already listened to the sound files, I strongly urge you to do so. It will be a tremendous help.