WSW at Hudson Valley Music Club, February 27

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The Hudson Valley Music Club is presenting members of the Westchester Symphonic Winds on Monday, February 27. The time is 1:00 p.m. at the Dobbs Ferry Woman’s Club, 54 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry. Tickets at the door are $15, but we may have a few guest tickets available, so let Marge Hone (margehone@gmail.com) know if you want to come.

Here’s the program: Woodwind Quintet (Marge, Claudia, Ericka, Jennifer and Tim): works by Poldowski (a really delightful suite); a Persichetti Pastoral, and Hindemith.

Also–Marge and Dr. Lyn Christie playing flute and string bass duos: Mozart, Beethoven and Lyn’s arrangement of Bach (from the Well-Tempered Clavier).

Hope you can come and cheer us on!

Marge

WSW Brass Recital

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Please consider coming to the WSW Brass Recital this Thursday evening at 7:30 pm at Mamaroneck High School. WSW members Denise, Tim, Mandy, and Scott are all playing on the program, and it sounds fantastic! Download the flyer here.

Thanks for a great rehearsal last night. We accomplished the goal of establishing our program for the ACB convention. I’m really looking forward to this cycle with you.

See you next on Monday, March 5 (unless I see you Thursday night!)

A day of surprises/Bernstein

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Well, it certainly was an afternoon full of surprises. I must first thank Ed & Michelle Herko for their kind and highly personal gesture in endowing the Conductor’s Chair in the name of my teacher and mentor, John P. Paynter. I can’t imagine a more significant expression of support than this. As I tried to say, I am both humbled and challenged by this endowment, and I will endeavor to do everything possible to honor this gift appropriately. Thank you.

The concert itself had some wonderful moments that were exceptional. There were also some curious moments along the way. I will try to cover both ends of the spectrum and invite your input when we meet tomorrow night.

Please go to the New Music page, then type in the password which protects the page — wsw1248 — then select the PDF for your part. Please be sure to scroll to the specific page of your part, and print only that range of pages! Don’t click Print before you’ve chosen the range of pages (so you don’t print them all), and I also suggest you select “Shrink to fit” if possible. Don’t forget to tape the pages together as well, so you don’t have a “wardrobe malfunction” with your music onstage.

If you don’t have access to download/print these parts, or if this is outside your comfort range, email me directly, and I’ll be sure to bring a part for you.

Thanks again for a great day — see you tomorrow night at 7:30 pm at TMH. Click here for the rehearsal plan.

Rest up for tomorrow!

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I hope everyone has a chance to rest and reflect today, to prepare for our program tomorrow. Please do plan to arrive and be in your seat, warmed up, by 1:00 pm. I will restrict our sound check playing to only those pieces/sections that really need to be hit. I’m sure you agree that there are some sections of the George and Copland that will benefit from one last review.

Monday will be here before we know it. I am planning to read everything on the ACB program. Please come prepared with that mindset. This includes:

  • Hazo – Ride
  • van der Roost – Puszta (I-II-III)
  • Whitacre – Sleep
  • Bernstein – Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
  • George – Firefly
  • Mackey – Strange Humors
  • Cheetham – ABA Symphonic March

As described earlier, this is an important rehearsal because we will not be rehearsing on February 20 or February 27. Our next rehearsal will be March 5 — only 7 weeks to go until our national stage debut! Please know that I intend to read all the pieces, but not try to rehearse intensely. We will also be using a “test drive” arrangement of part assignments for trumpets, horns, and percussion. These principal players will then have the experience of the rehearsal plus 3 weeks to consider permanent assignments until we meet again on March 5.

Have a great day — see you tomorrow!