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Sent May 31, 2004
Dear alumni orchestra players,
The Stillwater Orchestra Weekend is only two weeks away! Please review the following important information... some of it has recently changed.
PRACTICE
The early rehearsals have gone well. That said, it's important that you practice and know your music very well before the rehearsals, because we are on a very tight schedule. Mr. Hainlen's main section of concern is Capriccio Espagnol, from section V to the end. If you're performing on that piece, please study that section closely, and consider attending the extra rehearsal scheduled for June 7.
REHEARSALS
The dress rehearsals on June 11 and 12 are MANDATORY for all players. Remember that rehearsal begins at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, so you should have already made arrangements for time off work and travel to Stillwater that morning. Please remind all your friends. If you can't make the dress rehearsals, please e-mail rsvp@stillwaterorchestera.org, so Mr. Hainlen can look for a replacement player.
Please review the rehearsal schedule and seating charts to see when you're playing.
Arrive 20 minutes before you're supposed to play to tune and prepare, so we can spend as much time as possible working on the music. You can leave your coat and case in the band room, and tune in the choir room. Music teachers will be at the school to help you get tuned.
We have added an additional RECOMMENDED full orchestra rehearsal on Monday, June 7 at 7:00 p.m. This rehearsal will be used for technical work on Rimsky-Korsakov and Brahms.
CONCERTS
The concert will be performed in traditional black concert attire. Men should wear tuxedos or dark suits, with black bowties, neckties, or Mandarin buttons. Women should be dressed entirely in black, but do not necessarily need to wear a dress. All players should wear black socks/hosiery, and black shoes.
Because of the extremely complex stage changes involved in these concerts, we'll need to be very organized and very quick so the program continues to flow.
You should arrive at the high school ONE HOUR before the start of the concert. Enter through door 43W (by the art rooms) and go to the band room (B-113). You will leave your coats and cases in the band room, and tune in the choir room. Music teachers will be in the choir room to help you tune and solve last-minute issues.
Seats in the back of the auditorium have been reserved for players, so you can watch the concert while you're not on stage or waiting to go on stage. But for the piece BEFORE you play, you must be lined up in the long hallway outside of the stage door. Several of the pieces are short, so be sure you're there on time. Large seating charts will hang on the wall, so you can find your place in line. Student volunteers will be help line you up, and Mr. Dennis Lindsay, SAHS band teacher, will be the stage manager.
Sheet music for all pieces will already be on the stands, but you may also bring your own on stage with you.
After each piece, performers will leave through the opposite side of the stage, behind the second violins. Players who are staying for the next piece will move to their new location.
After the Copland, players will stay in the same seats for the Elgar, but will be joined by anyone else who wants to play. The extra players should be waiting in the hallway, and grab one of the wire stands lined up along the wall. If the audience is enjoying themselves, we'll play an encore - you'll hear about it when we rehearse the Elgar.
TICKET EXCHANGES
We have a limited number of tickets for exchanges if your family has tickets to a performance on which you aren't playing. E-mail rsvp@stillwaterorchestra.org to arrange an exchange. These exchanges are on a first-come, first-served basis.
AFTER THE CONCERT
Of course, we're making arrangements for fun things to do after the Friday and Saturday night events. We'll have details soon. If you have any ideas, e-mail alumni@stillwaterorchestra.org.
VOLUNTEER MEETING THIS THURSDAY
If you're interested in volunteering to help in other ways, or if you have family or friends who are interested, we will have a meeting this Thursday, June 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the Stillwater Area High School auditorium. Many volunteers are needed. You can also attend the meeting if you want to hear the latest weekend plans.
SEATING CHARTS, ASSIGNMENTS, AND REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
You can find the latest versions of both of these on the Web site: http://www.stillwaterorchestra.org/weekend/concert/players/
THANKS
On behalf of Mr. Hainlen and everyone working on the Orchestra Weekend, thank you for playing. Bringing this group together has already been an incredible experience, and the weekend will be a great time.
See you soon!
- Matt
alumni@stillwaterorchestra.org
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