Snowmageddon is coming, but not until after midnight. Rehearsal, as planned, is definitely on for this evening, at Tarrytown Music Hall. See you at 7:30.

And remember, we’re sight-reading tonight. See sample part from the Bolcom Concerto, below.

In this post:

• Syracuse concert debrief
• Spring concert preview
• Connecticut Symphonic Winds concert March 11

Syracuse

I received no news of flooding rains and high winds cancelling flights on Sunday, so I assume everyone made it home safely in a timely manner. The trip back seemed so tame compared to returning from Chicago!

I’ve been enjoying the afterglow of your amazing work this past Saturday night. The venture was so successful on so many levels, and I am incredibly proud to be associated with you all.

As I spoke with various groups of members afterward in the Comfort Inn atrium, and later on in the suite upstairs (I counted 17 of us at one point!), there was such a buoyant, positive feeling pervading all aspects of the experience. But the one recurring element was the reaction of the honor band kids, who were truly moved by your performance. I had my back to them, of course, but so many of you saw their reactions, their focused listening, and how the music moved them. And in turn, you were moved by their reaction. It was a true chain of inspiration happening throughout the performance. And the topper was those kids leading the standing ovation when I asked the audience to recognize your efforts and devotion. They really recognized the connection between who they are now and who they could be, watching you perform. That was the absolute best!

Ray Cramer’s attendance, and his kind and generous compliments afterward made the evening even more special. After 30+ years of directing bands at Indiana University and 15 years of serving as President of the Midwest Clinic, this man has heard a lot of bands — so I take his positive response very seriously. In addition, Mark Morette, the audio engineer (who records scores of all-state groups all over the country plus the performances at the Midwest Clinic) actually thanked me for the experience afterwards. I am sure we will get a very fine recording from the event.

I tried to work the Green Room before and after the performance to thank each of you individually; I hope I got to everyone. I do truly appreciate the personal sacrifices, large and small, members made in order for us to be together, 5 hours north of home, for this performance. It says so much about your espirit de corps, and your commitment to music in your life.

This Monday, we start all over again with five new pieces for the Spring Concert. Two works in particular will be especially challenging. First is William Bolcom’s Concerto for Soprano Saxophone. This will feature our guest soloist, Christopher Creviston, associate professor at Arizona State University, who is an internationally acclaimed performer. It is a singular thrill to have him joining us in May, and I’m grateful to Liz Day for recommending us to Chris. Machu Picchu, by Satoshi Yagisawa, is similar to the Galante in that it sounds and feels like a film score. Patrick Burns will be our guest conductor, and he will conduct his own composition, I Loved Well Those Cities, based on the poem by Walt Whitman; Robert Sherman will be our guest narrator. In contrast to the technical challenges of the Bolcom and Yagisawa, Rippling Watercolors, by Brian Balmages, was written as a middle school-level piece, but is a beautifully evocative tone poem. We will also reprise the Hazo and Boerma. And I couldn’t very well have a saxophone soloist without involving our dear friend Lois Hicks-Wozniak, so she will join us for the concert encore — a duet for two soprano saxes, along with Chris. All the new parts will be distributed on Monday night.

Connecticut Winds concert

Charles DePaul, conductor of the Connecticut Symphonic Winds, sent me a notice of their concert this coming Saturday evening at 7:30 pm in Fairfield. See the flyer, attached. If you’re free that evening, please consider attending!

Rehearsal – Monday, March 13 at TMH

We’ll start Monday with some time devoted to sharing reflections on the experience in Syracuse. And then we’ll dig in with the new music. Congratulations once again on your amazing work this past Saturday! See you Monday!

Here is a playlist for your trip northward: the run-through at our dress rehearsal. Please note that the recorder was on stage right behind me, not in the best spot for the brass. But for a quick-and-dirty recording, it does give you a pretty clear idea of where we stand, even if it they are iPhone recordings.

If you want to save these and then transfer to your own device:

• Right click on each recording
• Choose “Save as”
• Navigate and save
• Move to your MP3 player

I’m not including notes. The most important stuff will be obvious. The most important thing is that you be proud of the work that has brought us this far.

Enjoy, and I’ll see you Saturday.

Resplendent Glory

Sòlas Ané

Friedmann Fanfare

On This Bright Morning

Play!

Aspen Jubilee

National Emblem

Dress rehearsal Monday at TMH

We have our final rehearsal on Monday, and I hope you’re getting excited for our second trip together!

On Monday, we’ll rehearse some selected spots in all pieces, take a 10 minute break, then play through the entire program without stopping, and finishing with closing notes, questions, and announcements. Remember that we are back in Tarrytown for this Monday’s rehearsal. The rehearsal plan is posted.

Syracuse weather for next weekend looks decent, with no precipitation forecast for Friday or Saturday. Sunday we might see some rain or snow showers on departure. Cross your fingers!

Emily!

This past week I had the wonderful opportunity to conduct a clinic rehearsal with Aerophone, a community band based in Wappingers Falls. I met the director, Rich Holod, this past summer at the Temple Conducting Workshop. The next evening I drove back up to observe the guest conductor for his Festival of Winds — Emily Threinen! It was wonderful to see her, and she wanted me to pass on to you her greetings and best wishes for the NYSBDA performance.

I’ll see Emily again in March at the CBDNA National Convention in Kansas City. Her vibrancy and energy is palpable. We are so lucky to have had two opportunities to work with her!

Enjoy this beautiful weather — and I’ll see you on Monday!