SCS Newsletter 10-21-2024

Hello everyone~  Time for your weekly update!  As of noon today, we have sold 66/900 tickets….  If you would like to print your own poster to publicize our concerts, the files are attached for both the light and dark versions.  I have about 4 printed flyers remaining.  Please let me know if I should get more printed!In addition to the Sunshine Team sending a card, the Board sent flowers from SCS to former director Linda Gartner following her procedure last week. 

CALENDAR 
This week! – Director search – mock rehearsals with candidates
Thu Oct 24 – 7:00 regular COSTUME rehearsal 
Mon Oct 28 – 7:00 Ticket system/usher 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 
Thu Nov 14 – 7:00 rehearsal
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

 TICKETS – USHER TRAINING 
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!  

 MEN’S ATTIRE  – As a reminder, you will need the following attire for the upcoming holiday concert. We will NOT be using the vest or cummerbund.
– Tuxedo Jacket
– Tuxedo Slacks
– White Tuxedo Shirt
– Black Bowtie
If you need assistance with attaining men’s attire (including tuxedo, pants, and shirt), we will once again be working with Folchi’s. You have the option of buying new, or renting. Details can be found below.
– Rental Rate = $150
– Purchase Rate
* Tuxedo and Pants
100% Wool = $379
Poly-Viscose = $279
* Pants Only = $55
Please reach out to Mike Folchi at 513-891-9930 to schedule your fitting. It will take approximately 1 week to get your tuxedo following your fitting. Mike can also provide guidance regarding the tuxedo shirt, if needed. Also, if you need a black bowtie, please come see me (Josh Werthaiser) at the November 7th rehearsal. Contact Josh with questions at jwerthaiser@downlite.com.

 WOMEN’S ATTIRE  If this is your first concert singing in the black dresses and sparkle jackets, please make sure your dress is hemmed (dress should fall to about 1″ from the floor), and that the sash has either been removed or converted to the shorter strap with velcro.  Mary Wynn can help with alterations, but you must bring your dress to rehearsal this week (10/24) or contact her to arrange a fitting time.  If you just need some velcro, Mary Wynn will have pieces available for you at the 10/24 rehearsal.

 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 

COSTUME CONTEST for our final October rehearsal!

Prizes will be awarded for the “Most Elaborate”, “Most Clever”, & “Best Group” costumes! We may even add a few categories depending on the level of participation. Let’s have some FUN with this!

CONGRATULATIONS to the following soloists:

Ocho Kandelikas – Kathryn Rosenberg

Mele Kalikimaka – John Rosenberg

Thankful – Carissa Barron

Grateful – Autumn Slover (m9-23) / Sarah Garvey (m24-39)

Sell those Concert TICKETS!!

Collectors of “TWELVE DAYS…” Props:

Jackie Miranda-Klein à 12 Apple iPods + headphones (that look like earmuffs)

Peggy Platz à             11 feather boas (any color)

Paul Alexander à         10 tins of popcorn (large, empty, holiday-themed tins)

Polly Savage à            7 pink flamingos

Ron G à                    1 ALBUM by the Partridge Family

If you have ANY of the above items, please bring them to rehearsal this week. Thanks!

  Helpful Hints to Prepare for October 24 

Proclamation of Gratitude

€       Step 1: Make sure you have the entire song MEMORIZED.

€       Step 2: Practice walking to the beat while singing this song.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas – WOMEN

You have been great with your independent work, ladies. Thank you! Just a few more details to make sure everyone has the same markings in their music before we commit it to memory.

€       NO breath from m8 to m9 à “oo” to “Please” (at letter B)

€       m20 (top of p2) – NO breath between “me” and “oo-oo” for ANY voice part.

€       m24, m32, m40 – Please think “AW” instead of “AH”

€       at letter E (m33) – S2 and A, be sure to wait until last beat of the measure to say “smas”

€       REMOVE breath mark in m45 (bottom of p3) after the word “only”.

€       MEMORIZED by NOVEMBER 7.  GOALà NO director.

Masters in this Hall

€       Be comfortable at full speed this week!

€       Make note of the dynamic CONTRAST from section to section, please.

Home

€       We’ll add the solo on p3; if you are interested, email me at savage.polly@gmail.com.

€       Be ready to put pp3-4 together with Michelle this Thursday.

Ocho Kandelikas

€       Regarding mm 84-90 SOPRANO splits. Sop1s – You should be singing one of the top two pitches; Sop2s – You should be singing one of the bottom two pitches. I don’t care who is singing what…just make sure you know which pitch YOU are singing. 

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

€       DRILL these various dotted rhythms: m41 Holiday, m61 caroling, m65 scary ghost, m67 tales of the VERSUS m52-53 (sea)-SON of all VERSUS m69 Ho-LIH-days m70 long long a-(go)

€       KNOW your cuts offs. Reminder: I am NOT conducting this.

Mele Kalikimaka – MEN

€       Practice singing mm 22-52 while walking.

€       Practice singing 56-58 and mm 64-66 with a crisper and bouncier feel – especially the notes with staccato dots. (m58 “say”, m64 “That’s, m66 “you”)

€       MEMORIZED by NOVEMBER 7.  GOALà NO director.

Thankful

€       Master your part in mm 62-72 so we can easily put it together with accompaniment this Thursday.

€       Please change the following dynamic marks in your music:

m45 – from mf to mp

m53 – from f to mf

m54 – from mf to mp

m57 – from mp to p

The Twelve Days of a Regifted Christmas (memorized)

€       Drill the following, especially if you do NOT have the melody in these spots: m24-25, m30-31,  m39-41, m47-48, m52-56, m76-77, m89-90

Rise Up!

€       Rise up = RAH-z AHp (TALL vowels; no nasal sounds, please.)

€       Goal à more dynamic CONTRAST.

Grateful

€       Practice finding your pitch in m17 from hearing soloist on performance track.

€       Sing in front of a mirror OR make a video of yourself singing through this piece. Are your facial expressions helping to relay the message of the lyrics? Will the audience feel your gratitude when they watch you?

CONCERT ORDER – 
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