Concert Band: Day One

Fifteen minutes earlier, only one
sax player had found his way to
the bandstand--but, baby, look
at us now.

Preparing for the first rehearsal of the NMA Concert Band is tense. Will we have any flutes this year? What if no tuba players show up? Can a muted sarrusophone cover the heckelhorn solo in Fanfare From Overture to March Triumphant of the Gladiators of the Mystic Nobles?

Ray looks mystified; someone from
the percussion section--probably
Jim Richards--must have asked a
deep question.

We needn't have worried this year. By the time conductor Ray Ascione was ready to give the afternoon's first downbeat, most parts were covered. And, before we'd rehearsed three numbers, more members had straggled in, and our instrumentation was complete.

Sixth position? No problem for our
experienced trombone section.

Complete, but not large--at least not yet. Wednesday's band is generally smaller than the band we wind up with on Friday night, as not all members can come for the first day. But, even during this first rehearsal, our band sounded, well, great. A couple more rehearsals (and a few more nights of sea stories and jazz) will have this band ready for a performance we'll talk about for a long time.