Summer Newsletter, 2011
Dear Friend of the Chorus,
Included is important news concerning the coming activities of our chorus. Please read on!
Tenth Anniversary Concert and Celebration Sunday, December 11th 2011
If you were one of the 46 founding members of the chorus when we assembled for our first rehearsal in September 2001, and are still a member, you will appreciate the phenomenal growth we have experienced in this ten-year span. We have almost doubled in size, performed over 20 concerts, 16 outreach concerts, and conducted concert tours to standing ovations throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland and the Czech Republic. Over this time period we have performed over 48 choral works consisting of master classics and lighter musical fare always with a full symphony orchestra, Now that’s saying something about a community choral group that does not require a vocal audition for membership yet performs its concerts with professional flair and quality. We also have attracted a growing audience of 700 plus per concert and growing!
We would like to celebrate our growth and development by extending a personal invitation to all new and returning members who are or have been part of the chorus to join once again as we prepare for our 10th Anniversary Concert Celebration Sunday December 11th 2011. We are anticipating a chorus of over 100! We are asking current members to assist us in contacting previous chorus members to urge them to join us in this memorable event. Planned festivities include a dinner dance at the La Mesa Community Center following the concert. More information regarding the After Concert Dinner Dance will be announced following details still in the making. We are also looking for volunteers to assist us Please have interested volunteers, new or returning members to contact me, or any member of the chorus, so that we can begin assembling our membership lists. 619-670-3588 or e-mail me at vivaci@cox.net. Thank you
Our 3:00 PM concert will again be held in the magnificent College Avenue Baptist Church in San Diego. The church seats 1500 plus people and we expect to perform to a full house! Music to be performed includes two new works plus music favorites that have been previously performed: “Christmas Ornaments” and “A Feast of Carols” by Randol Alan Bass. These two new works were recently performed and recorded by the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra and remain as the most requested Christmas works for the coming holiday season. Additional previously performed works will include: “A Journey Through the Twelve Days of Christmas” by Craig Courtney and “Christmas Classics’ by Irving Berlin including the popular favorites: “I’ll be Home For Christmas, “ Chestnuts Roasting by an Open Fire”, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”, “Silver Bells”. Also featured will be the ever-popular requested Hanukah Classic, “Ose Shalom”. We will end our performance with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” Our 48 piece symphony orchestra will again join us in concert.
Registration and First Rehearsal Monday, September 12th 7:00-9:15PM
There will be two plans of registration and participation: These membership rates were recently revised and approved by the Sand Festival Chorus Board and may be different that previously announced or published fees. The changes in fees reflect an increase in the cost of music orchestrations, musicians and rental of the concert venue.
Registration Plan No.1 includes the usual Monday night rehearsals at the Hillsdale Middle School in Rancho San (El Cajon) for regular chorus membership. This plan includes the 12 regular Monday night rehearsals and the three final rehearsals with orchestra on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, December 5th 7th and 9th 7:00-9:30 PM. The registration fee is $60.00 plus $15.00 for the cost for the two new works by Randol Alan Bass. You are encouraged to locate your former music and will not be charged for the music you already have. Replacement copies will run about $5.00 each. Study CD’s will be provided as in the past for all new and previously performed music. Additional copies of music previously announced for performance will be available for purchase.
Registration Plan No. 2. This plan is reserved for chorus alumni who have sung previously with the chorus at one time or another but are now not current members or who were not part of our May 15th 2011 concert. This membership level includes the final three rehearsals with the orchestra on M-W-F December 5th 7th and 9th as well as an additional piano rehearsal, Saturday, December 10th 1:00- 5:00PM at the Hillsdale Middle School. (Several rest breaks will be provided) the registration fee for this plan is $35.00 plus $26.00 for the music and study CDs, total of $61.00. However, if you have saved the sheet music for the two works the chorus has preformed previously, you can deduct $3.00 for each of those. Study CDs for all the works announced will be provided and made available to returning alumni. You can get a registration form which contains more details at http://www.sandiegofestivalchorus.org/CelebrationRegistration.html.
Lee Wise, our chorus videographer, has prepared an outstanding DVD of our May 15th 2011 Concert. Copies of the DVD are available for sale to chorus members. We are certain that will want to purchase several copies for your keepsake and for possible gifts. Those of you who have already seen Lee’s work know of the wonderful editing and enhancements he adds to all of his productions.
Hope you had a great summer. See you all September 12, 2011 at our first rehearsal!
Tony