It’s December? Where has 2017 gone?
Happy Friday Everyone!
THIS SUNDAY 3 December: NOVICES AND JUNIORS REQUIRED
CALL IS 9:45 a.m., Service at 11:00 a.m., done by 12:20 p.m.
SENIOR MENTORS VERY WELCOME!
SUNDAY MORNING 3 DECEMBER: THE NOVICE AND JUNIOR CHORISTERS WILL BE LEADING THE MUSIC OF THE MORNING SERVICE AND SITTING IN THE CHOIR STALLS. The Senior Choristers are off today preparing the GCS Play for the coming week. THIS IS A REQUIRED SUNDAY FOR ALL NOVICES AND JUNIORS. 9:45 a.m. arrival time for all choristers.
THIS SUNDAY HOLY COMMUNION will be celebrated at the 11:00 a.m. Service. All baptized Christians are welcome to receive at the altar rail. No one must receive. The Choir respects the wishes of each family to make those decisions together. If you do not wish your child to receive communion ask them to cross their arms over their chest and the priest will bless them but not offer the chalice or bread. Everyone goes up for the traffic flow.
SUNDAY EVENING 3 DECEMBER: THE ANNUAL CHOIR CHRISTMAS PARTY IN THE GCS DINING ROOM. LOOK FOR THE OFFICIAL INVITATION it will be coming out early next week. THIS IS SPECIAL – don’t miss it!
THE COMMUNITY CAROL SING: Takes place on Wednesday 6 December at 12:15. This is a special opportunity to Carol with the Rector and Choristers in the Church for 30 minutes. Bring Friends, Colleagues and Family and enjoy this special time together in the beautiful setting of the Church.
SAVE THE WEEK! NOVICE and JUNIOR CHORISTERS and all those Senior’s who can be Mentors – Dr. Rose will be with us for the 10th Anniversary – The Tenth Annual Concert of Music for Treble Voices. It’s going to be very special. New Families this is one to get ready for as the time demands are big and very important.
Rehearsal Schedule for the Tenth Annual Concert of Music for Treble Voices with Dr. Barry Rose January 16 – 21, 2018
Required for all Novice and Junior Choristers
Tuesday:
3:20 – 4:30 Third Grade Choristers
5:00 – 6:30 Fourth and Fifth Grade Choristers
Wednesday to Friday
All Novice and Junior Choristers
3:20 – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:45 – Noon
Dress Rehearsal for Concert – All Choristers
Sunday Call at 2:15, Concert at 4:00
Senior Choristers should attend and listen!
WHITE SMOKE: WE HAVE DATES AND LOCATION OF THIS SUMMER’s CONCERT TOUR TO SPAIN! All interested in their chorister/family participating in the tour please respond in the coming week to the information email that was sent out. We need to get an approximate number hoping to go for planning purposes.
IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE SO YET – PLEASE Write an email to PA letting him know the potential of your families participation in the Tour to Spain. There is no financial commitment in this response we just need to know in general who many to plan for. If we plan for 35 and 50 apply, we will have to turn away 15 participants and so on. This planning number directly influences the cost of the tour to each participant. The more who participate, the cheaper the trip for all. WE NEED YOUR RESPONSES BY TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER at 5:00 p.m. Below is a photo from the Italy Trip just for fun and good memories.
A FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY! Thank you Cara Wall. Cara has offered the Choir Community a new long term fundraising opportunity through her store Clementine Consignment. A letter from her is attached with the details of how it works. She will have a fill in the blank tax donation letter for you to receive and fill in the amount you think the clothes are worth for your tax purposes. You receive the letter when you drop off the donations at the store. Again Thank you Cara for suggesting this great opportunity for the choir community. The choir will receive money from the store based on a percentage of what the clothes sell for. These monies will go into the Choir Special Projects Fund.
Important Links:
Kathy’s Special Goggle Calendar – Choir Schedule Link Page: http://www.gchoirsched.info/schedules.html
Sign up Genius for Choir Parent Helpers: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/9040B4CA9A72DA64-choir3
Remember always ask lots of questions! and it is never too late for recruiting!
Be safe, and my warmest wishes to you and yours for a Joyful THANKSGIVING.
all my love, Patrick
Choir Family News
Sunday, 1 December 2017
THIS SUNDAY 3 December: NOVICES AND JUNIORS REQUIRED
CALL IS 9:45 a.m., Service at 11:00 a.m., done by 12:20 p.m.
SENIOR MENTORS VERY WELCOME!
FACE BOOK: Did you know there is a Music at Grace Church Facebook page?
There is. We use it to get the word out about all the musical offerings that take place at the Church especially those of the choirs!
HELP US build the community of followers and listeners to the choirs – FRIEND THE Music at Grace Church page and let the word spread
RECRUITING is never over!
We have an amazing group of novice choristers for the fall term but…
If anyone asks, it is never too late to join the choir and they should reach out to me at: helfensteinch@yahoo.com.
For entering 4th and 5th graders it is also not too late to join as novices, we have had good luck at getting them up to speed quickly as your children are the best teachers. What schedule a 4th or 5th grader might follow would depend on the child and their family.
This year we will have a trial season for 2nd grade novices! These brave 2nd graders will remain novices the entire year and have their whiting at the normal time in their 3rd grade year. The pioneer class is smart and strong. It will be very exciting to have them in the choirs.
SIGN UP GENIUS: Melinda Weir has organized our sign up for helping with choristers activities through sign up genius. She does an amazing job at this, make sure you say Thank you! Sign up Genius has been very practical in making the sign to help as a choir parent helper easy and efficient.
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/9040B4CA9A72DA64-choir3
HOMEWORK FOR SENIOR CHORISTERS:
Please locate a recording with your parents approval and listen to:
1. BOYS: Rejoice in the Lamb, B. Britten
2. GIRLS: A CEREMONY OF CAROLS, B. Britten
3. BOTH: J.S. Bach Motet: “Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf” BWV 226
WEBSITE: www.gracechurchnyc.org
CLICK: MUSIC
CLICK: login
User Name: helfenstein
Password: Stanfordlives1894
CHOIR SCHEDULES 2017 – 2018: REMEMBER Kathy’s Link to our Goggle Doc Schedules, they are ready to go for 2017-2018:
http://www.gchoirsched.info/schedules.html
NEXT WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
• Sunday December 3rd – Sunday Service-The NOVICES AND JUNIORS LEADING THE SERVICE.
• 9:45 Call ALL NOVICE AND JUNIOR Choristers REQUIRED
• 11:00 a.m. service
• 12:20ish, finished.
NO LUNCH OR AFTER SERVICE REHEARSAL TODAY
• 4:00 p.m. Advent Lessons and Music sung by the Adult Choir
• THE ANNUAL CHOIR CHRISTMAS PARTY in the GCS DINING ROOM.
• December 5 (Tuesday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal. Senior Boys, 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
• December 5 (Tuesday) – No Afternoon Choir Activities, they are finished for 2017. Activities for Novices and Juniors will resume in 2018.
• December 6 (Wednesday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal. Senior Girls, 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
• December 6 (Wednesday) – COMMUNITY CAROL SING in the Church 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. Bring family and friends and sing Christmas Carols with the Rector and Choristers in the church.
11:15 Choristers dismissed to Chantry for a special pizza lunch.
12:15 Carol Sing in the Church
12:45 Choristers reward Ice Cream Party in the Chantry.
1:15 Back to Class.
• December 6 (Wednesday) –After School Vocal Coaching. Sign up in advance for each session with PA. CHANTRY LAST ONE FOR 2017
• December 7 (Thursday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule for Senior and Junior Boy Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
• December 7 (Wednesday) –After School Vocal Coaching. Sign up in advance for each session with PA. CHANTRY LAST ONE FOR 2017
• December 8 (Friday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule for Senior and Junior Girl Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
• December 9 (Saturday) Dress Rehearsal for CEREMONY OF CAROLS.
Mandatory for all Senior Girls Choristers, 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Enter at 802 Broadway
• Sunday December 10th – Sunday Service-The Choir of Men and Boys
• 9:45 Call ALL SENIOR Choristers REQUIRED
• 10:15 a.m. Call for Novices and Juniors – Optional
• 11:00 a.m. service
• 12:20ish, finished.
NO LUNCH OR AFTER SERVICE REHEARSAL TODAY
• 4:00 p.m. December 10 Sunday – Choral Evensong – The Girls Choir with Women
Britten’s CEREMONY OF CAROLS. Required for all girl choristers.
Seniors will sing, juniors need to attend to hear this beautiful work in
preparation for their future performances. 2:15 arrival, 2:30 warm up,
Novices and Juniors should arrive at 3:30 to vest and process.
4:00 service
SAVE THE WEEK! NOVICE and JUNIOR CHORISTERS and all those Senior’s who can be Mentors – Dr. Rose will be with us for the 10th Anniversary – The Tenth Annual Concert of Music for Treble Voices. It’s going to be very special. New Families this is one to get ready for as the time demands are big and very important.
Rehearsal Schedule for the Tenth Annual Concert of Music for Treble Voices with Dr. Barry Rose January 16 – 21, 2018
Required for all Novice and Junior Choristers
Tuesday:
3:20 – 4:30 Third Grade Choristers
5:00 – 6:30 Fourth and Fifth Grade Choristers
Wednesday to Friday
All Novice and Junior Choristers
3:20 – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:45 – Noon
Dress Rehearsal for Concert – All Choristers
Sunday Call at 2:15, Concert at 4:00
Senior Choristers should attend and listen!
SPECIAL LISTENING PROJECT:
Please find a time to watch and listen to these YouTube excerpts. They are from some of our fellow choirs around the world and are lovely and fun. They can help give us all a better idea of our tradition and celebrate the 1000 year old heritage that we participate in. I was in Wells this week and really, the church and choral tradition is just shy of it’s 1000th birthday! This year is the 120th birthday for our choir foundation.
King’s College Cambridge
“All Bells in Paradise”
“O Holy Night”
Wells Cathedral Choir
“God is Gone Up”(Finzi) — Choir of Wells Cathedral
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” – Choir of Wells Cathedral
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Choir of Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral Choir – General Search
St. John’s College Cambridge,
A Guest in Cambridge
St. John’s College Cambridge
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral Choir : Sanctus (Walter Alcock)
The Choristers of Salisbury Cathedral Part2 – 2007
FIN – THE END
Please forgive the length of this newsletter. You all have lots of wonderful questions and this is my attempt to get us organized and put as much information as you have asked about in one place.
Have a wonderful safe remainder of the summer! The rain has stopped, the Swan has moved on to another boat and it’s time to head to the market for the shopping.
With all my love and anticipation of a great new season, Patrick
ONGOING INFORMATION SOURCES:
*Like us on FACEBOOK! Music at Grace Church in New York
*The Goggle Choir Schedule Calendar Link: http://gchoirsched.info/home.html
*Sign Up Genius for Choir Parent Volunteer Sign Link:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/9040B4CA9A72DA64-choir3
*Accessing the Secure Choir Family Area of the Music Website:
www.gracechurchnyc.org
CLICK: MUSIC
CLICK: login
User Name: helfenstein
Password: Stanfordlives1894
*REMEMBER: If your contact information changes or you notice a typo in a communication don’t hesitate to let PA (P. Allen, not the Parents Association) know. “If you see something, say something”
*REMEMBER…please keep an eye out around the house and make sure you cash all choir checks you have received. When the books are closed at the audit for each operating budget year checks can no longer be redeemed or replaced.