Here are the details for the two repertoire projects I described last evening at rehearsal:

And We Were Heard

First, here is the link to the site for And We Were Heard, the project that supports new compositions for wind band by female and minority composers. Please check out the link, I think you will find that this is an interesting, forward-thinking, and worthwhile project for us.

Bracket Repertoire Project

In the past 11 years, one of my goals has been to support ensemble participation, and I think it’s a great idea to utilize member ideas in programming. A few years ago I polled the band to find the most popular work that the ensemble wanted to program the following year. It was a failure, because I got 56 responses and 56 different titles. In the end, I cast the deciding vote – the March from Symphonic Metamorphosis, by Paul Hindemith.

This time, the project will involve bracketed choices, two works at a time, drilling down to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, and two final choices. You can submit multiple works for consideration if you’d like, but know that I have veto power for any work that I believe is too difficult or inappropriate for the group’s growth, or that we have played recently (five past seasons or so). I hope every member will submit at least one nomination. And this project is intended just for our members, not the whole world. (Otherwise, we could end up playing the Baby Shark Dance!) So don’t hesitate to tell friends how cool this is, but let’s keep the nominations and voting “in the family,” please.

For each piece you nominate, please include the composer, arranger (if applicable), title, movements (if applicable), and the URL to a quality recording. When I set up the brackets, you’ll be able to listen to works with which you’re not familiar, and gain some insights into rep you don’t know. It’s a win-win!

When you finish, you can click to submit another nomination if you wish. I’ll keep the nominations open until Tuesday, March 26, then set up the bracket. I’ll then create a separate Google Form for the actual voting. The end goal is to program the winning composition during the 2019-2020 season!

Click here for the nomination form, or use the form below.

I just received this message from Megan, the Stage Manager at TMH:

Heads up. We had a kids show today, and they are storing equipment in dressing rooms / around stage and in wings. Please don’t pull up spike tape on floor. If there are issues with the scenery (don’t think there will be) be gentle, it’s card board!

So please be aware that we are sharing the space on and off stage this evening with equipment from this show. Please be aware that there is scenery around and about the stage, and spike tape (important to their performances) on the stage floor. Please take extra care when moving chairs, stands, and percussion, and lift items as necessary on stage so as not to rip up the spike tape. Our access time before rehearsal is not affected.

This children’s show continues production next week, and that is the reason we had to move the March 18 rehearsal to New Rochelle.

See you tonight at TMH.

Yes, it’s an all-French rehearsal this week. We’re rehearsing all five movements of the Milhaud and the Les Miz medley.

On Wednesday, I discussed a project with the Board, to engage all of you with talking about and listening to great works for band. The project will involve an NCAA-like bracket, and the end result will be the group making a decision about programming one work in the 2019-2020 season.

11 days until Spring. Hang in there. See you Monday.

From the reports I see, it appears that the snow will be heaviest overnight tonight, ending before the rush hour tomorrow morning. We may see some school delays, or possibly closures in the direct zone of heaviest snow, but I am confident that everything will be under control by tomorrow evening, and our rehearsal will not be impacted.

Chris Wilhjelm has written to all the bands participating in ACB to encourage participants to book hotel rooms at the Hilton Woodcliff Lake. Apparently, the anticipated number of rooms booked is way under predictions at this point. I consider Woodcliff Lake, NJ to be “local” for all of us, so I never had any expectations that members would stay overnight (as we did in Syracuse), but if you are interested, here is the information and booking link directly from Chris:

Dear Friends, 

Here is quick convention update regarding our room reservation requirement at the hotel:

Yes, I realize it is possible to find cheaper rooms at another hotel. This hotel however is willing to provide us with a beautiful facility and incorporate it into a discounted room price. If we fail to meet the room requirement it will place an incredible debt on the host.If you haven’t already done so, please encourage your membership to book a room for at least one night. We will gladly comp your membership with additional day passes for every additional night they are booked. (Excepting the evening receptions as we have have an additional charge for these which is worked into the convention registration price).
The link for the convention is www.acb2019.org – there is a link there for the hotel reservation but if you want a direct link to the hotel reservation:  https://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/W/WODHIHF-ACB-20190423/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Thanks, Chris

if you find that you’d like to stay overnight either before or after our performance on Saturday, April 27, please use the link above.

I doubt that we’ll need another communication tomorrow. Unless you hear from me again by noon tomorrow, assume that everything is GO as planned. Stay warm, stay dry. See you tomorrow evening.