[Choir] Welcome to the new year!

[Donia Prince]

Hi everyone!

I hope you all have had fun and relaxing summers.  I am so looking forward
to singing with you all again!

Our first rehearsal is NEXT Thursday, Sept 8th (not today) from 6:30-8:00
pm.  Please come early to gather music, socialize, etc, so we can start
right at 6:30.

Even if you don't think you can commit to joining the choir regularly
through the year, if you want to sing at the first service please come!

Read on for other updates including info about our gathering on Sept 10th.

*COVID*
In line with current church policy now, masks will be optional when we
gather, and will be optional for the congregation during services.  We feel
that with the new ventilation system and all of the tools and resources
(masks, vaccines, medications, etc) available to individuals, that it is
time for each individual to make their own choices about risk.  We have a
variety of high quality masks available, suitable for singing, for
any choir member who wants one.  There is still a vaccine requirement (with
testing or masking option) for choir members.

*MUSIC READING CLASSES*
This year I will be offering music reading skills classes before most
Thursday rehearsals for those who wish to develop more confidence in that
area.  This will normally be from 5:45-6:15.  However, we will NOT offer
this on the 8th, but we WILL meet next Tuesday the 6th from 7-8pm.   This
is open to anyone!  Even if you are comfortable with your music reading
skills, come if you just want to sing.  On Tuesday we'll both do some sight
singing exercises and also work on the music for the first service (Somos
el Barco) from the perspective of developing reading skills.

*POTLUCK PARTY!  *
Our start of year gathering will be at Brenda and Phil's house in Berlin on
Saturday, Sept 10th from 1-5pm.  We'll begin with a potluck lunch, followed
by some talking, some singing activities and a short rehearsal for Sunday's
service.  We may well end before 5 but wanted to leave it open!

Bring folding chairs and sweaters!  We encourage everyone to test
beforehand so we can feel most free together.

Please reply all with what you plan to bring so others can plan
accordingly.  So far here is what people have said they will bring: cookies
(probably GF), cake ; salad ; turkey meatballs ; homemade lemonade;
watermelon.  And from Brenda: *Phil has offered to make hamburgers on our
small electric Griddler and to keep them warm in the oven.  I will provide
lasagna and/or quiche, not yet decided.*

We'll send out the directions again towards the end of next week so they
will be fresh in your inbox.

*FINALLY...*
I plan to stop sending out weekly rehearsal reminders since we will
hopefully now be on a completely regular schedule without changing
location, extra recording sessions, etc. (whew!).  So if you don't receive
a reminder about a Thursday rehearsal, it doesn't mean anything's wrong or
that you missed something, it means everything is right!!!

See you next week!
Donia
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org/pipermail/choir_unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org/attachments/20220901/845c2a33/attachment.htm>