This Monday the Board is meeting upstairs at 6:15 pm. We may have to use the dressing room above stage left if the studio above the lobby is booked; we’ll try to advise before the meeting begins.

I’m going to concentrate on the three big pieces on Monday night: Danyew, Cichy, and Schelle. I wrote to Michael Schelle with some critical questions about his piece a week ago, and am hoping to hear back from him by Monday.

David Marchiony shared this concert info: The Stamford Symphony (including Don Batchelder, principal trumpet, who soloed with us last year) will be performing this weekend – they’re a remarkably excellent orchestra, and tickets can be had for as little as $25.  They’re doing Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Gershwin’s An American In Paris, Joan Tower’s Tambor and Copland’s Clarinet Concerto on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Click here for tickets and more information. It looks like an amazing program!

Enjoy the weekend — see you Monday.

Enjoy the evening off! As of next week, we’ll have only 4 Monday evening rehearsals left, plus the Wednesday, November 7 rehearsal with Robert Ambrose, and our dress on Saturday, November 10.

Please continue to help us promote our Les Miz soloist competition by sharing the Press Release and FAQ’s. Please go to our Facebook page, and share the posting with friends, or just email them the links directly. We know there are more aspiring vocalists out there, eager to sing with us!

And if you’re shopping on Amazon today, and haven’t chosen WSW as your Smile donations subscriber, please help us by doing so! It’s so easy, costs you nothing, and it’s free money for the ensemble. Go to smile.amazon.com and follow the prompts under the search bar near the top of the page. Find our listing under Westchester Symphonic Winds. Then, just update your bookmark to Amazon via smile.amazon.com, and you’ll help us with this easy fund-raising project.

See you next Monday, October 15.

Our goal this week is to stay on track so I can cancel rehearsal on Columbus Day, October 8! Let’s have great preparation and focus for rehearsal Monday to make this happen. Our rehearsal plan is posted. I’ll make the final decision at the end of rehearsal Monday night.

Here’s the news for this week:

• Our ticket information for November 11 will be published on the TMH website this weekend, and we’ll be featured in their email blast on Tuesday.
• We are still looking for a couple volunteers to help assist with the Les Miz auditions on Sunday afternoon, October 28. Speak to or email David. Please recommend the competition to all Broadway singers you know who are still singing only in the shower. Recommend the Press Release and FAQ’s (lots of info therein), and send them on to David to register to audition.
  
• If you played for The Masters School Convocation in the past, and are wondering why you’ve heard nothing from me this year, it’s because the medley event (combined orchestra and Glee Club medley) has been moved to Saturday, May 18. Yes, the weekend after our May concert with the Les Miz medley. I’ll be recruiting players later on in the year.
• If I seem particularly jumpy or sleepy or over-caffeinated on Monday night, it’s because I’m in the final throes of the annual Private Lessons scheduling project. Please be patient with me if I seem dazed and confused.
• I want to recommend the Everything Band podcast once again. I listened to the interview with Emily Threinen this week. Her wisdom is so refreshing. Personally, I’m finding listening to the voices of Mark Scatterday and Frank Ticheli and Emily to be so much more personal than reading an article by them in a journal. Maybe that’s just me.
  And speaking of listening in the car, attention all Apple geeks: If you haven’t already noticed, Waze is now working through your iPhone in Apple Carplay. Just sayin’.

See you Monday evening!

This past week, we sent out a press release advertising our auditions on October 28 for the Les Misérables medley on the Spring concert. Click here to download a copy of the release. Please share this information with any qualified adult soloists who might like to consider auditioning. Send them on to David to schedule an audition time or to get more information. We’re in the process of proofing a Q&A Fact Sheet that will contain all relevant information for anyone who would like to know more. Once proofed, I’ll be able to share that link with you as well.

Please remember Marge’s announcement about dues. Bring in your dues payments ($100 per member per year), payable to WSW, at the first opportunity, and give them to Marge. She would like to finish the dues collection process by October 15.

If you didn’t happen to pick up brochures or bookmarks last week, you have the opportunity to do so again on Monday.

The rehearsal plan is posted. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, see you Monday!