NOVA Community Chorus

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers- I am really looking forward to tomorrow night. Please be on time at 6:30 pm. Allow time for traffic and parking problems. Sopranos, Tenor and Basses altos take your places on the seated risers at the back of the stage. Remember that all clappers should be on row one. Altos take a seat in the audience like last Tuesday. I want to rearrange you so that sitters do not feel isolated from their section.
Yours-DrW

On second thought, the alto riser arrangement will impact sopranos. So sopranos please take a seat in the audience at 6:30 pm. -DrW

From Lawrence Ries: Dear Mark and members of the NOVA Community Chorus,

I’m just beginning to come down from the high I have been on from the performances of Sea Surface Full of Clouds.

First, Mark, words are totally inadequate to express my thanks for all you did personally to make the performances happen.  I am humbled and gladdened by your very kind words about my music, and all of your time, energy, and musical skills you put into rehearsals and performances.  I am especially grateful for your suggestions for improving the music.

Second, words also fail me to express my appreciation for all the effort the chorus members put into making the performances successful.  It’s one thing to hear the music in your head, but to actually hear the parts sung by live human beings is so much more satisfying and rewarding.  It’s been a dream of mine to hear Sea Surface performed for almost 30 years.  Now that dream has come true.  I am one of the most fortunate people in the world to have had that happen.

Finally, I am aware of all of the extra effort many of the chorus members made to sing Sea Surface well.  I’m afraid the music was not so easy for them.  But I am humbled by their expressions to me of how much they liked the piece and how much they enjoyed the challenge of learning it.  Their enthusiasm for it surprised and pleased me very much.  My only regret is that Sea Surface has so little music in it for the chorus.  As a current church choir member and a former chorus singer myself, I know what a joy it is to sing choral music.  Perhaps the next time I will have more music for the chorus.

Please feel free to share this email with the chorus so they know how much I appreciate the wonderful effort you and they made on behalf of Sea Surface Full of Clouds – A Cantata.

With deepest thanks,

Lawrence Ries

From Dr. Whitmire: Hello Friends- Here is a PDF of photos from our February 25 Black History Month Celebration.
Yours-DrW

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Friends-
Thanks to everyone for a great night last night. I think Dr. King would have been pleased.
More than 150 students participated–Actors, dancers, 100 singers, jazz musicians, plus twelve of my faculty colleagues, and our Dean. Thanks to everyone for all for your help in celebrating Black History Month.

From Dr. Whitmire: Hello Singers-

-The call on Tuesday is 6:30 pm in Schlesinger. Please be seated at the front of the hall at that time.
-Dress: Men–Tuxes (or dark suit, white shirt and black bow tie); Women- black long v-neck dresses (or black blouse and black slacks)
-At concert time chorus is seated at the back of the hall (except Go down Moses singers)
-At intermission chorus takes the stage:
Altos stage left, all rows; sopranos stage right, all rows; tenors center front; basses center back (we’ll work out details at 6:30 PM)
-There is a  slight change in the Jazz Mass order. Please mark and arrange your music accordingly.

Jazz Mass for Dr. King
This is the day
reading: Bernie Cohen
Kyrie
Gloria
reading Dorothea Kamara
Love is the unfamiliar name
reading: DeMarcus Bolds
Creed
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
Precious Lord

This is going to a great. Invite your friends and family today!