The plan for our final Monday night rehearsal is posted. Please read the notes for next week carefully. It is a complex and full schedule. The slate of performers is already confirmed for the Master Class on November 5. This is optional, but of course all are welcome.

Please also take a look at the notes that Michael Markowski sent after last week’s rehearsal with him. I’ll be going over these as quickly as I can on Monday, so it will help if we get eyes on them before Monday.

Volunteers needed on November 2 & 5

As noted on the home page, we need some volunteers to come early/stay late on these two dates to help setup/tear down, so we can use our time most efficiently and not ask our saxophonist guests to take responsibility for our setup. Pizza and soda will be provided on both dates. (Yes Virginia, these are bribes.)

• Wednesday, November 2 – Arrive early by 5:30 pm to help set up percussion, chairs, and stands for the full ensemble. Saxes rehearse that evening from 6:00-7:30 pm before our full rehearsal with Chris.
• Saturday, November 5 – Stay late after we finish our dress rehearsal (ending at 11:00 am), listen to the sax ensemble dress from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, and help tear down percussion, chairs, and stands at the close of the dress. (There is a TMH event on stage that evening, in between our dress and concert.)

I”ll take a hand count of volunteers for both dates on Monday evening. Thanks in advance.

Share, SHARE, SHARE!

Our anticipated success with our 35th Anniversary Technology Fundraiser rests squarely on asking all our members to share the fundraising site. There’s no expectation to contribute, but we need your help to share the campaign. Please copy/paste the site address below into your social media posts, direct messages, and emails to friends and family. This fund could be extremely successful if we leverage SMALL donations from a LARGE number of donors — but to do that we need to ask everyone to participate in sharing the information.

This is the landing page for the campaign: https://donorbox.org/wsw-35th-anniversary-fund

You can also find the campaign on our ensemble website and on our Facebook page. 

Tickets for the November 6 concert

Here is the link to our Box Office page for the November 6 concert. NYS regulations now require box office fees to be included in advertised prices, so our $20 General Admission tickets are shown as $25, and our $15 Senior/Student tickets are shown as $20. US Military and Veterans will be admitted free of charge to this concert only; they can obtain walk-up comp tickets in the outer lobby on arrival. (Honor system in effect for these comps.)

Information about Friends & Family tickets will be sent via a separate, direct email. Please be sure to read this important information!

Remember to care for yourselves

As we continue to navigate this period of the pandemic/endemic, please continue to be vigilant and care for yourselves. I always hope for a full roster at rehearsal, but am realistic too. Self-test as needed, and contact David when it’s necessary. But also be careful of slippery floors, doorways, and busy highways. There’s a lot out there that could disrupt our progress. Just be careful, please, and make good choices.

Saxophone master class with Chris Creviston

Chris is willing to lead a master class with area student and adult players on Saturday, November 5, 3:00-5:00 pm (site will be Fonseca Center Recital Hall at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry). I put out the registration info and form to all the saxophone ensemble members, but have received only one registration. If you have a saxophone student (or a saxophone quartet – ahem, WSW saxophones!), please consider registering. Advertised deadline is October 10, but obviously I’ll be flexible. Click here for info and registration, or email me directly with questions. Observers are welcome to attend the Master Class; there’s no admission fee.

35th Anniversary Technology Fund

We’ve had a decent kickstart to this fund-raiser, but your help is needed to share our goal. Share this link https://donorbox.org/wsw-35th-anniversary-fund on your social media pages, via email, and on your personal sites and blogs. Much can be accomplished through crowd-sourcing — a large number of small donations ($25-$50) — and this method can go a long way! We’re also thrilled with large donations, but the idea here is to try to encourage lots of donors across all donation levels.

This Monday’s rehearsal includes everything but Markowski

Check here for the rehearsal plan and more for October 10. Michael will be visiting to work with us one week later. (That rehearsal on October 17 will be a ‘late start’ rehearsal because of a TMH musical theater rehearsal. Please plan to arrive at 7:30 pm and be ready to move when the all-clear is given.)

Program ads due October 24

We haven’t had program ad revenue in over 2 years. Please consider contributing to a section ad, or reaching out to family or local businesses to support an ad. If you have program ad forms/payments, please bring them on Monday and give them to Tom Sweezey, who is helping me to organize the submissions. The deadline is firmly on October 24. This only gives me a week to put the book together.

Reminders for Fall Concert performance week

Please book these details in your personal and family calendars:

Monday, October 31 – no rehearsal (Halloween)

Wednesday, November 2

• • 5:30 pm – Hall opens
  • 6:00 pm – Saxophone ensemble rehearsal
  • 7:30 pm – WSW full ensemble rehearsal; focus on Waignein with Chris Creviston, other works TBA

Saturday, November 5

• • 9:00 am – WSW dress rehearsal (Pre-Americana/SSB, Kennedy x 2, Waignein, Markowski). Clear percussion at end of dress.
  • 11:00 am – Saxophone ensemble dress rehearsal
  • 12:00 pm – Clear stage (WSW volunteers needed to stay and listen, and then assist with clearing stage)

Sunday, November 6

• • 12:00 pm – Hall opens (Crew will preset chairs, stands, risers, and percussion)
  • 1:00 pm – Sound check for all
  • 3:00 pm – Performance
  • 5:00 pm – Crew clears stage for us. Reception for all (sponsored by the Herko Family) at Christ Episcopal Church, 43 South Broadway, Tarrytown — one block from TMH.

Monday, November 7 – no rehearsal
Monday, November 14 – Winter Concert reading rehearsal. This will be another ‘late start’ rehearsal; plan to gather at 7:30 pm to await the all-clear.