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A Choir Family Fall Start Up Newsletter!
Saturday Morning 2 August 2016
Amsterdam “from the woonboot Mireille”

Greetings and Happy start of August! I’m writing you from a grey and misty morning in Amsterdam. The Swan is back and every morning tries to steal my breakfast. She’s fast and I wouldn’t want her to catch my hand with that beak. All the baby ducks are getting big and starting to have their adult feathers.

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.

IMG_7447Next week I’ll visit with Dr. and Mrs. Rose at their home in England. Dr. Rose and I will make a plan for the January Concert with the Novices and Juniors. This is always a fun visit.

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.

CHOIR CAMP will take place for everyone who can attend on Tuesday 6 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.
There will be 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.

We also need help at the start of choir camp with the social time and ice cream/frozen treat that starts the day. If you could help with that, please let me know. We need several parents to supervise and one to assist with ordering the treats.

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.

TWO VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED for our first Sunday back on 11 September to be Choir Parent Helpers. Please let Melinda Weir know if you can help that morning.

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. The Link is under construction and will be sent at a later date.

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: Bernstein, Chichester Psalms

FIRST SUNDAY BACK, we hope everyone can attend, it is a REQUIRED SUNDAY for ALL: Sunday 11 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.

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://gchoirsched.info/home.html

FIRST TWO WEEKS SCHEDULE:

• September
• September 6 (Tuesday) – Choir Camp Day for The Choir of Men and Boys and The Girls’ Choir, from 2:00 to 6:30 pm. (Enter at 802 Broadway) – FOR ALL CHORISTERS WHO ARE BACK IN TOWN AND CAN ATTEND.

• * Parent Orientation Meetings from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (Reception Room)

• September 8 (Thursday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior Boy Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.

• September 9 (Friday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior Girl Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.

• September 11 (Sunday) – Sunday Service with The Combined Grace Church Choirs, Beginning of 122nd Season of the Choirs, REQUIRED for All Boy and Girl Choristers. 9:45 a.m. Call for Seniors, 10:15 Call for Novices and Juniors.

• September 13 (Tuesday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedules Begin. Senior Boys, 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
No afternoon chorister activities this week.

• September 14 (Wednesday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedules Begin. Senior Girls, 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
No afternoon chorister activities this week.

• September 15 (Thursday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior and Junior Boy Choristers
7:00 – 8:10 a.m. No afternoon chorister activities this week.

• September 16 (Friday) – Regular Morning Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Senior and Junior Girl Choristers 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
No afternoon chorister activities this week.

• September 18 (Sunday)–Sunday Service-The Choir of Men and Boys
1:00 – 3:00 REHEARSAL ALL SOPRANO SENIOR BOYS (6)
1:00 – 2:00 High School Singers Weekly Rehearsal begins, Music Room.

• September 20 (Tuesday) – Regular Afternoon Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Girl Novices 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

• September 20 (Tuesday) – First Tuesday Rehearsal for Boy and Girl Junior Choristers 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. NO EVENSONG

• September 21 (Wednesday) After School Vocal Coaching begins for 2015-2016. Sign up in advance for each session with PA. Music Office

• September 22 (Thursday) After School Vocal Coaching begins for 2015-2016. Sign up in advance for each session with PA. Music Office

• September 23 (Friday) – Regular Afternoon Rehearsal Schedule Begins for Boy Novices 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

• September 23 (Friday) Choir Steering Committee Meeting 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. Reception Room.

• September 25 (Sunday) – Sunday Service-The Girls’ Choir and ATB
1:00 – 3:00 REHEARSAL ALL SENIOR GIRLS (6)

• October 2 (Sunday) – Sunday Service- The Choir of Men and Boys
1:00 – 3:00 REHEARSAL ALL SOPRANO SENIOR BOYS
With Adults for Britten Rejoice in the Lamb (6,6)
in the Church. Lunch in Music Room, reserve until 3:30 p.m.

• October 4 (Tuesday) – First Tuesday Evensong for Boy and Girl Junior Choristers.

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/home.html

*Sign Up Genius for Choir Parent Volunteer Sign Link:
Coming soon

*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.
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