From Jenny:

Happy New Year! I am so excited to get started on our spring program “I Am a Voice That Sings.” This program shines light on the grief we’ve endured and recognizes our voices that call out for hope and change. Bach’s Cantata 131 is a 5-movement piece which features the chorus in movements 1, 3, and 5. An early composition of Bach’s, there is a lot to read and to wonder about its origins and its timelessness. Heavenly Hurt by Alice Parker is a 7-movement piece for chorus, piano, and cello set to poetry by Emily Dickinson. I’m drawn to recent scholarly work that explores Dickinson’s mental health and illness through the lens of our modern psychology. Her ability to to speak so succinctly to universal experiences of pain and loss is a constant inspiration. Zanaida Roble’s setting of Psalm 61 is a cappella, deeply beautiful, and glorious to sing. The title of the concert comes from a new piece we have co-commissioned by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm (she/her). I Am a Voice That Sings is an uplifting, accessible anthem for chorus and piano, with original poetry by Ron Cadmus. I think this excerpt shows the meaning of the whole concert – and it certainly makes me want to sing! 

“When all hope seems gone
On your path unknown
Feeling alone
I’ll keep right on
And blend my voice with yours
To lift and reassure
I am a voice that sings!”

From Elibet:

Welcome back to Chorale! I, for one, enjoyed the break, but I am looking forward to seeing everyone again and learning the beautiful new music that Jenny has selected. As you might expect, there are some very important steps that we all must take as we ease into this season of singing. Please be sure to read the information below from BJ regarding our use of the Music School as our rehearsal venue. 

Remember, all this information is available on the Member Portal. To access the portal, go to www.concordchorale.org, click “Members Area” at the bottom of the page, password: SingNH1969.

MUSIC FOR SPRING 2022

• Chris Howard is coordinating all the music for this term. Stay tuned for details about picking up hard copies of music.
• For Open Sing/First Rehearsal, we will use PDFs.
• CLICK HERE for music PDFs and the 1/26 Rehearsal Plan
• (link to these PDFs will also be posted on the Member Portal)

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS: JANUARY – MAY 2022

• Zoom option available for all rehearsals except 5/13 Dress Rehearsal.
• Full schedule will be available soon.

Beginning in February, Rehearsals will be at Concord Community Music School

01/19  ZOOM Only First Regular Rehearsal and OPEN SING

01/26  ZOOM Only Regular Rehearsal (Auditions will take place before 7pm on a separate Zoom)

02/02  IN PERSON: Alto Sectional, ZOOM: Soprano, Tenor, Bass

02/09  IN PERSON: Soprano Sectional, ZOOM: Alto, Tenor, Bass

02/16  IN PERSON: Tenor & Bass Sectional, ZOOM: Alto and Soprano 

02/23  IN PERSON: ALL SINGERS

NEW Zoom IDs and Passcodes for this term
(also posted on Member Portal)

When you attend any rehearsal on Zoom, please name/rename yourself with
your voice part and name. Examples: B Tom Weston, S2 Liz MacLellan. Thanks.

1. Link to Open Sing/Rehearsal for Wednesday, January 19 ONLY. This is a single meeting only. This ID/Passcode will not be active after Wednesday’s Open Sing.
One-Click link: Concord Chorale Open Sing 2022
Meeting ID: 815 4745 3722 Passcode: 503104

2. Jenny will create a separate Zoom Meeting for AUDITIONS on January 26 and share that link with anybody auditioning.

3. NEW Zoom Meeting ID and Passcode for all Zoom Rehearsals starting Wednesday, January 26 and forward.
One-Click Link: Concord Chorale Spring 2022 Rehearsal
Meeting ID: 876 8092 4931 Passcode: 260572

COVID GUIDELINES (subject to change/update)

• Full vaccination and boosters, if eligible, will be required to attend in-person rehearsals.
• Please send a copy of your vaccination card, with booster information, to your Section Chair as soon as possible (see below). Or bring your vaccination card to your first in-person rehearsal.
• KN95 masks will be provided to singers for use during rehearsals. Please hang on to them and use for each rehearsal

SECTION CHAIRS
Mary Lynne Rahlson, Soprano          mlrahlson@msn.com
Sue Berlenbach, temp for Altos         susanberlenbach@gmail.com
Brian Kugel, Tenor                             bckug@comcast.net
Tom Weston, Bass                             tweston423@gmail.com

From BJ

PLEASE READ!

CONCORD COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL COVID REQUIREMENTS FOR CHORALE 2022

• All Chorale members must complete a health and safety pledge form prior to our first rehearsal at the Music School. Answer the first question by clicking other and typing in “Concord Chorale.”
• The form may be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/health-safety-pledge-fall21. It takes less than two minutes to complete. Printed copies of the form are available at the CCMS desk.
• Before every rehearsal, please review the posted health screening questions and do not enter if you have new or unexplained COVID symptoms, have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days, have traveled internationally or on a cruise ship in the past 10 days, or test positive for COVID-19.
• Masks are required for all people entering the building. If you do not have a mask, a paper mask will be provided at the check-in station.
• Because we are all fully vaccinated, we may distance at 3’ at all times. Please distance at 6’ when encountering non-Chorale members inside the building.
• Please sanitize hands upon entry using the touchless sanitization stand.
• Do not open windows when in the rehearsal space as this will compromise the effectiveness of the portable medical grade HEPA air purifier.