Thursday, November 30, 2017
 
Voices Newsletter
 
 
 
 
Concert Week Is Here!! 
 
 

In This Issue...
  1. Lorrene's Blog
  2. What's Happening Next Week
  3. We Need Ushers!!
  4. Concert Music Order
  5. Road Map for "Sing For Peace"
  6. Website Music and Tutorial Links - All Files Uploaded!
  7. About Those Tickets
  8. Help Promote Our Concert
  9. After-Concert Reception
  10. Any Photographers Out there?
  11. A Peek Into 2018
  12. Next Semester's Newsletter
  13. You In Pictures 
  14. Smelly Stuff
  15. Voice Exercises and Warmups
1.  Lorrene's Blog...
Great performance at Brookdale!!!  Thank you so much! I think our performance was very much appreciated by our audience.  I hope you enjoyed singing there.  You did a wonderful job!
 
Onward and upward!  Please try hard to sell some tickets; we're worth it!
 
Let's get all the loose ends cleaned up at next Monday's rehearsal. You sang with great confidence at Brookdale; let's ride that wave.
 
Our dress is Friday, December 8, from 7:00-9:00 and our call time for Saturday is 2:00 pm.  Adam Beckwith will be joining us at the Saturday rehearsal to add percussion to several of our songs.  It will be great to have him join us.
 
Stay well....or get well if you're not.  Have a great weekend,
Lorrene
2.  What's Happening Week...
December 4 - irregular rehearsal - Lorrene will not be there, prepare yourself for Ross!

Dress rehearsal is Friday, December 8th, 7:00 PM, First Baptist Church - we will stuff program shells before rehearsal, so anyone who can come at 6:30 to help will be appreciated.  Many hands make quick work.

Concert date is Saturday, December 9th
  • Set up for concert - Stage Manager David Gries - 1:00 PM - NOTE TIME CHANGE - we need help to set up
  • Chorus call - 2:00 PM - NOTE TIME CHANGE
  • Instrumental call and rehearsal - 2:30 PM
  • Doors Open - 3:30 PM - chorus meditates
  • Concert - 4:00 PM
  • Reception follows
3.  Ushers for the Concert...
We will be looking for 4 ushers for our Dec 9th Concert.  So far, we only have one usher.  Arrival time for them would be 3:00 PM (doors open at 3:30  PM.)  They will receive free admission to the concert and will have an experienced House Manager to co-ordinate and answer any questions.  Must bring a smile 😊  See Sherrie or email voicespres@gmail.com 
4.  Concert Music Order...
Organize your music folders!!
 
1.     Sing for Peace
2.     I’ll be Home for Christmas
3.     Yal Asmar Ellon
4.     All Works of Love
5.     Barso Re
 
Intermission
 
6.     Halleluyaw
7.     Baba Yetu
8.     Cuando to no easta’
9.     Imagine
10.   Let Everything that hath Breath
5.  Road Map For "Sing For Peace"...
1.     At letter ‘B’ – alto 1 move from alto part to Children’s Chorus part
2.     At letter ‘C’ – alto 1 move back to alto part
3.     At letter ‘D’ – alto 1 move to Children’s Chorus part
4.     At ms. 42 alto 1 sing first ‘sha-la-la’ and then drop down to alto part.
5.     At ms. 47 alto 1 move from alto part up to Children – Part II
6.  Website Tutorial Files and Music Links - All Files Uploaded...
All of the tutorial files have been posted for this semester's music selections on the website.  Some include those ever-important pronunciation files.
 
***Second version of "All Works of Love" added - may be helpful for tenors***
 
Several files have been updated in the past couple of weeks, so it would be a good idea to work through your section files before the next rehearsal. 

 
We have posted YouTube links for this semester's music and will add more links as they become available.  The files can be found on the Voices Website:
 
 
7.  About Those Tickets...
You likely noticed a change in ticket prices from recent semesters. There is a single flat rate of $12 instead of separate adult, senior, and student fees. Bottom line is that we can no longer afford to offer discounts without raising the semester fees. We looked at attendance patterns and several options and decided a single fee was the best choice.  $12 is less than VOICES has charged in the past and less than other choruses typically charge. Children 12 and under continue to have free admission. Please return ticket proceeds and/or unsold tickets to Mike Duttweiler no later than dress rehearsal.  
8.  Help Promote Our Concert...
Our concert Facebook event page is available at: 
 
 
Please share widely to help promote our concert!
 
9.  After-Concert Reception...
Linda Hendricks has again offered to co-ordinate the after concert-reception for us but we will need to supply the food and beverage.  Please bring finger food "sweet or savory" and drinks (no alcohol is permitted at the venue.)  It would be helpful, if you are baking, to include an index card with ingredients or at least those ingredients that could pose an allergy problem for some.  It's also helpful to note if the goodies are vegan or vegetarian.  We will be inviting the audience to join us so please bear that in mind when bringing your contribution.
 
Anyone who can stay to help clean up..... a few busy hands make light work. 

10.  Any Photographers Out there?...
We have no images of the chorus with the new scarves and are wondering if there are any friends or family members who might be willing to take photos at the concert.  This would include a formal staged photo before the concert and some candid shots during the performance. There are no special requirements other than ability to provide hi-res JPG images for our use. Compensation is modest--two complimentary tickets -- but we'd really appreciate the help. Let Sherrie or Mike know if you identify someone.
11.  A Peek Into 2018...
Excitement is gathering for our Spring 2018 program “Great Expectations: Songs of Hope.”  We will feature music from around the world that inspires, refreshes, validates and encourages in the face of these harsh times of divisiveness and strife. Unique to this concert will be a community sing including guests from other area choruses -- building bridges of hope in our community. Please plan to join us and invite others who might enjoy this experience. Online registration will be available in late November at: http://acithaca.org/groups/voices/join/.
12.  Next Semester's Newsletter...
We are adding a new feature to next semester's weekly newsletter.  It is a chance for each of you to share with the other members of Voices why you sing, what the music means to you and/or what it means to be a part of the group.  We are looking for copy and paste plain text - 1 or 2 paragraphs - about 200 words maximum.  So...activate your muse and send your words to EdOlmstead@ofpcinc.com.

13. You In Pictures...
A few of the photos taken at our October 30 rehearsal are posted on our Facebook page: 
 
 
More are available here: 
 

14.  About Perfumes, Scents, Essential Oils and Garlic Around Your Neck...
Please remember to avoid wearing perfumes, colognes, essential oils and other scents to rehearsals and performances as they create respiratory discomfort for some of our singers.

15.  Voice Exercises and Warmups...
Looking for a way to exercise your voice between rehearsals? Cyberbass is free website that has sizeable list of vocal warmups that play on your computer, smartphone or tablet. You can also purchase CD's with various exercises and warmups if you choose.  Go to
 
Questions, Comments and Newsletter Items...
The Voices Newsletter will be published each Thursday during the Fall semester.  Have a question about Voices, comments or suggestions for the newsletter, or do you have an item for the newsletter (items should be related to the chorus or the local music community)?  Contact Ed Olmstead at EdOlmstead@ofpcinc.com.  
Ithaca Community Choruses, Inc.  www.ithacacommunitychoruses.org