[EastValleyChoraleMaillist] Happy New Year!

[Bruce Cochran]

Hi Chorale Friends,

 

I wanted to thank you all again for your support of the Chorale throughout
this past year. 

 

As I mentioned at our Christmas party, it's been a year of changes for the
East Valley Chorale.  

 

Just to review some of the changes in 2008 relative to 2007:

1) We had to find a new rehearsal home.no longer in the choir room at
Crossroads

2) We added some patriotic songs to our repertoire (we'll start them again
next week)

3) Barb Willey 'retired' after playing for us for nearly 10 years.  Her
skill, enthusiasm, and support have had a very significant role in the
development of the Chorale.  We all have appreciated her wonderful
accompanying and help in many ways.

4 Ethan Rutter agreed to play for us and has done a fine job learning our
songs. Continue to pray for Ethan as he learns our songs.

5) We had Marianne Sloterbeek help us by providing several half-hour voice
classes during our regular rehearsal times

6) We had an out-of-town concert at Payson, and several new locations in the
Phoenix area.

7) We added a French horn to our orchestra for several concerts

8) We were able to obtain 'free' music from Central Christian, and from
Chandler Music

9) We added 14 new singers .while 12 of our former singers are no longer
part of the chorale

10) Elise Kurbat has joined us as a vocalist and as an additional pianist.  

11) Craig Benner has taken on the task of bringing the small risers to all
of our concerts

12) Several of our singers have volunteered to come early, and stay late, to
help with the music for each rehearsal

13) Paul MacKinney has volunteered to help with making rehearsal CDs .as
well as the Christmas concert CD/DVDs

14) New ties for the men.you're looking great.

 

I continue to hear positive comments about our recent Christmas concerts.
Many folks told me that they were impressed at how professional we sounded
and how well the orchestra played.  The program meant much to the audiences.
Thanks for your hard work.

 

Thanks to everyone who has been supportive and enthusiastic throughout 2008.
We performed 30 concerts since last Christmas, and we couldn't have done it
without you all:-).  Thanks again to Yvonne for all her calls, mailings,
trips, etc to schedule the concerts. It's often a frustrating experience,
and she's done a great job.   I've tried to keep you informed of feedback
and comments from concerts, but we'll probably never know how some of the
songs have encouraged and ministered to our audiences.  Thanks for
sacrificing your time and energy to serve others.

 

About 2009?  I have several goals and ideas for this year.  

1)     Joint Concert with Mesa Regal RV Park.   Details:

Joint rehearsal (both choirs) on Tuesday, Jan 13th at Crossroads
Orchestra-only rehearsal: Saturday Feb 14, 9:30-11:30 at Mesa Regal
Joint rehearsal with choir and orchestra: Saturday Feb 21 at 9:30-11:30 AM
at Mesa Regal
Concert:  Sunday Feb 22 at 7:00 PM

2)     I would like to purchase one more section for our risers.  That may
happen depending on our financial situation. 
(One section costs $750).

3)     I still think more "voice classes" would be helpful.  You all seem to
enjoy the experience, and Marianne has been very helpful.

4)     Have a "joint rehearsal' with some other choirs.just for the
fellowship, experience of singing with others, etc

5)     I believe it would be great to make a 'real' CD.  To do it right,
would require a trip to California (probably have to stay there 2 days) and
is rather expensive. Need to pay $200 for rights for each song we record,
and about $1000 for a sound engineer.  Total cost would be $3000-$5000,
depending on lots of factors.  It's generally very difficult to recoup the
costs via CD sales. (We would need to sell 350 cds at $15 each to cover the
costs.)  I think the process of making a professional quality would be very
beneficial.but would really stretch us all.

6)     Should we do something "organized" for the chorale's 10th
anniversary? (March 6th)  Maybe go to a restaurant or something we don't
have to prepare? It would need to be a rather large facility.

7)     Other things???  I'm still thinking.

 

Feedback from you?

1)     Some of you have indicated that you felt this December was too busy
with concerts every Sunday night.  I'm not sure what to do about that.
Trying to move one of the concerts to a Tuesday night would really add some
stress for those who have to work.trying to get to the concert on time.
Christmas is a time that many places want the Chorale, and it's an
opportunity to use orchestra, sing for larger groups, etc.  Plus, we've
spent lots of time learning the Christmas music.seems sad to only sing it a
few times, given that we've been rehearsing it since July :-)  One lady who
attended our concert at Crossroads noted that our program was one of the
only Christmas programs in the East Valley this year.

2)     Comments about singing in Payson?  Was it worth the trip?  Should we
plan that type trip again?

3)     Is it too difficult to have 'Dual Concerts' on Sunday afternoons?
Would you prefer only one concert on any Sunday?

4)     Other (helpful) suggestions? 
I'm not sure I'll be able to act on all suggestions, but I do try.

 

Thanks again,

 

Bruce

 


Quote:

Live a balanced life--learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing
and dance and play and work every day some.


Author:

Robert Fulghum <http://www.motivationalquotes.com/People/fulghum.shtml> 

 

 

 

 

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