I don’t want to jinx it, but it looks like we’re going to have a decent weather week for our concert. We are so fortunate!
We have rehearsal on Monday, the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, and the concert on Sunday. Everything is updated on the front page. Please be sure to take a look. We’ll have Trish and Josh with us again on Wednesday, and of course on Sunday.
My birthday fund-raiser on Facebook met the goal of $1000 rather quickly, so I doubled the goal to $2000. As of this afternoon, $1300 has been contributed. I’ll keep it up through concert day, and maybe the expanded goal will be met. I’m very grateful to the members of the band who contributed — thank you so very much!
I’ve been notified that there is construction going on inside the Music Hall, related to their general maintenance upgrade. It will affect us in these ways tonight:
The marquee entrance will NOT be available for entering or exiting the Hall tonight. Use the stage door at the back of the Hall when you arrive and depart.
The apron of the stage has been removed for maintenance.
Percussion stored under the apron is available for our use. It’s currently stored somewhere at the front of the orchestra. We’ve been instructed to return all percussion to where we found it tonight.
This means we have less stage space, and everything will be pushed upstage a bit I recommend that you leave non-essential items for the rehearsal in the wings.
This also means we will likely not be able to pull the Steinway to the front of the setup for the Gershwin. Most likely, it will remain stage right for tonight only. I’ve been assured we’ll have it in the correct place for the dress rehearsal, the next time Josh comes to play with us.
We MAY use the front orchestra seats for cases and coats. There is no restriction tonight as there was 3 weeks ago.
The lights will be on when we arrive and MUST STAY ON AS IS following our rehearsal. Do not touch any light switches in the building.
The Board meeting will go on as scheduled, in the Studio upstairs above the marquee at 6:15 pm. My guess is that we need to use the Main Street staircase entrance on arrival, then depart down the staircase after the meeting, and walk around the building to the stage entrance when time to move to rehearsal.
I think (and hope) that’s it. See you all in a little while.
I think my fears of losing TMH on Monday to the snow date for the children’s theater have passed. This system seemed to generate nothing but rain in the mid-Westchester area, and I’m sure they will not need to schedule a snow date on Monday.
On Monday, we have both of our guest artists joining us. Trish Cornett will be coming up from Temple University to conduct her set of three piano-inspired pieces (Bolcom, Copland, and Grainger), and Josh Pierce will join us to play the Rhapsody in Blue for the first time. Note that we’ll set up as normal for the 7:30 start, then move the piano into place before the Gershwin.
I’ve added the press release and concert flyer to the Resources page. Download and share them liberally. I’ll also be bringing 100 printed copies of the flyer for distribution at rehearsal Monday, In addition, Rachel will have tickets available for sale on Monday as well.
The concert is two weeks from tomorrow, Sunday! See you all on Monday!
We are rehearsing at Bethany Arts Community in Ossining on Monday. Details below. IMPORTANT: YOU MUST BRING A MUSIC STAND!
Margaret Flood, former WSW clarinetist, has organized a FREE Conducting Symposium at University of Miami, featuring our friend Emily Threinen
Trombones sought for Westchester Chamber Soloists Orchestra
West Point brass concert tonight at 7:00 pm
Rehearsal Monday in Ossining
Here is the detailed information Ed Herko shared as directions/details to Bethany Arts Community, where we are rehearsing on Monday. Please note the directions, and we’ll see you there on Monday evening. The rehearsal plan is posted.
Bethany Arts Community, 40 Somerstown Road, Ossining, can be accurately found on Waze, Google maps and MapQuest using this address. Note that Somerstown Road is also known as Rt 133. Upon entering BAC property (note there is a 1-way loop with an exit and entrance), proceed up 1-way driveway to parking lot on backside of building. Doors will open at 7:00 pm for our 7:30-9:45 pm rehearsal. We have the space until 10PM. IMPORTANT: Please bring a folding music stand. If you have lighting concerns, bring a stand light, just in case. Each player may be asked to sign a simple hold harmless release upon entrance. We will advise where to place cases upon arrival.
Directions from Southern Westchester / Tappan Zee / Cuomo Bridge: Take Saw Mill or Sprain Brook (North) to Taconic State Parkway (North) crossing over onto Rt 9A (North). Proceed 1 mile and bear left remaining on Rt 9A to avoid Rt 100 exit on right. About 300 yards after 2nd traffic light on Rt 9A, exit and turn Right onto Rt 133 (Somerstown Road). Proceed 0.4 miles to BAC entrance, which is immediately after Cooper Drive. (See 3rd picture below). BAC is 13-15 minutes from Tappan Zee / Cuomo bridge. Rt 9/9A south from Peekskill or Croton: Take Rt 9 South and exit left onto Rt 9A south after passing thru Croton. Proceed up Rt 9A thru 1st traffic light (Rt 134). Take 2nd exit after Rt 134 light (1st exit is Ryder Road) and make right at end of exit ramp onto Rt 133 (Somerstown Road). Proceed 0.4 miles and make right into BAC immediately after passing Cooper Drive. From Taconic Parkway (Southbound): Exit at Millwood, proceed thru traffic light at end of the exit up the hill on Rt 133 (Somerstown Road). Continue 1.4 miles. BAC entrance is the 2nd BAC opening after Tavano Road (on left.)
Map from south:
BAC is between Cooper Drive and Tavano Road:
One-way Entrance to BAC from Rt 133:
Former WSW member, Margaret Flood, organizes FREE symposium
Many of you will remember Margaret Flood, who played in WSW through 2009. Margaret moved to Florida, received her masters degree and is now finishing her doctor of musical arts degree.
She has organized the first Frost School of Music (University of Miami) Young Women’s Conducting Symposium, which will be held this May 2-3. Emily Threinen is the instrumental clinician and Amanda Quist is the choral clinician. Although it is named as the Young Women’s Conducting Symposium, it is “open to everyone, regardless of age, sex, gender identity, and/or gender expression.” There are 20 instrumental fellows and 20 choral fellows, and the symposium is FREE OF CHARGE to the fellows and observing participants. (Cost of travel, hotel, and meals is the responsibility of the participants.)
I had previously reached out to our membership concerning trumpets for this ensemble. This new orchestra is now looking for three trombonists to perform Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute, at their opening concert in March. The first rehearsal is Thursday, January 23 in Hastings-on-Hudson. Their long-term repertoire focus includes lots of classical and some baroque repertoire, with some 19th/20th century works interspersed. The orchestra will be conducted by Allan Murray. See details and contact information at: http://www.studio-hollywood.com/westchester_chamber_soloists/index.html or contact me to put you in touch with their Personnel Manager, Kate Ashby.
West Point concert tonight at 7:00 pm
David Church passed on this information he received regarding a brass concert at West Point tonight at 7:00 pm (snow date tomorrow at 3:00 pm):
We’re kicking off our winter Masterworks Concert Series with a program featuring our brass players and guest conductor Robert Ponto.
Feast your eyes on the stunning setting of West Point’s Cadet Chapel, and your ears on the rich harmonies and soaring melodies of renowned composers like Bach, Brahms, and Holst — plus familiar favorites from Elton John, Bjork, and the Harry Potter movies.
Saturday, January 18, 7:00 p.m. Cadet Chapel, West Point, NY (Snow date: Sunday, January 19, 3:00 p.m.)
