Dear Choir Families, as I started to compose an email to focus the community on the soon to begin new season I realized there was so much to share and it kept growing! So, it turned into a newsletter which I have attached to this email. Please let me know if you have any trouble downloading it.
I’ve tried to anticipate many of the questions that come up for the start of a new season and provide lots of information for daily choir life as we prepare for the kick off.
Please join me in welcoming George Fergus our new organ scholar to Grace Church as of 1 September. For details about George please see the home page of the Music Website.
I’m including our recent graduates in this communications first of all because I miss you! and secondly many of you have indicated your wish to be part of the new High School Ensemble. In September we need to have a chat together and make a plan for this special new offering! Those of you who can’t join us, know you are always family and always welcome home (parents also, you don’t have to stop just because your chorister has moved on!). You are in our thoughts and prayers as a new and wonderful phase of life unfolds for you in September!
Have a beautiful and safe remainder of the summer. I’m in Holland (two more concerts to go, photo of one of the instruments attached! also a photo of Wells Cathedral where I was with Dr. Rose on Tuesday and Wednesday) on vacation and will be back in the city on Labor Day! See you at Choir Camp on 2 September!
With all my love, Patrick
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A Choir Family Fall Start Up Newsletter!
Saturday Morning 16 August 2014
Amsterdam “from the woonboot Mireille”
Greetings and Happy near end of Summer everyone! I’m writing you from a grey rainy morning in Amsterdam. The Swan is looking in the kitchen window and trying to steal my toast! Her neck is really long and she is a quick grabber!
I hope you have all had a wonderful and rest filled summer! It’s almost time for a new academic year and choir season! I’m so excited about this upcoming year and all the fun and beautiful music we will create together.
Monday through Thursday of this week I visited Dr. and Mrs. Rose at their home in Somerset in the UK. We had marvelous adventures with Dr. Rose behind the wheel of his beautiful car and talked over lots of ideas for the Novice Junior Concert and a potential Christmas Recording Project for the Senior Choristers this winter! You should see his fountain pen workshop where his world renown collection resides and where he restores pens for people from all over the world! He never slows down! Mrs. Rose was busy with her artwork, she is a very talented sculptor and works beautifully in other mediums as well.
RECRUITING FOR 2014 – 2015 is never over!
If anyone asks it is never too late to join the choir and they should reach out to me at: helfensteinch@yahoo.com.
Calling all choir families, we are still short our goal for entering third grade boys for the novice class. It is very important that five boys start at that level this season. Choir Families are the best recruiters. There seems to be confusion about the first year commitment for 3rd grade boys families.
It is:
Thursday Rehearsal from 3:20 – 4:30 when GCS is in session.
Occasional Sunday mornings (3 in the fall term)
And lots of fun!
For entering 4th 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 grader might follow would depend on the boy and his family.
CHOIR CAMP will take place for everyone who can attend on Tuesday 2 September from 2:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Please use the 802 Broadway Entrance to come and go, do not go through the school.
5:30: Choir Parent Orientation Sessions. This year we are trying something new!
Two sessions running at the same time. One will be for new families and the other for families that have participated in the past. Please enter at 802 Broadway and someone will lead you to your session.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED for choir camp to help with getting all the choristers vested. This is not a difficult task, but does take time to sort out. If you can help, let me know and what time period during camp that works with your schedule.
If your Chorister is not going to be able to make choir camp, send us their height so we can plan a vestment for him/her.
FIRST SUNDAY BACK, we hope everyone can attend: Sunday 7 September
Senior Chorister Call is 9:45 a.m.
Junior Chorister Call is 10:15 a.m.
Novice Chorister Call is 10:30 a.m.
A CHOIR TOUR TO FRANCE! Yes, you read it correctly! Next summer we hope to have the senior boys and girls make a concert tour in France focusing on Paris, Rouen, Chartres and Bayeux. If you have not already turned in the most recent survey about potential dates, please get that to Vicky Hurley by Monday August 18th.
WEBSITE: www.gracechurchnyc.org
CLICK: MUSIC
CLICK: login
User Name: helfenstein
Password: iheartch0ir (0 is a zero)
CHOIR SCHEDULES 2014 – 2015: REMEMBER Kathy’s Link to our Goggle Doc Schedules, they are ready to go for 2014-2015:
http://gchoirsched.info/home.html
More information on the Choir Tour:
A CHOIR TOUR TO FRANCE 2015: A moveable feast! The trip committee is hard at work on planning the summer tour. Traditionally Senior Choristers go on these trips. When younger choristers as siblings are on the trip we see what might be vocally appropriate for them to participate in.
The Trip Committee:
Shannon Cave, Meaghan Cheung, Vicky Hurley, John Zaccaro, Erik Sorensen, Abby Carr, Sarah McCain and Vanessa McGarry.
NEWS: The Girls’ Choir from the Anglican Cathedral in Ottawa will be with us on Sunday 21 September to sing with our Girls’ Choir. It should be a lovely morning of music and making new friends!
NEWS 2: Momentum is growing for a High School Ensemble within the choirs. Older Choristers moving onto and already in High School, let’s talk about how to make this happen in the fall. We will cook up a recipe for success! Let the musical adventure continue!
NEWS 3: Due to the scheduling of a wedding rehearsal, the Choir Steering Committee Meeting originally scheduled between 5 and 6 p.m. on Thursday 18 September needs to take place from 6 and 7:00 p.m. in the Reception Room. Please let me know early in September if this causes any conflicts.
FIRST TWO WEEKS SCHEDULE:
September 2 (Tuesday) – Choir Camp Day in the Chantry, Church and Music Room for The Choir of Men and Boys and The Girls’ Choir, from 2:00 to 6:30 pm. The day to start with ice cream in the Yard.
* Parent Orientation Meetings from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
September 4 (Thursday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior Boy Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 5 (Friday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior Girl Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 7 (Sunday) – Sunday Service with The Combined Grace Church Choirs, Beginning of 120th Season of the Choirs, No Lunch or Afternoon Rehearsal, REQUIRED for All Boy and Girl Choristers. For call times see above.
September 9 (Tuesday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedules Begin.
NO Choir activities for LS students today (grades 1 – 4), No afternoon
chorister activities this week.
September 9 (Tuesday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior Boy Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 10 (Wednesday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior Girl Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 11 (Thursday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior and Junior Boy Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 12 (Friday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior and Junior Girl Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 12 (Friday) Music Committee Meeting 8:15 – 9:15 a.m.
September 14 (Sunday)–Sunday Service-The Choir of Men and Boys
1:00 – 3:00 REHEARSAL ALL SOPRANO SENIOR BOYS (6)
in the Church.
September 16 (Tuesday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal for Senior Boy Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 16 (Tuesday) – Regular Afternoon Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Girl Novices 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
September 16 (Tuesday) – First Tuesday Rehearsal for Boy
and Girl Junior Choristers, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
September 17 (Wednesday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal for Senior Girl Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 17 (Wednesday) After School Vocal Coaching begins for 2014-2015. Sign up in advance for each session with PA. Music Office
September 18 (Thursday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal for Junior and Senior Boy Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 18 (Thursday) – Regular Afternoon Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Boy Novices 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
September 18 (Thursday) Choir Steering Committee Meeting 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
September 19 (Friday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal for Junior and Senior Girl Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
September 19 (Friday) After School Vocal Coaching begins for 2014-2015. Sign up in advance for each session with PA. Music Office
September 21 (Sunday) – Sunday Service-The Girls’ Choir and ATB
1:00 – 3:00 REHEARSAL ALL SENIOR GIRLS (6)
Lunch in Music Room, reserve until 3:30 p.m.
Rehearsal in the Chantry
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