Thursday, November 2, 2017
 
Voices Newsletter
 
 
 
 
Only 5 more rehearsals till the concert!
 
 

In This Issue...
  1. Lorrene's Blog
  2. What's Happening Next Rehearsal
  3. Special Soprano Sectional Tonight
  4. From the President - Calendar Sales
  5. From The Treasurer - What is a Steering Committee Anyway?
  6. Solo Opportunities 
  7. Website Music and Tutorial Links
  8. Rehearsal Schedule
  9. Smelly Stuff
  10. Voice Exercises and Warmups
1.  Lorrene's Blog...
GRRRRREAT rehearsal Monday night!  You definitely took the music to a new level - much more musical.  
 
I'm looking forward to Thursday's soprano sectional at Melody's house.  Let's keep this musicality going!
 
Think about auditioning for a solo!
 
Have a great week!
Lorrene
2.  What's Happening Next Rehearsal...
Anything is possible.  Be prepared!!
3.  Special Soprano Sectional - TONIGHT!!...
Thanks go to Melody Johnson for offering to host a sectional!
 
Melody Johnson is hosting a soprano sectional at her house tonight - Thursday, November 2nd from 6:00-8:00 pm
 
Directions to Melody's house - 112 Mt Pleasant Road
  • From Ithaca, take Route 366 past Cornell Orchards
  • in Varna, past the auto repair station, turn Right on Mt Pleasant Road
  • At the stop sign (Turkey Hill intersection), continue straight - be careful - fast moving traffic from the left can be hard to be hard to see
  • Second mailbox on left is your destination
Call 272-8755 if you get lost.

I'm looking forward to seeing all you sopranos there!
 
Lorrene
 
4.  From the President - Calendar Sales...
Our second fundraiser of the year is about to begin.  These beautiful waterfall calendars are an easy sell!  Buy for yourself, give them as gifts, sell to your friends or colleagues at work and encourage them to give calendar gifts as well. They WILL be here in plenty of time for the holidays.  Calendars are sold for $13 and each calendar returns $8 net profit to our choruses.  Please do your best to help out as it helps us keep your membership costs at a minimum.
 
Monday, Nov 6th, sign-up sheets will be passed around during rehearsal.  Please sign up for the number of calendars that you will commit to selling.  We don't need your money this Monday but if possible paying for your calendars when you pick them up is helpful.  If that presents a hardship we can wait for the funds until you deliver your calendars to the buyers and receive their money. 
 
VOICES sold the most program shell Ads....let's see if we can do the same with calendars!
Happy singing and thank you for supporting our VOICES family!
 
Sherrie
5. From the Treasurer - What is a Steering Committee Anyway?...
At the most basic, your Steering Committee works with our directors to make your chorus experience possible. It has four broad roles: 1) supporting the Artistic Director in determining program content and activities of the chorus, 2) facilitating chorus operations including member recruitment, registration, money management, logistics for rehearsals and concerts, etc., 3) providing feedback to our directors for strengthening the chorus experience, and, 4) maintaining ties with the parent Affiliated Choruses of Ithaca including supporting fundraising, and special events. The committee has fun and works well together to create the experiences we all believe in. However, for the long-term health of the chorus, it’s essential that membership of the committee be renewed regularly. We like to kid about “officers for life” but a regular flow of new energy and ideas is essential. Consider sitting in on a meeting to see if it could be a good fit for your interests and talents. Or, visit with one or more of the current members:  Sherrie Norman, Kelly Doolittle, Mike Duttweiler, Elaine Gries, Cindy Howell, and Sabine Mann. 
6.  Solo Opportunities...
Here are the solo opportunities for this concert:
 
Barso re:  ms. 65-73
Baba Yetu:  ms. 5-14; ms. 15-20; ms. 61-68
I'll Be Home for Christmas:  ms 19-25
Sing for Peace:  ms. 43- end; ms. 47-end
 
Please consider auditioning for a solo (or two!)
Solo auditions will be at 6:00 pm on November 20 and November 27
 
If you want to practice any solos, Lorrene will hold an early practice session on November 13 - 6:00 PM.
7.  Website Tutorial Files and Music Links...
We have begun posting tutorial files on the website, courtesy of Ross and Lorrene.  We will keep adding files each week, so check back often at this link:

 
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:
 
 
8.  Rehearsal Schedule...
October 30 (sectional)
November 6, 13 (solo pratice at 6:00 PM), 20, 27 (solo auditions on 20th and 27th at 6:00 PM)
December 4
Concert date is Saturday, December 9th
 
9.  About Perfumes, Scents, Essential Oils and Garlic Around Your Neck...
Please remember to avoid wearing perfumes, colognes, essential oils and other scents to rehearsals as they create respiratory discomfort for some of our singers.

10.  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