I just returned from Somerset-Berkley Regional High School in Somerset, Massachusetts, where I conducted the 2020 Southeastern Mass Sr. District Band. It was a terrific festival with outstanding, hardworking players, who gave a great performance of Hazo Ride, Whitacre Sleep, and Reed Armenian Dances, Part 1. A dream program in many respects!

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At least we’re not worried about a snow event this week. I ran errands with the top down today; it was so warm in the sun. So TMH should be very comfortable for winter cycle rehearsal tomorrow night. See the rehearsal plan that is posted. 

We hope to have a plan in place for next week when we meet Monday night. We knew that TMH was not available, but all of our backup venues are closed for MLK Day, and we will have to punt. But we’ll have a decision in place by the time we gather Monday. See you then.

2020 is here!

This ensemble has been rehearsing through 5 decades — the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, 10’s, and now the 20’s. That’s pretty amazing. I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and you’re eager and ready to play some great music again.

Midwest Clinic

I had a wonderful time at the Midwest in Chicago. I lost track of how many concerts and clinics I attended. I heard some great new works, and spent time talking with composers and potential future guests. We had a grand celebration after Mallory Thompson was presented with the 2019 Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor.

Among the many friends and colleagues I saw in Chicago, I had the chance to visit with both Darryl Bott and Todd Nichols, and learned that Darryl officially retired on December 31; Todd is now Director of Bands at Rutgers. This means that WSW has had 4 of the Big Ten Directors as guest conductors over the past 12 years: Darryl Bott and Todd Nichols from Rutgers, Emily Threinen from Minnesota, Mallory Thompson from Northwestern, and hopefully we’ll be adding Rodney Dorsey from Indiana to that list next season. 

Grainger House

This past Monday I visited the Grainger House again, this time with Michael Markowski, Jasmine Britt (Brooklyn Wind Symphony), and Dr. Joanne Heaton (from Melbourne, Australia). That place is like an onion; every time I visit I peel back another layer and learn more and more. Next year, in 2021, they will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Grainger’s arrival in White Plains (1921) and the 60th anniversary of this death (1961). We’re planning a collaboration with the Grainger House in May 2021 to celebrate these anniversaries — more on that as it develops. I’m grateful to Susan Colson and Anne Ocone for giving us the grand tour! (Click on the photos below to open and expand them.)

Enjoy the weekend — see you Monday at TMH for a prompt start at 7:30 pm!

Confirming: We are still rehearsing tonight, but we will not take a mid-rehearsal break, and we’ll end in time to get everyone out by 9:30 pm, because of the pending weather and snow/rain/ice mix. A quorum of Board members agreed this was best. 

See you in a bit.

It’s hard to believe, but the year has come and gone. It’s been a year filled with great rehearsals and moving performances. I’m proud of my association with each of you!

For rehearsal this Monday: Remember that we cannot enter until 7:00 pm on Monday, but please come in plenty of time to set up, greet friends, warm up, and be ready to rehearse at 7:30 pm. A prompt start is something that’s important for all of us. There are no rehearsal on December 23 or 30. Our next rehearsal is Monday, January 6.

As a small holiday gift, here are the recordings from July’s performances of the 1812 Overture and The Stars and Stripes Forever at Caramoor. We didn’t have room to include them in the 2018-2019 CDs, so here they are.

See you Monday!

1812 Overture

The Stars and Stripes Forever