Please be sure to read through carefully this week – There are a lot of action items!

 Director’s Notes 

Hi Everyone,

This week, we will be focusing on “Flight Song”, “I Love You/What A Wonderful World”, and “What the World Needs Now is Love”.

If you were one of the people that came up to me and indicated that you would like to sing in the small ensemble part of the “I Love You/What A Wonderful World”, please plan to stay after rehearsal for 15-20 minutes to work on this part separately.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
As your director, my goal is to inspire you to look forward to rehearsal and embrace the challenges ahead. I want you to come in feeling excited, not worried—especially when it comes to memorization. With that in mind, we are adapting our memorization goal to two songs “It Takes A Village” and “I Will Sing.”
I hope this shift in focus helps you feel more confident and motivated as we move forward. Let’s stay the course and remain excited for the rest of our season together!
SOLO AUDITIONS – Final audition dates: Mar 13 & 20  LINK to sign up  

 Harmony Project Update  
If you are planning to participate in this event on Thursday, May 1 event (see attached letter), you must: 
1.  Notify Caleb through THIS FORM if you haven’t already, and 
2. Follow THIS LINK to register yourself by this Thursday, March 13.  Each person must register individually, so that they will have your contact information and can get your t-shirt size.  The learning tracks for the music are also posted on this page.

Admin Notes

TICKET SALES  There are only SIX weeks until our concerts!  Please continue to promote our concerts by calling/texting/emailing your friends and family, and sharing our Facebook and Instagram posts.  I will not be at rehearsal this week, but I am sending posters for you to place out in the community.  I don’t print many copies, so please take only what you plan to post!  The poster is attached for you to share electronically or if you want to print your own copies.  Please be sure to include a link to our website or the QR code (on the poster) in your communications. Thanks!  
https://sycamorecommunitysingers.com/tickets/

Schedule conflict?  Please let us know through this form.  If you have a last-minute need to miss rehearsal, it is better to communicate directly with your section’s attendance taker.  

ROSTER   Please check this file for your personal information.  Reply to this message with any corrections or additions.
 
Casual Attire Guidelines:     Women’s Attire    Men’s Attire

 SPC OUTREACH:  Sycamore Presbyterian Church has a community outreach to Symmes Elementary and Loveland Elementary that prepares bags of non-perishable food for needy kids.  Pick up some items while shopping and bring them to rehearsal.  There are bins under the SERVE sign in the lobby for donations to be placed.   The attached photo lists suggested items to donate.  Questions to Don/Lorie Stuart or Jill Yust.  Julie Ferron is the school nurse at Symmes Elementary and may also lend additional information about the needs.

RSVP to our post-concert party at the Rosenbergs!  If you did not receive the Evite invitation, email Sally Alexander.  Plus ones/spouses are welcomed and encouraged to attend the party.  Please reply as a count of “2” on the Evite invitation if you’re bringing a non-choir member guest.

 Music in the Community 

THIS WEEKEND:  Saturday, March 15, Northern Kentucky Community Chorus All Sing – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/153ksK4uDq/

Saturday, March 22, 4:00 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.  May Festival Chamber Choir and May Festival Youth Chorus concert.  Reserve your FREE tickets HERE!

If you know of additional community events to share, please send them to Mary Wynn (reply to this email) by Sunday for inclusion in that week’s newsletter.

 Director’s Notes 

Hi Everyone,

Great work last week at sectionals! We’ve made a lot of progress in rehearsals, and that’s a testament to your hard work and dedication over the past few weeks.  We’ll continue working through our final selections and, hopefully, start on the guys’ and girls’ songs!

I know some of you have already signed up for auditions. Please continue to sign up for available slots. A few of you have asked for the scores to practice the solos in “Defying Gravity” and “We Rise Again.” Just a heads-up: the “We Rise Again” score I’ve linked is TTBB, but it’s in the same key as SATB, so you can use it for auditions. We’ve got the correct copies on the way, so please hold off on printing them for now unless you are auditioning.  (Note from MW:  The pdfs are also in the learning track folders.  Learning tracks for “We Rise Again” have been added!)

As always, let me know if you have any questions. See you on Thursday!

~Caleb

 Admin Notes 

Help keep our ROSTER up to date!  Please check this file for your personal information.  Reply to this message with any corrections or additions.

As previously stated, we will be wearing our casual attire for the April concerts.  I am linking the spreadsheets that we sent out last year that describe in more detail what you should wear.  You should plan to purchase all items (except scarves and ties) for yourself (or find them in your closet).  The scarves and ties will be provided.  See attached photo.

Attire guidelines for the April concerts:
Women’s Attire
Men’s Attire

Blast from the Past!!!  This video should help you hear what the song sounds like when it switches into 4/4 time. (Disco, baby!)

What the World Needs Now – Video from 2019  
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1My7lxR5x_hP0GsIuinFAuNRF9i2s7j2z/view

 Music in the Community 

Sunday, March 9, at Rhinegeist Brewery, 1910 Elm St.  12:30-2:30 pm
Voices on Tap: Sip, Sing, Repeat!  Bockfest Singalong  No tickets required.  Part of the Bockfest schedule of events.  https://www.facebook.com/events/9160320267395928/

Saturday, March 15, Northern Kentucky Community Chorus All Sing – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/153ksK4uDq/

Saturday, March 22, 4:00 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.  May Festival Chamber Choir and May Festival Youth Chorus concert.  You will need to reserve a ticket for admission, but they will be free!  Link coming soon…

Hey gang!  I was so happy to hear that rehearsal went well last week.  I can’t wait to join in this week!
A reminder that I will post these emails on our website member page should you need to refer back to anything, or if you fear you missed getting a message!

 FROM CALEB 

Hello everyone!
It was such a joy making music with you all last Thursday—I’m truly encouraged by the progress we’re making as a choir!
For those who couldn’t join us on 1/23, here’s a quick recap of what we worked on: we sang through “You Are Light,” parts of “It Takes a Village,” and “I Love You/What A Wonderful World.” You can find more detailed information in the Rehearsal Notes on our Members Page!
This Thursday, we’ll pick up where we left off with “I Love You/What A Wonderful World” and work through to the end of the piece. Important note: at measure 44, we’ll all sing the “Chorus” part at the top of page 7. The “Ensemble” part will be sung by a small group, selected later. This will carry through to the end of the piece.
We’ll also dive into “Dream On” and “Turn, Turn, Turn.”
Can’t wait to see you all again this Thursday

 From Mary Wynn 

We have some rehearsal tracks!  What we have so far should all be linked and available by 5:00 today –  accessible through the member page, or this direct link to the Google Drive.

New members – Thanks to those that have sent a selfie/headshot to use on our photo directory page.  Please continue to send those in.  Established members – I’m happy to update your photo at any time.  Just email or text a photo over to me!

 SUPPORT an SPC Outreach Program! 

Sycamore Presbyterian Church has a community outreach to Symmes Elementary and Loveland Elementary that prepares bags of non-perishable food for needy kids.  Sycamore Presbyterian has asked for donations of food items on the attached shopping list by February 2.  

If you feel so led, pick up some items while shopping and bring them to rehearsal.  There are bins under the SERVE sign in the lobby for donations to be placed.  A small cost for SCS members that would do much to help strengthen the relationship between SCS and Sycamore Presbyterian.  

Questions about this program can be answered by SPC/SCS members Don and Lorie Stuart, Jill Yust, or Bob Young.  Julie Ferron is the school nurse at Symmes Elementary and may also lend additional information about the needs.

 Music in the Community 

I’d love to continue to share other arts opportunities that our members are a part of or events that could be fun social outings!  Please send any upcoming concerts, etc my way by Sunday evening for that week’s email out to the choir.

Sunday, February 16, 5:00 pm at Music Hall:  “All Together Now”  A concert to celebrate the new alliance between the May Festival and the Cincinnati Boychoir.  Tickets are only $10 each ($5 for children) at https://mayfestival.com/concerts-and-events/buy-tickets/2025-season/all-together-now/.  
Sunday, March 9, 12:30-2:30 at Rhinegeist Brewery, 1910 Elm St.

Voices on Tap: Sip, Sing, Repeat!  Bockfest Singalong  No tickets required.  Part of the Bockfest schedule of events (even though I don’t see it on the Bockfest or Rhinegeist websites yet…)

See you Thursday night!

Mary Wynn