Last evening was a milestone for our ensemble in many ways:

• The Master Class with Don Batchelder was well-attended, much appreciated, and incredibly profitable in many ways.
• The clarinet section responded quickly and positively to Geoff’s weekend email, and came together to rehearse for a full hour before rehearsal.
• It was a special honor to have Peter Sis visit rehearsal last evening. He was most impressed with the sound of the ensemble, and was clearly moved. He will be returning for our dress rehearsal on February 10 and the concert on February 11.
• The progress we’re making with the Husa is truly amazing. I know I have said this before, but it is so sincere: I am so very proud of your work on this piece, and I am really looking forward to the final product at the performance.

The progress we’ve made with the Husa is considerable. Next week (at New Rochelle) we’ll have Tom McCauley to give his honest and thorough assessment of our progress, and what we still must do to bring this piece to its highest potential.

Percussion – Don’t forget we’re meeting at 5 pm next Monday for the percussion sectional. Please bring a sack meal, and we’ll break to eat between the sectional and full rehearsal.

And here, as promised, is the Big 10 Directors panel discussion about Karel Husa from the conference. (I edited this now so the discussion begins right at the beginning of the track.) Total time is about 55 minutes. If you have the time, it’s truly fascinating.

We have a lot going on today/tonight, all at TMH:

• 3:00 pm – Master Class with Don Batchelder
• 6:00 pm – Clarinet sectional
• 7:30 pm – Rehearsal, including Don’s solo pieces,  Husa movements 1 & 4, and we expect Peter Sis to stop by.

But no snow in the forecast! See you tonight.

Thank you for a great rehearsal last night! I am so very proud of your work on this difficult and diverse program. Every week we come closer and closer to what is surely going to be a knock-out concert!

I am so very, very excited to have Peter Sis joining us next Monday. Thanks again to Ben Acrish for putting me on the trail to find him. Take a look at his NYT bestseller, The Wall. We are indeed fortunate to have found someone who witnessed the Soviet invasion of Prague 50 years ago. I really think his visit will put an entirely new spin our our experience with Husa’s masterpiece.

A few of you reported that my posting of the rehearsal schedule over the next few weeks was confusing. I’ve made edits and corrections to make it all clearer. Next week’s Master Class and rehearsal are all at TMH. The following two weeks’ rehearsals (January 22 & 29) will be held at New Rochelle High School. On January 22, the percussion section will gather for a sectional at 5 pm, and Tom McCauley will be on hand that evening to listen to Prague and clinic our work thus far. I know his insights will be tremendously helpful.

I flew down here to Tampa this morning and am giving a clinic on Thursday at the Florida Music Educators Association Conference. It’s in the mid 70’s here and I miss the sub-freezing temperatures of New York. (NOT) When I return, I will drive back up to Amherst, Mass for the second rehearsal and concert of the Western Mass District Band. And then, suddenly, it will be Monday again! I doubt I will have the time to send another rehearsal reminder for January 15, so this will probably be it. I’m looking forward to seeing all the brass players who indicated attendance at the Master Class. It’s open to anyone who’d like to observe, so don’t hesitate to come. And member band directors’ students are welcome as observers as well.

Have a great week — I’ll see you Monday at TMH!

Although there’s a little precipitation starting now, current forecasts show it turning to snow and ending by 7:00 pm. I think we’re good to go for tonight.

We’ve asked Andre to make sure the heat is up and running in time for the start of rehearsal at 7:30 pm.

Also note — no percussion tonight, due to the sectional. See you all soon!