Great First Rehearsal
I am really excited about the coming season.  Many of you made great strides during the summer break and it showed in our first rehearsal.  Based on this, I may have to change a couple things planned for the Spring.  We'll see.

This is what I posted to Facebook before I drove home to Indianapolis:
"Jose shouts 'way to go, MAYO!'  That was the best first rehearsal ever!  Every year, you all reach for more than before."  I still think that highly of our first reading.

Now, we will work on details starting next week.  I'm looking forward to it and I hope you will see the results in an ever-improving quality of preparation to perform in public.

Congratulations to the Concerto Competition Winners
I also want to congratulate our winners of the concerto competition.  Misha Sanderson won the Senior Division and will perform Zigeunerweisen  by Pablo de Sarasate.  And, JuHyun Lee, as winner of the Junior Division, will perform the 4th movement of the Edward Elgar Cello Concerto.  We will have music available in a few weeks.

Rehearsal Notes
Remember to work on the Holst this week as you practice.  Work carefully on the challenging part in The Planets, in the Jupiter movement, at number 17.  Ask your teachers for some help if you're having trouble with it.  A good fingering will help especially with the violinists and the violists.

Also, please listen to the music we will be playing.  Research through the public libraries or even through YouTube. 

Here are some links.  Share other:
Holst: Mars     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBbHcpF3nqo
                       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NeQ1h6lzLI&feature=related
Holst: Venus   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzQ45P6KjTg
Holst: Jupiter   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6NopU9K_8M&feature=related
Mozart: Symphony 41, 4th mvmt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l2HQdZuV3U&feature=related
Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhyzk6Ty-Ms&feature=related
Elgar: Cello Concerto, 4th mvmt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rjudv2woxQ

Rehearsal Plan
Please be in your seats at 6:30 with your instrument warmed-up, ready to tune, and ready to pay attention to any announcements.
6:30 Announcements and Tuning
6:40 Mozart (clarinets/trombones/tubas instruments will have sectionals on Holst)
7:30 Holst, movement 2, Venus
7:50 break
8:05 Holst, movement 4, Jupiter

Oh, and the first person to send an e-mail to me indicating they read this will receive special recognition at the next rehearsal.  Who will it be?

Thank you for coming to the 2009-10 auditions.  We enjoyed meeting each of you! The season is going to be a fabulous journey as we work on Mozart, Holst and more.  Tune in for the Maestro's weekly blog.