CNS Singer's Update- 9/28/23
Hi everyone -
Cantata individual parts - another resource
Cindy Marshall stumbled on this while researching practice help
PINKHAM CHRISTMAS CANTATA — Grace Chorale of Brooklyn
Thanks Cindy!
Last Chance to vote
September 30 is the last chance to help us with a donation possibility from BankGloucester
Once on the Website, click Cast your Vote Now! check other and add Chorus North Shore's name on the line.
Ask family and friends as well. Every bit helps to defray our operations costs.
25 and 50 Year Recognition
For those singers who are reaching either their 25th and 50th year with the choir and have not been recognized in the past, please let Penny Shaner-Jones know at banjopenny2@gmail.com
Dedication Page
Honor your family and friends this holiday season by dedicating our performance in our program on the HOLIDAY DEDICATION PAGE. Each line/name (up to 45 characters/spaces) is only $10 or 3/$20. What a wonderful way to honor your special people this year and help CNS too! Please fill out form available at rehearsals. (PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY and include your phone number) or contact Cindy Marshall at marshall1973@verizon.net by October 31.
Suzanne Bicknell will be taking orders at Monday's rehearsal.
No Rehearsal on Columbus Day
Remember we won't have rehearsal on Columbus Day, October 9
See you Monday night
Annmarie
Singer's Update 9/21/23 - CNS Volunteer Opportunities plus a few reminders
Hi all - This week's update.
Volunteer Opportunities
Chorus North Shore not only needs your voice but your hands and hearts as well.
Join the many CNS singers, family and friends who volunteer their time to support the Chorus!
- CNS applies for local grants each year to help with the many expenses associated with bringing beautiful music to our local communities. We have found ourselves without a grant writer. We know that there is great depth and breadth of skills in our membership so we are looking to our CNS family (singers, family and friends) for someone who has experience in grant writing, to volunteer to help us with 2-3 grant applications from local organizations over the coming year.
- We will also be in need of a Webmaster come June
If either of these opportunities interest you or you know of someone, please connect with me or any CNS Board member
We also continue to have need of volunteers for
- Singers Social Activity Committee - We are hoping to plan two fun events for the Chorus between now and June
- Fund Raising Committee - We would like to plan 1- 2 small fund-raising events this year
- Concert Ticket Committee - We are looking for one Volunteer to assist with handing out tickets to members and collect member ticket receipts
Thanks in advance for considering to help out.
50/25/25/ Raffle - Our monthly raffle will take place at next week's rehearsal - $5/ticket. Participation is voluntary.
Program Ads - FAQ's for program ads and ad contracts can be found at Chorus North Shore website in the member's section Program Ad Order Form - Chorus North Shore the member's section password is sunny. Deadline to received ads back is 11/6/23. Questions?.. contact Joanne Giallombardo at joannegiallombardo@gmail.com
Annmarie
President
Chorus North Shore
Chorus North Shore Singers - September 14, 2023 Update
Hi all - So excited to see you all at our first rehearsal. It was energizing to say the least! Can't wait for the next rehearsal.
A couple of updates
For those still needing ...
- to pay dues and pick up music, please come at 6:15 pm for next Monday's rehearsal so we can all get to the rehearsal on time
- to get name tags - if you didn't add your name to the list on Saturday or Monday or are not new to CNS ( I have already made name tags for new members) please e-mail me and me let me know you need one so I can make it before next Monday
We will be set up in the room next to the rehearsal room rather than the lobby for dues music and name tags
Attendance - Starting next Monday the Attendance sheets will be in front of the rehearsal room door
Gloucester Bank Donation -You should have received an e-mail from our CNS distribution list e-mail titled "Help Chorus North Shore - Vote Today for a Community Donation!" about a donation possibility from Gloucester Bank. Please take a minute to follow the instructions to vote . Ask family and friends as well. Every bit helps to defray our operations costs.
Members section - All announcements & e-mails as well as a calendar for singers is available on the members section of www.chorusnorthshore.org
website www.chorusnorthshore.org/members-area/ The password is sunny
Recap of Abby's request for Singers
- Survey - If you have not done so already, please fill out this "get to know you" survey.
- Please listen to these recordings
Pinkham: Christmas Cantata written for the Alumni Chorus of New England Conservatory in 1957, premiered at Clark Univ in Worcester!
Mvmt 1 - spiky and rhythmic (not as hard as it sounds)
Mvmt 2 - mysterious and gorgeous
Mvmt 3 - wordy, rhythmic, playful (this tempo is too fast, but otherwise the style is ideal)
Rutter: Gloria written for The Voices of Mel Olson in Nebraska in 1974.
Mvmt 1 - epic! the most adventurous and bold Rutter.
Mvmt 2 - gorgeous.
Mvmt 3 - you will hear a lot of the same music as mvmt 1 but with different text and a big fugue at the end (the best part). :-)
Parts On line - For those that would like to listen to their parts on line. Here are some resources -
Gloria - Choir Midi Learning Files - Rutter Gloria (cyberbass.org)
Christmas Cantata- Daniel Pinkham Rehearsal Tracks (mp3 files) Created by Dr. Mark Whitmire.
Soprano Section
Alto Section
Tenor Section
Bass Section
Remember for Monday, Abby's preferred seating arrangement
Let me know if you have any questions
Annmarie
Chorus North Shore Singers Update - Registration Saturday (9/9) and other items of interest!
Hi Everyone - With September around the corner, a few reminders as we get ready to sing:
Registration
Since we have a large number of singers for this session, we are asking that you make every attempt to register at Ipswich High School in the
Fine Arts Lobby from 9:30 am -11:30am on Saturday 9/9/23 (pay dues, pick up your music and review personal information).
If you can't be there in person, feel free to have another singer register for you.
(There will also be a short time prior to the first rehearsal at 6:30 - 7:00pm for those unable to make the Saturday time.)
Dues & music fees
- Dues $60/season ($30 for new members).
- Music Have two checks payable to Chorus North Shore with “dues” and “music” on the memo lines. If paying in cash, it should be the exact amount.
| Composer | Piece | Cost |
| Rutter | Gloria | $19 |
| Pinkham | Cantata | $ 5 |
| Christmas Carols: Hark the Herald, O Come All Ye Faithful, God Rest Ye Merry, Silent Night | No Cost |
Please ask at the music table if you need to purchase a black music binder.
Wait list
We have reached our singer cap, so please direct singers who may approach you about joining us in September and have not already contacted me to our online
registration at New Member Registration - Chorus North Shore to fill out an online registration form. Once I receive their registration,
I will add them to the wait list and contact them if a slot opens up.
Volunteering
As we have all heard so many times, it takes a village and that holds true for the Chorus North Shore.
We are seeking singers who would like to volunteer on one of the many CNS committees.
Committees seeking volunteers currently include Grants, Membership, General Fund-Raising, Community Outreach and Singers' Social Activity Committee
Sign-up sheets will be available at registration or you can contact me directly.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Annmarie
Membership
President's Message - August 2023
As September approaches, Chorus North Shore will soon resume rehearsal for our upcoming season. This year will have a distinctly different appearance. Our beloved Sunny will no longer be at the podium leading us through the next challenging piece. Instead, we will be following the baton in the very energetic and skilled hands of Abby Frost, the new Artistic Director of Chorus North Shore. Join me in welcoming Abby as she creates her own legacy in the long history of Chorus North Shore.
Chorus North Shore has raised its voice for 92 years; most of that time under the direction of Sunny Dahlgren Pryor. Sunny has left an imprint that will never tarnish nor erode. To preserve that tradition Chorus North Shore established the Sonja Dahlgren Pryor Conductor’s Chair Endowment Fund. The purpose of the endowment is to retain artistic directors who will ensure that Chorus North Shore will continue to reach its goal to promote the learning and performance of important choral works for the North Shore community.
Sunny’s retirement offers a unique opportunity to honor her dedication, hard work and talent via a donation to the Sonja Dahlgren Pryor Conductor’s Chair Endowment and thus, ensure that her legacy lives on. There are several avenues available for donating.
The simplest is to go online to chorusnorthshore.org, click on Conductor’s Chair Endowment and follow the prompts for credit card/PayPal donation. Checks can be sent to Chorus North Shore, PO Box 281, Rockport, MA, 01966.
An alternate method is to include the endowment fund as a recipient of a portion of one’s estate. Undertaking such an action would require the input of an estate planner/attorney to create the appropriate documentation. Monthly automatic donations can also be made through one’s bank. All donations are tax deductible.
Please give this proposal and the various options serious thought. Your action taken now will ensure the joy and enlightenment that Chorus North Shore brings to the North Shore for years to come.
Donn Kurjan, President
Board of Trustees
Chorus North Shore
Message from CNS Artistic Director
Hello Chorus North Shore -
I hope you're well and excited for singing in the fall. I've been meeting with your terrific Board members to make connections and gain a deeper understanding of who the group is, how it works best, and the priorities for the future. Your board is working hard for the Chorus - thank you!
Would you please do a few things for me:
-please listen to these recordings in preparation for our rehearsal time together:
Pinkham: Christmas Cantata written for the Alumni Chorus of New England Conservatory in 1957, premiered at Clark Univ in Worcester!
- Mvmt 1 - spiky and rhythmic (not as hard as it sounds)
- Mvmt 2 - mysterious and gorgeous
- Mvmt 3 - wordy, rhythmic, playful (this tempo is too fast, but otherwise the style is ideal)
Rutter: Gloria written for The Voices of Mel Olson in Nebraska in 1974.
- Mvmt 1 - epic! the most adventurous and bold Rutter.
- Mvmt 2 - gorgeous.
- Mvmt 3 - you will hear a lot of the same music as mvmt 1 but with different text and a big fugue at the end (the best part). :-)
We will also include some familiar carols in each half of the concert to add some holiday cheer to the concert.
-please fill out this "get to know you" survey. It will help me understand YOU better as a human and musician and help me create the best musical experience for you.
Thanks for your feedback - I can't wait to get to know you and make music together.
Abby
Fall 2023 Season Pre-Registration & Rehearsal Details
Chorus North Shore Singers:
Hope you are having a great summer! Our first rehearsal will be on September 11, 2023, 7:00pm at Ipswich High School in the Chorus Room and every Monday thereafter except the 10/9 holiday. I wanted to bring you up to date on the following details.
Pre - Registration:
1. Since we have a large number of singers, we will be offering a registration time block prior to the first rehearsal. You will be able to register at Ipswich High School in the Fine Arts Lobby from 9:30 am -11:30am on Saturday 9/9/23 (pay dues, pick up your music and sign in). There will also be a short time prior to the first rehearsal on 9/11 at 6:30 - 7:00pm for those unable to make the Saturday time.
2. Dues & music fees: (Have two checks payable to Chorus North Shore with “dues” and “music” on the memo lines respectively. If paying in cash, it should be the exact amount. )
- Dues $60/season ($30 for new members). (Each singer will also be required to buy/sell a minimum of 2 tickets per concert)
- Music We will be ordering the music below for everyone.
Please see our Music Coordinator, Trish Everitt to purchase a black music binder if you need one.
Composer Piece Cost
Rutter Gloria $19
Pinkham Christmas Cantata $ 5
Carols: Hark the Herald, O Come All Ye Faithful, (No cost)
God rest ye merry, Silent Night
Concert Attire: We are looking to make some updates in our concert attire and asking for three volunteers to sit on a short-term committee to make suggestions. Please let me know if you are interested in being involved.
We are also looking to spread our wings and perform at other venues on the North Shore. We are looking for volunteers to be part of a Venue search committee. Please let me know if you are interested in being part of this committee.
Rehearsal Guidelines:
- Rehearsals will begin 7:00pm sharp. Please be in your seat and ready to sing.
- Please break out your CNS names tag and wear it at all rehearsals. If you don't have one, please let me know at the Saturday registration so I can make one for you
- Mandatory sign-in at each rehearsal.
- Once a singer has established their seat at the first rehearsal, try and keep that seat for each rehearsal
Concert Week
Monday, 11/27/23 Chorus Rehearsal Ipswich High School, Chorus Room
Tuesday, 11/28/23 Orchestra Rehearsal Ipswich High School, Preforming Arts Center (PAC)
Thursday, 11/30/23 Dress Rehearsal Our Lady of Hope, Ipswich
Saturday, 12/2/23 7pm Concert Our Lady of Hope Singers arrive at 6pm
Sunday, 12/3/23 3pm Concert Our Lady of Hope Singers arrive at 2pm
Illness
Don't come to rehearsal if you are sick.
Anyone not feeling well please refrain from attending rehearsal. Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 should
- notify any board member and your section leader so we can inform singers with whom you may have interacted.
- follow the latest CDC guidelines for isolation CDC Isolation Guidelines
- have a negative Covid test within 48 hours of returning to rehearsal.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.
Please direct singers who may approach you about joining us in September and have not already contacted me to our online registration at New Member Registration - Chorus North Shore to fill out an online registration form. Anyone who submits a registration and has not already indicated interest will be put on a wait list.
Annmarie
Membership Committee
