Symphonic Band

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2025 Summer Season
Week 8
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 7pm
Location: Aurora North End Parish Church
5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax

NOTE: recordings for the summer repertoire have now been posted.

OUR GUEST CONDUCTOR: Bruce Campbell will be joining us on the podium this week (July 2nd). Please make him feel welcome.

Objectives for the Reading Session include:

  • Warm Up: we will begin with a warm up using a random concert scale
  • Sightreading: there will NOT be a sightreading selection this evening
  • Lord of the Dance: continue working through the difficulties with the faster section @35. Bruce may be able to offer advice on covering percussion parts, including proper technique for toms and tambourine
  • Musical Moment: we will begin rehearsing this piece… remember we have decided to do this piece at a slower tempo than written; closer to quarter = 50-53 instead.
  • Morgen: we will continue to work toward making this beautiful. I have been working to rewrite this piece so I have a full score. I am not finished yet, but this might help us find where some of the holes in instrumentation are.
  • Mariachi: read through, followed by a focus on style and rhythmic accuracy. Remember the road map and the tempo change at the DC.

SYMPHONIC BAND: SUMMER 2025 REPERTOIRE
1. Glee, Music from (arr. Ted Ricketts)
2. John Williams: Movie Adventures (arr. Michael Sweeney)
3. Kronos (Robert W Smith)
4. Lord of the Dance (Ronan Hardiman arr. Richard Saucedo)
5. Mariachi (Harold L Walters)
6. Moment Musical (Hayato Hirose)
7. Morgen ‘Tomorrow’ Op.27, No.4 (Strauss arr. Albert Davis)
8. You’re the One that I Want (Farrar arr. Douglas E Wagner)

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Objectives Page
2025 Summer Season
Week 7
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 7pm
Location: Aurora North End Parish Church
5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax

NOTE: recordings for the summer repertoire have now been posted.

Objectives for the Reading Session include:

  • Warm Up: we will begin by playing C Concert Scale
  • Sightreading: sightreading a random selection
  • Recording Week – we will record all music in the summer folder just to see where we are and how best to apply our rehearsal time moving forward.
    a) Lord of the Dance
    b) Glee
    c) Kronos
    d) Mariachi
    e) Morgen
    f) You’re the One that I Want
    g) John Williams
    h) Moment Musical
  • Music from Glee: will begin @43 ‘Alone’ working with the harmony and bassline parts, then adding the melody in the saxes. Any chance we can get the vibe part with 3-mallets? Clean up rhythms in melodic line for flutes @47. Run through trpt & asx parts @61 (then add flt/obo/clar parts). Then we will dig into ‘Sweet Caroline’ @79. We need short staccato quarters underneath everything else. Dynamics. Vibes @96. Remember, read the rhythms on the page and not the rhythms from the recording.
  • Morgen: we will continue to work toward making this beautiful. I have been working to rewrite this piece so I have a full score. This might help us find where some of the holes in instrumentation are.
  • Kronos: read through
  • John Williams: read through

SYMPHONIC BAND: SUMMER 2025 REPERTOIRE
1. Glee, Music from (arr. Ted Ricketts)
2. John Williams: Movie Adventures (arr. Michael Sweeney)
3. Kronos (Robert W Smith)
4. Lord of the Dance (Ronan Hardiman arr. Richard Saucedo)
5. Mariachi (Harold L Walters)
6. Moment Musical (Hayato Hirose)
7. Morgen ‘Tomorrow’ Op.27, No.4 (Strauss arr. Albert Davis)
8. You’re the One that I Want (Farrar arr. Douglas E Wagner)

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Objectives Page
2025 Summer Season
Week 6
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 7pm
Location: Aurora North End Parish Church
5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax

Objectives for the Reading Session include:

  • Warm Up: we will begin by playing C Concert Scale
  • Sightreading: sightreading a random selection
  • You’re the One that I Want
    PERCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS –
    1. Brian = Drum Set
    2. Cheryl = Piano
    3. Guest Band Player (flt? volunteer?) = Tambourine
    REHEARSAL PLAN – will start with a read through, then we will slow it down for rhythmic and note accuracy
  • Lord of the Dance
    PERCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS –
    1. Cheryl = Xylophone
    2. Brian = Drum Set
    3. Guest Player = Perc2 Part – Wind Chimes, Concert Toms, Susp Cymb
    4. Guest Player (flt?) = Perc2 Part – Tambourine (not covered: timbales)
  • 5. Guest Player = Timpani (leave out the Ab to Bb change)
    REHEARSAL PLAN – tonight we will start by working on the slower opening, I want to run the first 9 bars with ONLY the long sustains… focus will be on stagger breathing, then we will begin @10… first with percussion, then adding everyone else bit by bit, we will run this section a few times to make sure everyone is comfortable with it… THEN we dig into @35, we start by doing this section way under tempo, tonight we will be ensuring we have proper rhythms and trying our best to get all the right notes
  • Moment Musical
    PERCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS –
    1. Cheryl = Timpani
    2. Brian = Glockenspiel
    3. Guest Band Player = Perc Part – Sus.Cym, Tri, Cr.Cym
    REHEARSAL PLAN – we will begin rehearsing this piece tonight, focus will be on blend, beautiful playing, I will be rewriting trombone parts for others.

SYMPHONIC BAND: SUMMER 2025 REPERTOIRE
1. Glee, Music from (arr. Ted Ricketts)
2. John Williams: Movie Adventures (arr. Michael Sweeney)
3. Kronos (Robert W Smith)
4. Lord of the Dance (Ronan Hardiman arr. Richard Saucedo)
5. Mariachi (Harold L Walters)
6. Moment Musical (Hayato Hirose)
7. Morgen ‘Tomorrow’ Op.27, No.4 (Strauss arr. Albert Davis)
8. You’re the One that I Want (Farrar arr. Douglas E Wagner)

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LogoFacebookSecond Chances Symphonic Band
Objectives Page
2025 Summer Season
Week 5
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 7pm
Location: Aurora North End Parish Church
5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax

Objectives for the Reading Session include:

  • Warm Up: we will begin by playing C Concert Scale
  • Sightreading: we will read our newest selection, Moment Musical, available on the repertoire page of the website
  • Mariachi
    PERCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS –
    1. Cheryl = Bells and Timp (Bb&F)
    2. Brian = Snare Drum
    3. Guest Band Player (asx? Cuun Niesink?) = Bass Dr & Cymbals
    4. Guest Band Player (tsx? Adam MacDonald?) = Castanets
    REHEARSAL PLAN – we will start with a read through, then will dig into the opening, cleaning up the perc & bass line, @9 full winds… are we comfortable with tempo and 6/8 style? What about the three notes super imposed over two beats? Will continue to work on rhythm accuracy.
  • Morgen
    PERCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS –
    1. Cheryl = Chimes (cover SD part @37 and @75)
    2. Brian = Timpani (cover SD part @57)
    REHEARSAL PLAN – work to achieve a soft but clear articulation for the syncopated rhythms, most of the work today will be on balance but we will address incorrect rhythms where necessary. Watch accidentals in this piece, they are important
  • Music from Glee
    PERCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS –
    1. Cheryl = Bells, Vibraphone, Xylophone
    2. Brian = Drum Set
    3. Guest Band Player (asx? volunteer?) = Mark Tree, Cowbell (not covered: Sus.Cym)
    4. Guest Band Player (flt? volunteer?) = Tambourine (not covered: Lrg Drum)
    REHEARSAL PLAN – will begin with the bassline parts (believe it or not, it is the melody in the opening), tsx & clar3 part needs to feel really light and easy, remember to read what is on the page and not what you remember from the recording, run melody @9 for rhythmic accuracy (we need to stay together), then do the same with trpts @17, run steady eighths @25 for accents then add shots, mark tree transition @43,
  • IF TIME: You’re the One that I Want
    PERCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS –
    1. Brian = Drum Set
    2. Cheryl = Piano
    3. Guest Band Player (flt? volunteer?) = Tambourine
    REHEARSAL PLAN – will start with a read through, then we will slow it down for rhythmic and note accuracy

SYMPHONIC BAND: SUMMER 2025 REPERTOIRE
1. Glee, Music from (arr. Ted Ricketts)
2. John Williams: Movie Adventures (arr. Michael Sweeney)
3. Kronos (Robert W Smith)
4. Lord of the Dance (Ronan Hardiman arr. Richard Saucedo)
5. Mariachi (Harold L Walters)
6. Morgen ‘Tomorrow’ Op.27, No.4 (Strauss arr. Albert Davis)
7. You’re the One that I Want (Farrar arr. Douglas E Wagner)
8. TBD – one additional piece will be added next week

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LogoFacebookSecond Chances Symphonic Band
Objectives Page
2025 Summer Season
Week 4
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 7pm
Location: J.L. Ilsley High School
138 Sylvia Ave, Halifax, NS B3R 1J9

NOTE1 – Final Summer Selection
The final piece slated for the summer program has been decided upon. It is a second, slower melody written by Japanese composer, Hayato Hirose. The piece is entitled Moment Musical, and is available on the repertoire page for printing.

NOTE2 – Joint Concert with J.L. Ilsley:
This week we will be heading to JL Ilsley High School to join their high school band for a short performance. Their teacher, Vanessa Mignault will conduct.

ADDRESS: The address of the school is 138 Sylvia Ave, Halifax, NS B3R 1J9.

TIMING: We have been asked to arrive in their HS music room, ready to play, for 7pm. The concert itself will begin at 7:30pm.

WHERE: The music room is located through the main doors at the front of the school, into the lobby/reception area, and to the left up some stairs. The concert itself will take place on their main stage.

THE EVENT: this is an arts department event and will be highlighting a number of arts programs throughout the high school. There will be people there milling about when you arrive.

CONCERT DRESS: Concert attire is classified as ‘concert black’, but is not going to be our normal ‘formal version’ of this. No need for tuxedos or formal gowns. Our black Second Chances golf shirts are encouraged, perhaps worn with black slacks.

SYMPHONIC BAND: SUMMER 2025 REPERTOIRE
1. Glee, Music from (arr. Ted Ricketts)
2. John Williams: Movie Adventures (arr. Michael Sweeney)
3. Kronos (Robert W Smith)
4. Lord of the Dance (Ronan Hardiman arr. Richard Saucedo)
5. Mariachi (Harold L Walters)
6. A Moment Musical (Hayato Hirose)
7. Morgen ‘Tomorrow’ Op.27, No.4 (Strauss arr. Albert Davis)
8. You’re the One that I Want (Farrar arr. Douglas E Wagner)

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LogoFacebookSecond Chances Symphonic Band
Objectives Page
2025 Summer Season
Week 3
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 7pm
Location: Aurora North End Parish Church
5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax

CONCERT NEXT WEEK: please note that next week (June 4th) we will be performing along with the J.L. Ilsley High School Band at the school, 138 Sylvia Ave, Halifax, NS B3R 1J9.  Concert details such as times, concert dress and where to park will be discussed this evening in rehearsal.

WELCOME TO OUR GUEST CONDUCTOR: welcome to this evenings guest conductor, Vanessa Mignault. She will be taking us through the pieces we will be performing with her school band next Wednesday evening.

Objectives for the Reading Session include:

  • Warm Up: we will begin by playing C Concert Scale
  • Sightreading: There may be a chance we have a third piece to perform next week along with the high school. If Vanessa brings it along with her, we will be reading this as our sightreading.
  • John Williams: we will be working with Vanessa, reading through the material and answering any questions we might have about it
  • Kronos: we will be working with Vanessa, reading through the material and answering any questions we might have about it
  • IF TIME: Lord of the Dance: we will start from the end and work backwards

SYMPHONIC BAND: SUMMER 2025 REPERTOIRE
1. Glee, Music from (arr. Ted Ricketts)
2. John Williams: Movie Adventures (arr. Michael Sweeney)
3. Kronos (Robert W Smith)
4. Lord of the Dance (Ronan Hardiman arr. Richard Saucedo)
5. Mariachi (Harold L Walters)
6. Morgen ‘Tomorrow’ Op.27, No.4 (Strauss arr. Albert Davis)
7. You’re the One that I Want (Farrar arr. Douglas E Wagner)
8. TBD – one additional piece will be added next week

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LogoFacebookSecond Chances Symphonic Band
Objectives Page
2025 Summer Season
Week 2
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 7pm
Location: Aurora North End Parish Church
5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the symphonic band, contact the executive director of the Second Chances Music Program, Chris Ward at eloboesolo@gmail.com

Objectives for the Reading Session include:

  • Warm Up: we will begin by playing C Concert Scale
  • Sightreading: Music from Glee (arr Ted Ricketts) now available for printing on the repertoire page HERE
  • John Williams: will start by running alto clar/alto sax/tenor sax/fhrn/trbn at the beginning, then running bass voices alone, @17-18 triplet vs dotted 8th & 16th rhythms, @22 dynamics, tempo @22 is quarter=72 then @Allegro it doubles to quarter=144 (exactly twice as fast), continue to work on driving rhythm part, watch articulations & dynamics, run @67 trpt w/straight mutes then add asx&clar to that line, nice big horn/clarinet1 part @75, need bell tone effect @83, watch for diminuendo @93, need more low voices on quarters @114
  • Kronos: this piece will be performed in just a few weeks, but then we will keep it for the summer performances later as well. Tonight, we start with dynamics in the first four measures… loud then echo then full band, will work eighth notes @20 (light?), run flt part @36 then clar part, do we have a mallet player?run bass line @40, run hrn/btn/tsx part @48, run flt & bclar solo @62, need windchimes @62 (Brian?)
  • IF TIME: You’re the One that I Want: read through with piano player

SYMPHONIC BAND: SUMMER 2025 REPERTOIRE
1. Glee, Music from (arr. Ted Ricketts)
2. John Williams: Movie Adventures (arr. Michael Sweeney)
3. Kronos (Robert W Smith)
4. Lord of the Dance (Ronan Hardiman arr. Richard Saucedo)
5. Mariachi (Harold L Walters)
6. Morgen ‘Tomorrow’ Op.27, No.4 (Strauss arr. Albert Davis)
7. You’re the One that I Want (Farrar arr. Douglas E Wagner)
8. TBD – one additional piece will be added next week

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LogoFacebookSecond Chances Symphonic Band
Objectives Page
2025 Summer Season
Week 1 – Reading Session
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 7pm
Location: Aurora North End Parish Church
5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the symphonic band, contact the executive director of the Second Chances Music Program, Chris Ward at eloboesolo@gmail.com

Objectives for the Reading Session include:

  • Warm Up: we will begin by playing C Concert Scale
  • John Williams: read through
  • Lord of the Dance: read through
  • Mariachi: read through
  • Kronos: read through
  • Morgen: read through
  • You’re the One that I Want: read through
  • TBD: read through

SYMPHONIC BAND: SUMMER 2025 REPERTOIRE
1. John Williams: Movie Adventures (arr. Michael Sweeney)
2. Kronos (Robert W Smith)
3. Lord of the Dance (Ronan Hardiman arr. Richard Saucedo)
4. Mariachi (Harold L Walters)
5. Morgen ‘Tomorrow’ Op.27, No.4 (Strauss arr. Albert Davis)
6. You’re the One that I Want (Farrar arr. Douglas E Wagner)
7. TBD

FEES for Summer 2025:
In May each member of the Second Chances Symphonic Band will be asked to pay the summer season’s registration fee.

$175  registration fee (1st group)
$90  registration fee (for any additional group)
$50 registration fee for a student currently in high school or attending a recognized post secondary institution


Halifax Community Band Festival
Also, don’t forget about our very own Halifax Community Band Festival being held at Mount Saint Vincent University on May 23rd through 25th 2025! This is the weekend we host players from various different community bands from all over the Maritime provinces for a fellowship of music making and networking. Make sure you mark it on your calendar! Its a great chance to learn from great guest conductors and meet new friends who love to play as well!
website: https://www.secondchancesband-ns.com/hfx-band-fest/

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