Hello, Warriors,


I am so proud of our work last Tuesday! We got a good handle on a big chunk of the first movement of Stories, and sounded rather confident on most of it! Thank you for letting me push youI'm so anxious to get the notes and rhythms into place so that we can really dig into the musicality of that work.


Next week we'll push forward as far as we can go, with the goal of feeling confident through the entire first movement by the end of the month. Remember, at our first rehearsal we did a credible job of reading through the third movement, since it's by far the most approachable at first sight, so saying we're moving right along is quite amazing. We've only had two rehearsals!


I keep mentioning that the instrumental ensemble for Stories is really bizarre, so it occurs to me that I should simply show you:

  • Clarinet
  • Violin
  • Cello
  • 2 Horns
  • 2 Trumpets
  • Trombone
  • Tuba (!!)
  • 4 Timpani, 1 player
  • Glockenspiel
  • Vibraphone
  • Marimba
  • 3 Percussion
  • Piano


Good thing we'll have the use of our hanging mics, right?


Since I seem to be listing things, here's the order of pieces for the second half of the program:

  • Sing Me To Heaven
  • Sure On This Shining Night
  • Serenade to Music
  • Psalm of Life
  • Alway Something Sings
  • We Beheld Once Again the Stars


I would very much like you to set aside a half-hour to read all of our texts in order, aloud if possible. As I've explained several times, I see the second part of our performance as a fulfilment of the combined request and promise made at the end of Stories: "Find those you love in the dark and light...help them through the days and nights....sing anything...love and music are the last things to go."


Our six second-half pieces, taken in order following Stories, complete the arc begun with the discovery of what we now call Alzheimer's Disease.


One final note: I will have to tweak our seating arrangement just a bit more, but I'm almost finished! Remember that I had planned this concert long before COVID, and of course had no way to predict its eventual effect on our numbers, with our need to mask up again. Just imagine "Serenade to Music" with our typical 90+ singers, and Alzheimer's Stories with the same number of singers battling it out with the powerful brass section! And we haven't even looked at "We Beheld Once Again the Stars," which is a double choir piece. Distribution really matters in this concert.


That's why I have dubbed you Warriors: each of us will be giving to the max, and will be stronger and much richer for it.


See you on Tuesday night,


Solveig

ANNOUNCEMENTS

URGENT Volunteers Needed for Weekly Setup/Teardown

As a self-presenting choir, we rely on members to volunteer to operate our organization. Right now, we are seeking a crew of volunteers to help set up and tear down our rehearsal space each week (starting January 24) for the entire term (having a dedicated crew enables them to become more familiar with the process). We need six people to help with setup (arriving at 6:30pm) and six people to help with teardown. Please consider your physical abilities and the commitment required, then sign up if you can lend a hand.

Performance Dresses

Singers wear either a designated dress and jacket or a black tuxedo with black vest and bow tie. If you need to purchase a dress/jacket, samples sizes will be available to try on at the next two rehearsals. Order your dress/jacket as soon as possible to ensure they arrive in time for the concert. Singers are responsible for the cost of concert attire. Contact Emily Flanagan at irishalto47@gmail.com with any questions.

Rehearsal Rules

  • Regular rehearsals run 7:00–9:30pm
  • Stay home if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
  • Notify Bryan Gonzalez (503-851-5351) as soon as possible if you test positive for COVID-19

Member Roster & Key Contacts

You can now download the roster of this term's members. If you cannot open the file, download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free. Please use this information for choir business only such as arranging ride shares.

Solveig Holmquist

Conductor

503-851-4509

holmqus@wou.edu

Bryan Gonzalez

President

503-851-5351

bcgonzalez@juno.com

Stay Alert

FCO uses text message alerts to provide important reminders and to share last-minute information. If you haven't received fall term alerts, sign up now.

COVID-19 Protocols

Choral singing is thought to be a higher-risk activity for the spread of COVID-19. To protect the health and safety of everyone who interacts with our organization, FCO has adopted the following protocols:

Vaccination

All members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive all recommended booster doses once eligible. Proof of vaccination (including the bivalent booster) is required to participate in FCO events including rehearsals and concerts.

Masking

All members must be masked if either recommended or required according to public health guidance. The Oregon Health Authority currently recommends masking indoors, so masks are required. FCO provides Resonance-95 singer masks to members who do not already own one. Members must wear a Resonance Singer Mask while singing if masking is recommended/required by public health officials—other masks/face coverings may not be substituted for the designated mask.

Notification & Isolation

Any member who tests positive for COVID-19 must report their diagnosis to FCO as soon as possible and may not participate in any FCO event until determined safe to do so according to public health guidance or their healthcare provider. FCO will not disclose the identity of any member who tests positive but will notify all members of potential exposures.

FesitvalChorale.org

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