SCS Newsletter 09-30-2024
Happy Monday, Friends! Phew – what a weekend. I’ve heard that a handful of us went 2-3 days without power, and some might still be out. Thankfully, the Haupt household only had flickering lights and a lot of leaves and pine needles all over. I can’t imagine what it is going to take to make the Asheville are livable again. We just visited the area in July, and kayaked on the French Broad River. I’m afraid that so many places we saw just don’t exist anymore… Grateful that we get to come together this week and sing!
CALENDAR
Thu Oct 3 – 7:00 regular rehearsal
Thu Oct 10 – 6:15 Solo auditions (see below) and 7:00 regular rehearsal – songs (Proclamation, Twelve Days) memorized!
Sun Oct 13 – 4:00 SCS Golf outing! 
Email Paul Alexander to join.
Thu Oct 17 – 7:00 regular rehearsal
Thu Oct 24 – 7:00 regular rehearsal
Thu Oct 31 – Boo! 
NO Rehearsal!
Sat Nov 2 – 8:30 am Matthew 25 Hunger 5K 
(And for those interested, May Festival Chamber Choir FREE concerts on Sundays, Oct 6 and 20)
MENS ATTIRE
The powers that be have decided upon the following for men’s attire for the November 21/22 and December 14 concerts:
1. Black Tux Pants
2. Black Tux Jacket – jacket buttoned during concert
3. White Tux shirt
4. Black Bow Tie
5. Black Dress shoes
Notice that there is NO cummerbund listed (Don’t wear one)! We are assuming that all men have all of the above pieces (except for the few men (Bert Bruce, Tom Knipper) who joined in 2024 – Josh W is working with them separately.) If you do not have a complete ensemble, it is your responsibility to make sure you have the pieces you need before the concert. Pam Barnett will have some extra black bow ties if needed. Reply to this email with any issues!
FROM POLLY
NEW INFO #1 – SOLO AUDITIONS – October 10 at 6:15 PM
Here are the possible solos for this season:
Ocho Kandelikas – mm 49-56 – any voice part may audition
Mele Kalikimaka – mm 5-12 – any male may audition
Thankful – mm 5-16 – anyone in the ensemble may audition
Grateful – mm 9-23 – looking for a rich, clear alto voice
Grateful – mm 24-39 – looking for a clear, female tone (minimal to no vibrato)
NEW INFO #2 – HOLIDAZZLE UPDATE
Unfortunately, with only 21 available participants, imbalanced voice parts, and no accompanist, it is not viable for us to perform there this year. On the upside, we ARE going to have wonderful groups for December 14th and 21st. More details on both in the weeks to come.
REMINDER – Proclamation of Gratitude
Have you started to memorize our concert opener yet? October 10th isn’t too far away. 
Full performance recording: Proclamation of Gratitude full performance from JWPepper
REHEARSAL OUTLINE for OCTOBER 3
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Rehearsal tracks for this song are now available! O Come Emmanuel – Google Drive
Full performance recording: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel full performance from JWPepper
The Twelve Days of a Regifted Christmas
Please MEMORIZE m 76 to the end (by THIS Thursday, 10/3 if possible) so we can begin movement.
When practicing at home, get in the habit of enunciating the lyrics clearly. The humor of this piece will be lost if the audience can’t understand what we’re saying.
Home
Time to put it all together this week!
Full performance recording: Home full performance from JWPepper
Rise Up!
Review your part, especially transitioning through the key change.
Look for DYNAMIC changes throughout the piece. If you don’t have the melody, make sure you are singing SOFTER than the voice part that does.
Grateful
GREAT JOB putting the pieces of the mm 83-93 “puzzle” together last week! Review, review, review to increase your confidence!
Full performance recording: Grateful full performance from JWPepper
Thankful
Congratulations to the Ensemble members! Please focus on tall vowels and dynamics for a great blend!
Same note to all other choir members: Focusing on tall vowels and matching the volume of those around you are helpful ways to improve your blend.
Full performance recording: Thankful full performance from JWPepper
Please practice with your voice part’s track beforehand to identify spots where you could personally use some review during SECTIONALS. Make notes in your music and be ready to ask for help when we split.
Masters in this Hall
For the Beauty of the Earth
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Women – I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Men – Mele Kalikimaka
See you Thursday!
Mary Wynn