Announcements

Spring 2026 - Announcements

Feb 9:

New rehearsal tracks:

  • Updated Africa versions (correct arrangement)

  • My Soul to Keep, all parts

  • Additional isolated parts: Africa 2nd Soprano Alone, Ashokan Farewell Soprano Alone, Danny Boy Soprano 3 Alone, Some Nights Soprano 2 Alone

Spirit Nights:

  • Jan 26 - New Beginnings

  • Feb 16 - Valentine’s / Love / Pink

  • Mar 16- St. Patrick’s Day

  • Apr 20 - Earth Day

Director’s Notes

Feb 9:

Thank you for all of your hard work and the wonderful eyes I saw during rehearsal! You are all very amazing! As you are working on your parts please remember that any recordings are reference material. Now we are diving into the work for this session!

We will start with sectionals. Our section leaders ( Crystal, Anna, and Steve) will be doing part work with you for the beginning for about 15-20 minutes on the song Danny Boy. If you are in a different section please go with them for this first portion. Please spend time really focusing on measures 1-6. Then transition to your normal section. After that I will be coming around to workshop the language for Erev Shel Shoshanim. Please come prepared with questions and anything you need for these songs, also preview the pronunciation of Ereve Shel Shoshanim, and be familiar with the following songs.

1. Autumn Gives Her Hand to Winter (Pay close attention to moments where we move together and then split. I would circle any moment where there is a line that is moving when others are sustaining. These lines need to be heard so everyone else needs to back off. Examples would be the Soprano line on beat 4 of measure 17, or the Baritone line on beats 1-3 in measure 20)

2. Erev Shel Shoshanim (Pronunciation Recordings are available. Also, make sure you note the Altos in the verses and the exchanges that happen in the Chorus and Coda see if you can figure out where you are the part that needs to be exposed and when not to be exposed)

3. Storm (How much can you do from memory. Note: you may see me start a dynamic very early on this piece. More than likely before it is written. If you look up we will be together. How can you make your voice match these extreme dynamic changes without causing fatigue or pain for your voice? I'll give you a hint: sirens will show you the volume range you have, not just your pitch range. See what you can discover. Also, place extra care on learning the words, this is what will trip you up every time on a song like this. Sometimes only working those in rhythm is the most important practice you can do.)

4. Music in the Night (Watch out for unusual rhythm changes like and anytime you have dissonant harmonies. This happens more at measure 31.)

5. Beautiful December (Please mark your entrances and try to look up every measure. in measure 25 (39 for Daniel) prepare for an accelerando. Measure 27 (41) Tenor is important then it goes to alto and then soprano in Measure 28 (42). Let's be intentional with listening to parts that are moving like these. M. 39 (53) don't forget I have a fermata on the lyric "dreams." To keep together I will conduct each pitch and rhythm individually from beat four of measure 39 (53) until m. 41 (55). We will be back into regular time on the word "dreams." on p. 9 m. 47 (61) please note when entrances happen and let's get out of the way of those coming in by getting just a little softer.)

6. Some Nights (Nancy will take care of this one.)

7. In Winter (Please spend some time keeping time on this song. It will want to drag or slow down. The 2/4 bars should have a lifted feel between beats 1 and 2.)

Happy practicing!

Feb 1:

It was very exciting to see and hear everyone this past Monday!  I am anticipating an incredible spring session for our 2025/2026 season!  We are going to finish out our sight-reading this week.  After this we will have some goals to help you prioritize your practice from here on out.   The more familiar you are with your music the more we can do during rehearsals.  Dr. Steven Moore, American Bandmasters Association 2020 inductee, would always tell us in rehearsal at CSU, "You come to rehearsal to learn everyone else's part, not to learn yours.  Learn your part, in the practice room, and then bring it here."  No one can learn your part for you, no one can enter your body and sing your part for you, and no one can sound exactly like you (even if they can come close).  This is why we practice outside of rehearsals.  We enjoy you and your voice. Thank you for sharing your unique instrument with our choir!

Order:

1. Warm-ups

2. Ashokan Farewell

3. Some Nights

4. Minoi, Minoi, Minoi (No we are not planning on doing the chant that some recordings have)

5. Danny Boy

6.Wild Mountain Thyme

Our first sectionals are coming up soon.   Please prepare for these by having a good idea on your parts and personal trouble spots for the following songs.

1. Autumn Gives Her Hand to Winter

2. Erev Shel Shoshanim (Pronunciation Recordings are available)

3. Storm

4. Music in the Night

5. Beautiful December

6. Some Nights

7. In Winter