Plaque Dedication on November 8

The Golden Knights Music Parents Association has rescheduled the plaque dedication ceremony for next Saturday, November 8, at 4:45 pm. The unusual time was scheduled to coordinate with the return of the NVOT Marching Band from their afternoon performance at Bergenfield. The plaque will be installed in the NVOT Auditorium Lobby next to the plaque honoring Dr. Dean Simpson, and there will be a reception as well. This is NJ Teachers Convention weekend, but if you’re going to be around, I hope you might be able to stop by and say hello.

WSW Concert on November 9

My Westchester Symphonic Winds have their season opener next Sunday, November 9 at 3:00 pm at the Tarrytown Music Hall. The concert is sponsored by the Kensico Cemetery, as they celebrate their 125th anniversary. My programming for the concert focuses on works which connect concepts and the notables interred at Kensico. Our guest conductor is Dr. Peter Martin from the University of Southern Maine, and our guest tenor soloist is my wonderful friend, Jeff Goodwin. We were thrilled to have Michael Markowski, composer of City Trees, visit our rehearsal last week, and we expect that he’ll be joining us for the concert as well. It will be a joyous and exciting concert. If you live in the area, I hope you will consider attending. Tickets are available at www.tarrytownmusichall.org.

Masters

I’m really enjoying my second year of teaching at The Masters School. The American Library Association “READ!” campaign poster, originally taken at NVOT, has reappeared at Masters, and has triggered a whole new campaign. I’m very happy to be a part of it. I’d enjoy the opportunity to show you around campus and take you to lunch, so please let me know if you’re in the area and would like to stop by.

Guest conducting

I enjoyed my invitation to conduct the Saratoga-Warren County Music Educators Association All-County Band last weekend. With only six hours of rehearsal over two days, it was fast and furious, but I was very proud of the students’ performance. It was truly the most attentive and most focused honor ensemble I’ve conducted so far. They really set the bar for future groups I conduct.

Next Wednesday I have the pleasure of conducting the combined wind ensembles from Wallkill and Washingtonville High Schools for their finale at their Exchange Concert. Jack Stamp’s Gavorkna Fanfare and David Holsinger’s The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron will be performed by the massed band. The concert is at Wallkill High School at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 5. If you live in the area, please stop by!