REHEARSAL NOTES

If you haven’t listened to a recording of the Alice Parker yet – or in a while! – now would be a good time to do so. There are layers to this music, we specifically looked at Movement 4 and we haven’t dug down deeply yet, but we will do so. Spend time getting to know the text and notes so we can play with it.

Movement 1 Parker, be sure to hold final notes – phrases.

Movement 2 should be elegant yet energetic. There should be a buoyancy on longer notes.

Movement 4 – crescendo over every note longer than ¼.

Next week we will touch every piece: SA Movement 2 of Parker, TB, Movement 5.

Bach 1,3,5. I Am the Voice That Sings and Psalm 61

WAYNE FREY’S MEMORIAL SERVICE

Wayne Frey’s memorial service is May 28th – please sing!

The memorial service for our long time and beloved bass Wayne Frey will be Saturday, May 28th at 3 pm, at the UU Church. Please join with the UU choir (which he was also a member of for years) to sing Lacrimosa from Mozart’s Requiem, which we all sang with Wayne several years ago.  

The rehearsal for this will be that Saturday, 5/28, at 10 am at the UU Church. Please review the music ahead of time.   We will make a joyful noise for Wayne.  

ONLINE TICKETS!

Online ticketing is now available! ConcordChorale.org/tickets has all the information and links to both in-person and virtual shows. Please share this link with your email contacts or via social media!

Facebook Events, posters and “promo” email for forwarding are coming soon, as are paper tickets for those who requested them, but don’t let that stop you from starting to sell tickets right away via this link. With virtual shows available, you can now sell tickets even to distant or less-mobile friends and family! 

Any questions about tickets can be directed to tickets@concordchorale.org 

Logan Snyder (they/them)

Ticketing Coordinator

tickets@concordchorale.org

CONCERT E-MAIL BLURB

Send the following blurb to your friends and family to invite them to our concert

Dear family and friends,

As you may know, I sing in Concord Chorale. We are excited to be presenting our concert, “I am a Voice that Sings” on May 14th and 15th and would love to see you there!

Our concert explores the theme of music’s ability to call and connect with others. Our concert pieces include the title piece, “I am a Voice that Sings” by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm, Zanaida Robles’ arrangement of Psalm 61 (“Hear My Cry, O God”), Heavenly Hurt, a collection of Emily Dickinson poems set to music by New England composer Alice Parker, and Bach’s Cantata 131 “Aus Der Tiefen (Out of the Depths I Cry to You, Oh God)”

Accompanying Concord Chorale will be our collaborative pianist Liya Nigmati, local cellist Kate Jensik, as well as a baroque chamber orchestra, all under the direction of our music director Jenny Cooper.

We will be offering both in-person and virtual options for this concert.  I would love to have those of you who may not be able to attend in person to attend one of our virtual events! Please note that Saturday’s virtual event will be a true livestream, while Sunday’s concert will be a rebroadcast.

What: Concord Chorale’s Concert, I Am a Voice that Sings

When: Saturday, May 14th at 7pm and Sunday, May 15th at 3pm

Where: South Congregational Church, 27 Pleasant Street, Concord NH 

To purchase tickets go to: https://concordchorale.ticketleap.com/ 

Masks required for in person performances. 

BY-LAWS CHANGE

From Lee Leppanen, Governance Committee Chair

IMPORTANT: Notice and Information regarding vote on By-laws change. 

At its February 6 meeting, the Chorale Board approved two new funds: the Sustainability Fund and the Special Projects Fund and their respective policies. The board also approved a new investment policy. These Funds will become active after the membership votes to align the by-laws with the policies and procedures outlined in the fund.

Therefore, the Board has also voted to make the following By-laws change that requires a full membership vote, which is planned to take place at this year’s Annual membership meeting: 

Article II Section 5: Quorum A quorum is reached when over 50% of the sitting Directors of the Board are present and Board action shall be by majority vote, unless the Policy Manual requires a greater percentage of sitting Directors of the Board present and/or a greater than majority vote. 

Explanation of the two new funds and by-laws change

The Chorale has generated surplus funds from operations and fundraising in many preceding years and therefore has accumulated sufficient funds to invest for the long-term sustainability of the organization. In an effort to ensure continued fiscal health, the Finance Committee proposed, and the Chorale Board approved, two new funds: a Special Projects Fund and a Sustainability Fund. The roles of each fund, as well as an explanation of how they will interact with the Operating Budget follows.

You will note that the procedures for two funds require a supermajority (75% of the full board) to expend money from either fund. The current by-laws require only that 50% of those present approve decisions. The Finance Committee felt strongly that a larger majority approve these expenditures because these ensure the long-term financial health of the Chorale.

If you have any questions about this change, please forward them to Elibet at elibetchase@gmail.com, and she will share with the appropriate people. We will discuss the questions at the next rehearsal. 

I. Special Projects Fund

This fund is to provide money for non-operating expenditures for any purpose directed by the Board. It is expected that such expenditures will naturally be aligned with the overall mission of the Chorale. Examples would include such uses as 

•  scholarships for music students
• outreach to and support of the arts community
• capital purchases (like risers)
• commissions for music

At the beginning of the fiscal year, the fund balance will be set at $10,000, such balance to be approved and/or amended at least annually by majority vote of the Board.

Any expenditure from this fund of $1000 or more shall be made only upon approval of 75% of the full Board. Expenditures less than $1,000 may be made upon approval of the Executive Committee of the Board assuming that the full Board is duly informed within 10 days.

II. Sustainability Fund

The purpose of this fund is to provide a foundation of financial security for the Chorale. It will invest surplus funds from operations and fundraising for long-term growth and stability, in accordance with the Chorale’s investment policy (see below). It is expected that this fund will be used in the event that the Chorale has a deficit or otherwise experiences financial adversity, or for some other major initiative as directed by the Board.

Expenditures or transfers from this fund shall be made only upon approval of 75% of the full Board, except that inter-fund transfers of up to $5,000 may be made by the Treasurer to meet operating needs upon approval of the finance committee (e.g. to smooth cash flow during the fiscal year).  

III. Operating Fund 

The Operating Fund will provide the monies for day-to-day operations. On or about August 1st, if not sooner, the Treasurer will transfer funds such that the Operating Fund holds approximately 50% of budgeted expenditures for the fiscal year. This percentage has proven to be adequate to finance Chorale expenses assuming normal revenue flows for the year. 

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear Friends of the Keiser Concert Series,

We are looking forward to welcoming some exciting guest artists later this month, as we restart the Keiser Concert Series at Saint Paul’s School. Both concerts will take place in the Chapel of St. Peter & St. Paul, and will last approximately one hour. Stay tuned for further reminders in the coming days and, for now, please make a note of these dates.

We are now in a position to reopen our doors to members of the general public, following this long hiatus! We are very much looking forward to welcoming you back to campus when you are able to join us.

Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00pm – Stile Antico: Early Music Vocal Ensemble

Stile Antico is firmly established as one of the world’s most accomplished and innovative vocal ensembles. Working without a conductor, its twelve members have thrilled audiences on four continents with their fresh, vibrant and moving performances of Renaissance polyphony. The ensemble will perform a program entitled TOWARD THE DAWN (see flyer below) and will also work with our Chapel Choir in a workshop setting the following morning.