Announceents for 12-6-09

Soprano Review of Noel Ayisyen will begin at 6:20 tonight.  Rehearsal for everyone else will begin at 6:35.

Uniforms: Please make sure you have your uniform taken care of before 6:25 tonight.  This will give ample time to begin rehearsal promptly.

Concert Schedule next week @ Bethlehem Lutheran Church:

Tickets: One ticket is available for each singer for their family to use.  Please make sure you take the ticket with your name on the back only.

An outline of the concert is included on the back of the announcements.  Please put your music in that order.  Also make sure that your binder is in good shape.  If it is tattered, please buy an inexpensive binder at an office store (all binders were in acceptable condition at the beginning of the year)

Info: Tickets are $10 for students for $15 for adults. Seating is general admission, and there are no advanced sales.  Tickets can be purchased in the lobby before the performance.  Doors to the seating area will open around an hour before the performance

Saturday, December 12
1:00-3:00  Dress Rehearsal (do not need to be in concert attire)
6:00 Call (in concert attire) (not 5:30 as earlier published)7:30  Concert

Sunday, December 13
3:00  Tentative Call (in concert attire)
4:00  Concert

Note: Please write in verse three on the first page of O Come, All Ye Faithful so that you can sing parts on v. 3

Map to BLC

Map to Bethlehem Lutheran: (at the corner of 7^th St. and Hwy 15).  If you are taking Hwy, 15, please note that there is no intersection on 7^th street!  (Take 2^nd St. S to 2^nd Av or 33^rd Av N to 7^th St. S.)

Announcements 11-29-2009

ALL PARENTS AND SINGERS SHOULD READ THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS!

Uniform Fee: Please bring in your $30 uniform fee to rehearsal. If you have a problem paying, please let me, Jean Louis (business manager), or a board member know.  Email addresses can be found on the members section of the website.  You will not get a uniform without paying the fee or talking to one of the three above people!

Uniform Handout… If you are able, please come to rehearsal early tomorrow.  Uniform handout will begin tonight at 6:10-6:30.  Any uniforms not handed out tonight will be handed out next week from 6:00-6:30.  Please arrive early next week if you are unable to come early this week!  

Concert Schedule (Bethlehem Lutheran Church):

Saturday, December 12
1:00-3:00  Dress Rehearsal (do not need to be in concert attire)
5:30  Call (in concert attire)
7:30  Concert

Sunday, December 13
3:00  Tentative Call (in concert attire)
4:00  Concert

Below is a map to Bethlehem (at the corner of 7^th St. and Hwy 15).  If you are taking Hwy, 15, please note that there is no intersection on 7^th street!  (Take 2^nd St. S to 2^nd Av or 33^rd Av N to 7^th St. S.)

Map to BLC

If you brought money for the Concordia Concert, please give the check to me before or after rehearsal.

Announcements for 11-1-09

Weekly Announcements for Sunday, November 1

ALL SINGERS AND PARENTS SHOULD READ THESE!

Rehearsal Plan: Because of missed rehearsals, we are starting to feel the crunch of time!  We need to make up for lost time, and here are two possibilities:

Option 1 (preferred): Hold rehearsal on November 29 (Thanksgiving Sunday).  This will be the chosen option unless there are significant absences.

Option 2: Begin rehearsals at 6:00 PM on Nov. 8, 15 and Dec. 6 and run rehearsal from 2:00 to 4:30 PM on Nov. 22.

Please list your availability for the November 29 at the bottom of the announcement sheet and turn it in tonight, or email director@youthchorale.org with your response.

Google Group: We are looking to add YCCM singers and families to a Google group.  Currently we use a service for which we pay a nominal fee.  This service reports that only 50% of emails are being read.  You will likely receive an email in the next day or so inviting you to join the group.  If you don’t receive an invite, please visit http://groups.google.com/group/yccmupdate/ and click on “join group” on the right side.

YCCM facebook group: Your feedback is desired!  Most of you are members of the YCCM facebook group “YCCM Singers – Official Group.”  Posted as a discussion item is a Barnum piece that we are considering adding to our February concert.  Please listen to the link and thoughtfully respond on the discussion.  Also, feel free to post youtube links of other pieces for consideration.  While artistic decisions will not be decided on popular opinion, it will be an interesting project to hear your responses and suggestions for music.

November 22 Reminder: Remember that rehearsal on November 22 will be at 2:00 PM.

Website: Feel free to utilize the members section of the website.  You will find forms, schedules, and any crucial information in that section.  The username is “member” and the password “sing2009.”

ON THE WEBSITE YOU WILL FIND A RECORDING OF NOEL AYISYEN!  Please utilize it for practice.

Conflict Catcher: If you haven’t filled out and turned in a Conflict catcher, please turn one in as soon as possible.

Rehearsal Cancelled 10/25

Rehearsal is cancelled for 10/25.  We have sick children at home, and am needed in helping them.

See you next week at the normal time.

Mr. Lathe

Announcements for 9/27/2009

Sign-In: Each week a sign-in sheet will be available outside the choir room.  Please initial next to your name to signify that you are at rehearsal.  As a safety precaution, if you are more than ten minutes late and your absences is not  expected, a phone call will be made to verify whether or not you will be expected.

Request form: If you need something like music, a phone number changed, etc. You may put your request on the request form at the sign-in table.

New Piece:  Please pick up the new piece “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Abbie Betinis

Website: Feel free to utilize the members section of the website.  You will find forms, schedules, and any crucial information in that section.  The username is “member” and the password “sing2009.”

Communications
As mentioned last week, we have several ways of communicating announcements and notices.  Please remember:
•    Add director@youthchorale.org to your address book to avoid announcements being sent to your spam folder
•    If you prefer to view announcements on the blog, you may do so by clicking “Announcements” in the members section of the website or visiting yccmupdate.wordpress.com.  You can also sign up to receive emails when the blog is updated.
•    You can sign up for the facebook group “YCCM Singer – Official Group.”  This is a closed group which will house YCCM announcements and information (though not as timely as other media).
•    Calling Post is only used when timely or urgent information needs to get disseminated.

Schedule Note:  The schedule (distributed last week and available from the members section of the website) has a few changes that should be noted:
•    Rehearsal on Sun. Nov. 22 is moved to 2:00-4:00 instead of the regular time.
•    The Dress Rehearsal on Monday, Dec. 7 is moved to Saturday, Dec. 12
•    The April performance has been finalized, with the with the call time and locale TBD.

Announcements 2009-09-20

Weekly Announcements for Sunday, September 20
ALL SINGERS AND PARENTS SHOULD READ THESE!

Welcome!

We are looking forward to another great season in YCCM.  The goal today is to rehearse a little, get to know a few names, and determine voicing/seating arrangements.

• Make sure you grab music, a binder, and your label.  Labels should be placed on the inside of the binder in the lower right corner.
• Pick up the latest Schedule! The changes since the last published schedule are the dress rehearsal for the December Concert and the finalization of a date for our April concert.
• A singer directory is available for you to contact other members for carpooling purposes.

Communications

As mentioned in the handbook, communication is always tricky with a group of this nature.  We have a variety of ways of communicating with you

• Email List: Through icontact.com we have an email subscription service that allows us to send announcements out to members.  As this is an email list service, sometimes it is categorized as spam.  Please add director@youthchorale.org to your address book so that these emails will not be blocked. If you have not been receiving these emails, please email director@youthchorale.org.
• Blog: Established last year, all of these paper announcements are available on a blog (yccmupdate.wordpress.com).  You can subscribe to this announcement blog through your mobile device or email if you so choose.  The blog also appears under “Announcements” in the member portion of www.youthchorale.org
• Facebook: A new facebook group called “YCCM Singers – Official Group” has been created.  It is a closed group where members of YCCM can receive updates. Simply search the name above to find the group on facebook.  You will be approved for the group in a day or two. Please note: This source will not be as timely as email or calling post.
• Calling Post: For important or time-sensitive announcements, Calling Post will be used.  Calling Post is a “one-to-many” service that calls land-lines or mobile phones with a recorded message.  If you haven’t received a Calling Post message yet, please email director@youthchorale.org

Uniform Measurements will take place next week.  Please avoid bulky clothing.  If at all possible, bring the shoes you plan to wear with your uniform.  Men should wear standard black dress shoes.  Women should wear black, closed toed flats or similar with minimal heels.

Announcements 04-26-2009

Weekly Announcements for Sunday, April 26, 2009
ALL SINGERS AND PARENTS SHOULD READ THESE!

Concert on May 3 “Youth Sing Out”

5:10 – Call time – Quietly enter the Performing Arts Center (PAC)

Sound Check Schedule:

5:00 – SJBC Varsity Choir
5:20 – YCCM
5:40 – Massed Choirs
6:10 – SJBC Concert Choir

7:00 – Concert

• Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Auditorium
• Tickets are $7 for all seats.  They can be purchased online at www.youthchorale.org or at the door.  A fee of $1.18 is charged for purchasing online.
• One free ticket is available for you tonight.  You may pick it up before or after rehearsal.  You may buy additional tickets tonight (exact change only) after rehearsal.

Volunteers Needed!  We still need 2 people to sell tickets and usher for the May 3 concert.  If your parents/siblings are interested, please email business@youthchorale.org.

Announcements 4-9-09

Youth Chorale Singers and Parents:

Only two weeks until our final concert! It is amazing how fast this year has gone. Only one more rehearsal after tonight, then a concert, then a week off (Mother’s Day), then our recording session/turn-in day!

Please make sure that you read these announcements. Also make sure that you SIGN UP for an audition time! You may do so at the sign-in table or online at www.youthchorale.org.

As the announcements state below, you will be provided with one free ticket per singer for the May 3 concert. This is a much more simple process than charging a student/adult ticket price, and usually results in larger savings for families. You can purchase tickets online! There is a $1.18 charge for the service, but if you don’t want to stand in line for tickets, you can purchase them online, walk up to the “Will Call” table, and walk right into the concert!

Lastly, we need volunteers for the concert. If you would like to sell tickets and/or usher, please email Jean Louis, our Business Manager, at business@youthchorale.org.

Thanks, and enjoy the Spring weather!

–Mr. Lathe

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Weekly Announcements for Sunday, April 19, 2009
ALL SINGERS AND PARENTS SHOULD READ THESE!

Concert on May 3 “Youth Sing Out”
5:15 – Call time
7:00 – Concert

• Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Auditorium
• Tickets are $7 for all seats. They can be purchased online at www.youthchorale.org or at the door. A fee of $1.18 is charged for purchasing online.
• One free ticket for each singer will be available next week after rehearsal

Volunteers Needed! We need 4-6 people to sell tickets and usher for the May 3 concert. If your parents are interested, please email business@youthchorale.org.

Auditions

• May 7 (5:30-8:30)
• May 9 (9:30-3:30)
• Sign up for a time on sign-in table or
• Sign up online (www.youthchorale.org)
• Take a postcard and give to a friend!

Recording Session/Uniform Turn-in – Sunday, May 17 5:30-8:30 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Men, please have your tux dry cleaned between the Concert May 3 and the recording session May 17. Women, please do NOT wash your dress before turning it in. This way they can all be cleaned together to avoid inconsistent fading.

You may purchase your uniform and keep it if you’d like. Tuxes may be purchased for $90 and dresses for $40. If you outgrow your uniform, we will do our best to exchange it next year at no cost.

©2009 Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota

Youth Chorale Singers and Parents:

Well, it is not exactly Spring yet, but all Spring Breaks are over, and we have only four rehearsals left this year!  As we prepare for our last concert and recording session, please do your best to be on time and work as hard as you can to make it a great end of the year.

These announcements are a reminder of the end of the year events.  Please take note of auditions.  You may start signing up for auditions this week.  Audition cards will be available next week to hand to fellow singers in your school.

Thank you for your hard work so far this year, and let’s keep it going strong through the rest of the year.

–Mr. Lathe

Weekly Announcements for Sunday, March 29, 2009
ALL SINGERS AND PARENTS SHOULD READ THESE!

Reminder – No rehearsal on:

• April 12
• May 10

Next Concert:

• Sunday, May 3
• With St. John’s Boys’ Choirs and Cantabile
• Sauk Rapids-Rice Auditorium
• 7:00 PM Call time TBD

Recording Session/Uniform turn-in

• Sunday, May 17
• 5:30 PM
• Site TBD

Auditions for 2009-10

• Auditions are set for May 7 & 9, with an overflow day of May 13.  You will have priority in setting an audition time for the next two weeks.  Sign up for an audition time on the spreadsheet on the sign-in table or sign up online at www.youthchorale.org.
• Postcards will be available next week to give to friends.  Handing friend a reminder of the auditions will make as much or more of an impact than a director’s announcement.

©2009 Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota

Announcements for 3-15-2008

The announcements handed out in rehearsal today will be the same as they were last week.  Please see previous posts.

But remember…NO REHEARSAL NEXT WEEK!!! (3/22)

See you tonight and again on March 29.