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Hi all, I just want to say how pleased and proud I am of the band and all of our efforts after last night’s great concert at Saint Agnes Church. This story repeats itself year after year, and all the effort can seem a little daunting to put together a solid Christmas concert with limited time and various unforeseen challenges but I’d say we have that down to a fine art by now and based on comments from family and friends last night and today, our performance last night ranks as one of the best. Mark and Andrea, your duet performance was the icing on the cake!
A number of people I have talk to really did enjoy the variety of MC announcers  last night, and I thought it added a great deal of interest to the background stories of the music. It also gives audience a chance to hear from members of the band in such a pleasant way and we all thank those members who step up to the task and did so well. It was fun scripting the program notes for this year’s show, and there will be an exam!
As I said last night, thank you to each and everyone for your hard work, your music and your dedication to this organization. It makes it all very worthwhile and I hope to see as many of you as possible at the supper next week. Our next rehearsal will be on Tuesday January 9, beginning at 6:30 pm in the band room of Halifax West HS.
Thanks Dave.

1. *Concert meeting time* for all members at *6:15 pm in the church hall. *2.**Please use the front doors (centre) of the church when they arrive at St. Agnes Church. 3. With few exceptions, bring your own stand and, if you need one, a stand light. 4.**Warm-up and tuning at 6:50 in the church*.* *Concert begins at 7 pm.
*Thanks* *

Please use the front doors (centre) of the church when they arrive at St. Agnes Church on Tuesday night. This is to ensure that members don’t use the church hall doors for the evening concert and therefore keep the public from using those doors as well.
Thanks Dave

Hi all, Because of all schools being closed today, we are having to cancel our dress rehearsal at the Halifax Regional Arts Centre at Oxford School this evening. Apart from having to adjust our equipment pick up times from the school to tomorrow morning, all other planned activities for our concert tomorrow will be as scheduled.
That means that concert set up at Saint Agnes will still be 12 noon tomorrow along with the evening schedule times and details for the concert. If possible, please review your music at home this evening and I’m sure we’re going to have a great show tomorrow night. For those who have volunteered to move equipment, I will contact you directly this morning to see if you are able to come in to Halifax West School tomorrow morning instead.
Thanks and I’ll will see you tomorrow.
Dave.

Hi all,
Here is the rehearsal order for our dress rehearsal this coming Monday evening Dec 4th (6-8 pm) at the Halifax Regional Arts Centre in Oxford School. Our rehearsal order is the actual order of the Dec 5th concert program and I am including a pdf attachment of the program for your reference. Also included are details for the dress rehearsal, concert day set-up, concert meet times and concert dress, truck equipment loading/unloading and member lists of volunteers for announcing, set-up and moving crews. *
Please note the new set-up time (12 noon) for the St Agnes Church concert day set-up. *If you notice any errors or omissions with any details (volunteer lists, etc.) please contact me asap by email at davestaples54@gmail.com
1) Chorales-More Assorted 2) Fanfare for Christmas 3) Sleigh Ride 4) Cantique de Noel 5) Two Duets (Mark and Andrea) 6) The Most Wonderful Time of the Year 7) Merry Christmas Darling 8) Echoes of the Silent 9) The Eighth Candle 10) Greensleeves 11) White Christmas 12) A Christmas Festival
For our *dress rehearsal on Monday December 4th*, we will be at the *Halifax Regional Arts Centre *which is housed in *Oxford School on Oxford Street*. This *rehearsal will run from 6 to 8 pm* (please note it is an earlier start time than our normal time).
Entrance to the Centre is t*hrough the side door to the school at the end of Willow Street*. Go down the stairs on your left when you enter and then turn right into the Arts Centre hallway. The *rehearsal room is #113* and has chairs, stands and percussion equipment provided. Parking is not allowed in the circle at the end of Willow Street so you will need to find parking on the surrounding streets.
*Details for the Dec 5th concert are as follows* 1) *Set-up at St. Agnes* *Church* (for available volunteers) is*Dec 5th at 12 noon *(changed from 2 pm). 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. Prelude Clarinet Ensemble music at 6:30 * 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 3 pm on Monday, Dec 4th at Halifax West HS at the loading doors by the back of the cafeteria*. Member volunteers include *Dave Staples, Kim Conway, Debbie McGuire, Bob Kanygin, Michael Klenavic and Emilie Bisonnette.* * * *Returning the gear to Halifax West HS is set for Wednesday morning Dec 6th at 8:00 am *at the same loading doors. Volunteer members include*Dave Staples, Bob Kanygin and Michael Klenavic. * * * *Set-up for the concert at St. Agnes Church is set for 12 noon on Tuesday, Dec. 5th. *This will be done through the church hall doors using the ramp. Volunteer members include *Dave Staples,* *Emilie Bisonnette, Alison Roe Smith, Don Doyle, Michael Klenavic, Kim Conway, Debbie McGuire and Karen MacRae. * * * *Our volunteer announcers are Kim Conway, Sandra Logan, Rhea Fisher, Koen Schlief, Emilie Bisonette, Heidi Firth, John Underhill and Becky Campbell. *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.*
If you have an issue with any of your selections, please let me know asap by email at davestaples54@gmail.com * * * Thanks everyone! Dave

Hi all *Here are the rehearsal notes for Tuesday, November 28th. * * * 1) Chorales-More Assorted 2) Warm-up piece-Greensleeves 3) Christmas Festival 4) Merry Christmas Darling 5) The Most Wonderful Time of the Year 6) Cantique de Noel 7) Eighth Candle 8) Fanfare for Christmas 9) Echoes of the Silent 10) White Christmas 11) Sleigh Ride
For our dress rehearsal on *Monday December 4th*, we will be at the *Halifax Regional Arts Centre *which is housed in *Oxford School on Oxford Street*. This *rehearsal will run from 6 to 8 pm* (please note it is an earlier start time than our normal time). Entrance to the Centre is t*hrough the side door to the school at the end of Willow Street*. Go down the stairs on your left when you enter and then turn right into the Arts Centre hallway. The *rehearsal room is #113* and has chairs, stands and percussion equipment provided. Please let me know if you are unable to attend the dress rehearsal.
*Details for the Dec 5th concert are as follows* 1) Set-up at St. Agnes (for available volunteers) Dec 5th in the afternoon (time TBA) 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. Prelude Clarinet Ensemble music at 6:30 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
Thanks and see you on Tuesday. Dave