Agenda for 4/1

Thank you for your patience with last night's rehearsal in the lousy venue. Fortunately, we're back to home base next week. (Or so we think!)

I also thank you for your patience with my rehearsal style. We had a lot to cover last night, especially after spring break, and it was necessary for me to check in with the status of a number of pieces--instead of teaching every note.

As it is, we have only four more rehearsals till the concert. That said, please do not miss any upcoming rehearsals.

Regarding questions about notes, I would much prefer that you raise your hand to ask a question about a note while we're on that particular section than, instead, to ask a question after I've already moved on to another piece or another section. If you raise your hand while we're singing/working, I'll see it and address it ASAP instead of not being able to once we've already move on. If you have note questions, it's easiest to address them in the context of all of the voices--and that's hard to do if I've already moved on.

By the way, how do I know it's time to move on? Because I publish this weekly agenda, and I try to follow the timings. That all said, please try to come to rehearsal with questions, especially about the works that we'll be working. Of course, this requires that you look at your music and the agenda before Tuesday rehearsals. That's not a bad idea, considering we have only four rehearsals to go!

I'm still getting questions about the concert date. There is a calendar linked in the right column of this blog. The syllabus is also linked there. Both indicate the concert date: April 29 at 7pm (6pm call). The concert dress is also in the syllabus: all-black. Please bring any questions to rehearsal. It's best if you ask them during break!

Here's the plan. We're going to touch on each piece:

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 Order my steps

• p. 6-7 bass part
• sing through

20-30 Walk in the light

• sing through, check descant on p7

30-35 Oh Happy Day

• sing through, hoping that the altos will be happy

35-55 This little light

• review all parts & run

55-8pm We Are One

• sing through, check top of p7

8-8:05 BREAK

5-10 It's my desire

• sing through, noting form

10-20 Give me Jesus

• work through with soloists

20-30 Leaning

• check alto/sop parts p.7-10
• review vamp p.14

REVIEW:

30-40 All my trials

40-50 Didn't it rain

50-9pm Sometimes I feel

Agenda for 3/25

Next Tuesday is Spring Break, so we will meet on next on March 25. Here's the plan:

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 We are one

• work p.7-end, then top-p.6

25-35 Its my desire

• pp.4-6 & CODA

35-50 Didn't It Rain

• review

50-8pm Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

• review

8-8:05 Break

5-10 fix any issues with Leaning

10-25 Sometimes I Feel w/ soloist

25-40 All my trials w/ soloist

40-55 Oh Happy Day w/ soloist

55-9pm conclude by reading thru Order My Steps

(skipped tonight: Walk in the light; Give me Jesus; This little light)

Audition results

Thank you to everyone who auditioned. It's so good to hear each of you individually and to know that you really care about this. I am honored by your effort!

Obviously, this wasn't an each choice (it never is), and I hope the results don't discourage anyone from trying again next time. My original intention was to divide up some of the solos, but a couple of them fit certain voices so well that I chose to assign entire pieces to those voices.

The results:

O Happy Day: Cynthia Nelson

Sometimes I Feel: Chelsea Hastbacka

Give Me Jesus: Kimberly Marcum (v. 2); Raymond Hanna (v. 3); Raymond Hanna (p.7 solo)

All My Trials: Juliana Coughlin (incl. mm.9-16)

Congratulations!

Agenda for 3/11

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 All my trials

• working each page in reverse order
• then run

25-40 Sometimes I feel

• pp11-12
• pp 9-10
• pp 6(bottom)-8
• pp4-6
• then run

40-8pm This little light

• confirm all parts pp8-end
• top to 8

8-8:05 BREAK for Soloist Auditions

5-10 Juliana

10-20 Sam

20-25 Marlena

25-30 Ed

30-35 Buffy
35-40 Kim
40-45 Raymond
45-50 Chelsea

50-55 Cynthia

Soloists: There are many auditioners this semester for a limited number of solos. You are expected to be prepared. Your audition is open to anyone in attendance; it is not private. You will be asked to sing a minimum of two of the excerpts you've picked, starting with your preference followed by my request(s). Allie will accompany you with the piano or choral parts, but she will not play the notes of your solo (beyond the starting note) unless they already appear in the score. I will conduct you and Allie for your selections.

If you need to cancel, please let me know before Tuesday.