We’re coming into the home stretch on our concert prep!  Lots of important information from Polly below – PLEASE READ HER VERY DETAILED NOTES CAREFULLY!

~Mary Wynn

  CALENDAR 

Tues Nov 5 – SCS Board meeting;                     VOTE if you haven’t already!
Thu Nov 7 – 6:30 for the Thankful ensemble, 7:00 FULL rehearsal 
Thu Nov 14 – 6:00-6:50 Soloists and Instrumentalists, 7:00 FULL rehearsal                     Soloists/Instrumentalists – Contact Polly to schedule a 10-minute rehearsal.
Nov 15-17 – Concerts in our Community! (See below)
Wed Nov 20 – 8:00 AM – Riser Set-up (Contact Paul Inderhees if you plan to help)
WED Nov 20 – 6:30-9:30 MANDATORY DRESS REHEARSAL
THU/FRI Nov 21/22 – CONCERTS! Call time is 6:30; Concerts start at 7:30
Fri Nov 22 – After-concert party at Rosenbergs’ RSVP HERE
Sat Nov 23 – 8:00 AM – Riser Tear-down
Thu Dec 12 – 7:00-9:00 in SPC Chapel – Rehearsal for confirmed participants in Dec 14 concert 
Sat Dec 14 – 11:45 am – 2:00 pm – Performance at Cincinnati Women’s Club
Sat Dec 21 – 11:00am-1:00pm  Caroling at Findlay Market

 TICKETS 

Things are looking up!  As of this morning, we have sold 339/900 tickets; 185 for Thursday and 154 for Friday.  Polly has done a wonderful thing by inviting the JH choir to perform with us – Their families have purchased over 100 tickets since last Wednesday!

 DEC 14 Participants – CWC 

Here is THE LIST of who Polly is expecting WILL perform on Dec 14.  Please contact her ASAP if your plans have changed.  Note that a rehearsal has been added for Thursday, Dec 12!

 DEC 21 Participants – Findlay Mkt Caroling 

Here is THE LIST of “Yes” and “maybe” for Caroling on Dec 21.  Please contact Mary Wynn if your plans have changed.

 NOTES (of GRATITUDE!) from Polly 

We are in the home stretch, folks! Can’t thank you enough for your commitment and hard work this season.

CHOREOGRAPHY reminders

~Days 1 thru 5 keep your prop UP until AFTER “…by the Par-tridge Fam-ily–” (then down).

~Days 6 thru 12 lift up ON your #, then bring down when the next # is sung.

~BRING YOUR PROPS to practice with THIS THURSDAY, PLEASE.

PROP reminders

~If you have anything looking like an Apple iPod &/or large headphones, please bring them to rehearsal and Jackie Miranda-Klein will keep them through Nov 22. Thanks!

~Peggy Platz has 11 feather boas and 7 pink flamingos. She will store them thru Nov 22.

~The 10 tenors should bring their own (ideally holiday-themed) “tins of popcorn”.

~NOTE: All other items are the responsibility of each individual. If you personally don’t have the item assigned to you, ask a friend!

It’s GO time! Songs are listed in CONCERT ORDER below:

CHOIR ENTERS SANCTUARY TO PROCESSIONAL MUSIC (either hand bells or recording)

Proclamation of Gratitude (singing begins in aisles)

For the Beauty of the Earth

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Home

Masters in this Hall

Thankful

Ocho Kandelikas

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (with Sycamore Singing company)

~Men exit the risers after “It’s the Most…” to prepare for Mele Kalikimaka (& take folders w/ them).

~Women move to the center of the risers after the men have left. (folders down at LEFT side)

~ALL folders CLOSED for the next FOUR musical numbers.

Frosty & the Hand Jive – Sycamore Singing Company performs alone

Mele Kalikimaka – MEN

~Men go behind the risers to remove leis and get props for 12 Days.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas – WOMEN

~Women return to the ends of the risers.

~Men return to the center of the risers with props “hidden” as much as possible (& folders w/ them).

The Twelve Days of a Regifted Christmas

~ALL folders OPEN.

Rise Up!

Grateful

CHOIR WILL PROCESS OUT OF SANCTUARY to accompaniment track of “It’s the Most…”

 ARTS in OUR COMMUNITY 

Lots of great opportunities to enjoy music by other groups!  If you know of a special performance coming up, please share with Mary Wynn by Sunday to include in next week’s communication.

Friday November 15, 7:00 PM at Sycamore Presbyterian Church:  A 75 minute concert presented by the Watoto Children’s Choir. All the way from Uganda, East Africa, the Watoto Children’s Choir will be performing songs from their brand-new album, “Better Days—There Is Hope”. Come join us as they sing, dance, and share their stories of restoration and hope.  No tickets or reservations required.  A Free Will offering will be available.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5nnah6ya4jjzsfbzbsm4t/h?e=2&preview=BETTER+DAYS+-+PROMO+1.mp4&rlkey=82f9ftlj9e6kuobctwap1ftgi&dl=0

Saturday, Nov 16 and Sunday, Nov 17 – SCS members Scott Nesbitt and Mary Wynn Haupt will perform with the CSO and May Festival under the direction of Marin Alsop.   The chorus will perform Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.  More information HERE.  We have access to tickets at 25% off so please contact one of us if you’d like to attend!

Also Saturday, Nov 16:  The Cincinnati Early Music Festival presents a special fall event:

Early Music Sing-A-Long: Advent & Christmas Edition
Saturday, November 16th, 10am – 12:30pm
Knox Presbyterian Church
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Come and have an early Christmas music-making experience with guest conductors Earl Rivers, Krista Cornish Scott, and Reina Dickey! You’re sure to know some of these favorites but also leave with knowledge of some “new-to-you” early music gems. When you register, we’ll provide the repertoire list ahead of time along with scores of works in the public domain so you can take a peek, but this friendly learning atmosphere welcomes both the long-time fan and the “early curious.” This event is free of charge but requires pre-registration. Sign up here: https://www.cincinnatiearlymusicfestival.org/events/early-music-sing-a-long-christmas-2024

 M25M HUNGER WALK 

SCS walkers (18 of us) had a great time Saturday morning at the Matthew 25 Hunger 5K!  Gary and Trish Glass arrived in time for the race, but too late for the photo…  It was wonderful to have retired SCS members Clark, Lee and Linda join us!  Thanks to Paul Alexander and Lora Swedberg for organizing this outing.

Good Monday afternoon to you all   While I love the warm weather we’ve had, I’m looking forward to some cooler temps this week!  (And maybe a little more rain please…)  Make sure you scan through this message completely to see our Golf Outing pics! 

 CALENDAR 

Thu Oct 17 – 7:00 regular rehearsal (6:30 for Thankful ensemble)
Late Oct – Director search – mock rehearsals with candidates!
Thu Oct 24 – 7:00 regular rehearsal
Mon Oct 28 – 7:00 Ticket system training
Thu Oct 31 – Boo!    NO Rehearsal!
Sat Nov 2 – 8:30 am Matthew 25 Hunger 5K  (see below)Thu Nov 7 – 7:00 rehearsal (If you’re not singing for the Nov concerts, please don’t attend rehearsals in November) 

 TICKETS – NEW SYSTEM, SALES & USHERS 

Our new ticketing system is up and running, and sales are happening (albeit quite slowly to start).  As of Monday afternoon, we have sold… 25 tickets (of the 900 available)!  Concerts are FIVE weeks away…  I’ve attached the concert graphics again for you to share with friends and family.

If you have someone who typically helps usher our concerts, Mary Wynn will have a training session at her home (8220 Glenmill Ct) on Monday, Oct 28 at 7:00 pm.  Yep – we are using cell phones to scan patrons’ QR codes for entry!  It’s not difficult, but we’d like to get our ushers totally comfortable with the new system well in advance of concert nights.  Anyone is welcome to attend!  

 DONATIONS 

The DONATE page of our website has been updated, offering people the option to pay through Zeffy.  Mailing a check and paying through Venmo are still options as well.  Per our budget, we are looking to raise $11,800 this year.  The progress bar has not been updated yet, but we’ve raised about $2,500 to date. If you made a donation in FY2023-24 (or even if you didn’t), would please consider donating again for this fiscal year?  The list of donors ($25 and above) from our May 2024 program is attached.

 ASSISTANCE NEEDED 

Maggi Cobb-Wessling‘s daughter has moved back to her home and Maggi needs some help.  If you have a housekeeper or maid service you can recommend, please email Maggi, KySigner@gmail.com  She also needs someone to weed her flower bed and walk her dog a couple of times a week.  

 M25M HUNGER WALK 

The 5K walk is SATURDAY, 11/2, 8:30AM (If you’re a runner, you can join the runners) If you register before 10/27, you get a break on the cost. HUNGER 5K – Matthew 25 Ministries | Matthew 25: Ministries (m25m.org) Team name is SYCAMORE COMMUNITY SINGERS
Tip: When registering, click on the dropdown and look for our team.  Even if all the fields populate, and look like they’re covered, type in especially the city and state. I didn’t do that at first and it wouldn’t complete the registration.  LET’S SEE HOW MANY OF US WE CAN TURN OUT! May have special guests to be named later!  See Paul Alexander or Lora Swedberg if you have questions.

 FROM POLLY 

If you would like to put your music in concert order, this is the current plan: 

1.  Proclamation of Gratitude
2.  For the Beauty of the Earth
3.  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
4.  I’ll Be Home for Christmas (women)
5.  Masters in This Hall
6.  Home
7.  Ocho Kandelikas
8.  It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (with SSC)
9.   (Frosty/Hand Jive – Sycamore Singing Company)
10.  Mele Kalikimaka (men)
11. Thankful
12. The Twelve Days of a Regifted Christmas
13.  Rise Up!
14.  Grateful

 GOLF OUTING 

Twenty-eight golfers teed it up on Sunday in the 2nd SCS Open.  Erica Boyd’s team fired an outstanding three under par to edge out Brian Norton’s foursome in a playoff (going backwards on the scorecard.  Erica will keep the traveling trophy until we tee ‘em up again in April of 2025!  Many thanks to Paul Alexander for organizing this fun outing!  If anyone has additional photos they’d like to share (and I’ll put a post on FB), please send them my way.

Happy Fall Everyone!

Updates on Outreach Opportunities and Social Events:

1.  Thank you to all who have responded to the questionnaire.  Only 14 people still need to let us know your availability for the 3 additional singing dates.  

https://forms.gle/yy45wSD1v19iRzWp6

2.  We have a date for the Findlay Market Caroling!  We will perform on Saturday, December 21, 11:00am-1:00pm.  If you’d like to update your answer about caroling, please follow the link above.  Mary Wynn will send an email to everyone who answered “yes” or “maybe” at a later date to confirm your participation.

3. The Golf Outing has been moved to Sunday, October 13 so as not to cause conflict with our many Bengals fans.     

    2024 Fall SCS Golf Scramble

   Sunday, October 13 starting at 4:00 pm

   Fairfield North Trace Golf Course

   $20 riders / $12 walkers

To sign up:  See Paul Alexander at rehearsal on Thursday or email him at spalex101@hotmail.com

4.  The Matthew 25 Walk/Run is Saturday, Nov 2.  See Paul for more info.

5.  May Festival Chamber Choir – Free concerts on Oct 6 and 20.  Reserve your seats today!  

https://mayfestival.com/concerts-and-events/buy-tickets

CONCERT TITLE – Marketing

Polly has chosen “Notes of Gratitude” as our concert title!  If you have any experience with graphic design (or you think you have a good idea….) and are interested in helping Mary Wynn get designs together for the concert, please reply to this message by tomorrow evening (Tuesday).

New Music Tracks!  The tracks for “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” are now available!  Women Please note – There is a mistake in your parts in measure 39.  We will sing what is on the sheet music “cause US IN her,”  

FROM POLLY

REMINDER #1 – Dress in layers!  Many parts of the church are quite warm this time of year, and we will be using some of them.

REMINDER #2 – “Thankful” Ensemble Auditions Round 2 – Sept 26 at 6:15 PM

€       Please be prepared to sing mm 33-40 in small groups with 1 on a part. The goal is to find a group that can do this a capella, so I will NOT play your part with you every time you sing at your audition.

ALL Tenors – Please learn the T1 part for this audition. Thanks.

Baritone/Bass – You are always the lowest note, as you never have the div. in this song.

€       We will also sing through mm. 17-23 in small groups.

€       LISTEN to the dynamic choices being made in this full performance recording:Thankful full performance from JWPepper

€       If you do not have a copy, PRINT ONE:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TJuAFJjrJCN6QtRefhv_YT0riBn2WGMc/view?usp=sharing

REMINDER #3 – For NEWER members who’ve joined in the last 4-5 years: Make sure you are using the rehearsal tracks to get “caught up” with the rest of the choir for songs from our past repertoire. I strongly encourage you to sit down before rehearsal some time and copy markings from another member who has performed past pieces with us.

REHEARSAL OUTLINE for SEPT 26

Proclamation of Gratitude – We will sing through the entire piece.

€       Review your part, especially mm 35-50 & mm 73-end.

€       Reminder: This song should be MEMORIZED by October 10.

€       Full performance recording: Proclamation of Gratitude full performance from JWPepper

The Twelve Days of a Regifted Christmas – We will sing through the entire piece.

€       Review your part, especially mm 76 to the end.

Rise Up! – We will sing through the entire piece.

€       Review your part, especially mm 51 to the end.

€       Look over DYNAMICS, please.

Grateful – We will sing through the entire piece.

SECTIONALS (Women together / Men together):

For the Beauty of the Earth

€       Focus on mm 61 to the end. Please practice with your voice part’s track beforehand.

€       Review mm 9-57.

Home

€       Focus on mm 1-13. Please practice with your voice part’s track beforehand.

€       Review mm 14 to the end.

€       Full performance recording: Home full performance from JWPepper

Grateful

€       Focus on mm 73 to the end. Please practice with your voice part’s track beforehand.

€       Review mm 17-73.

€       Full performance recording:  Grateful full performance from JWPepper

Masters in this Hall

€       Focus on mm 55 to the end. Please practice with your voice part’s track beforehand.

€       Review mm 1-53.

Ocho Kandelikas

€       ALL WOMEN – Focus on mm 47-56. Please practice with your voice part’s track beforehand.

€       Sopranos – Focus on mm 84-90. Sop1s – Practice singing BOTH of the top two pitches; Sop2s – Practice singing BOTH of the bottom two pitches. We will nail down splits this Thursday night.

€       Pronunciation correction: KAH – nDEH – LEE – KAH (s) = Kandelika(s)

My sincere apologies for confusing everyone.

€       LISTEN to this full performance recording: Ocho Kandelikas – quality full performance w/ instruments

Women – I’ll Be Home for Christmas

€       Review whole song.

Men – Mele Kalikimaka

€       Review whole song.