Dear friends,
What a joy it is to be the conductor of the Pops Band. Scripture tells us that “Every good and perfect gift comes down to us from the Father of Lights…” You are indeed a gift from the Lord to me and I treasure every moment in rehearsal that we are together.
Tonight, we have the opportunity to take our audience on a wonderful emotional journey. Let’s do it with focus and by matching the music on the page to the wave of the baton. Last night you were too focused on the written music. You played well, but it was just enough off at times to create muddiness in our precision. Music is not made by staring at the notes-music is made by sharing the music with the director.
As you arrive promptly at 6:30pm be ready to immediately knock out my list of sound check concerns with the Singers.
More details on Thursday night’s mall performance will be forthcoming. Note that we will be rehearsing on December 7th and 14th, then resume after Christmas on January 4. For the upcoming Sousa concert. We will be doing Overture to Candide, Holst Suite in Eb, The Thunderer, Liberty Bell March, Turkey in the Straw, and Stars and Stripes. Can you see the lofty level where we have arrived? CONGRATULATIONS!
Tonight will be your best performance to date! I pray for you every day and give thanks to the Giver of Gifts for you.
Jim