DR ChasSmith - I think it is interesting that the local high school crams all their rehearsing with the accompanist (namely, you) into one day, rather than preparing in the weeks before the concert. I suppose it is more convenient for you to do it all in one day, but also more hair raising.
No, it's fine, and not hair-raising at all, because the choral groups have spent weeks on the music, their director has banged it out well enough that they're somewhat used to the accompaniment, and it's rarely anything too difficult from my standpoint. So the one rehearsal that day with each group gets the job done. It's actually a godsend, because in years past, they'd have me down there (Norwalk) a couple of times prior, and that was a waste of time and commuting.
Re HAIRSPRAY, I would normally not be joining till tech week (latter part of April), but since I'll be there anyway, this will give us all a chance to find out what the hell's going on, with me and a guitarist joining the orchestra for the first time. It's a chance for them to have the rhythm section, and we'll know what to go away and work on. I think I'm being left with all three keyboard books, which is not at all doable, but they can only hire so many people so we'll be figuring out what's most important from each of them.
