Chorister News

Well, this is it! The final week in preparation for the concert on the 15^th! Mimi sent her notes to you earlier in the week and included with these announcements is information on taking care of yourself as a singer readying for performance.

Tickets: We are now sold out of general admission tickets but still have side reserve tickets for $20 and a few center reserve tickets for $25. Please see Gaby Wicklow if you need tickets, or leave a message at 975-0582. There are no more tickets at The Green Store in Belfast and only side reserve tickets at HAV II and The Grasshopper Shop. Hats off to Gaby, her team of helpers, and all of you for all your work on ticket sales!

We’re closing in on a sellout—but we are NOT sold out yet—folks can still get tickets!

Dress Rehearsal: For those who have not experienced a dress rehearsal, we’d like to offer some advice and sense of what to expect. Dress rehearsals are more demanding and tiring than the actual concert so it is important to learn how to pace yourself and take good care of your voice and energy during the hours-long process. Our dress rehearsal runs from noon until 5:00 pm. There will be periods of time where you are not singing but are left on the risers and, yes, there is a lot of singing and stopping and then singing again and then adjusting a sound level and singing again, checking solo microphones…..you get the drift. Mimi will be running back and forth to the sound board and working closely with the musicians as well as directing the chorus. There will also be 30 children from our children’s chorus joining us for a portion of the rehearsal, and the small ensemble pieces to rehearse. It helps if we all go into the dress rehearsal with focus and also a sense of humor. It always comes together! If we all arrive on time ready to rehearse with focus and patience, things will go smoothly and we’ll all have fun.

Please dress comfortably (it is quite hot on stage so layer your clothing so you can react accordingly) and wear very comfortable shoes. Save your concert clothes for concert day. Bring plenty of water and a snack that is simple and easy to throw back into your bag or coat pocket. Note: No food is allowed in the Strom Auditorium, only water may be consumed within the auditorium.

PLEASE have your binder completely ready to go in concert order and organized in a fashion that works for you. There may be last minute changes that Mimi will need to make for artistic reasons so have a pencil in your binder and a blank sheet of paper for dress rehearsal notes. You may take your water bottle onto the riser for dress rehearsal. Only small water containers that can fit in your pocket or tuck under the waistband of your pants are allowed during the performance. That is—no water bottles may be brought on stage and placed on the risers on concert day! But you will only be on the risers approximately 45 minutes at a time for our performance and have access to water during intermission.

Dress rehearsal will include lining up in order to process onto the risers and back off again. We have enough concert veterans that this now goes pretty smoothly but you will still need to pay attention so we look professional and poised as we enter and leave the stage (until we dance!).

Binder and Music Return: Before the concert, please erase everything that is not absolutely essential for you to see during the performance. Please consider using Post it Notes on your scores for your markings for performance. Plan to take time after the performance to finish erasing and/or removing any Post Its before you turn in your music.

Following the concert:

• Put your brown folder in your binder and drop it in the correctly labeled bin.
• If you own your binder, just turn in the folder of music.
• If you have chosen to purchase your music ($20), we have this recorded and you can simply turn in your binder (unless you own that as well). 

Thank you for doing your part to take good care of what is an important investment—MCC Music Library

This Monday Night: Tomorrow night we will be joined by our band members:
Jeff Densmore—percussion
Sam McKenna—oboe
Duncan Hardy—steel drums
Chuck McGregor—bass
And of course, our very own “Flying Fingers” Fleming on piano! Mimi will be going over pieces with the band as you arrive, so please take a seat quietly and we will start rehearsal at 6:30 pm as usual.

Note:
There is no sectional this Monday
Small Ensemble will meet in the Chapel for a brief run through from 5:45-6:15 pm.

Fair Weather Saturday and Sunday: Everyone send out your wish for clear weather on Saturday and Sunday for the concert weekend! If there are any significant weather developments as we approach the weekend, we will be in touch by email for a heads up and then post a definitive note on the website and on the MCC phone voicemail (975-0582).

See you all on Monday!

From Mimi:
Taking Care During Concert Week: Please read this section so you’re ready and in fine form for both the dress rehearsal and our concert!

PREPARING THE MIND

Make sure you have all of your music in order. Make sure all of the markings that you need are clearly written in your score. Spend time with your music this week. Each and every piece of music. As you are going through each piece, sing it – the whole song – either out loud, or in your mind’s ear. Remember how it feels and sounds to have everyone else singing around you. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE arrive at the dress rehearsal with each song we are singing on the tip of your mind.

PREPARING THE BODY

I am not going to lie to you. Dress rehearsals are arduous. You are standing on the risers for along time (longer than for the concert). We are working through any and all musical and technical glitches. There is a lot of information for you to absorb – where to stand – how things sound and feel different on the stage than in our rehearsal space – how to get on and off the risers, etc. In order to make sure that you are taking good care of yourself , please make sure ofthe following:

Be well rested.

Eat a healthy (and not too heavy) meal within an hour of our rehearsal. Please plan ahead by packing something to eat.

If you are someone who needs to have snacks in order to keep your energy up, please bring a healthy (neat) snack…. Good examples would be: A granola bar, protein bar, some crackers, some easy to eat fruit – grapes, etc. (Note: you may not consume anything but water in the Strom Auditorium. To snack, you will need to step into the hallway or go to the café.)

Bring a bottle of water with you to rehearsal (and onto the stage once we are there—dress rehearsal only).

Also… we are in close quarters on the risers. Please make sure that you are not wearing any perfume or cologne, or strongly scented hair products that day (and on concert day). Many people have significant sensitivities and allergies to fragrances. Please be considerate of those around you. And…. good hygiene is important. While this may seem silly, it really can be an issue when we are standing so close together.

PREPARING THE SPIRIT

Take time to remember why you are doing this. Reflect on all of the time and energy we have shared preparing for this concert. Think of how we have created one voice out of many, and how we have all felt the magic that comes from this special combining of energies. Know tha tby being prepared and present to the process you are adding your own special magic in the best way you possibly can.

OVERALL

The absolute best way to ensure a positive flow of energy for yourselves as you enter into concert weekend is to have a positive experience at the dress rehearsal on Saturday. Arrive at the Strom on both rehearsal and performance days with enough time for you to be relaxed and present. Make sure you have your materials organized, your body well cared for, an open heart, a sharp mind, and your beautiful voice. Take care of the small details so that your energy can be used to being present to the process of creating magic and making magnificent music!

Wishing you all a beautiful, restful few days. See you on Saturday!

Mimi

Happy Holidays to everyone and warmest wishes for the New Year! We will resume rehearsals on Monday, January 2^nd as usual and hold our final sectional of the semester: sopranos are up for this one at 5:55 pm in Fellowship Hall. You should have received Mimi’s note last Tuesday urging us all to remember to check in with our music and not let its hold on us lessen—we want to start rehearsal on January 2^nd where we left off two weeks ago. This rehearsal will be our last one together without also working with band members or all the details of the performance venue. Please find some time to go over your music and keep it in you and work on any rough spots as needed before next Monday. Thank you all for making this commitment.

Seating for next rehearsal: Next Monday, Mimi would like everyone to sit in a different seat and next to someone you do not normally sit next to. We will still maintain our seating by section (and sub-section) but please seat yourself next to different singers. This is a practice that readies us for concert where you are likely to be standing next to someone different and will certainly have a different view of Mimi from that spot and hear things differently. It is a good practice to do this prior to the concert, so please choose your seat accordingly when you arrive for next Monday evening’s rehearsal.

Concert tickets: Payment for all consignment tickets or unsold tickets MUST be returned on Monday January 2^nd. We had a nice surge in tickets sales at our last rehearsal and things are picking up at our ticket outlets but we still need to use every opportunity possible to get the word out and help folks get their tickets. Our phone line (975-0582)  is open for credit card sales and orders for Will Call and, of course, we will continue to have tickets for sale each Monday until we run out.

Getting the word out:  We have provided an email poster for forwarding to your email list and handbills that you can distribute to friends, post on bulletin boards, and place in waiting rooms and counters throughout the region. Please help our promotional efforts by using these tools to get the word out. Most of our ticket sales come through our choristers so we need everyone to do their part. The poster team has placed our beautiful concert posters in key locations around the region and we will have a larger press release coming out over the next ten days. If there are ways you think we could do more to get the word out—let us know and help us to do it!

MCC DVD: Check out the new MCC DVD, a twelve-minute promotional piece, now posted on both our Facebook page and on YouTube. This video is the result of hours and hours of videotaping by Bill Kunitz and editing by Resa Randolph—hats off to both of these talented MCC volunteers! Help to spread the word by forwarding the YouTube link or sending folks to our Facebook page (and ask them to “like” us). We will also send the link out separately for easier forwarding or simply go to YouTube and search: Midcoast Community Chorus. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd9LWvxQZPc&feature=colike>

Annual appeal: Many thanks for the generous donations we have received for our annual appeal. As most of you know, our semester fees do not cover the full cost of preparing each singer for concert and we donate our June concert proceeds to our concert beneficiary, so donations through our annual appeal and other fundraising efforts as well as proceeds from our January concerts keep us going. We will continue to have the Annual Appeal box in the lobby for the next two rehearsals.

Concert day volunteers: We still need a few more non-singing volunteers for concert day. There is a sign-up sheet in the lobby or you can email us at info@mccsings.org. Volunteer activities include: ushering, staffing CD sales and membership tables, and staffing concession tables at intermission.

Concession refreshments: Sandy Yakovenko is gathering her crew that will provide all the goodies for our concession area at intermission. We earn significant income from this effort and appreciate all who have stepped forward to bake cookies and brownies for this concert. If you haven’t signed up yet, please see Sandy (alto) or email her at gypsystargazer126@yahoo.com. Those that signed up will receive specific instructions by email and can bring their baked goods on concert day when they arrive at the Strom. Thanks to all the bakers out there helping with this!

Readying for concert: Please be sure to have your binder ready with your music (or placeholder sheets for off-book pieces) in concert order for rehearsals—please don’t wait until the last minute to do this. If you don’t have your binder yet, please check one out on Monday prior to rehearsal. A reminder: you may opt to purchase your music for $20, otherwise all music will be returned immediately after the concert. A sheet about how to properly care for your music and tips for setting up your binder is included in all binders or can be picked up in the lobby at the binder table this Monday. Please see Lyn Donovan or Shelley if you would like to purchase your music.

A Note from Mimi about Somebody Prayed For Me: “As most of you know, at Monday’s rehearsal I started singing the solo line when we rehearsed this piece. I had not planned on doing so, but while you were singing I felt that the energy in the song was significantly lacking, and started singing the solo as a way to boost the energy and enthusiasm. It worked! The sound and energy from the group was quite lifted, and we were able to do the song justice. Since then I have received feedback from a number of people requesting that I sing the solo for the concert.  Were it not for the fact that it seemed to make such a difference, my tendency would be to leave things the way they were for a few reasons.  Most importantly, I am very careful and intentional about how much I sing at our concerts. While I love to sing (it is my career after all!), there is no mistake in my mind that our concerts are about the chorus, not me and the chorus. I NEVER want to take advantage of my position as Artistic Director by putting myself in our concerts as a soloist, and have tried to keep my solos limited to that of songleader for Sing a Longs. That said, as I have always told you – those who sing solos are the ones who can best capture the energy and spirit of the songs we are singing. I wanted to find that voice for Somebody Prayed For Me  among the chorus members, but was not able to, and thought we could sing it without a soloist, but it seems as if the song really needs one. So… it looks like I will take the hint and sing the solo for Somebody Prayed For Me. With the addition of having me singing this song, I am seriously considering not singing the opening verse for All Night All Day. Best for me to err on the side of too little than too much…  And just between you and me (all 125 of you!), putting myself out there singing this song is a big stretch for me (believe it or not!)…. Rehearsals with you are one thing…. you’re family…. performing a gospel song as soloist is a whole other ball game….”

Schedules for concert day and dress rehearsal:  In our next announcements on January 8^th, we will include guidelines for taking care of yourself during concert week and any updates to the dress rehearsal and concert schedules. You all have your semester schedules for these days and times, so please refer to those to make sure you have blocked out adequate time on these two important days.

Dress rehearsal is mandatory! You do not need to be in concert clothes for dress rehearsal.

Reminders:
Soprano sectional at 5:55 pm on January 2^nd in Fellowship Hall (regular rehearsal follows)
Rehearsal from 6:30-8:30 pm at John Street with the band January 9^th  (no sectional that evening)
Small Ensemble rehearsal Saturday January 7^th from 4:00-5:30 pm at St. Peter’s
Small Ensemble brief rehearsal on January 9^th in chapel at John St. from 5:45-6:15 pm
Dress rehearsal: January 14^th at Strom Auditorium from noon-5:00 pm (Small Ensemble arrives at 11:30 pm)
Concert: January 15^th at Strom Auditorium, arrive at 1:00 pm (Small Ensemble arrives at 12:30 pm)

We are now in the thick of concert preparation and production schedules! There’s great activity surrounding this time as we near our concert date and begin to publicize the concert to the general public. Below are a few reminders:

Concert Tickets: The final day to submit early ticket orders will be Monday December 5. Early orders may be picked up on December 5^th and December 12^th. We will also make tickets available for consignment beginning December 12^th  through December 19^th (assuming we have enough to consign!). All unsold consigned tickets and monies collected must be returned to our ticket coordinator, Gaby Wicklow, by January 2^nd. Tickets go on sale to the public beginning December 12^th and you will have the opportunity to purchase tickets prior to rehearsal and immediately following rehearsal throughout the remainder of December or as long as tickets last. Please arrive early to rehearsal to conduct any ticket business and continue to spread the word! Ticket tables close at 6:20 pm each evening.

Concert Program Ads: We will continue to accept ads through Monday December 5^th. Our original ad deadline of November 28^th has been extended one week, but one week only! Final program ads need to be submitted to Cindy Anderson prior to rehearsal no later than next Monday, December 5^th. So, if there is someone sitting on the fence or you haven’t had time to place that follow-up call, you’ve got this next week to finish up! Thank you for all your hard work on this.

Concert Poster Team: Please touch base with Resa Randolph if you are planning to help with the poster effort. Resa has organized the poster distribution by region, and will be distributing posters to her team at rehearsal on Monday December 12^th. Please be prepared to meet after rehearsal on the 12^th for a few moments for a briefing by Resa.

Concert Production Team: Please be sure to recognize the following key volunteers who commit countless hours ensuring a successful concert production and direct any questions you might have to the appropriate person.

Concert Producers                                          Teresa Taylor and Laura Jackson
Concert Publicity Coordinator                        Shelley Johnson
Promotional Materials and Program Design   Ken Gross
Program Coordinator                                      Laura Jackson
Program Ad Sales Manager                            Cindy Anderson
Ticket Coordinator                                          Gaby Wicklow
Poster Distribution Manager                           Resa Randolph

MCC Annual Appeal: By the first week of December, you will receive a letter from MCC’s Board of Trustees signed by Teresa Taylor (Board Chair), Mimi Bornstein (Founder and Artistic Director), and Shelley Johnson (Executive Director). This letter will ask for your support as part of our Annual Appeal. The money that we raise in our concerts and through membership dues and registration fees is not sufficient to meet our yearly operating costs so we must go to our members and the community at large and ask for support to continue our mission: singing as a community for the community. Please help us in any way that you are able. Thank you. We will have a box in the lobby for annual appeal donations starting next week.

Concert Promotion Schedule: As you probably gathered, the next two weeks are chock full of both deadlines and release dates for our concert production team. On December 12^th, concurrent with tickets going on sale to the public, we will provide our choristers with handbills to place around the community and into the hands of the general public. By that date, our concert posters will be put up in prominent places throughout the midcoast region and our first press release will be placed. And, by the morning of December 12^th, everyone on our mailing list will be sent a digital poster to kick-off ticket sales. We are providing all of these useful tools to help you get the word out about our January 15^th concert. Our choristers are still our best means of promoting the concert and we will be counting on you to not just talk up the concert and remember the date (!) but also to be able to explain how to get tickets and where. Keep a handbill in your pocket and in your car for these important details so we don’t lose a chance to not only fill a seat in the Strom Auditorium but also to introduce someone to the joy that we bring to this community through our singing.                       

Volunteer Job Board: We have updated our Volunteer Job Board and will have new postings up this Monday in the lobby. These job postings are for key positions within the organization and have clear job descriptions and the support you will need to get the job done. If you find a position that is a good match, please see Shelley or Teresa.

In addition to the key positions on the job board, we will need help in the following areas for this concert:

Ushers: We need ten folks to serve as ushers at our concert. This is a perfect job for family and friends that would like to help out. All ushers must be ticket holders, and if they hold general admission seats, they may choose and save their seat before the doors open with the use of an MCC Volunteer Placard. We are also seeking a Head Usher to oversee all ushers on concert day. All the tools to do this job will be provided.

Concession Coordinator: We are looking for someone to coordinate gathering the cookies and other goodies for our concession tables at intermission (these are baked by our choristers and friends). This job could be easily split between two people and we will also be looking for help on concert day from several non-singing volunteers to staff the concession tables. If you can help in any way with our concession efforts, please let us know. Our concessions raised $600 last January!

Potluck Dinner on December 5^th:  We had a wonderful turnout and some awesome food at our November potluck. The December potluck is our last of this semester, so please make it if you can and enjoy sharing in some great food and great company prior to our rehearsal. Potluck runs from 5:00 pm until 6:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring your own utensils and plate, and a dish to share.

MC³! (Midcoast Community Children’s Chorus) Recital: On Friday, December 9^th at 7 pm at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, our new children’s chorus will hold its first performance. We have thirty young singers, ages 7-12, who will be singing for their family, friends and MCC members. The recital is free. We would like to celebrate our young singers’ efforts and thank their parents by providing refreshments following the recital. This is a gift from the “big” chorus to our new children’s chorus. If you are planning to come to the recital, please bring a plate of cookies as a thank you to the kids and their families and to celebrate this special evening!

Reminders:
Soprano Sectional November 28th at 5:55 pm in Fellowship Hall
Bass Sectional December 5^th at 5:55 pm in Sanctuary