Many thanks to all of you who have been able to fill in the survey regarding future possible tours for EnChor. If you have not completed the survey yet please go to https://forms.gle/5LFwSYEUGeHjcWQn7
Your input would be appreciated!
Key EnChor dates for 23/24
Here are the key dates for EnChor Choir for 2023-2024. As mentioned before, all rehearsals continue to be on Friday morning at Pacific Spirit United Church from 10:00am to 12:00pm. The majority of these rehearsals will be in the East/West Hall with a few in the Sanctuary.
We are very excited to be invited to sing at the Vancouver Chamber Choir’s A Choral Feast 2 on April 15th, 2024. More information to come about this event.
EnChor Calendar: A reminder that if you need information about any EnChor event you can look at the EnChor calendar found at https://enchor.ca/members/calendar/
Every attempt is made to keep this up to date so you can find information about venues, call times, times of concerts, dress, and other information you may need to know about an particular EnChor rehearsal or event.
DATES
Friday, September 15 – first rehearsal
Friday, October 20 – retreat (morning and afternoon at our usual venue)
Sunday afternoon, November 19 – Enchor’s FallConcert
Sunday afternoon, December 17 – An EnChor Christmas concert
Friday, January 5 – first rehearsal of 2024
Friday, March 29 – Good Friday, no rehearsal
Friday, April 15thA Choral Feast 2 presented by Vancouver Chamber Choir
Looking forward to seeing the subset of the choir that is confirmed for the Summerhill PARC gig Wednesday afternoon. Call time is 1:30 for a 2 pm start. Please be sure to refer to the email I sent last week with the details of repertory, roster, apparel, etc.
The Friday, we will dive back into the new massed choir pieces for Powell River,our new solo piece “Innsbruck…” as well as singing through some of the season’s rep that is not in the plan for that trip: She’s Like the Swallow, Fare Thee Well, Love, and Banks of Doon.
Pat has done a pronunciation recording of “Innsbruck” which Don is posting on the website. Please have a listen. We will also be posting an audio performance although it will be in F major rather than our key of G major.
I’ve had a few questions from individuals who are not going to Powell River about how long they should keep coming on Fridays. My answer is “as long as you like”, up to and including Friday, June 9th! I would love to continue to see you and share being EnChor together. That’s five more rehearsals. I realize this is slightly longer than we often go in a year. Please let your section leader know if we are not to expect you.
See some of you today, everyone on Friday!
Morna
From the board
Thank you to all of you who have sent your comments in regarding moving the rehearsal from Friday to Tuesday. We know for many of us this is a very problematic proposal and you would have appreciated more opportunities for input. The board apologies for this and will endeavour to ensure that all members are consulted fully on important issues in the future. But as mentioned in last week’s Weekly Announcements, the board will not be making any decision until the board meeting on May 29th. The more feedback we can get from all EnChor members, the more information we will have to make this difficult decision. It would be helpful for us to know if you can or cannot attend Tuesday rehearsals, and of course, any other comments or suggestions you may have; all will be taken very seriously.
NEW REPERTOIRE
Soundtracks for Padayon, Spacious Firmament and Innsbruck have been added to the repertoire page. They include a pronunciation guide for Innsbruck prepared by Pat Hodgins. Here is a direct link:
We’re starting to use the EnChor Google calendar more and more for events and information about them. That way, you don’t have to paw through old mail in your inbox to find something. In particular, we’re putting important event details (repertoire, location, singers, etc.) in the Notes section of each event.
Here are several ways to find that information, from easiest to geekiest!
Use your EnChor login and click on the Calendar link.
If you have a Google account, add it to your own Google electronic calendar: Click on the “+Google Calendar” button at the bottom of the window for the EnChor calendar. If you usually access your Google calendar through an app, the EnChoir calendar should show up “auto-magically”!
Note that when you click on an event to see all the details, the popup window may be small enough to cut off the right end or bottom of the text, but it should scroll horizontally and vertically. You may also be able to make the popup bigger, depending on the circumstances.
If you’re not comfortable using an electronic calendar, make sure to let your section leader know, so you can get all the information by some other means.
Feel free to contact Jay (jpcblack@gmail.com) for technical assistance if you wish.
Regards,
Jay.
BETTE COSAR
Click HERE for a CBC news story about Bette’s retirement from the Vancouver Opera Chorus. Thanks to Barry Honda for spotting this. The link is also posted on the EnChor Facebook page. If you are on Facebook, please consider sharing the post.
My thanks to the 20 people who sang our first PARC outreach gig last Friday. And to Larry for all his communication and organizing. The next one is Wednesday, May 10 and I will be in touch with that group through a direct email by this weekend.
Rehearsal this Friday will bring back Young at Heart (which should be in your folders) and also include Wind Rising in the Alleys, Quick We Have But a Second, The Summer Wind, Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron and The Moon is Distant From the Sea. Note that, for people going to Kathaumixw, we are going to memorize Wind Rising in the Alleys for the competition. You sing so much more cohesively when everyone is out of their scores. Please start listening and memorizing. I am also hoping to hand out the new piece, Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen.
I wanted to bring something to your attention that has been on my mind for a year or two, and that is how challenging I am finding it to have our rehearsals on Fridays. Most freelance work that I get involves leaving town on a Thursday or Friday. Prepandemic, I was having to sub out of EnChor about once a month, which is less than ideal. I have discussed this with the board, and they are in agreement that we should consider Tuesdays as our regular morning. It works for me, for Ken, and for the church. I am hoping, after the initial shock because “we have always met on Fridays”, that many of you will also find this acceptable and perhaps convenient. The board will be discussing this next at our end of May meeting. Please see the message from Cathy Bayley below and do reach out with thoughts on this. I truly hope we will not lose a single singer if we make this change, which would take effect in September
Morna
From the Board
Yes, we have always had our rehearsals on Friday, BUT…..
The board strongly supports moving our rehearsals to another day after careful consideration of the implications for Morna and the choir if we stay with Friday rehearsals, and the benefits for both if we move to another day.
EnChor will always be a high priority for Morna but we do not want to go back to the pre-pandemic days of losing her for an average of one rehearsal a month. We also feel that having our artistic director in high profile leadership roles in Canadian and US choral scenes, guest conducting, adjudicating, and more, can only reflect well on EnChor as one of her choirs.
And many of us will welcome the ability to have a “long weekend” not hampered by having a late start because of our Friday rehearsal.
The board considered the rational was so strong for a change that sending out a survey about this would not be helpful. But I do urge you to let your opinions be heard by emailing me at cathybayley55@gmail.com with anything you would like to add to the discussion. I will compile all submissions sent to me and a final decision will be made at the board meeting on May 29th.
Thanks Cathy
CARPOOLS TO KATHAUMIXW
Click HERE for the list of drivers and passengers going to Powell River. Please review and let me know if any questions or issues with these assignments.
DRIVERS: Please complete this survey by Wed, May 3 as we need to advise the hotel of expected arrival and departure times. Please confirm your travel plans directly with your passengers. Thanks.
Cheers,
Kathie
FROM THE LIBRARIAN
We still have more music coming, but Morna thought we could hand in the following.
Take this Thread A Maiden is in a Ring Soli Deo Gloria Weinachten
Would you please bring these along on Friday.
Thanks. John
LINK TO PADAYON
Here is a link to Padayon (by Ily Matthew Maniaano), one of the massed choir pieces for Kathaumixw. The link is also on the Members’ Repertoire page.
I hope you had a great time with Joel Tranquilla – a skilled and passionate colleague from whom I always learn something. Please bring all music on Friday (sorry about Sonnet 43 last week), from which the rehearsal rep will be selected.
In case I didn’t say this previously, I decided we will not perform in the VSO Day of Music this year. Our singer count was too low to give an EnChor-worthy public concert. You might have had that on your calendar for Saturday, June 10.
A point of clarification about the PARC gig rosters in April, May, and June – I took into account whether people had indicated “only if needed for balance” in a previous survey. If you were not assigned to any of the three and are disappointed, please email me at mornaedmundson@telus.net.
Now that the rosters of singers are set for the three PARC outreach concerts, I want to make sure everyone is able to read our shared Google calendar, including the description/notes. Bookmark/Save this for easy, regular access, or follow the link on the Members’ homepage at enchor.ca. If you need help, please ask our kind tech-support person and baritone, Jay (jpcblack@gmail.com) as soon as possible. Details of what to wear, what we will sing, and when and where to show up will be in these calendar listings, therefore it is critical that everyone be able to see them. We have already started to use these for regular season events and concerts, so this is an important tool for next year as well. Worst case scenario if the technology is impossible for you is that you will need a reliable buddy who can look things up for you in the Google Calendar.
Friday, June 9 will be the last full rehearsal of the 22/23 year. Following that, starting on June 16, it will be Kathaumixw people only attending June 16 (sectionals), June 28 (Wednesday night) – 7pm – 9pm – regular place, and June 30 (Friday morning) – regular time and place.
Reminder for Kathaumixw participants who have not paid in full for accommodation and meals:
EnChor is required to make our full and final payment for meals and accommodation in Powell River by May 1st. Therefore, I’m asking if you could please submit your second and final payment to me by Friday, April 28, if possible.
If you paid $366.43 for your first instalment, the remainder owing is $366.42. If you are paying for two people, the total due is $732.85
You may either pay by e-transfer to EnChor Choir, alderwols@shaw.ca or by cheque made out to EnChor Choir.
Thanks very much. Any questions or concerns – please speak to me. Nancy
From Outside EnChor:
The BC Choral Federation is hosting three Chorfest events in May around the province. They are looking for more tenors and basses particularly.
CHORFEST GIBSONS – May 26 and 27 https://bcchoralfed.com/gibsonschorfest/ Sarona Meinharts’ Sunshine Coast-based choir is hosting and also billeting singers that are visiting the Coast. Lots of billeting opportunities are still available.
Congratulations on a very fine performance yesterday! I felt really good about it all. I hope your friends and family had a lovely time sharing this music and singing along. Thank you, Ken, Evelyn, and Peter for your contributions. And to John Smit for tireless production leadership and everyone who assisted him. Thank you, Don Harder for recording, and to Jay’s wife Catherine who took on Front of House duties. Don Blake, your concert program looked great. Many hands make light work.
This Friday, I will be in Whistler adjudicating high school choirs, so you will be led by the wonderful Dr. Joel Tranquilla. The repertoire will be from the concert. I know he will find new approaches to this music now that you are fully comfortable with what comes in the next phrase and the next page. This is such a good place to be to take the music on toward the three PARC gigs and the concerts and competition at Kathaumixw in July.
I had meant to have the April 28 PARC gig roster worked out in time for today’s email but don’t. That will come mid-week.
Cheers and have a great week!
Morna
FROM SANDRA
Save the Date:
The choir will be hosting a celebratory, catered lunch, at no cost to you, (thanks to a generous donation to the choir in support of this event). This will be held on Friday, May 26, directly after our rehearsal, to honour Morna having been granted an honorary doctorate. We hope you will all be able to attend. We need to gather names to provide an accurate count for the caterer. Please click HERE to respond to a short attendance survey. PLEASE RESPOND BY THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 20.
FROM NANCY
A note from an anonymous monthly donor:
“Happy to help in every way to this delightful and talented group of singers”.
Thank you all so much for the outpouring of congratulations about my upcoming honorary Doctor of Letters at UBC. I was very touched by all the kind words. The flowers look amazing on my dining room table. Sandra and all who helped with the nomination, I am so grateful for your willingness to put my name forward and to do all that legwork.
This Friday, April 14, we will be in the sanctuary with the risers for our Dress Rehearsal. I don’t want to wear you out with tons of standing, but it is the best way to hear and experience what the concert will feel like, so I will make it a 2-break rehearsal. Those who need to sit during the singing, feel free. We go from 10am – 12:30pm.
The concert call time on Sunday, April 16 will be 2pm sharp on stage for a warmup, clearing the stage by 2:20 for house opening at 2:25. The concert starts at 3.
Please put your music in concert order before 10am Friday:
Wake the Grain
Weihnachten
The Moon is Distant from the Sea
Wind Rising in the Alleys
The Arrow and the Song
Send in the Clowns
(piano solo here: Morning Has Broken, arr. Ken Cormier)
Scarborough Fair (singalong w guitar and piano)
Banks of Doon
Fare Thee Well, Love
Quick, We Have But a Second
Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron
Try to Remember (singalong)
The Summer Wind
You Make Me Feel So Young
(The encore, if we do one, will be An Irish Blessing)
Three of those pieces must be sung from memory. There are tracks on the website for all of them:
Quick, We Have But a Second
You Make Me Feel So Young
An Irish Blessing (our encore)
Remember to tell your friends and family about this wonderful concert. Tickets can be purchased on the CanadaHelps site here, or at the door.
Morna
From Sandra Philips
The apparel for Sunday’s concert will be formal.
Women will wear their blue gowns with a single strand of pearls and modest pearl earrings, black hose and black dress shoes.
Men will wear their tuxedos, white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie and black socks and black dress shoes.
Looking forward to the Good Friday rehearsal added a few weeks ago. Usual time and place. If you have previous commitments that day, we will not expect to see you at EnChor. Just let your section leader know, if you haven’t already, that you are not coming.
Rep this Friday will be: The Arrow and the Song, Weinachten, The Banks of Doon, Wake the Grain, Send in the Clowns, You Make Me Feel So Young, The Summer Wind, Quick, We Have But a Second.
I was in the vestry at PSUC the other day and saw an EnChor bag that had some green cardboard things in them – looked like packaging from Christmas decorations for the church in December. If it’s yours, let me know. I’ll bring it Friday.
Morna
MORE CONCERT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Lorna Blake, Co-ordinator of Volunteers, requests any non-singing choir member or spouse to volunteer for Front of House for the April 16th concert. You will be the only audience members to have reserved seats! At a minimum, we need two more ushers–not to seat people, but to fix doors open, and safely direct audience members to an alternative exit should something unthinkable happen. If you, or someone you know, can help, please contact Lorna directly (lblake@telus.net, or 604-263-9567).
Thanks to everyone who has made a donation to EnChor. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Here is some info for those who have signed up for monthly donations and who wish to cancel their pledge after the three month minimum.
Each month, on the date of your payment you will receive an email from Canada Helps thanking you for your monthly payment. Halfway down the page you will see a link that allows you to go to your account and cancel the donation. In order for EnChor to benefit from the extra $20 from Canada Helps, this can be done after your third donation.
If you have any questions about how to do this, please speak to me anytime. (Nancy Wolchok)
Thank you for the disciplined marking and articulation work on Wake the Grain this past Friday. This week’s rehearsal will include the following music: Send in the Clowns, Wind Rising in the Alleys, The Arrow and the Song, Scarborough Fair (singalong – you have lyrics), The Summer Wind, Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron, Quick, We Have But a Second, Fare Thee Well, Love. For those who follow our Google calendar closely, you will see that I’ve cut this back to the usual 2-hour time slot now that we have added a Good Friday morning rehearsal. For a while it was showing as a 12:30 end time.
Please grab your calendar and click through to THIS SURVEY about your availability for our various outreach and community events this term: three PARC Retirement Living gigs and one VSO Day of Music.
See you Friday!
Morna
LAST WEEK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER
FROM CANADA HELPS
In lieu of a fundraising project this fiscal year the Board would like to share the following information about an incentive program offered by CanadaHelps.
Through CanadaHelps it is possible (and easy) to make a monthly donation. You can begin and end monthly payments whenever you choose.
For the entire month of March, CanadaHelps will make a one-time extra $20 donation for every new monthly gift of $20 or more made to EnChor using CanadaHelps, up to a maximum of $50,000 CAD.*
The rules for this incentive fundraising idea are as follows:
1. You must make at least three donations of no less than $20/month through to June 2.
2. The first donation must be made during the month of March, by April 1
This LINK will take you to the CanadaHelps site for EnChor donations.
THE NUMBERS:
If one person signs up for three months of monthly donations of $20, EnChor will receive $80. ($60 + $20)
If twenty people sign up, EnChor will receive $1600. ($1200 + $400.)
We’re in the runup to the April 16 concert now, and I am loving this repertoire – hope you are, too! I’ve decided to take Sonnet 43 out of the program as getting it fully secure would take too much time away from other repertoire. This I have learned over many decades, and don’t take it as a defeat! This Friday, we will sing the following, which starts to group things as they will be done in concert: Wake the Grain, Weinachten, The Moon is Distant from the Sea, The Arrow and the Song, Banks of Doon, Fare Thee Well, Love, Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron, and You Make Me Feel So Young. If you are still not confident in singing the latter without your music, there is a whole week to get that in place. Thanks! See the website for the practice track.
On Friday we will be a month away from our April 16 concert, so it is time for all singers to be proactive about tackling any tough spots in the music on their own between Fridays. The concert order is the order of the weekly rehearsal grid. The singalong will be Scarborough Fair (unison, words to come).
Music to be rehearsed Friday is Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron, Quick, We Have But a Second, The Summer Wind, Sonnet 43, Scarborough Fair, Send in the Clowns, Wind Rising in the Alleys.
A reminder that sopranos meet at 9:30 in the library this week for their self-directed sectional.
See 35 of you on Thursday afternoon (see below) and everyone on Friday!
Morna
Details for Bill Ireland’s Celebration of Life
Thursday, March 16 3pm call, 4pm service
Enter via the lower Burrard Street door at 690 Burrard. Proceed upstairs to the sanctuary and to the facing choir stalls in the chancel.
Apparel:
Women: Colorful silk ponchos with black dress pants, black nylons and black dress shoes. Please wear modest gold earrings. Kindly secure your top to your camisole or bra strap to make sure it does not show your bare shoulders.
Men: Black long sleeved dress shirt with your red EnChor tie. Black dress pants, black socks and black dress shoes. Best if you come dressed, but there will be time if needed.
Music is An Irish Blessing, We Rise Again, and hymns Abide with Me and Be Thou My Vision. Rupert Lang is playing piano and organ, and some members of the Cathedral Choir will join us. It will be beautiful.
At the moment, I don’t know the end time of the event and whether there is a reception on site, but contact me if that is important to you (morna@enchor.ca). I will hopefully know those details by tomorrow.
