President's Corner, Giving Thanks

by Jack Biddle, President

Dear fellow members:

I hope you have as many reasons to be grateful as do I. High on my list is music. Five years ago I began taking voice lessons (for no particular reason). Four years ago I joined the Boulder Chorale. Piano lessons followed, for Beth and I both, and now our lives are filled with music. What a joy! For that I am grateful.

It's my good fortune that the newspaper mentioned that the Boulder Chorale was accepting male voices. I registered, paid the dues and was handed a piece of sheet music written in an unintelligible alphabet and a language which turned out to be Russian.

I survived only with the support of the many strong voices of musically educated basses around me. For them I am grateful.

After one rehearsal in the tenor section, the artistic director placed me in the bass section. IJBDALCDEK He was very encouraging and welcomed me warmly into the Chorale. For Tim I am grateful.

Over time it became apparent that the Chorale owed its existence and reputation not only to its superb singers and director. It owes it also to the hard work, devotion and self sacrifice of many volunteers. To those dedicated individuals, I am especially grateful.

I hope you all have had a wonderful Thanksgiving with caring people close to you. To you I am grateful.

Angel Tickets

by Sara Neustadtl, Chorale Member

Angel tickets are available for our Make We Joy performance on Saturday, Dec. 15. Thirty seats are currently available. No Angel tickets are available for the Sunday performance, for they all have already been claimed. Angel tickets are a wonderful way for the Chorale to reach out to the larger community. If you would like to act as a holiday angel to any individuals or groups who haven't the resources to buy our tickets, but would enjoy our concert, please contact Sara Neustadtl at neusaraj@gmail.com.

Board Meeting Highlights

by JoAn Segal, Secretary/Past-President

The Highlights of Board Meeting Nov. 12, 2007:

Financial Report: Jeff Hale presented the financial report to date. Income and expenses are balanced, with an excess of receipts over expenditures in the amount of $878. Liquid assets are $15,595.

Ticket Manager's Report: Karen Haimes presented several statistical reports. Sales for the Reincarnations concert were $3,420.45, including season ticket sales. Direct expenses of that concert were $2,254.98. Total attendees were 249.

Music Librarian's Report: Sam Richman reported that all music for the fall repertoire, including the Mahler, has been distributed. Music bills will be handed out at the Nov. 27 rehearsal and the balance will be due on or before December 18.

Concert Managers' Reports: Greg reported on the success of using the FUMC's risers. Contracts have been signed for both Reincarnations and Make We Joy concerts. CD's of the Reincarnations concert will be available, with recording by Fergus, mastering by Jeff L., sales by Miriam. Plans are complete for purchase and storage of stools for singers who are unable to stand.

Registration: Wren Fritzlan reported that registration is complete. Erin will update the roster. Men will be allowed to register in January. Kim will be asked about whether women may join the Women's Chorale in January.

Publicity/Marketing Report: Risa Booze reported on successful publicity and postering efforts. The Make We Joy publicity will soon begin to appear. She is working on an audience survey for the holiday concert.

Administrator's Report: Erin Christensen-Mandel reported the Annual Fund mailing has gone out.

Past President/President-Elect's Report: Jeff Livesay

Outreach: Jeff identified several opportunities for outreach: December 1 - caroling in Louisville/Lafayette and December 8 at Frazier Meadows. Both are Saturdays. A Barnes & Noble book fair will also be scheduled.

Fund Raising: Jeff and Jack are trying to assemble a fund raising committee in advance of finding a chair. They will get together the names of those who have served on fund raising event committees over the past few years.

Volunteer Recognition: Possible rewards were discussed

Next Meeting: The group voted to hold the next Board meeting on December 3 and the January meeting on January 14.

NOTE: because of the December 3rd extra rehearsal, there will not be a board meeting on that evening. Any important matters will be handled by e-mail.

page one

Inside the Composers' Corner

featuring Tim Snyder and Ron Roschke

Welcome to a new Noteworthy column and the opportunity meet informally two living composers! The Boulder Chorale features their works at the Make We Joy 2007 Concert. Tim reflects on tea and Bach and Ron on travel and Christmas gifts.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?

TS: A rainy or snowy Monday (Mondays are usually my day off) at home with a nice pot of tea and a good book or score.

RR: Being with people who are my friends.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?

TS: Eating out in good restaurants. We love to eat well. On a musician's salary it's a challenge....but, we all have our priorities, right?

RR: I love to travel, and if I had time and money I'd do more. I've been to Africa and Madagascar three times now, and Marci and I managed to get in a trip to Tuscany this past fall with our kids. It was great!

WHICH TALENT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE?

TS: I'd love to be a virtuoso organist. I absolutely marvel at what a fine organist can do. I imagine it's like having an entire symphony at your hands and feet.

RR: Unlimited optimism.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE COMPOSERS?

TS: Josquin, J.S. Bach, Benjamin Britten, Distler, Stravinksy, Brahms, Copland, Pärt.

RR: Ooo, that's rough. I really like Hindemith's complexity and I'm into Arvo Pärt right now. I love Copland's open, American sound. Bach is always near the top of the list.

ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT THREE MUSICAL PIECES WOULD YOU WANT STRANDED WITH YOU?

TS: Bach, Cantata 106 "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit"; Mozart, "Laudate Dominum" from the Confessor Vespers; Copland, Piano Sonata

RR: Bach's B-minor Mass (hope that counts for one), Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, and Bernstein's Kaddish Symphony.

WHO/WHAT HAS TAUGHT YOU THE MOST MUSICALLY?

TS: Without any doubt, the choristers with whom I've worked over the years have taught me the most. Leading choirs and working with singers is the best musical education there is. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

RR: My childhood piano teacher taught me how to love music and translate it into techniques for learning and playing it.

WHICH MUSICAL HISTORICAL FIGURE DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?

TS: Oh, that's tough. Maybe Charles Ives. He was a church musician early in his career. He did his own thing as a composer. He was attracted to the American vernacular tradition. He didn't get along with all of his teachers at Yale! He wasn't recognized as a significant composer until near the end of his life. Every composer thinks one day he will be `discovered'. I'm not holding my breath....

RR: Not sure on this one...

WHICH WORDS OR PHRASES DO YOU MOST OVERUSE?

TS: "Don't let the geography of the line dictate the dynamic!"

RR: That non-descript, "Uh".

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS?

TS: Honesty.

RR: Their uniqueness and differences from each other.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT STATE OF MIND?

TS: Well, it's Monday and I'm at home with a pot of tea. As soon as I finish this questionnaire, I'll be in perfect happiness.

RR: Right now I'm happy and excited and looking forward to the future.

WHAT WAS THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT THAT YOU GAVE AND/OR RECEIVED?

TS: The best gift came in the year, I think it was three years ago, my family decided not to exchange gifts. Instead, we decorated a tree on Christmas Day, had a huge meal of turkey with all the trimmings, drank egg nog and stayed in our pajamas. It was wonderful. I think I'll try it again this year.

RR: I love the feast of Christmas--making beautiful music with people, preaching, putting together liturgies. I consider those gifts, and they seem better than anything I'm able to wrap up and put under the tree.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

TS: "It's a funny thing about life. If you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it." (Somerset Maugham)

RR: It's not so much a motto as a philosophy which I keep trying to implement more and more in my life: Live by grace! (I've still got a long way to go!)

page two

Music Bills

by Sam Richman, Librarian

The money for Fall (and Mahler) music will be due on or before December 18th. This won't include the Spring music bills - those will be presented separately after the Spring music is distributed.

Get Creative With SCRIP!

by Dede Beardsley, Member at Large

Most of us live very busy lives. Raising funds for our favorite non-profits seems daunting. But it's crucial to remember that without funds, our non-profits would cease to exist. SCRIP offers us the opportunity to participate in the financial support of the Boulder Chorale without doing anything. SCRIP is money in a different form: gift cards, just like other stores. If you normally spend $200 each month on groceries, you'd buy $200 in SCRIP and use it as cash when you shop.

You can get creative with SCRIP! If you don't shop at King Soopers, give SCRIP to your kids! When they're starving, they'll shop anywhere! The new SCRIP gift cards can also be used for gas at participating King Soopers stations (kids need gas!) Give SCRIP to your mail carrier, your paper delivery technician! Instead of a check or cash, I'm giving SCRIP to all our wonderful service providers at our school: the cleaning crew, the carpet and window cleaners, etc.

And here's a fab idea from Risa - give SCRIP cards to other non-profits like Homeless Shelter or Food Share. That way, your SCRIP gift is a grand slam - you benefit emotionally knowing you're helping the Chorale; your taxes benefit because your SCRIP is a donation and your "other" non-profits benefit as the recipient. It's a no brainer!

We earn 5% on all the SCRIP that we sell. Normally we sell about $5000 each month earning $250 each time for the Chorale - it couldn't be easier. If each of us committed to just $50 each month, the Chorale would earn almost $350 each month. If we all committed to $100 each month, the Chorale would earn $675 each month; that's $5400 over 8 months. The key word here is "committed". You're already committed to the Boulder Chorale - that's why you're reading this! Now, take one more step and exchange some dollars for dollars - buy some SCRIP.

Marketing Information

by Risa Booze, Publicity/Marketing Chair

For all of you who were at the November 20^th rehearsal, you witnessed the extent of volunteer activity in the Chorale. In reality, the Boulder Chorale wouldn't function without that level of volunteerism. We truly are a volunteer organization! As Publicity/Marketing Chair, I must admit that I didn't know anything about publicity and marketing prior to taking on the position.

This year, the Boulder Chorale contracted with Darcie Sanders, a music publicist, to develop a plan to assist us in moving forward. For a Choral group with a 41 year history still many Boulder residents have never heard of us! It is my job to put as much of that plan into action as possible during my tenure.

One aspect of the plan that I am implementing is increasing EXPOSURE. There are a number of ways to do that: newspaper ads, radio ads, postering and word of mouth. The Board of Directors of the Boulder Chorale does its best to wisely spend your money. Paid ads are very expensive so we use them judiciously. Posters cost money to design and print so we try to use them judiciously. That is why we are attaching the poster to the weekly announcements: so you can print or email them as YOU see fit.

Our best publicity method at present is getting the word out with posters and personal invitations to concerts. If each of us emails posters to our families and friends, print out a few and put them up at work, church and business that WE frequent we will increase the Chorale exposure 150 fold!

Let's make each concert a sell out and share our exquisite singing with a sea of smiling faces!

If you have publicity or marketing experience and suggestions that you would like to share with me, please find me at rehearsal and join my committee!

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.

page three

Ticket Information for the MahlerFest

by Karen Haimes, Ticket Manager

Purchase Tickets:

Tickets for the MahlerFest XXI orchestra concerts on January 12 and 13, 2008 are being sold by the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder. Tickets may be purchased by telephone, online, in person at the box office window, or by mail. (Please note the service charges for online and telephone purchases.)

Box office hours (for walk-up or telephone purchases) are Tuesday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed Sunday-Monday). Orders received by December 22 will be mailed out; orders received after December 22 will be held at the will-call window at Macky Auditorium.

BY TELEPHONE

($2.00 service charge per ticket):
303-444-7328

ONLINE

($0.85 service charge per ticket):
http://www.thedairy.org/Ticketing/tickets.htm

IN PERSON

The Dairy Center Box Office is located on the west side of 26th Street, just south of Walnut Street (see hours above).

BY MAIL

(no service charge; be sure to specify which date and seating section you want):

MahlerFest Tickets
Dairy Center for the Arts
2590 Walnut St., #1
Boulder, CO 80302

Checks for mail orders should be made out to Dairy Center

Senior and Student Discounts:

A 20% discount on orchestra concert tickets is available to students and seniors. For all other information on MahlerFest in general and MahlerFest XXI, please feel free to contact MahlerFest at www.mahlerfest.org. Colorado MahlerFest is a 2005 recipient of the International Gustav Mahler Society Gold Medal.

Are There Elves in Boulder?

Esri Allbritten (aka Esri Rose)

As a matter of fact, there are not. But that didn't stop me from writing a romantic-suspense novel, set in Boulder, and featuring a subculture more strange, more secret, than any Rainbow Gathering trustafarians - elves.

Let's be clear. These are Tolkien-type elves, not Keebler, Santa, or Harry Potter house elves. The book has a low-key environmental message, and I'm looking for a publicity-friendly way to have book sales benefit a conservation charity. Bound to Love Her will be in bookstores everywhere May 1^st or so, but I'm available for pre-order on Amazon.com this instant. (You still don't get it until May.)

Let's check in with Erin (a human) and Galan (an elf), and see what they're up to.

Excerpt, Bound to Love Her, by Esri Rose.

I thought for a moment. "Colorado was pretty sparsely populated back then. Where do elf children set up house these days?"

"They don't. I don't know of any full-blooded elf children born in the last sixty years. There's barely enough undeveloped land for existing elves."

"Are you saying that your race is dying out?"

"In all likelihood."

I blinked rapidly to clear the tears welling in my eyes. "I don't see how you can stand to sit in this car with me. You must really hate us." Galan laughed softly, and I glanced at him in astonishment.

"Humans. So afraid of change." He leaned back, linking his hands behind the seat's headrest. "When a beaver builds a dam, whole valleys are flooded. A lot of life is lost. Oh, you'd call it insignificant life -- bugs and plants -- but life, just the same. They die, and other animals move in and increase."

"That's very philosophical of you." My voice was shaky as I pulled into my driveway and parked.

He rolled his head sideways so he could look at me. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, any time there's a mud slide in Honduras or Mount Saint Helens blows its top, we reclaim some land. Your people die, and some of my people are saved."

I swiped a hand under my eyes and was rewarded with a smear of mascara on my fingers. I flipped the visor mirror down and grabbed a napkin from the glove box. "You said there hasn't been a full-blooded elf child born recently. What does that mean?"

"I told you elves sometimes get together with humans. Some of them believe that half-blood is better than none."

I stuffed the tissue in my purse and opened my car door.

"So there are people who are half-elf running around Boulder?"

"And quarter elf, and thirty-second elf." He looked bemused. "Why does it matter?"

I took a bag of groceries from the trunk and handed the other to him. "Because someone I know could be part elf, with whatever that entails!" I slammed the trunk. "What does it entail?"

"Not much. Good looks, certainly, and often increased artistic talent."

I put a hand to my chest as we walked to the front door. "Well, not to be immodest, but what if I'm part elf?"

"You're not."

"Maybe that's why you were able to link with me."

"Sorry."

"I could be!" I slammed the front door shut behind us.

"Nope. You're all human." He shook his head. "Why would you want to be an elf?"

"Who wouldn't want to be an elf?" I waved my hands. "Look at you! You're gorgeous, you're magical, you can make paper mice and earrings!" We were in the kitchen now, and I put my bag on the kitchen counter and draped my coat over the back of a chair.

He touched my arm and smiled. "Humans have their good points, too, you know. You're warm, and funny, and generous. You may not be immortal, but you pack your lives with love and bravery and... silliness..."

I was suddenly aware of the heat from his hand on my forearm, and the fact that Jed didn't seem to be home. "Elves aren't silly?" I asked, a little breathlessly.

Galan scanned my face and leaned forward. "Not usually. But sometimes we make exceptions." He put one hand at the side of my neck and slid the other around my waist.

page four

From the Chorale Member Handbook

MISSION

The Boulder Chorale enhances the community's quality of life by offering music education, outreach and quality performances.

VISION

As musical ambassadors of goodwill, the Boulder Chorale is a community dedicated to musical excellence and inclusivity, bound by a common love of the chorale art.

Please don't use perfume, scented body products, after-shave or cologne before rehearsals; some of our members are highly allergic.  Thank you for being considerate!

Contact Your 2007-2008 Board

Jack Biddle Jeff Livesay

President Vice-President/Pres. Elect

720-304-2178 720-298-8255

jackbcmt@aol.com jeff.livesay@gmail.com

JoAn Segal Jeff Hale

Secretary/Past President Treasurer

303-541-1065 303-494-1836

jsegalvv@earthlink.net jeffhale58@msn.com

Dede Beardsley Risa Booze

Member At Large Publicity/Marketing Chair

303-581-0070 303-447-3005

dede@mapletonmontessori.org vitalmotionpilates@yahoo.com

Christine Evenson Joan Foutz

Web Mistress Member At Large

303-774-9301 303-776-7494

christie_evenson@hotmail.com kftz@earthlink.net

Wren Fritzlan Karen Haimes

Membership Ticket Mgr/Concert Dress

303-651-9318 303-442-7370

wfritzlan@coloradorecovery.com haimes1@aol.com

Julie Hale Greg Herring

Member At Large Concert Mgr Co-Chair

303-494-1836 303-440-6920

juliehale1@msn.com gherrings@us.ibm.com

Miriam Lindahl Sam Richman

Concert Manager Co-Chair Music Librarian

303-530-2077 303-494-2253

miriam.lindahl@comcast.net samrichman@comcast.net

Binx Selby

Volunteer Coordinator

303-539-9327

binxselby@gmail.com

Randall McIntosh's Missa Tariro

("Mass of Hope")

At the May transitional meeting, the Board approved Tim's request for the Chorale to commission Randy McIntosh to complete the Mass. We performed two movements (Kyrie and Gloria) last season. We will perform two new movements (Sanctus and Benedictus) this December, and will premiere the full 50-minute work with Kutandara early in the 2008-09 season. Plans are developing for a recording session, with the goal of releasing a CD early in 2009.

page five

Calendar of Events

Tuesday Evenings Rehearsal Schedule

6:00 - 7:15 pm: Women's Chorale

6:00 - 7:15 pm: Chamber Chorale

7:30 - 9:30 pm: Concert Chorale

Thursday, December 13¾Dress Rehearsal

Concert, Chamber and Women's Chorales

*please note you do not need to wear concert attire*

6:30-11:00 p.m.

First United Methodist Church

(1421 Spruce Street, Boulder)

Saturday, December 15¾Make We Joy Concert

6:30 p.m. call

7:30 p.m. concert

First United Methodist Church

(1421 Spruce Street, Boulder)

Sunday, December 16¾Make We Joy Concert

3:00 p.m. call

4:00 p.m. concert

First United Methodist Church

(1421 Spruce Street, Boulder)

Monday, Dec. 17 through Monday, Jan. 15¾Winter Break for Women's Chorale and Chamber Chorale

Tuesday, December 18¾Concert Chorale Rehearsal

Extra Mahler rehearsal

7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 19 through Monday, Jan. 2¾Winter Break for Concert Chorale

Friday, December 28¾Newsletter Deadline

Please send articles to Jeff Livesay, Newsletter Editor at jeff.livesay@gmail.com

**Women's Chorale members will receive their January Newsletters through the mail.

Thursday, January 3¾Concert Chorale Rehearsal

7:00 - 9:30 pm: Mahler Rehearsal

**please note this is a Thursday rehearsal**

(no rehearsal for Chamber or Women's Chorale)

Tuesday, January 8¾Concert Chorale Rehearsal

7:00 - 9:30 pm: Mahler Rehearsal

(no rehearsal for Chamber or Women's Chorale)

Thursday, January 10¾Dress Rehearsal

Concert Chorale with Orchestra

*please note you do not need to wear concert attire*

7:00-10:00 p.m. Macky Auditorium

page six

Friday, January 11¾Dress Rehearsal

Concert Chorale with Orchestra

*please note you do not need to wear concert attire*

7:00-10:00 p.m.

Macky Auditorium

Saturday, January 12¾MahlerFest Concert

Concert Chorale

6:30 p.m. call

7:30 p.m. concert

Macky Auditorium

Sunday, January 13¾MahlerFest Concert

Concert Chorale

2:30 p.m. call

3:30 p.m. concert

Macky Auditorium

Monday, January 14¾Board of Directors' Meeting

7:00 p.m.

Atonement Lutheran Church

Please let Jack know if you plan to attend.

Tuesday, January 15¾Chamber and Women's Chorale

Rehearse

6:00-8:00 p.m.

(no rehearsal for the Concert Chorale)

Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20¾

Concert Chorale Auditions for new Tenors and Basses

Tuesday, January 22¾All Groups Rehearse

6:00 - 7:15 pm: Women's Chorale

6:00 - 7:15 pm: Chamber Chorale

7:30 - 9:30 pm: Concert Chorale

Friday, January 25¾Newsletter Deadline

Please send articles to Jeff Livesay, Newsletter Editor at jeff.livesay@gmail.com

Saturday, February 9¾Chamber/Women's Retreat

8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

First Baptist Church