Please read this entire message (following this link makes it easier) and answer the quick poll at the end of the post. I will be updating the rehearsal plans for Monday later today.

We have our final rehearsal of the calendar year this Monday at TMH. Bill Owens and Chris Venditti will be joining us to work on the Carmen Fantasia.

As announced last week, The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry (10 minutes south of Tarrytown) has invited us to perform a 45-60 minute concert on Saturday, January 10. Call would be 6:00 pm, concert at 7:30 pm. Large percussion would be rented and put in place for us.

We carefully consider all invitations that land at our doorstep before presenting them to you. This seems to be a good opportunity for local exposure to new potential patrons/donors, giving us a vehicle for educational outreach, allowing us a mini-dress rehearsal for January 25, and affording an excellent financial opportunity (the school will be making a sizable donation for our performance).

Rep will be pulled from the January 25 concert program:

• Ticheli – Nitro
• Bryant – Marbled Midnight Mile
• Williams – Fanfare & Allegro
• Bernstein – Candide Suite
• Tchaikovsky – Finale Sym No. 4
• Optional encore: Anderson – Bugler’s Holiday (if soloists are willing)

The WSW Board has unanimously approved the event. In order to confirm this performance, we need a strong response from you, the players. We hope that you are available to play! Please fill out the form below no later than Monday, December 15 at 5 pm. We need to be able to confirm our intention to perform at rehearsal on Monday before everyone leaves for the 2-week break. Many thanks.

We’re back at TMH this Monday for our last two rehearsals of 2014. I’ve updated the Rehearsal Plan. Please note that the short time reserved for Tchaikovsky will focus mainly on the piu mosso at m.84-92. Please give some practice time to the new Kabalevsky parts. (I have the English horn, string bass, timpani, and percussion parts which were missing last week, and will bring them Monday.)

I’ve communicated with our trumpet soloists, Bill & Chris; they will be coming on December 15 to work with us on the Carmen Fantasia.

If you did not return your response for the Chicago Exchange trip last week, please download/print a Trip Commitment Form and bring it this Monday. We need a final count in order to make further plans about this exchange.

Please remember that we may no longer use the rear parking lot at TMH. See you in Tarrytown on Monday!

I hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday. Please remember that we are rehearsing this week, December 1, at Scarsdale Middle School. See the Rehearsal This Week page for our rehearsal order and directions to SMS.

On Monday, we’ll be handing out the Hunsberger arrangement of Colas Breugnon, and collecting the Beeler arrangement. Please make sure you have the Beeler with you on Monday for the trade.

Please bring your Exchange Commitment Forms on Monday night. As we discussed, if you are unable to absolutely commit by Monday, please indicate your best intention at this point, and give us a date by which you can confirm. If you need another copy of the bulletin or commitment form, click here. We are hoping for as close to 100% participation as possible, which is what we saw in the informal count last year.

I realized tonight that the emergency post about the rear parking lot seemed to have been emailed multiple times. I apologize for this!

One more note – a performance opportunity: John Palatucci, who subbed in on euphonium with us last spring, is inviting players to play for a performance of Pepper Choplin’s “Once Upon A Night” at his daughter’s church.  Details include:

IMPORTANT! It’s very important that no one parks in the rear lot tonight!
Beginning tonight, until further notice, there is no parking available in the rear lot behind TMH, as they prepare to resurface the entire space.
Please plan ahead to park elsewhere.
Spread the word to those who may not check their email in time, and remember that we are setting up to start at our regular time, 7:30 pm.
See you then.