The Ithaca Community Chorus

and Chamber Singers

Ithaca, New York

Gerald Wolfe, Director

VOICES Multicultural Chorus

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NEWS FROM THE ITHACA COMMUNITY CHORUS
Week of November 26, 2007
Read the ICC website ( http://ithacacommunitychorus.clarityconnect.com)
Send mail to the ICC Board ( IthacaCommunityChorus@clarityconnect.com)

MESSAGE FROM GERALD WOLFE

HOMEWORK FOR 12/5:

Haydn - Benedictus and Dona nobis pacem

Handel - All

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

Hello Everybody!

Tickets are coming next week! Can you believe it's that time already? Start your lists! Every year, it never fails. People that I forget to tell about the concert hear about it later and say, "why didn't you tell me?" So, we should all wrack our brains and tell everyone we know. This will be a great show.

Borders wrapping dates will be posted again next week. VOICES people are very zealous--grab a time slot while you can. Gift wrapping is very fun, assembly line type work. Last year we had so many people at our table and it was so fun. If you have a friend in VOICES, try to join the same time slot. It's a great way to socialize and to help the organization at the same time.

Calender sales are peetering down. If you have been waiting to buy one (I haven't bought mine yet either, so I'm also reminding myself here), buy it soon. We may send a box back to Dewey Neild if he will buy one back.

Gerald was mistaken the other night-- we have three more rehearsals before the orchestra comes. Next week, the following week, and January 2nd. We do not have rehearsal on the 19th or 26th.

Still, 3 rehearsals is not many, so practice at home. The cd's are available at the library, and the music is also available on itunes (I'm pretty sure anyway).

Also, we need to be watching Gerald a bit more, as in, as much as physically possible. (We've all heard this one before, I know, but many of us aren't doing it, soooo....) It is possible to read music and watch the conductor at the same time. Hold the music predominantly in one hand, and using proper singing posture, hold the music higher in front of you, slanted down slightly. That way, you can read the music, but see Gerald's hands moving at the same time, and it is easier to just lift your eyes to really look at him when you are waiting for an entrance, rather than your whole head. It really works, and even better, proper singing posture helps too.

At one point the other night, Gerald was dancing around the stage, looking very silly, and I looked around at the chorus and almost nobody was even looking at him! Gerald is amazing, and entertaining as well evidently, so we should really be taking better advantage of his presence. We will sound better for it.

Okay, I'll let you go now. Be Well everybody! See you next week.
Steph
ICC VP Chorus

FREE CONCERT OF FRENCH MUSIC ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, AT SAGE CHAPEL

The Cornell Chorale will be giving a free concert of French Music at 8 pm this Friday, November 30, in Sage Chapel on the Cornell Campus. It will include music by Vierne, Debussy, Fauré, Saint-Saëns, des Prez and Sermisy.

HANDEL’S MESSIAH ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, AT GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CORTLAND

The Arts at Grace concert series will offer its fourth annual performance of the Christmas portions of Handel’s Messiah on Sunday, December 2, at 4 pm. The performance will feature a professional orchestra and a chorus of singers from the greater Cortland area. Soloists will be Linda Larson, soprano; Ivy Gaibel, mezzo soprano; Todd Geer, tenor; and Steven Stull, baritone. The performance will be conducted by David Neal, Music Director at Grace Church. Well-known Ithaca photographer Dewey Neild will have a series of Central New York photos on display during the reception that will follow the concert.

For further information, please call the church at (607)753-3073 from 9-3 on weekdays.

ITALIAN MADRIGALS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 7:30 pm, ST. THOMAS CHURCH

The Oriana singers will present "Italian Madrigals and a Few English Offshoots" at 7:30 pm on Tuesday evening Dec. 4, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Slaterville (on Rt. 79, just east of the gas station). A dozen short Italian madrigals from several composers; with an occasional English change of pace. Admission free; reception following. Several Oriana singers are current or past ICC members.

OPEN READING OF THE MESSIAH ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, AT 8 PM

On Saturday, December 8th at 8pm, Risley Residential College for the Creative and Performing Arts will be hosting its annual open reading of Handel’s Messiah in the Risley Great Hall. Members of the Cornell, Ithaca College, and greater Ithaca community are invited to sing in the chorus. There are no rehearsals and all are welcomed. Refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!

DATES TO REMEMBER

Sunday Dec 2 - Messiah Concert at Grace Episcopal Church in Cortland
Saturday Dec 15 - Voices Concert at Lansing High School - Gospel Messiah
Sunday Dec 16 - Chamber Singers sing at Kendal
Saturday, Jan 12, 8:00 PM – ICC concert

NEWSLETTER ITEMS?

If you would like to include a brief item in the ICC e-newsletter, send text ready to copy and paste by Friday 11:00 am to Mary Royer (mroyer@twcny.rr.com). Notices should be related to the chorus or the local music community.

Mary Royer
ICC Newsletter Editor
mroyer@twcny.rr.com