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SPECIAL CHOIR FAMILY NOTE:
Marcus Dawkins went into hospital this week to treat an nasty ear infection. The treatment went well and he remains in hospital while they monitor his recovery. Please keep him, Roslyn and the whole family in your thoughts and prayers.

What an amazing week with Dr. Rose!
Congratulations to our New Junior Choristers.
Thank you parents for all you did to make the week such a success!.
Even this week the growth and musicality of the choristers is so much stronger. Onward and Upward!

Will you join me in thanking again Olivia Douglas and Julie McAskin for organizing us all for the beautiful reception that followed the Concert in Tuttle Hall!

NOW SENIORS, it’s time to get your concert material prepared – it needs to be finished and ready to go prior to Spring Break in March.

Parents I’ve put three thinks to an amazing pronunciation guide for the Bernstein piece in the attached newsletter. Please give them to your senior chorister to use. It will help them learn the Hebrew and offer the pieces with greater confidence.

Just a few notes as we move into the second half of the season 🙂

1. The Novices are now called NEW JUNIORS.

2. The NEW JUNIOR SCHEDULE does not change at all. The time and day commitments remain the same to support all the complicated schedules that we all live through.

3. In a week or so, the 5th grade Juniors will get their invitation to audition for Senior Chorister. DON’T WORRY! They know the music already, it is not something they must be coached on or need special preparation for. The concert Sunday was the climax of that preparation. DON’T WORRY about rushing to schedule their appointment, we have all the way until Mother’s Day to do it.

4. The fifth graders becoming Senior Choristers for 2017-2018 will be promoted to Senior on Mother’s Day. Sometimes one or two are away visiting grandparents. They will be promoted in spirit.

5. THIS SUNDAY IS THE SECOND JUNIOR SUNDAY of the Season! If your 5th grader is away on the ski trip this weekend, please let me know.

THIS IS A REQUIRED SUNDAY FOR ALL JUNIORS (3rd through 5th grade), unless they are on the ski trip.

CALL/WARM UP is 9:45 in the Music Room
Service is 11:00 a.m. in the Church ending around 12:20 p.m.

6. Our third and final JUNIOR SUNDAY comes in May.

7. HOLY COMMUNION will be offered this Sunday at 11 a.m.
Some notes…… 🙂
* All baptized Christians are invited, the Episcopal Church welcomes every tradition.
* No one is forced to have communion, that is a decision each family makes on their own.
* Please talk with your chorister about Holy Communion and what you would like them to do.
* If you do not want your child to take communion, just let them know this and ask them to cross their arms over their chest when they go to the communion rail.
The priest will smile and give them a blessing, but not give them communion.
We ask all the children to go to the communion rail for the traffic flow.
* The congregation at Grace respects all faith traditions or the decision not to practice a faith tradition and is thankful that you allow your child to be part of the choir.
Please feel no pressure, each person must make their own choices about their beliefs.
We just ask that the choristers respect where they are and what is going on, and that their “job” is leading/offering music in this house of prayer.
*Please ask questions, I love them and it helps me support you and your children.

A NEW 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.

Have a great afternoon and thank you again, love, Patrick
The Choir Family News!
Friday 27 January 2017

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 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 child and their family.

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. Here is the LINK:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/9040B4CA9A72DA64-choir1

WEBSITE: www.gracechurchnyc.org
CLICK: MUSIC
CLICK: login
User Name: helfenstein
Password: Stanfordlives1894
CHOIR SCHEDULES 2016 – 2017: REMEMBER Kathy’s Link to our Goggle Doc Schedules, they are ready to go for 2016-2017:
http://www.gchoirsched.info/schedules.html

HOMEWORK FOR SENIOR CHORISTERS:

Amazing Pronuciation Guide on YouTube for Bernstein Chichester Psalms:

Movement 1

Movemment 2

Movement 3

Please locate a recording with your parents approval and listen to:

1. BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS: Bernstein, Chichester Psalms

NEXT WEEK’S SCHEDULE

• January 2017

• January 27 (Friday) – Regular Afternoon Rehearsal Boy Novices 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
(New Juniors) DROP OFF AND DISMISSAL FROM THE HONOR ROOM.

• January 29 Sunday Service, Sunday Service-ALL NOVICE (NEW JUNIORS) and JUNIOR CHORISTERS (REQUIRED) with Adults
9:45 Call All Choristers
Novices (New Juniors) and Juniors (REQUIRED)
Seniors (Optional as mentors)
11:00 Service

No afternoon rehearsals today

• January31 (Tuesday) –Senior Boys, 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.

• January 31 (Tuesday) – Regular Afternoon Rehearsal for Girl Novices (New Juniors)
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. DROP OFF AND DISMISSAL FROM THE HONOR ROOM

• January 31 (Tuesday) – 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday Rehearsal for Boy and Girl Junior
Choristers
EVENSONG BEGINS TODAY. 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. in the Church
DROP OFF AND DISMISSAL FROM THE HONOR ROOM

• February 1 (Wednesday) –Senior Girls, 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.

• February 1(Wednesday) After School Vocal Coaching.
Sign up in advance for each session. 3:20 – 4:30 p.m.

• February 2 (Thursday) –Senior and Junior Boy Choristers
7:00 – 8:10 a.m.

• February 2 (Thursday) After School Vocal Coaching.
Sign up in advance for each session. 3:20 – 4:30 p.m.

• February 3 (Friday) –Senior and Junior Girl Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.

• February 3 (Friday) – Regular Afternoon Rehearsal Boy Novices 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
(New Juniors) DROP OFF AND DISMISSAL FROM THE HONOR ROOM.

• February 5 Sunday Service, Sunday Service-Choir of Men and Boys (SENIORS REQUIRED)
9:45 Call Senior Choristers (REQUIRED)
Novices (New Juniors) and Juniors (Optional)
11:00 Service

Senior Treble Rehearsal and Lunch after church until 3:00 p.m.

HS Singer Rehearsal in Music Room 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

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.

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/9040
B4CA9A72DA64-choir1

*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