It’s hard to believe that this is our fifth concert at Caramoor — amazing! Our dress rehearsal is set for this Monday at 7:30 at TMH. Meredith and Miles will be attending, and we’ll work with them on the West Side Story medley first, then work through the rest of the concert in program order. No confetti, ping-pong balls, etc. until Wednesday night!

Please arrive on the grounds at Caramoor on Wednesday by 3:30 pm. Sound check rehearsal will begin promptly at 4:00 pm, dinner is 6:30 pm, concert is 8:00 pm. White tops/black bottoms, no jackets or ties for men.

We realized that we need to collect concert commitment info before we all depart next Wednesday. Please complete the form below by Monday. Use the form embedded below or click here to go to the form page directly.

Finally, there’s a great jazz concert coming up on Sunday, July 15 at 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
The New Rochelle Jazz Orchestra
Ruby Dee Park – Library Green, New Rochelle, New York 10801
Featuring WSW players David Church, Ed Herko, Susan Winthrop and Al Silverman

Thanks for completing the form. See you Monday and Wednesday!

Rehearsal last night

Thanks for another productive rehearsal last night. As we close in on our fifth Caramoor appearance, I need to ask for your help, especially when the air conditioning is on. The AC is loud. With it, it’s difficult for me to hear, plus it forces me to use my “outdoor voice” constantly for more than two hours. If at all possible, I’d rather not ask Andre to turn it off. But in order to make that work, I need to respectfully ask that we eliminate the constant murmur completely during all rehearsals — AC or otherwise. It’s just too much to process audiating everything required in the scores, as well as listening around the talking plus the rush of the wind. This should be the standard anyway; it’s even more important with the AC on. I appreciate your professionalism in this matter.

Rehearsals on June 25 & July 2

I’ve already posted the rehearsal plans for the last two rehearsals. This is because I’m checking into the Grand Hyatt tomorrow through Sunday, to conduct the National Middle School Honor Band rehearsals and performance at Carnegie Hall Saturday night. Then I fly to Chicago early Sunday morning for Marietta Paynter’s memorial service, and return Monday morning. There’s just no time in there for planning rehearsals. So I had to do it today.

Two comp tickets for Saturday night

If anyone is interested, I have two unclaimed comp tickets for my Carnegie Hall performance with this national honor band on Saturday night at 8 pm. In addition to the national honors choir and string orchestra, my program includes:

• Saucedo – American Barndance
• Sheldon – Lindbergh Variations
• Balmages – Rippling Watercolors
• LaPlante – In the Forest of the King
• Saint-Saëns – Pas Redoublé

If you’re interested in the two comp tickets, please email me. I’m happy to reserve them in your name for pickup at the box office. They should be very good seats.

Otherwise I’m going “off the grid” until Monday. Please focus your practice on the spots you know are the Achilles heels in this program! See you Monday.

I forgot to post Marge’s reminder to bring $15.00 tomorrow night if you’d like a 30th Anniversary CD.

And here’s some inspiration for your 1812 practice!

I’m here in Austin for the weekend visiting Skippy Tull (Fisher’s daughter). We’ve been discussing her father’s work, her brother’s legacy, and enjoying the warm weather of Texas while visiting Six Flags Fiesta in San Antonio. (See additional photos at the end of this post.)

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers, grandfathers, and daddy-wannabees in the group! I hope everyone enjoys their special day tomorrow! Special greetings to father-son members Ed & Eddie and father-daughter members  Dan & Emily.

We rehearse again on Monday back at TMH. Meet under marquee at 7:30 pm, wait for Children’s Theater to clear, then we’ll set up the stage. Because of the late start, this will be another “rolling bathroom break” rehearsal. (Please plan ahead, but don’t hesitate to take action as needed.) We have two working rehearsals remaining (June 18 & 25) and then our dress rehearsal (July 2) will prioritize the integration of our soloists, Meredith and Miles.

Caramoor

IMPORTANT: If you have any specific food/allergy requests for Caramoor, please alert me by Monday night, so I can pass this along to them.

REALLY IMPORTANT: We just received a donation from Caramoor, via CEO Jeff Haydon, for $1000.00, in honor of our 30th anniversary! This is not only a wonderful financial gesture, but says so very, very much about Caramoor’s support and their trust in us. Please keep this in mind as we continue preparations, and especially on July 4.

Sound Beach Concert Band outreach

Holly Saks (WSW horn sub Scott Bernitt’s twin sister) has reached out to us on behalf of the Sound Beach Concert Band, which is looking for members to join in all sections. They rehearse weekly (Tuesday evenings from 7:00-9:15) at the Sound Beach Volunteer Firehouse at 207 Sound Beach Ave Old Greenwich, CT 06807. All performances include food and beverages. Click here for their rehearsal/performance calendar. Contact Zach Kampler, Music Director, for membership information. Note that you are welcome to play for any individual performance cycle; you do not need to commit to their entire season to play their July & August band shell concerts. I’ve guest conducted this group several times, and it’s a lot of fun!

Six Flags Fiesta

If you already know I’m a little coaster-crazy, stop reading now. If you’re curious, here are some photos from yesterday’s trip to Six Flags Fiesta in San Antonio.

The new single rail coaster, Wonder Woman Golden Lasso (first in the US!):

The view from the back seat. No fear here!

Skippy Tull and me waiting to board . . . .

this train . . .

bound for this lift hill:

before plummeting 180 feet on an 87º descent! This was our favorite; we rode three times. It was a great day!!!

If that didn’t get your heart racing, our rehearsal on Monday certainly will! See you then!