I hope all of you reading this are doing so in your own, warm home, with plenty of light. There were many around us in the neighborhoods where we live and work, who have had some very difficult days since Sandy hit.
On the bright side
We never lost power and we are very lucky and very grateful. We lost some trees on our building’s property, but nothing more serious than that. My Westchester Symphonic Winds concert went off as scheduled, and was a very successful performance. Thanks go out to the dedicated performers and those of you who attended!
We delayed the start of ticket sales for the 50th Anniversary All-School Musical Gala from November 1 to today, so as many people as possible could recover power and purchase tickets. With less than 12 hours into ticket sales, we have already sold more than half of all reserved seats! If you are looking to attend the Gala on November 24 at 7:00 pm (Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend), please visit SeatYourself.biz to purchase reserved seat tickets.
I spoke at Montclair State University again on October 15, this time to the Strings Methods classes, taught by Peg Roberts. Thank you, Peg, for this opportunity.
Cancellations and postponements
Unfortunately, I had to cancel my Fall Instrumental Concert at school. There was simply no way to reschedule it. I will absorb as much of the repertoire as possible into the next concert on December 13.
We also had to cancel the 66th annual North Jersey Band Festival. It saddened me tremendously to do this, but after postponing it twice, there was just no alternative. I learned that many other events suffered similar collateral damage: the New Jersey Teachers Convention in Atlantic City, the New Jersey All-State Chorus and Orchestra Concert, the Bloomfield and Weehawken band festivals. The storm really took its toll on the arts.
Moving forward
It’s time to put all of this behind us, including both storms (Sandy and the presidential race), and move on. I’m playing a solo with the Montclair State University Wind Ensemble on Saturday, December 1 at Kassar Hall. We have the Gala on November 24 and the Holiday Concert on December 13. The new year brings the next Westchester Symphonic Winds concert on February 10 and Legally Blonde at NVOT on March 1-2-3. And there’s lots more coming in 2012!
I hope this finds you and your family safe and warm.
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