MYSTIC NEWS & NOTES
Week 2 - March 19, 2021
Producer's Corner
Gale Batchelder & Donna Ferullo, Spring Co-Producers
Welcome to Spring Week 2!

We are so glad you are joining us. What a thrill to hear Jane Sapp live! We continue to work on our tech and teaching it to guests so you need not be deprived of any time with these storied artists. Bear with us as we Zoom in on this to Jam U Less.

Be sure to read News and Notes for all the weekly happenings. Check out the rich website offerings for more about each artist and to see the lyrics they will sing with us.  You can see their history in the music world, listen to their work and prep for the singalongs with a quick peek before Tuesday.  See you then!

DONNA
Season Co-Producer
Nick's Notes
From Nick Page, Mystic Chorale Founder & Music Director
Despite tech challenges, we are off to a great start to the Spring season.  Thank you for your patience.  My enormous thanks to Linda Shoemaker for her calming spirit and her diverse skills.  She and I, along with board co-presidents Patricia and Olivia, have found many solutions and those singing with Jamulus are working on improving their sound quality issues.
 
My big take-away from last week is that I can’t be music director and technical director at the same time.  Tech issues seem to ALWAYS arise.  We now have volunteers from within the chorus who will be able to deal with tech issues with other members in their own private break-out rooms while I focus on us making beautiful music.
 
We forgot to mention an important drawback to singing on Zoom.  For first time Zoom singers, please know that we cannot sing live together because there is a lag.  Only the people on Jamulus can sing together.  We are adding that feature so each voice part, SATB, could hear someone from their voice section singing their part at the same time the other voices were singing.
 
If I ask for a soloist, please let’s not have many people jump in at once and if you’ve done a solo, let someone else take a turn next time around.  Keep it humble.
Our guests this week, Annie Patterson and Peter Blood, are the co-creators of the Rise Up Singing Songbook.  They will get us singing Peter’s song WE NEED TRUTH, Steve Earl’s I AM A WANDERER and the Pete Seeger/Lee Hays classic THE HAMMER SONG.  The lyrics to the first two songs are on the website along with PDF files of the music and videos with the lyrics.  The more you learn the songs ahead of time, the more you will enjoy singing along.
I will also be teaching songs by future guests, all of which are on the website, both the lyrics and videos with lyrics.  These include Reggie Harris’s ON SOLID GROUND and IN THE SHELTER OF EACH OTHER, a song we will making a video from.  I will teach Sally Rogers' songs CIRCLE OF THE SUN and IN THE NAME OF ALL OUR CHILDREN and begin working on Ysaye Barnwell’s arrangement of WOYAYA (WE WILL GET THERE).  We’ll end the session with a fun Nicaraguan song Sol y Canto will be leading, BANANA.  Brian and Rosi Amador have been championing the music of Latin America for almost forty years.  They are a joy.
We are making two virtual choir videos this Spring.
I am asking everyone to contribute to one or both of our two videos.  For Ysaye Barnwell’s arrangement of “Soon Ah Will Be Done” I will be accepting video and audio only but for Reggie Harris’s “In The Shelter of Each Other” I’m asking those who cannot submit video or audio recordings to submit photos of themselves, photos that represent the words to “In The Shelter Of Each Other.”  More later.
 
In addition to these two videos, we will be recording our guests. They have given us permission to create videos where members of the chorus overdub harmonies or, in some cases, sing solos.  If you are up for this additional challenge please contact me at nick@mysticchorale.org. 
 
April 20 will be Homegrown Night.  
We will be our own featured guests leading original songs and parodies.  If you are interested in leading an original song or parody, let me know at nick@mysticchorale.org.
VIDEO: Last week's session
With special guest Jane Sapp
Season Calendar
New Singer Reception
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 5:30 pm
A chance to learn more about the Mystic Chorale and meet Mystic Board members, staff, and other new members.

Refund deadline
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 12:00 pm
The last day you can drop out of the season and receive a refund, less the $20 Administrative Fee. Click here to drop season.

Tech Session:
How to make a video for our virtual choir project
Tuesday, March 30, 8:30 pm
We'll review the steps for creating and submitting a video for this seasons group videos

End-of-season Online Celebration
Saturday, May 22, 2021 7:30 pm
A joyful online celebration for singers and guests, including live music performances.
Volunteer Opportunity:
Help a singer who needs large-print lyrics
We have a long-time Mystic singer who wishes to join us, but needs large print versions of the lyrics mailed to her (by snail mail).

Can you help?

Each week, you would get the lyrics for our next session, print them out in large print, and send them via snail mail, to arrive by the next Tuesday.

Estimated time commitment: 1 hour per week.

To volunteer, or for more information, email Linda at admin@mysticchorale.org.
It's not too late to sign up!

Last season we had several groups of family and friends who joined the choir "together" even though they lived on opposite ends of the country!! They told us it was the highlight of their week to sing together and connect through the music.

Singers will be joining from at least TEN STATES this spring!! Is there someone you'd love to invite to join you for this special season?

It's not too late! Please let them know that there’s a place for them in the choir!

Send them here for all the details:
This week's "Tech Tip"
Improving our online experience, one step at a time!

Try using ear buds or headphones – you’ll be amazed at the difference! Everything will sound MUCH more clear and natural, almost like you really are in the same room with everyone! Read on for more info...


Do you have a Tech Tip to Share?
Please email Linda to include your tips in an upcoming News & Notes! Admin@mysticchorale.org


THANK YOU!
Thanks to everyone contributing to the success of our season!
The Mystic Chorale is powered by the energy and contributions of our volunteers

We thank all those who are contributing to the Chorale's success, especially in this challenging time! If we've left anyone off this list, please accept our apologies, and let us know, so we can add you in.

Please join us in thanking our volunteers!

Season Producers: Gale Batchelder & Donna Ferullo

Info Line Help: Gail Sullivan

Tech Help & Intro to Zoom Team: Paula Tusler & Patricia Stimpson

Jamulus Tech Team: Idajean Fisher, Jim Hickey, Joyce Nichols

Buddy Team: Mabel Liang, Peter Howell, Leslie Zheutlin

Publicity Team: Arlyn Roffman, Chair; Elizabeth Brown, Instagram

Web Team: Tom Westervelt, Mabel Liang

CD Fulfillment: Bronwyn Lamont, Olivia Tappan

Board of Directors:
Patricia Stimpson, Co-President & Treasurer
Olivia Tappan, Co-President
Leslie Zheutlin, Secretary
Paula Tusler, Fundraising Chair
Mabel Liang, Membership Chair
Arlyn Roffman, Publicity Chair
Richard L'heureux, Member at Large
Joan Toussaint, Member at Large
ZOOM LINK TO SIGN IN

Click here to join:
The Zoom session will open at 6:45 to test your connection and have a little time to say hello before we begin.

Session will run: 7:00-8:45

In case you need it:
Meeting ID: 871 7204 8559
Passcode: 780443

For those who plan to dial-in by phone (for audio connection only), instructions are below in the full Zoom invitation.

The Zoom link will remain the same for the whole 10-week season. If you wish to import the dates & link into your calendar, see the full Zoom invitation below.


TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?
If you have trouble logging in on Tuesday, call Paula for help:
Paula Tusler 617-416-2617
FULL ZOOM INVITATION
for those who prefer, here's the full recurring invitation for the season:

Complete Recurring Zoom Invitation for the Season:

Mystic Chorale is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Mystic Chorale "In the Shelter of Each Other" Spring Season 2021
Time: Mar 16, 2021 07:00-8:45 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
    Every week on Tue, until May 18, 2021, 10 occurrence(s)
    Mar 16, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
    Mar 23, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
    Mar 30, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
    Apr 6, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
    Apr 13, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
    Apr 20, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
    Apr 27, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
    May 4, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
    May 11, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
    May 18, 2021 07:00 - 8:45 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMscOuoqjMvH92PA38hBoa2dxPrzfHHrkWx/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvrzwoGtCdtRyORpwEBY_Ca_TwiFxYgvoPrD62WyhxbQKkMvpyIKh5OPDC

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87172048559?pwd=UnFGWnY5bnpOYmpDTysra2hmaTFZQT09

Meeting ID: 871 7204 8559
Passcode: 780443
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,87172048559#,,,,*780443# US (Chicago)
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 871 7204 8559
Passcode: 780443
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcDzqRsXfX
See you on Tuesday!
The Mystic Chorale | Website