[Choir] 2016 UCM Chorus Retreat!

[Richard Riley]

Announcing the 2016 UCM Chorus Retreat!

When: Sunday, August 28th , 3-6 PM

Where: The North Branch Café, 41 State St, Montpelier

What to Bring: Potluck! There is limited refrigeration space, no oven for
heating, and very limited opportunity for prep, so please plan accordingly.
Feel free to bring a crock pot or rice cooker if you want to keep something
warm. Beverages from the café will not be available. (We will just be using
the café as a beautiful and convenient space to be in, not as a working
food service establishment.)

The retreat will include some informal singing just for fun, but the focus
of it will be to have a conversation on issues expressed in the choir
surveys.

A conclusion that can be drawn from the surveys is that while there is a
universal feeling that people want to sing in the choir because they love
to sing and be part of/contribute to the UU community, that means something
a little bit different to everyone. We hope to use this retreat not only to
affirm our shared goals, but also as an opportunity to listen to each other
and understand the ways we are different, and begin to move forward in a
way that honors different perspectives.

You might want to consider some of these thoughts and questions before you
come:

It is evident that within the choir there is a continuum of wishes/needs,
ranging from those who would like to see the social elements enhanced, to
those who would like to see the musical elements enhanced.

We are a church choir, not a professional choir, but still want to present
as good as possible music to the congregation. We have widely varying
abilities. For some, striving for excellence is a joy, for others it can
make it less fun. Some want choir to be more social, some are there
primarily to make music. Some may want to learn more, others are happy to
just sing. Some people want rehearsals to be less serious, and/or to have
breaks. Others don’t.

Both strains are equally valid, and the tension presents both a challenge
and an opportunity.

Given Dick’s style of choral leadership, what are ways that we can
encompass and serve with integrity these differing sets of needs?

Before church starts in September, the music committee will meet to digest
the results of our discussions and work on ways to move forward. If you
would like to be a part of the committee, let us know!

If you know of prospective new members feel free to invite them!

*Please RSVP to Donia at doniaprince at gmail.com <doniaprince at gmail.com>, so
we know about how many to expect.*
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