From Morna
Concert week again! Looking forward to our fun, new Christmas format. I’ve LINKED the cover and rep page so you can put your music in order. It would be a good idea to write the Gerry’s Christmas Songbook page number at the end of the previous piece, as there is a lot of jumping back and forth in that book. If any of the new pieces are still unfamiliar to you, please spend some time before Friday. I’m thinking specifically of What Sweeter Music, Dormi, Dormi, and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.
A reminder that this Friday morning’s rehearsal is in the sanctuary in concert order and may go until 12:30. We will sit for much of the rehearsal and then stand on the risers and steps after break. If you need a stool, please bring one.
After a discussion with the board last week on how we can feel more focused before concerts, I decided to move the December 18 singer call time up to 1:45 for the 3pm concert. This is reflected in the Google calendar. Once again, we have the East/West Hall as our green room and the chapel for lockup of valuables.
We have changed the men’s apparel for December 18 to all black with red ties. No tuxes. Women are in ponchos.
John Smit and the board have moved quickly and efficiently to secure us our own set of choral risers with back rail, which we will co-own with Elektra Women’s Choir. This allows us to know we are safe in our standing arrangement, and everyone can see and be seen in concerts. As we speak, they are stored behind the scrim at PSUC. They are beautiful, strong, and in very good condition. My thanks to John for extensive negotiation and to him and his son Joel who helped pick them up and deliver them to PSUC today.
The risers are heavy and we will need a team of strong individuals to move them into place and put them back for dress rehearsals and concerts. No more than 3 people are needed each time, but we don’t want to have EnChor members doing this who should not be lifting and carrying. To that end, we’d like to create a list of people who are healthy and strong and who are willing to become part of this knowledgeable team. John Smit is one, but we would like to know how many others there are. If we don’t have sufficient numbers, we will get some contact info for strong, young student types who might appreciate a few hours of work for us. This option is completely viable and approved by the board. Please write to both me (mornaedmundson@telus.net) and John (jsmit@mail.ubc.ca) by Wednesday night if you are truly strong and willing and your doctor would approve!
This weekend, we will need people at the following times in the PSUC sanctuary for riser work. Peter Bayley and Tony will be there to advise only as they know these risers well. John will confirm teams in advance:
- Friday 9:15 – 9:45 before dress rehearsal
- Friday 12:30 – 1pm after dress rehearsal
- Sunday 1:15 – 1:45 before warmup
- Sunday 4:15 – 4:45 following concert
See you Friday. Please make sure your section leader knows if you are not doing the gig. This factors into my seating chart.
There are still tickets available, so do let your friends and family members know we would love to see them at this uplifting, one-hour concert, which is by donation to the food bank. All details are here.
Morna
An EnChor Christmas Volunteer Request
Unfortunately our wonderful Front of House Team Leader, Lorna Blake has come down with Covid and will not be able to help us out next Sunday at the concert. In her usual very organized fashion, she has organized her helpers so all will be well. However, she has asked for 2 or 3 more volunteers to offer to stand as spares just in case somebody else becomes ill. Volunteers need to feel comfortable taking in tickets, handing out programs, leading people to appropriate seats and if necessary, to alternate emergency exits.
If you have an adult family member or friend who would be interested would you please let me know (cathybayley55@gmail.com) and I will pass their name on to Lorna.
Lorna has said that her symptoms are fairly mild. We wish her all the best and hope she is feeling better soon.
Kathaumixw Festival Update
Recently we received the disappointing news that due to limited accommodation available in Powell River, EnChor’s application for Kathaumixw could not be accepted at this time. If you have travelled in BC over the last year, you will know that staffing in the service industry is a real struggle so we can certainly understand the challenges the festival is facing in housing everybody. We are on a waiting list, and all accepted choirs must let the festival know by January 15th if they will be attending the festival. We should hear soon after that if we will be able to step in for another choir who had to decline their spot, and this will still give us plenty of time to plan. And as we are still hopeful that we will be accepted in the New Year, we ask that you continue to keep the dates July 4 to July 8 available.
Cheers
Cathy