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AN OPTIMISTIC NOTE

At Potter Violins, my viola recently underwent ‘routine maintenance,’ happily resulting in a tone so crisp andrefreshed that it sounds like a new instrument.

“So your viola had a spa day!” exclaimed one of my weekly quintet’s violinists, a member of another on-hiatus orchestra. This brought quite a chuckle, especially as I’ve never treated myself to a spa day! Upon further reflection, classifying my viola’s mundane ‘physical’ as a spa day yielded a jolt of optimism in our seemingly, never-ending pandemic. When the NIH Community Orchestra convenes this month – albeit, for starters, as a fully-masked, smaller ensemble – it willmark a gathering we’ve been eagerly anticipating since March 2020, when we thought the COVID-19shutdown would last a few weeks, not 18 months.

Thus, Potter’s turquoise blue claim receipt, tucked in our kitchen calendar, was a critical harbinger of our newnormal. Although we’ve confirmed NIHCO rehearsal space thus far for only a few evenings, thanks to Boardmember and resident epidemiologist Pamela Klein, Ph.D., we have science-driven Member Guidelines tosafely dip our toes in the water of music-making in Fall 2021.

Perhaps announcing NIHCO’s rehearsal schedule, below, will inspire scheduling a spa day for your owninstrument, with an accompanying boost of personal optimism, too. The Board and I remain grateful foreveryone’s patience, and can’t wait to see many of you soon! – Lee Rucker Keiser, Editor

NIHCO CLEF NOTESThe Newsletter of the NIH Community Orchestra | nihco.org

ALL SESSIONS 7:00-9:00PM. RSVPS REQUIRED. SEE EVENT EMAILS FOR FULL DETAILS.

NIHCO FALL READING SESSIONS (**STRINGS ONLY**)

DATE LOCATION

Wednesday, 9/22 Tilden Middle School (Cafeteria)

6300 Tilden Lane, Rockville, MD 20852

Wednesday, 10/13 Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church (Sanctuary)

6601 Bradley Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20817

Wednesday, 11/10 Walter Johnson High School (Cafeteria)

6400 Rock Spring Dr., Bethesda, MD 20814

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FALL 2021 READING SESSIONS: WHAT TO KNOW

*As of now, our fall sessions are for STRINGS ONLY. Winds and brass, we hope

to offer safe playing opportunities for you soon!

*All sessions run from 7:00-9:00pm. Tuning is at 7:10pm, and sessions adjourn by 8:45pm to

accommodate our venue agreements.

*Please review the NIHCO Fall 2021 Member Guidelines carefully, including requirements

regarding face coverings and proof of COVID-19 vaccination, before entry to any in-person

NIHCO activity.

*Signups are REQUIRED and information will be sent via email, with each month's repertoire.

Priority will be given to musicians who rehearsed/performed with NIHCO prior to March 2020.

RSVPs for the September 22 event will close on Friday, Sept. 17.

*Confirmed musicians will need to bring proof of vaccination, a mask, their instrument, their own

music stand, water, and sheet music. Printed parts will NOT be available on-site.

FALL 2021 MEMBERSHIP: WHAT TO KNOW

*Dues are $50 for members, covering September 2021 through June 2022. You may pay

in person, by mail, or via Square (See the Fall 2021 Member Guidelines for full payment details.)

*The orchestra relies on the generous contributions of donors to fund orchestral operations.

Please consider making an additional one-time donation of $25-50 for the 2021-2022 season.

Thank you!

*We are thankful to outgoing NIHCO Executive Board members John Warshawsky (Treasurer)

and Katie Kane (Communications) for their years of service! Board elections for the 2021-22

season will take place later this month. Please stay tuned for an email regarding the candidate

slate and other details.

*We're always seeking volunteers to bring their talents, creativity and enthusiasm to NIHCO

events! If you're interested in volunteering with roles like publicity, community outreach, and

venue setup, please email Karin Caifa (kmcaifa@gmail.com)

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NIHCO Clef Notes September 2021 | Vol. 2, No. 1

Editor: Lee KeiserDesign + Distribution: Karin Caifa 

Send Your Stories!

Clef Notes' Editor Lee Keiser welcomes your200-word submissions, plus photo, for the“Stay-at-Home” Stories feature. Or simplysend a photo of your concert, with the dateand description!

WHO'S BEEN MAKING MUSIC THIS SUMMER?

The NIHCO Brass Ensemble performs on the KensingtonHistorical Society's Summer Concert Series on August 28,2021 (Photo: Courtesy Kensington Historical Society)

In Glen Echo Park, the Washington ConservatoryCapital Horns (far left: NIHCO’s Harold Seifried),July 24, 2021. (Photo: Lee Rucker Keiser)

Inscape Chamber Orchestra, conducted by NIHCO MusicDirector Richard Scerbo, performing August 7, 2021 as partof Inscape’s Plymouth, New Hampshire week-long summerresidency. (Still photo captured via livestream)

In Old Town Alexandria, four NationalSymphony Orchestra violists performedwith Interlochen Arts Academy-bound

violist Valeria Serrano (left), a VenezuelanEl Sistema graduate, on Aug. 24, 2021.

(Photo: Lee Rucker Keiser)