December 2005
303-554-7692 www.boulderchorale.org
Newsletter of the
Greetings
from the President, JoAn
Segal
What is the Boulder Chorale?
Our
publicity says: "We serve our membership through intensive vocal training and
performance in three ensembles: the 150-voice Boulder Chorale, Boulder's oldest
and largest community chorus; the Boulder Women's Chorale, devoted to repertoire
for treble voices and open to all interested singers; and the Boulder Chamber
Chorale, an auditioned ensemble of 41 voices, founded in
2003."
We
have not always been the big, complex organization we are today. I am concerned that our complexity may
interfere with the sense of community many of us felt when we planned one
concert at a time and were less formal about attendance and dress (!) Recently I have been giving some
thought to the issue of the various sub-groups of which the Chorale is
constituted. Over the months of
November and December, we have performed and will perform in the following
groups:
Leonard Bernstein concert, Nov.
12 and 13 (full Chorale)
Handel's Messiah and Bach's Magnificat with the Boulder
Philharmonic Orchestra, Dec. 10 (Boulder Chamber Chorale)
Britten's Ceremony of Carols, Dec. 16 (Boulder
Women's Chorale)
Nutcracker
mini-chorus, Nov. 25 – 27 (pick-up group of women's voices from the Boulder
Chorale)
St. Julien caroling, Dec. 2, 3, and 17 (three pick-up groups of
mixed voices from the Boulder Chorale)
All
of these are being "billed" as The Boulder Chorale.
All
right, one point taken. I think
members accept very easily most of the subdivisions mentioned above. The sticking point for many is the
Chamber Chorale. We have a standard
answer to those who question the decision to sing the Baroque concert on
December 10th, namely that this music requires a smaller orchestra (there will
be 31 instruments) and a smaller singing group (the Chamber Chorale has 41
voices.)
(continued on
page two)
From
Chorale Tour Task Force
We are interested in hearing from Chorale members who
have musical contacts in other countries.
If you feel you would be able to help set up concerts in a foreign
country, please contact Julie and Jeff Hall at 303-494-1836 or by emailing
juliehale1@msn.com
From
Concert Manager, Miriam Lindahl
The Concert Manager
acknowledges all of you—some 120 of the Boulder Chorale and 20 of the Hebrew
Chorale for the very successful Bernstein collaboration. It was a challenge and pleasure to place
such talented, diverse, and culturally impassioned people on the Chorale’s
risers and using our new back rails….an early present for all of
us.
In particular, the following
folks excelled:
GREG AND I WISH
THE CHORALE MEMBERS & STAFF THE VERY BEST OF THE 2005 HOLIDAY
SEASON.
page
one
Keeping the “Fun” in
Fundraising!
Joanie Oram
"Shall We Dance" I asked as I was "Getting to Know
You." Yes, these are just two of the beautiful songs which will transport
us to the rich splendors of the Far East. A romantic score and exquisite
dancing form an enchanting blend of drama and music. So "Whistle A Happy Tune" as you join us on Sunday, March 19th, 2006 at
6:15 at the Boulder Dinner Theatre for "The
King and I."
Let’s make our 40th anniversary year the best yet- not
only in making beautiful music for our audiences, but having an evening together
where we can relax and leave the singing to others. This is the 14th year
that we have been going to B.D.T. Over these years, we have given
thousands of dollars to the Chorale just for having fun!
Let’s give them
more $$$ as we eat, have endless cups of coffee, tea and soda, pay gratuities
and see a wonderful show for only $42 for center seats and $37.75
for seats a
little to the side.
Here’s to the 40th and to keeping the "FUN" in
fundraising.
Music
Classes at Atonement
Michael
Mastronicola
Speak the language of music with confidence. Enroll in
Music Classes at Atonement Lutheran Church, Boulder, from January 8 through
March 6, 2006. Courses for
beginners—intermediate meet weekly and include 'hands-on,' practical approaches
to gain fluency in sight-reading, rhythm reading, ear training, sight singing,
and music theory. These eight week intensives will help you learn music faster,
prepare for auditions, and improve your choral and solo singing. For more information or to enroll,
contact Michael Mastronicola at 720-232-4358 or
mastronicola@yahoo.com.
Help the Boulder Chorale win a $1000 donation! Simply go to www.precisionplumbing.com and nominate the Boulder Chorale to receive $1000 in Precision Plumbing’s monthly giveaway for non-profit community organizations. The more nominations, the greater the chance of winning!JoAn
Segal (continued from page one)
But I don’t think this adequately addresses the
question: “Are we fostering a kind
of ‘elitism’ by having a smaller, auditioned ensemble within the Boulder
Chorale, ‘a community chorus open to all?’” The answer will lie in the perception of
the members of the Chamber Chorale and of the rest of the
Chorale.
I can’t speak for every member of the Chamber Chorale,
but this year, for the first time, I am singing in it. This was my path to that group: in 2003, I auditioned and didn’t make
the cut. In 2004, I chose to sing
with the fledgling Women’s Chorale.
Having just moved to a new voice part, I took some voice lessons to help
me be a soprano and I attended the music classes Michael and Tim gave last
summer, hoping to improve my sight-reading and general musical skills. I auditioned again in August. This time I was accepted into the
Chamber Chorale. Quite a few of us
followed a similar route into the Chamber Chorale. I’m not sure if that makes us ‘elitist’.
Admittedly, I did think of the Chamber Chorale as something to aspire to, to
work toward. I hope improving our
skills benefits our singing in the music of the larger Chorale,
too.
Yet I see the Chamber Chorale and the Women’s Chorale
as extensions of the Boulder Chorale.
And, incidentally, I am singing in all but one (the Women’s Chorale) of
the groups mentioned above (though Heaven knows I should say “no” now and
then). Still, I see it as a sign of
my commitment to the Chorale.
OK, for me, the Boulder Chorale is still a community
chorus open to all. I see the
various subgroups as offering us the flexibility to perform works for smaller
ensembles (like the Bach/Handel with the Phil) and works for women’s voice (like
the Ceremony of Carols). And because of our sense of community,
for which I am extremely grateful, we are also able to put together impromptu
groups on demand, like the Nutcracker
singers and the three St. Julien’s caroling
groups. Yes, we have become bigger
and more complex. We have also
become a force to be reckoned with in the community, recognized in outstanding
reviews (when we get them!) and in the informal accolades of our concert
attendees.
When I go to my friends and others asking for support
– “buy tickets, please” or “give a donation, please” – I ask on behalf of the
Boulder Chorale. That’s the group
of which I am President; that’s the group that has my commitment and my
heart.
page
two
December Fundraising
Corner
WORD-OF-MOUTH Marketing from Stephanie Wanek
I recently read an interesting
article about the relative cost and benefits of various marketing methods versus
plain old word-of-mouth.
Interestingly, the article concluded that the single most powerful way to
increase the interest in your product and build new customers is
WORD-OF-MOUTH! The key is to get
your existing customers to tell everyone they know about how wonderful your
product is. As Chorale members, you
have heard JoAn’s message that the Chorale is
undertaking several major concerts this season, each with major price tags. The
importance of selling many, many tickets to these concerts cannot be
overstated. The consequences of a
poorly attended concert can cost us thousands of dollars! The Chorale uses and distributes
brochures, concert flyers, newspaper advertising and press releases about all
our upcoming events. These are all
tried and true marketing devices and they help gather customers to come see our
product. But we have another underutilized tool. We have mouths, lots of them, and loud
ones at that!! Please help us spread the word about all of our upcoming
concerts. We really need to harness the power of your
mouth this season and not just on stage!!
Here are easy things you can do:
·
Please hand out or
send out the flyers and postcards we make before every concert.
·
Send out via email
the new pre-composed emails with upcoming concert
information.
·
Talk up the Boulder
Chorale! Help your chorale build
word-of-mouth power!
The email idea
came from a member. If you have any other ideas, let us know! We’re
listening….
Reminder!
Festive songs & carols sung by The Boulder Chorale at the St. Julien Hotel in Boulder.
We’re performing on Fri, Dec.
2nd from 5:30 to 6:30, Sat, Dec. 3rd from 7:30 to 8:30 and Sat, Dec. 17th from
6:00 to 7:00. Call time will be 30 minutes before each performance. IT’S THE
HOLIDAYS, PLEASE LEAVE ENOUGH TIME TO FIND PARKING!!
The St. Julien is located at 9th & Walnut in
Boulder. There is some underground parking at the hotel and there are other City
parking structures at 11th and Walnut and 11th and Spruce.
The 2nd
Annual Holiday Book Fair at Barnes & Noble starts on Dec. 11th until the
18th!
Tell your friends &
neighbors! Simply go to B&N anytime that week, select your books or CDs and,
before your make your purchase, ask the cashier for a benefit voucher for the
Chorale. Your purchase will count
toward our benefit only if you present the voucher at the register. VOUCHERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT
REHEARSALS, AT BARNES & NOBLE AND WILL BE CIRCULATED BY EMAIL. Please spread the word and help us make this
a super fundraiser.
|
Please join us for the Chorale’s first major fundraising
event of the year!
A Perfect Fit
(Or Not!) A Cabaret Evening with Laughter &
Songs of Love, Lust and Frivolity performed by our very own Kimberly Needham
January 14th, 2006 at the Dairy Center for the Arts! Come for a wine & cheese social hour
at 5:30 p.m. in the lobby before the show!
The performance starts at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $20 per person. Tickets can be ordered online at
www.thedairy.org or in person at the Dairy Center box office. Any tickets still
unsold will be sold at the door (as available).
W2950
We will need
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR HELP IN MAKING THESE FUNDRAISERS A SUCCESS!
YOUR INVOLVEMENT IS ESSENTIAL. page three
Calendar
of Events
Tuesday,
November 29—Normal Rehearsal
Schedule
Final 2005-2006 Payment Date
Thursday,
December 1—Board of Directors
Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Please let JoAn know if you
plan to attend.
Friday,
December 2 and Saturday, December 3—
Caroling at the St. Julien
Hotel
*please see
Fundraising Corner (page 3)
Tuesday,
December 6—Chamber/Women’s Chorale
Rehearsal
7:00-9:30 p.m.
*No Boulder Chorale
rehearsal
Thursday,
December 8 and Friday December 9—
Chamber Chorale Dress Rehearsal / 7:00-10:00
p.m.
Macky
Auditorium (University and 17th Ave., Boulder)
Saturday,
December 10—Chamber Chorale Concert
with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
Call: 6:30 p.m. / Concert:
7:30 p.m. Macky Auditorium
Sunday,
December 11 through Saturday December 18—
Holiday Book fair at Barnes &
Noble benefiting the Boulder Chorale. *please see Fundraising Corner (page
3)
Thursday,
December 15—Women’s Chorale Dress
Rehearsal
7:00-10:00 p.m. / Atonement Lutheran
Church
Friday,
December 16—Ceremony of Carols
Concert
Call: 6:30 p.m. / Concert: 7:30
p.m.
Atonement Lutheran Church
Saturday,
December 17—Caroling at the St. Julien Hotel
*please see
Fundraising Corner (page 3)
Tuesday,
December 20 and Tuesday, December 27—
Winter Holiday Break
*No
Rehearsals
Friday,
December 23—Deadline for Newsletter
contents
Please submit articles to Erin Christensen-Mandel in the
Boulder Chorale office or by emailing:
boulderchorale@yahoo.com
Tuesday,
January 3—Rehearsals
Resume
Normal Schedule:
Women’s Chorale 6:00-6:50 p.m.
Chamber Chorale 6:30-8:15
p.m.
Large group 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Atonement Lutheran Church
Thursday,
January 12—Board of Directors
Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Please let JoAn know if you
plan to attend.
All Boulder Chorale members are welcome to attend Board of Directors meetings, or talk with any board member about an issue that we should discuss at the meetings.Missing
Something?
by
Erin Christensen-Mandel
After rehearsal each week, something is usually left
behind: a water bottle, dress shoes, platters from the last Afterglow. If you are missing something, or only
think you are missing something, please visit the Chorale Office to retrieve any
lost items. Thank you for
checking!
Calling New
Members
Do
you know someone who loves to sing? The Chorale and the Women’s Chorale are
holding open registration through Tuesday, January 10, 2006. Registration forms are available outside
of the Chorale office and are available on our website: www.boulderchorale.org. For more information, you can call
303-554-7692 or email boulderchorale@yahoo.com.
Boulder Chorale’s
Mission
The
mission of the Boulder Chorale is to provide a beneficial musical experience to
singers and listeners alike. The
Chorale offers interested singers in Boulder County the opportunity to reach
their potential through vocal training and performance. The Chorale seeks to serve the larger
community by presenting quality choral performances and educational experiences
of classical repertoire in order to educate and stimulate community
members. It is the Boulder
Chorale’s intent to enhance Boulder’s quality of life through a shared musical
experience.
Boulder Chorale
303-554-7692
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