Marching through March

March is never an easy month. It begins with the All-School Musical, moves on to the Prism Concert, and ends with a trip somewhere. And since 2008, there’s usually a Westchester Symphonic Winds concert thrown in there somewhere as well. That concert occurred in February this year (maybe I learned something?), but we have another one next month, in April, at the Association of Concert Bands National Convention in Poughkeepsie, so there is plenty to keep me busy. In addition, my mother, Helen, is going for her second shoulder replacement surgery next week, so I’ll be heading home to see her after the surgery. (Tim is heading out to be there with her on surgery day and to bring her home, so she won’t be alone during those critical days.)

The Wedding Singer at NVOT

I’m very proud of this year’s production of The Wedding Singer. Once again our cast, crews, parents, and community supported us through three sold-out shows. We are very fortunate, and never take our resources for granted. I am grateful for the talents and dedication of our director, John Housley, who has the dynamic vision for these productions. This was Tim’s fifth show as Make-up/Hair Designer, and he also doubled as Floral Designer (all those wedding and bar mitzvah scenes needed flowers!)

The next program coming up is this week’s Prism XXI Concert, on Thursday, March 22 at 8:00 pm. Admission is free, and the program is part of the school’s week-long observance of our 50th anniversary. Northern Valley-Old Tappan opened its doors on March 19, 1962, relieving the crowded conditions and the overflowing student body at Northern Valley-Demarest. This is the twenty-first year in which I’ve strung over twenty instrumental music selections together into a continuous multi-media format. The concert includes some of my favories — Eric Whitacre’s Sleep and John Mackey’s Undertow. Our featured guest artists are the Garden State Saxophone Quartet. Rob Quinn, bari sax player in the quartet, is an alumnus of NVOT, and also plays principal bassoon in my Westchester Symphonic Winds. it’s a pleasure to welcome Rob and the quartet. The other ensembles featured include the Wind Symphony, String Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Beginning Band, and several student soloists and chamber ensembles. If live in the area and you’re free next Thursday, please stop by.

After this concert, I’ll be zipping out to Lititz to visit mom. I hope family and friends will keep her in their prayers over the next week until she’s past the surgery and into the recovery phase.

And then, the following week, we take the Wind Symphony, String Ensemble, Concert Choir, and Chamber Singers to Orlando to perform at the Disneyworld Music Festival. This will be our fourth Disney trip, and I know the kids are psyched for it. It’s always fun watching them enjoy this trip with their friends, renewing and making new friends, and creating memories for a lifetime. Well, that and I get to go to Disney. I can think of worse things, even if I am going with 100 high school students.

April will bring the ACB convention, and May brings a guest conducting appearance with the New Jersey All-State String Orchestra. Plans are forming for the summer as well. We are returning to our house in Cherry Grove, Fire island, for the season. My friend Mallory Thompson will be returning for my Wind Conducting Symposium in June,  I will be conducting the South Beach Community Band in Greenwich in July, and I will be teaching a new music education workshop at Northern Valley. I’m looking forward to it all!