HCB Message from Dave

Hi all,
Thanks so much to everyone for such a great concert on Tuesday night! I’m very glad that the weather cooperated (for the most part) to allow good attendance both in the band and for the audience. Jane and Gerry, we certainly missed you!
I was very happy with the musical results of all of our repertoire and it seemed that any of those rough patches were smoothed over by the time of the performance and I applaud you for that extra effort. I was also really pleased with the physical set-up on Tuesday night. I could hear all sections of the band very well , and I believe that the sight lines were much better too. I know that it was hard to see me on the podium from the drum set though, but you made it work, Mike and George! Awesome!
I also really appreciated the kind words from Becky on everyone’s behalf to thank me for my direction and conducting over the last 10 years. It really has been an honour and a privilege to have worked with all of you season after season and It has given me the gift of your friendship, and that cup is overflowing! Also, I have been able to rehearse and conduct many band pieces over the years that would have been out of reach for me in my own school programs back in the day. You all bring that level of skill to the group, and with such musicality, and I am very proud of that! Thank you❤️
A few tidbits… Daniel, we all love the English Horn! More please!…. Holly and Fiona, we are in exceptionally good hands moving forward and I look forward to lots of great band music in our future. Thank you!!…oh, and nice horse whinny, Holly! …..A special thank you to Whirl Winds and to Patricia Madden and Alison Roe-Smith for your prelude music…such fine and in-tune playing and great repertoire! You were a hit!!….and to all, you all looked marvelous and sounded even better! Bravo!!!…Bravissimo!!!!!
Now, I look forward to moving to the back row with my low brass buddies! I will be traveling a fair amount from now until the end of the summer so I won’t be able to attend all rehearsals and concerts but I am still very much a member of this great group!
I hope to see you all at the Christmas dinner on Tuesday night and look forward to celebrating the season with you.
Take care and have a safe and happy holiday time!
Dave

HCB Concert tonight is on!

Concert is a GO for tonight. Please bring your stand, music/stand light (if you feel it’s needed) and best playing chops. Please be at St Agnes by 6:15 for individual warm up. Enter through the main sanctuary doors from the parking lot; gear and cases may be left in the auditorium. Please bring any valuables with you into the performance space.
Thanks Becky

HCB Concert and Rehearsal to go ahead as planned

WE WILL PROCEED tomorrow as planned, including our dress rehearsal tonight….
Hoping that the weather will cooperate.
May not have either Holly & will not have Fiona next week, so another layer of the strata had to be considered.
Hope to see you tonight! And again, many thanks for your input.  Please pray for rain and light winds…
Cheers, Becky

HCB Details for the Monday HCB Dress Rehearsal and Tuesday Performance

Hi all,
First of all, just a reminder that our dress rehearsal this Monday, Dec. 1st will run from 6 to 7:30 pm in the band room at the West.
I am also including concert details (meet times, concert dress, etc) for our Dec. 2nd Christmas concert at St. Agnes Church.
For the dress rehearsal, we will run an abbreviated version of our concert program (in order of performance) as follows:
1) Warm-up-Bride of Assorted 2) Fanfare for Christmas 3) Dreams of Christmas 4) Greensleeves 5) Gesu Bambino 6) Merry Christmas Darling 7) A Christmas Festival 8) With Every Winter’s Breath 9) Sleigh Ride 10) Minor Alterations 11) Grown-up Christmas List 12) Ring, Ring, Ring 13) Themes from Nutcracker 14) Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
*Details for the Dec 2nd concert are as follows* 1) *Set-up at St. Agnes* *Church* (for available volunteers) is*Dec 2nd at 12 noon *     (Address is *6903 Mumford Road,* *Halifax)* 2) *Concert meeting time* for all members at *6:15 pm in the church hall* 3) *Warm-up and tuning at 6:50 in the church*. *Concert begins at 7 pm. * 3) Everyone please *bring a music stand for the concert (except flute, oboe, clarinet and percussion) * 4) *Dress is formal black concert dress* (appropriate Christmas accessories welcomed) 5) *Please encourage family and friends to attend*
*Equipment loading is set for 7:30 pm on Monday evening, Dec. 1st (directly after our dress rehearsal) at Halifax West HS at the loading doors by the back of the cafeteria*. Please offer your services if you are able to help load percussion gear into the truck at that time. *Set-up for the concert at St. Agnes Church is set for 12 noon on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd. *This will be done through the church hall doors using the ramp. Volunteer members include *Dave Staples and others TBA.** * * * *Returning the gear to Halifax West HS is set for Wednesday morning, Dec 3rd at 8:00 am *at the same loading doors. Volunteer members include*Dave Staples and others TBA.* * * *Our volunteer announcers are Sandra Logan, Rhea Fisher, Koen Schlief, Heather McCracken, Heidi Firth, Stephen Holloway, Becky Campbell, Donna Huffman, Perla Canales and Daniel Morrison. *I will arbitrarily choose which program selections each one of you will announce and send a copy of those program notes to each of you by email before Monday, Dec. 1st.*
If you have an issue with any of your selections, please let me know asap by email at davestaples54@gmail.com*

HCB Rehearsal Notes Tuesday Nov 25

Hi all,
Here are the rehearsal notes for Tuesday, November 25th. Also, a reminder that there will be a *_dress rehearsal on Monday, Dec.1st from 6 to 7:30 pm_ *in the band room at the West for those who can make it.
1) Chorales-Bride of Assorted 2) Ring, Ring, Ring. 2) My Grown-up Christmas Wish 3) Fanfare for Christmas 4) Dreams of Christmas 5) Greensleeves 6) Gesu Bambino 7) Merry Christmas Darling 8) A Christmas Festival 9) With Every Winter’s Breath 10) Sleigh Ride 11) Minor Alterations 12) Themes from Nutcracker 13) Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Thanks and see you on Tuesday. Dave