Greetings

JoAn Segal, President

Holidays! They're wonderful, they're fun, and they're delicious! They're tiring, they're expensive, and they're full of unwanted memories! They're also filled with music - not only the stuff they play on the radio endlessly in December: silly songs with questionable significance - but the glorious pieces we learn each year in our Chorale rehearsals, to share with our audiences.

Yes, there are some we've become familiar with over the years, but Tim always finds some new ones for us, even more beautiful. Somehow, despite my lack of belief, I love the Christmas stories and the gorgeous music they have inspired. This is the best of the holidays for me.

This is music we really must share! We need far more bodies in those seats at First United Methodist than we succeeded in attracting for the Duruflé concert. Let's make a commitment that we will all try harder to fill the house. I'd like to see each of us bring in 5 audience members. They're sure to have a great time!

Besides, it's so much more fun to sing to a full house.

Well, I'm off to learn the many verses of See Amid the Winter Snow and Make We Joy! I wish you the happiest of Christmases, Hanukkahs, Kwanzaas, New Years Days, birthdays, and whatever you celebrate as this year ends and a new one begins.

Chorale Tour to Greece

Erin Christensen-Mandel, Coordinator

There are still a few seats available on the Greece Tour! Please see me as soon as possible if you are interested. The next payment for the tour will be due on Tuesday, January 23! You can always pay early. Credit card forms are available each week at the blue Greece Tour table. You can also pay with cash or with a check made out to the Boulder Chorale. We have a lot of Greece-themed events coming up in the spring. In the meantime, enjoy an olive and think warm Grecian thoughts! If you have any questions, please contact me:

Erin Christensen-Mandel, Tour Coordinator

303-554-7692

boulderchorale@yahoo.com

Fundraising Corner

JoAn Segal, President

You all know that the Chorale's ambitious budget cannot possibly be balanced with dues and ticket sales alone. Grants, donations, and special events are needed to keep the revenue side of the equation equal to the expense side! All non-profits have the same problem and artistic organizations are a special case. Here are some of our activities for the 2006-2007 year.

Cocktail Benefit. On December 15, the night before our Make We Joy concert, we will hold a benefit for the Chorale, with special guests Amy and Randy McIntosh and their marimbas. Billed as: "Marimbas, Martinis, and Margaritas", the evening will feature several marimba numbers as well as Christmas treats, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The event is aimed at the general public. Tickets are forty dollars. The time, 5:00-7:00 p.m., is designed to allow guests to attend other, later, parties on a very busy holiday weekend.

Cabaret. Back by popular demand - literally - our own Kim Needham teams up with pal Georgia Rogers Farmer in an evening entitled: Perfect Pair. And a perfect pair they are - southern belles with lovely voices, singing about love, lust, and friendship. Save the date, January 13 (7:30 pm) at the Dairy Center. Tickets ($25) will soon go on sale through the Dairy Center box office (www.thedairy.org). The pre-show wine and cheese reception will start at 6:00 pm in the lobby at the Dairy Center (2590 Walnut Street). If this is even close to last year's level of hilarity, we'll all be doubled up with laughter and admiration for the multiple talents of our Assistant Conductor!

Annual Fund. The Chorale's annual fund drive is now officially underway. We have mailed about 600 packets to our donor list, have prepared to insert return cards and envelopes into the Make We Joy program, have a poster we can use to establish a fund-raising presence at various events, and have begun to receive donations. Packets are available at each rehearsal, on the table with the announcements at the back of the Sanctuary. If you know of people who might be willing to make a donation, please take packets for them.

Looking for Volunteers and a Committee Chair. All this activity is going on without a really strong fund-raising committee and chair. We are sorely in need of help on this front and would welcome any offers from helping on a one-time basis at the Cabaret, through working on a silent auction, up to and including taking charge of our fund-raising effort. If you are able to help, please get in touch with JoAn Segal, 303-541-1065 or jsegalvv@earthlink.net.

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Calendar of Events

Tuesday Evening Rehearsals--

Women's Chorale 6:00-6:50 p.m.

Chamber Chorale 6:30-8:15 p.m.

Full Chorale 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Atonement Lutheran Church

Tuesday, December 5--Final Payment Deadline

Deadline for all sheet music payments.

Please see Paul Haynes (Music Librarian), Sam Richman (Assistant Librarian), or Jeff Hale (Treasurer) to make your payment.

Sunday, December 10--Chamber Chorale:

Advent Vespers Performance

4:00 p.m. Call Time

Atonement Lutheran Church

Tuesday, December 12--Regular Rehearsals

ATONEMENT LUTHERAN CHURCH

**(Please note the rehearsal venue)**

Thursday, December 14--Dress Rehearsal

(you do not need to wear concert attire to this rehearsal)

6:00 p.m. Women's Chorale and Chamber Chorale

7:00 p.m. Boulder Chorale

First United Methodist Church

1421 Spruce Street, Boulder

Friday, December 15--Boulder Chorale Benefit

"Marimbas, Martinis, and Margaritas"

5:00-7:00 p.m.

Hors d'oeuvres and sweets, martinis, margaritas, wine, beer, and soft drinks will be served.

Tickets are $40.

Please RSVP by December 11th to the Boulder Chorale Office: 303-554-7692

Saturday, December 16--Make We Joy Concert

6:30 p.m. Call Time

First United Methodist Church,

1421 Spruce Street, Boulder

Monday, December 18--Board of Directors Meeting

7:00 p.m. Please let JoAn know if you plan to attend.

JoAn's home.

Monday, December 18 - Tuesday, January 16--

Open Registration for male Tenors and Basses

Registration forms will be available at our office and on our website: www.boulderchorale.org

Tuesday, December 19 - Tuesday, January 2--Holiday Break

Monday, December 22--Newsletter Deadline

Please submit articles to boulderchorale@yahoo.com

Tuesday, January 9-- Tenor and Bass Walk-In Registration

5:30-7:00 p.m.

Atonement Lutheran Church

Tuesday, January 9--Rehearsals resume.

6:00 p.m. Women's Chorale

6:30 p.m. Chamber Chorale

7:00 p.m. Full Chorale

Atonement Lutheran Church

Saturday, January 13--Perfect Pair Cabaret Evening

by Kim Needham and Georgia Rogers Farmer

6:00 p.m. Wine and Cheese Reception

7:30 p.m. Performance

Tickets are $25 each and are available through the Dairy Center: 303-440-7826 (ext. 105)

2590 Walnut Street, Boulder / www.thedairy.org

Tuesday, January 16--Tenor and Bass Walk-In Registration

5:30-7:00 p.m.

Atonement Lutheran Church

Tuesday, January 23--Greece Tour Payment Due

The first of four payments is due. You can leave payment in the office or in the blue Greece box on the table. Please make checks payable to the Boulder Chorale. To pay with a credit card, please fill out a credit card form (available on the Greece table).

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