Happy New Year!

It seems that I have three “New Years” every calendar year. There’s the traditional New Year on January 1, the summer New Year around May 1, and the school New Year around September 1. I’m writing tonight to catch up on some news since the latest New Year.

Plaque Dedication

If you’re in the area on Saturday, October 11, please join me for a special ceremony at Northern Valley-Old Tappan HS. At my retirement dinner, the Music Parents announced that their retirement gift to me was a bronze plaque acknowledging my contributions to the NVOT Music Department. I am especially humbled by this honor, as the plaque will be installed next to the bronze plaque honoring my mentor, Dr. Dean Simpson, in the NVOT Auditorium Lobby, 140 Central Avenue, Old Tappan, NJ. This plaque will be unveiled and dedicated on Saturday, October 11 at 3:00 pm. There will be a reception following the ceremony as well. It would be great to see you. I wonder if the bronze plaque looks like Han Solo’s carbonite transport. I guess you’ll have to come on October 11 to find out.

WSW concert season

it’s hard to believe, but I’m starting my seventh season with my wonderful Westchester Symphonic Winds. This past season was exceptional, and included our combined performance of Carmina Burana with the Northern Valley-Demarest Choir and Ars Musica, plus our debut at the Caramoor Festival on July 4, attended by a packed house of 1700. I added 70 handbells to the traditional performance of 1812 Overture, and the combined effect was amazing. And apparently, it was impressive, because we’ve been invited back for the Fourth of July 2015. Check out the YouTube video of the handbell climax of 1812, below. The concert this past July sold out, so mark your calendars and go online early to buy tickets at caramoor.org.

This season, our Tarrytown Music Hall concerts are scheduled for Sunday, November 9 at 3:00 pm; Sunday, January 25 at 3:00 pm; and Saturday, May 16 at 8:00 pm. We will also be traveling to Chicago in June to perform in an exchange program with the world-renowned Northshore Concert Band at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at Northwestern University (yes, where I played all my undergrad and grad concerts) on Sunday, June 14 at 3:00 pm. It will be an exciting and emotional journey to Evanston, and I have an exceptional program selected for that concert. Please consider attending one of these terrific performances this year.

Roller Coasters

It seems it’s just not enough to ride them, I have to document my crazy obsession with video. I bought a pair of HD video glasses, which recorded my ride on Bizarro at Six Flags New England in June. Enjoy.