Alumni Band Winter 2025 Newsletter

Rehearsal Update – November 11

Important details from Lynn:

• Musicians will need to bring their own music stands.
• We will need to put the chairs back after rehearsal.
• Doors can open at 5:30 p.m.
• Drummers may park in the back to make unloading easier.
• The space is large, and there will be plenty of parking.

Instead of turning onto Maplewood Ave toward Biddeford High School, just stay on Main St or South St and you’ll arrive at Grace Point Church.

Christmas Season Conductor & Rehearsal Schedule

Our Conductor

We’re excited to have Tom Lizotte as our conductor for the Christmas season.

📧 Contact TL: thomasplizotte@gmail.com
Please email TL if you can’t make a rehearsal.

Upcoming Rehearsals

• November 4 – Rehearsal
• November 11 – Rehearsal at Grace Point Church
• November 18 – Rehearsal & general meeting (no pizza this time, sorry!)
• November 25 – Rehearsal
• December 2 – Rehearsal

Key Concert Week Dates

• 12/09/2025 – Dress Rehearsal
• 12/12/2025 – Christmas Concert

Music, Materials & Notes from TL

From Lydia

If you need music, please reach out to Lydia Pulkinen: lydia.pulkinen@gmail.com.

You can access this season’s music here: WINTER 2025 MUSIC.
Click here for Winter 2025 music (link to be updated)

Note from TL

“Our pursuit of perfection is going well. Excellent work on Joyeux. Our Movement 1 gremlin is nearly solved. Beautiful playing on Sally’s Song (Nightmare) and in our Toys short subject. Saxes are improving a lot on their White Christmas feature.”

Rehearsal Menu – 11/11

• It’s Christmas – focus on the transitions from four before m. 109 to m. 130, and mm. 42–51
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
• All Things Bright and Beautiful – entire piece
• Nightmare Before Christmas – focus from .75 to the end; pay special attention to five before m. 130 to m. 130 for a clean tempo change
• Short subjects: “Toys” – m. 146 to the end; big focus on m. 155 to the end
• White Christmas – woodwinds, zero in on mm. 178–181
• Joyeux Noel – entire piece
• Somewhere in My Memory – focus on upper woodwinds from the beginning to m. 23

– TL

Online Practice Links

Use these links to listen, practice along, and get comfortable with your parts between rehearsals:

• All Things Bright – https://youtu.be/j5s_VTq6Sl8?si=1MYuD2KlYx7YrNdF
• Christmas Pop – https://youtu.be/Yy4r8gtyZfU?si=XaXjz7-E-VCgICZ_
• Have Yourself a Merry… – Working on it.
• Joyeux Noel – https://youtu.be/H0GtlCEoZ8g?si=
• Lo, How a Rose – https://youtu.be/S_adEOEW3_c?si=xI1eilqBUc4VFlUP
• March of the Toys – https://youtu.be/Evf-vKEaGLU?si=pbcQi8wQ3wVwTH4-
• It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – https://youtu.be/mDLDI8JGRDQ?si=pdYWZuxOvMRHk4E6
• Nightmare – https://youtu.be/294MV8S7dU4?si=qsnX158uaY1klBeD
• Polar Express – https://youtu.be/FYk0rdaBoig?si=4IspsUe3BvtoPFds
• Shalom! – https://youtu.be/ueVj1zNNL2s?si=FXG6obdIaceuQNYK
• Silver Bells – https://youtu.be/0MamnpJOts0?si=w1mf8GKCN74_ada_
• Sleigh Ride – https://youtu.be/xTMc-WAjL-I?si=rbc7bwYLa7Rv1yZH
• Somewhere in My Memory – https://youtu.be/iK-vxz91olE?si=7e2suaV8t9q9icHO

Directions to Biddeford High School Band Room

Biddeford High School is on Maplewood Ave, which is accessible from both Main St and South St. Both streets connect to Elm St (US Route 1).

The band room is accessed through the entrance near the Steve White Gym, located at the end of the school furthest from Main St.

• Park in the lot next to the Steve White Gym or nearby.
• Enter the school and walk straight down the hallway to the band room.
• If you reach the Little Theater, you’ve gone too far.