December 18, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

I don’t know about you, but for me, these past six months have disappeared in the blink of an eye, and I just cannot believe that a myriad of holidays are or will soon be upon us.  It’s an unquestionably busy time for most of us, and self-care can be a very hard thing to practice.  I was reminded of this a week ago when I somehow had a free three hours until bedtime and took myself out to post-rehearsal dinner.  I ate, listened to the holiday music being piped into the restaurant, and took a moment to slow down and just be.

I hope that each of you will be able to find or create such a moment or two (or ten or twenty!) after you say “See you in 2025!” to your kids in the coming days.

Speaking of 2025, our 2nd Annual Mid-Year Gathering will be on Thursday, January 23, at Ruby’s Oyster Bar & Bistro on Purchase Street in Rye.  Come join us and ring in the New (calendar) Year with your colleagues!  I hyperlinked the RSVP form in the version emailed to members, and we will resend the link via email again in January.

At its November meeting, the WCSMA Board appointed Uma Karkala as Recording Secretary to take Dana Celestino’s place now that she has transitioned into the role of Elementary & Intermediate All-County Chorus Coordinator.  Welcome, Uma!

As I reflect on the first quarter of my WCSMA presidency, I am filled with gratitude for its leaders and its members.  I have observed close-up the long hours logged by every volunteer on the WCSMA board and, with there being no words sufficient, I simply offer them my public thanks.  And I am thankful for the collegiality of all WCSMA members – in my 11 years in Westchester County, the caring and warmth I have experienced from you, my colleagues in music education, has also been something that cannot sufficiently be described with words.

I hope to see you on January 23.  Until then, happy and healthy holidays and New Year to you and your loved ones.

Best wishes for 2025,
Jon