Delta Music Makers Newsletter October 2010

Hello everyone!  Please give a welcome to new trumpeter Rachel.  And please contact Billie McBurney to help celebrate her 28 years with the DMM!

1. Band rehearsals
1. Fall term runs September 21 until Tuesday, December 14.  The Continuing Education fee is $91.  Most people have registered now, but the few who have not are asked to see Jhandie (tuba).
2. Winter term will run January 4 to March 15, fee $77
3. Spring term will run April 5 to June 28, fee $91
4. We will not be organizing a summer term for 2011.
2.  Concerts:
1. October 23, Saturday, 2pm at the Kennedy Senior Rec. Centre, 11760 88^th Ave., in North Delta.  Performance runs 2:30 to 3:45 (with a short break), so please arrive by 1:45pm.  Band members are invited to stay for dinner for a discounted rate of $10 - a show of hands will be taken Tuesday night, as advance notice is required.
2. November 7, Sunday, time approximately 2-4pm, our Remembrance Themed Concert at the Kinsmen Sr. Recreation Centre in Tsawwassen.  Invitations will be available soon, with a suggested donation of $10 each.  Be sure to invite all your friends to this moving concert designed to recognize the men and women in Canada’s military, past and present.  We are asking all DMM members to arrive by 1pm to assist with setup of chairs, stands, screens, audience, sound systems, signage, etc.  We hope to create an elegant atmosphere.  This is a potential fund-raiser and an important concert for us – it may set the tone for more involved Remembrance Themed Concerts in the future.
3. December 5, Sunday, McKee House in Ladner, 5155–47 Ave., across from the lawn bowling center.  We have finally been invited to play at this interesting venue.  Concert starts at 2pm.  Setup will require some rows on the stage and some rows on the floor below the stage.  Please arrive by 1:15, as the setup will require some seating-creativity!
4. December 12, Sunday, 2pm, Delta Hospital Extended Care, in Ladner.  We do not get much response from our elderly audience, but be assured that this will be one of the highlights of their season.  Arrival by 2:30 is acceptable, but earlier for percussion and equipment.
5. December 14, Tuesday, 7pm, Genesis Theatre in Ladner.  This is our annual joint concert with the Delta Concert Band and the Delta Community Choir, at our home venue.  The DMM goes on first at 7pm, so please arrive by 6:30 at latest.  Joint number Christmas Singalong is always performed with all three groups at the end, around 9:00pm.
3. Music Folder:
1. Please hand in: Billy Joel Songbook, Cielito Lindo, Condacum, Don Pedro, Give This From Your Heart, March of Irish Guard, Rhythm of the Winds, Saxophonic Boogie, Somewhere Out There, Winter Games.
2. Likely Remembrance Concert list: Amazing Grace, Big Band Tribute, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Cadet Singalong, Call To Victory, Eventide, Royal Air Force Marchpast, They Can’t Take That Away, Unchained Melody.  (Oct. 5 add Heart of Oak, Colonel Bogie (from Great Movie Marches), O Canada, & God Save the Queen)
   
3. Other pieces, some as backup, some for future learning: ABBA, Alpine Euphs, Blue Tango, Donkey Riding, Fanfare For Common Man, Folk Songs From British Isles, Hoagy Carmichael, Just a Closer Walk, Selections From Sound of Music, Silver Shadow.  (Oct. 5 add Big Band Tribute & Unchained Melody.)
4. Christmas Folder: Christmas Overture, Little Drummer Boy, Canadian Brass Christmas, Eine Kleine Christmas, Greensleeves, Ukrainian Bell Carol

4. The DC/NYC/Boston Trip is a go!  We have a total of 28 who have said “yes” or “probably,” comprising (approximately) 2 flutes, 5 clarinets, 5 altos, 2 tenors, 1 bari sax, 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, 1 baritone, 1 tuba, 1 keyboard percussion.  This list includes Margaret and Curt, who will play clarinet and tuba/trombone respectively.

•         Delta Music Makers’ performances will include at least one in each city for a probable total of four, plus two workshop, one each in NYC and Boston.

•        The most probable dates of the tour would be as follows:  departing Vancouver on Friday, September 16, and after the tour, departing Boston for Vancouver on September 27.  Some people may choose to arrive early on the east coast, or stay longer after the tour – this can be arranged. 

•         It is necessary to send in your first payment by October 15, i.e. late next week, to the address on the colourful form from On-Trek Tours – we will hand out clean forms on Tuesday evening.  We must have enough deposits paid at the time to continue with our planning.  But keep in mind that you can join the tour up until June next year, if space is available.  In case of unforeseen emergencies, all payments are refundable until the end of January, so we urge you to make your deposit next week and your subsequent monthly payments, even if your decision is not final.

•         Easy payments of $254US per month have been offered by On-Trek Tours as one option for payment of the east coast portion of the tour, but other payment options can be arranged with On-Trek Tours.  Credit card payments are best, as US cheques are costly unless you have a US bank account. 

•         Total cost of the east coast ground package is $2784US for each of two sharing (based on having 33-38 passengers).  This includes motorcoach, driver, driver’s accommodation and gratuity, professional On-Trek tour escort, elegant accommodation, all breakfasts, 5 dinners, and all taxes.

•         Cost of the ground package will reduce to $2649US if we reach a total of 39 passengers, and reduce to $2544 if we reach a total of 44. 

•         Add airfare of $600-1000, plus $200 contingency fee, each of which will be collected by Curt and Margaret.  Airfare will be known by December.  It is perfectly acceptable to use airmiles or airline points for your flight. 

•         The contingency fee of $200 will be used to cover cost of shipping or renting instruments, and any unanticipated expenses, but the unused portion will be returned to passengers.

•         Therefore, the total cost, if we have 44 participants, would be $2544 plus estimated airfare of $800, plus Contingency Fee of $200 = approximately $3544 for each of two sharing a room.  Triple and single prices are possible, and can be discussed privately.

•         NOTE: Jhandie and Curt, as travel agents, will be organizing both the airfare and optional insurance, but taking no commissions!  Also, any unused portion of the contingency fee will be returned to the participants at end of the tour!  These offers could save participants several hundred dollars.  For your information, Margaret and Curt, as group organizers, will be receiving a pro-rated fare from On-Trek, based on number of passengers.

•         NOTE: This price of around $3500 is outstanding for such an elegant fully-escorted 12day/11night tour, that will include your flight, 12 nights in 3-star or better hotels, performances in memorable locations, evenings at the theatre, workshops, sightseeing tours of world-famous locations, a full time highway coach with very experienced driver, all breakfasts, and 5 dinners, and all taxes, plus a full time professional local On-Trek guide!  This guide will direct us to favourite restaurants, give transportation options, lead us on exciting tours, organize all our concerts, and offer all and any assistance.

Margaret and I are looking forward to another excellent year for the Delta Music Makers!

Curt Jantzen, email director@deltamusicmakers.org

Margaret Behenna