I’m in the process of writing a newsy post about the upcoming 30th season, which I hope to send out tomorrow, but I need to share this right away.

It’s with great personal sadness that I share the news that David Maslanka passed late on Sunday night. He had a short two-month battle with colon cancer.

We performed David’s Give Us This Day in both Tarrytown and Evanston in 2015, and his On This Bright Morning in Tarrytown (2016) and Syracuse (2017). I was a member of the Northwestern SWE in 1981 when we premiered his Piano Concerto No. 1, and Mr. Paynter subsequently premiered his A Child’s Garden of Dreams the following year at NU. The first field trip I took at NVOT was with my Concert Band to hear the Northwestern SWE perform A Child’s Garden of Dreams at Symphony Space in 1982. In the mid-80’s, while visiting the Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library, I literally bumped into David while browsing the stacks. The happenstance conversation that followed, about his compositions and his work with Mr. Paynter, is still fresh in my mind. His Symphony No. 4 is one of the most powerful works I’ve ever experienced, and I hope to program it with WSW someday. But he was also able to write for developing bands; I performed his Rollo Takes a Walk with my 9th grade Concert Band at NVOT in 2008 and 2012, a delightful and accessible piece for young players.

I wrote to David in 2015 when I programmed Give Us This Day, and his son, Matt, replied on his behalf. I’ve written to Matt to convey condolences on behalf of our ensemble.

There will undoubtedly be scores of tributes and memorials in the coming months. I will keep you posted.

I’m including an iconic recording of his Symphony No. 4, below. If you have 28 minutes to spare, I urge you to find some headphones and a corner to sit alone with this amazing music. The work defines cathartic.

We have received very few orders for the most recent season’s recordings – so our Board is wondering if you simply didn’t have a chance to place an order. This year’s compilation will include Pictures at an Exhibition, Aspen Jubilee, Machu Picchu, the Bolcom Soprano Sax Concerto with Chris Creviston, and much more!

The deadline has been extended to August 1. Media choices once again include CDs, SD cards, and thumb drives. Please take a moment to complete the form below. Payment can be made when you pick up your recording in September.

Hurry! Don’t miss out!

Forgive me for taking so long to write to congratulate you on our final performance of the season at Caramoor. Your work was exceptional, and the outcome was marvelous. As Paul said, “The band has never sounded better!” and I am very proud of your work!

It was unfortunate that the fireworks were cancelled, and the tech crew’s schedule superseded our intention to hang together after the concert to celebrate. That change was as much a surprise to me as anyone else. I’m sorry that I did not have a chance to thank each of you individually after the concert.

I have a meeting scheduled for August 22 with Jeff Haydon (CEO) and Kathy Schuman (incoming VP for Programming, taking Paul’s position). I’m eager to discuss next year’s program with them.

Lastly, I want to pass on this invitation from Brian Worsdale. He is hosting an adult band camp at French Woods Music Camp, in Hancock, NY during the week of September 11-17. Anthony Maiello is the guest conductor. Yes, it’s scheduled after school begins, and conflicts with our first rehearsal, but this is an outstanding opportunity for any of you who might be interested and available at that time. See the flyers attached, below. (Yes, the noted deadline is July 15. If you’re really serious, contact me and I’ll contact Brian on your behalf.)

I’ll be in touch again when the programming is completed for 2017-2018 and I’m ready to share the concert programs with you. Until then, enjoy your summer!

Our fourth Caramoor performance is one week from tonight! I’ve made detailed plans for the remaining two rehearsals:

• Monday’s rehearsal will once again allow extra time for the Broughton, in preparation for our only rehearsal with Amy on Wednesday. We will rehearse everything on the program except the Burns. There will be a mid-rehearsal stretch.
• Wednesday’s rehearsal will be a modified run-through of the program:
  • All works will have uninterrupted play-throughs, in program order.
  • I’ve planned for 33 minutes to rehearse with Amy, hopefully giving plenty of time for a run-through, rehearsal of needed spots, plus another run-through.
  • There will be no mid-rehearsal stretch (because the concert has no intermission), but I have added about 2 extra minutes to each work’s run-through time to allow for mini-breaks throughout the rehearsal, to resemble the breaks we’ll have next Saturday for Bob’s introductions between pieces. It’s necessary for everyone to prepare both physically and mentally for the rigors of this rehearsal and the performance three days later.
• Saturday’s schedule:
  • 2:00 pm – Percussion rental is delivered. WSW percussion: let’s decide on an arrival/setup schedule on Monday night.
  • 3:30 pm – Everyone, please arrive on site no later than 3:30 pm for personnel check-in with David. As in past years, there are two dressing rooms reserved for WSW players upstairs behind the upstage cyclorama wall. Feel free to arrive in casual dress, and change clothes at the dinner break.
  • 4:00 pm – Soundcheck rehearsal, including rehearsals with Ryan Silverman, Bob Sherman, Amy McCabe, and the hand-bell ringers
  • 6:00 pm – Dinner break
  • 7:50 pm – Meet stage right and stage left to take the stage together
  • 8:00 pm – Concert downbeat
  • 9:45 pm  (approximate) – Concert ends. Everyone turns in folders. Early departure members head for cars asap. Everyone else, feel free to follow the crowd to watch the fireworks or join us for the post-concert debriefing in the backstage stage left picnic area. Feel free to bring adult beverages for celebrating!

Other final details:

• I will confirm auxiliary bell ringer information with those folks who volunteered at the end of rehearsal on Monday. Please see me in the pit when we finish.
• I have been assured that there will be gluten-free offerings on the dinner table this year. Ask the server to identify those selections. (If you have any reservations about this, I suggest bringing a backup meal of your own, just in case.)
• I need a final hand count of early departure parkers on Wednesday. We just need a count, not a list of names.
• Attire for this concert is white shirts/blouses (unbuttoned, no ties, no jackets; long or short sleeves are fine), black pants/slacks/skirts; black dress shoes and socks (plain black dress sandals for women is fine, but no white of any kind and no flip flops, please).
• We will collect all folders following this performance. It’s very important that no one take their folder home by mistake! Section leaders: please help us by double-checking your section when the concert ends.
• Thank you to the 35 members who already completed the Concert/Dress Commitment Form for next year. If you did not complete it by the deadline yesterday, please do so by Monday. David will be checking in with everyone who has not replied on Monday night. It’s really important that we know the landscape of our personnel for next year as we begin the summer break, so we can plan for auditions to fill in anticipated openings and begin the season in September with a full roster.
• Thank you to the 10 members who placed orders for the 2016-2017 compilation CD’s, SD cards, and Thumbdrives. Please place your order by July 1 for immediate fall delivery. (No money is due now; you can pay for your media on delivery.)

I hope that covers everything. Enjoy the weekend, see you Monday evening! And practice!