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Is it November or February? What a storm yesterday. I hope everyone is safe, warm and dry.

Last night the steering committee for the 125th Anniversary of the Choir gathered for the first time to get organized and begin preparing for our big celebration culminating in the Annual Spring Concert and extra Festive Reception that will take place on 26 April 2019. If you are interested in being part of the team be in touch with Cecily Millen: cmillen@gracechurchnyc.org.

THIS SUNDAY 18 November
GCS SUNDAY
EVERYONE REQUIRED, ALL NOVICES, JUNIORS, and SENIORS
9:45 call, HS and SENIORS
10:15 call, Juniors
10:30 call, Novices
No lunch or rehearsal after church.

Well done on the Thanksgiving Pie Sale. Results will be forthcoming but don’t forget to pick up your pies and chocolate in the Green Room of GCS on Monday and Tuesday.
Join me in a big THANK YOU to our amazing committee:
Cara Wall, Dominique Schulte and Mary Cannon

Next Week: The GCS Thanksgiving Service
Note new date and time: Tuesday 20 November at 2:10 p.m. in the Church
Only the Senior Choristers will be singing.
All Novices and Juniors will sit with their classes.

NEXT SUNDAY: Holiday Weekend, The Adult Choir singing.

The Following Sunday: The First Sunday of Advent and Tech Weekend

The First Novice/Junior Chorister Sunday, December 2, 2018
Call for all Novice and Junior Choristers 9:45 a.m.
Go to the Honor Room and put on your vestments, then go to the Chantry to warm up.
Service at 11:00 a.m. over around 12:20 p.m.
REQUIRED FOR ALL NOVICES AND JUNIORS.

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The ANNUAL CHOIR CHRISTMAS PARTY
in the GCS Dining Room.
Don’t forget to RSVP and sign up!

Wednesday 5 December 2018, The Community Carol Sing in the Church.
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
All Choristers singing. More details next week.

HOMEWORK FOR ALL CHORISTERS: Have a listen to yourselves in 2014! We will be bringing these pieces back into the repertoire with Dr. Rose for the February Concert! (recorded at 7:00 in the morning after Easter! How many chances do we get? 1 take! 2 ipads! and a lot of hard work. I am so proud of you all!

MORE HOMEWORK FOR CHORSITERS – Listen to the Berntsein – It’s great NYC music and we will be offering it on the big April 26 Concert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2g6eu6tJQU

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.

WHAT IS THE CHOIR SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND? This fund was established when the choir began preparing for it’s first international trip – to Bristol England as choir in residence for the Cathedral of Bristol during one week of the summer of 2004. The monies in the fund help cover the costs of tours, recordings and many other opportunities for the choristers beyond what the regular church operating budget can provide. It impacts the life of every choir family over the time that your family participates in the program and provides seed monies for future projects.

Please check the attached “newsletter” for other details and links.

All my love, Patrick

A Choir Family Newsletter!
Friday 16 November 2018

THIS SUNDAY 18 November
GCS SUNDAY
EVERYONE REQUIRED, ALL NOVICES, JUNIORS, and SENIORS
9:45 call, HS and SENIORS
10:00 call, Juniors
10:15 call, Novices
No lunch or rehearsal after church.

Well done on the Thanksgiving Pie Sale. Results will be forthcoming but don’t forget to pick up your pies and chocolate in the Green Room of GCS on Monday and Tuesday.
Join me in a big THANK YOU to our amazing committee:
Cara Wall, Dominique Schulte and Mary Cannon

Next Week: The GCS Thanksgiving Service
Note new date and time: Tuesday 20 November at 2:10 p.m. in the Church
Only the Senior Choristers will be singing.
All Novices and Juniors will sit with their classes.

NEXT SUNDAY: Holiday Weekend, The Adult Choir singing.

The Following Sunday: The First Sunday of Advent and Tech Weekend

The First Novice/Junior Chorister Sunday, December 2, 2018
Call for all Novice and Junior Choristers 9:45 a.m.
Go to the Honor Room and put on your vestments, then go to the Chantry to warm up.
Service at 11:00 a.m. over around 12:20 p.m.
REQUIRED FOR ALL NOVICES AND JUNIORS.

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The ANNUAL CHOIR CHRISTMAS PARTY
in the GCS Dining Room.
Don’t forget to RSVP and sign up!

Wednesday 5 December 2018, The Community Carol Sing in the Church.
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
All Choristers singing. More details next week.

Mother Julia’s Corner

Dear Choir Families, If you are interested in learning more about any of the programming for children & youth at Grace Church, you are very welcome to a cocktail party for parents this coming Monday, November 19, from 6:30-8:30 pm at the home of Emily and David Tobin (449 West 21st Street).
Just RSVP to me at joffinger@gracechurchnyc.org and I can forward you the official invite.

This will be a chance to meet other parents of young ones and hear from me a little bit about all of the exciting things kids get up to at Grace Church. (And if you’re a school parent, there will be a nice contingent coming over from the basketball game!) The next big event is the same day as the choir party:

On Sunday, Dec 2 after the 9am or 11am services, you can make an advent wreath to take home and light during the season before Christmas. All are welcome!

Thanksgiving blessings to all! ~Mother Julia

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: gracechoir1894@gmail.com

For entering 4th and 5th graders it is also not too late to join as new choristers, 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.

Note about third grade juniors: the third grade juniors will only attend the Tuesday rehearsal session from 5:00 – 6:30. Older juniors still also attend for boys, Thursday morning or girls, Friday morning practice.

This year we will have the second season for 2nd grade novices! Last year was a great success and these now third graders fast tracked themselves to junior level ahead of what I thought would happen. I am so proud of them.

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
4. BOTH: Bernstein Chichester Psalms (I love the recording by the Wells Cathedral Choir)

WEBSITE: www.gracechurchnyc.org
CLICK: MUSIC
CLICK: login
User Name: helfenstein
Password: Stanfordlives1894

CHOIR SCHEDULES 2018 – 2019: REMEMBER Kathy’s Link to our Goggle Doc Schedules, they are ready to go for 2018-2019:
http://www.gchoirsched.info/schedules.html

THIS WEEKS SCHEDULE:

• Friday Afternoon, 3:20 – 4:30
After School Voice Coaching in the Chantry.

THIS SUNDAY 18 November
GCS SUNDAY
EVERYONE REQUIRED, ALL NOVICES, JUNIORS, and SENIORS
9:45 call, HS and SENIORS
10:00 call, Juniors
10:15 call, Novices
No lunch or rehearsal after church.

• 19 November to 25 November

• Monday – Pie Pick up in the Green Room, GCS.

• Tuesday Mornings – 7:00 – 8:10 a.m. Senior Boy Rehearsal.
Breakfast Club in the Reception room

• Tuesday – Pie Pick up in the Green Room, GCS.

• Tuesday 2:10 p.m. The GCS Thanksgiving Service in the Church
Seniors Singing, All Novices and Juniors sit with your classes.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, be safe and have a blessed
and beautiful Holiday

• 26 November to December 2

• Tuesday Mornings – 7:00 – 8:10 a.m. Senior Boy Rehearsal.
Breakfast Club in the Reception room

• Tuesday Afternoon, 3:20 – 4:30
After School Voice Coaching in the Chantry.

• Tuesday Afternoon – 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Junior Chorister Rehearsal, Boy and Girl Junior Choristers. (3rd and 4th grade girls, 3rd grade boys)
Evensong 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. in the Church.
Evensong tonight! The final one for 2018

• Wednesday Morning – 7:00 – 8:10 a.m. Senior Girl Rehearsal.
Breakfast Club in the Reception room

Wednesday – 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. Regular Afternoon Rehearsal Schedule for Girl Novices. Rehearse in the Chantry. Final one for 2018

• Thursday Morning – 7:00 – 8:10 a.m. Senior Boy Rehearsal.
Breakfast Club in the Reception room

• Thursday Afternoon – 3:00 to 4:15 pm. Novice (2nd grade)
Required for Boy Novices. Gather and dismiss in the Honor Room. Rehearse in the Chantry. Final one for 2018

• Friday Morning – 7:00 – 8:10 a.m. Junior (4th grade) and Senior Girl Rehearsal.
Breakfast Club in the Reception room

• Friday Afternoon, 3:20 – 4:30
After School Voice Coaching in the Chantry.

• Sunday 2 December

The First Sunday of Advent and Tech Weekend

The First Novice/Junior Chorister Sunday, December 2, 2018
Call for all Novice and Junior Choristers 9:45 a.m.
Go to the Honor Room and put on your vestments, then go to the Chantry to warm up.
Service at 11:00 a.m. over around 12:20 p.m.
REQUIRED FOR ALL NOVICES AND JUNIORS.

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The ANNUAL CHOIR CHRISTMAS PARTY
in the GCS Dining Room.
Don’t forget to RSVP and sign up!

Looking ahead:
Wednesday 5 December 2018, The Community Carol Sing in the Church.
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
All Choristers singing. More details next week.

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

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=kings+college+all+bells&vid=902f93ee8b3b28415cae01da013ce611&l=4%3A45&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608020223790746048%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DP8TyKNycHes&tit=John+Rutter%3A+All+Bells+In+Paradise+-+Official+Video&c=1&sigr=11aoutisl&sigt=11jh9sqci&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=king%27s+college+choir&vid=110003f8b24834b111ae4be397650d76&l=5%3A08&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608026301171238103%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dq5n6X9sUznI&tit=O+Holy+Night+%3A+Kings+College%2C+Cambridge&c=2&sigr=11arr3iog&sigt=117mk8a8i&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

Wells Cathedral Choir

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=wells+cathedral+malcolm+archer&vid=c373efcfd3df46151072adc636c2fe0c&l=5%3A21&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608030682034081441%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dyrs5XR9Pd7k&tit=God+is+Gone+Up+%28Finzi%29+—+Choir+of+Wells+Cathedral&c=3&sigr=11ac3plli&sigt=11jlvlhgk&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=wells+cathedral+malcolm+archer&vid=415d1018bf24c3aee0db1ac9e836f0b9&l=4%3A41&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608049227703257238%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXac1w1OdELI&tit=The+Twelve+Days+of+Christmas+—+Choir+of+Wells+Cathedral&c=10&sigr=11aigreat&sigt=11pa650ni&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Aj1K1PW2VDs1RKVFJfzbu2uevZx4?p=you+tube+wells+cathedral+choir&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-901&fp=1

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=youtube+wells+cathedral+have+yourself+choir&vid=853d06e7cf55b5383b84e5d4a1556ae3&l=3%3A22&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608034453018248291%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAf8nD6KGGec&tit=Have+Yourself+a+Merry+Little+Christmas+—+Wells+Cathedral+Choir&c=0&sigr=11au0j7su&sigt=1207t1bd2&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

St. John’s College Cambridge, A Guest in Cambridge

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=st+john%27s+college+cambridge&vid=9425021b6896bda9a630f27d01e90a6d&l=6%3A52&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608042969937282548%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DPSYK5JHgRnA&tit=Haydn-+Insanae+Et+Vanae+Curae+%28St.+John%26%2339%3Bs+College+Choir.%29&c=25&sigr=11apkam02&sigt=11tjuig47&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=st+john%27s+college+cambridge&vid=7264786b7c16e797614ba97ea5fc7ef7&l=14%3A59&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.607990240621363343%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D8udJ5MjjLcY&tit=St+John%26%2339%3Bs+College+Choir+Cambridge+1978+under+George+Guest+1&c=21&sigr=11aunqee0&sigt=11vism07r&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

Salisbury Cathedral

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=salisbury+cathedral+choir&vid=0a5806f316d0f326ea4cef4513e591f4&l=4%3A12&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608027666970052142%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzfAO9iCzZJ0&tit=The+Choristers+of+Salisbury+Cathedral+Part1&c=1&sigr=11avnbi5n&sigt=11b62d3g4&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=the+choristers+of+salisbury+cathedral+part+2&vid=64773de37238958c6b12328935c8a115&l=6%3A47&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.607986108865709804%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DE2RY22cAIO4&tit=The+Choristers+of+Salisbury+Cathedral+Part2&c=0&sigr=11a94tmkv&sigt=11bm9mqbj&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

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/

*Sign Up Genius for Choir Parent Volunteer Sign Link:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/30E084CADAF2BA1FA7-choir

*Sign Up Genius for After School Vocal Coaching: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0e4ba4a628abf94-after

*Sign Up Genius Tuesday Night Parent Helpers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a48a9ad2caaf85-juniors

*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.