From Brigid: August 1
Good morning, folks – happy August! I hope you are all staying well and enjoying the summer, even in this weird time we find ourselves in.
First of all, I want to say a BIG thank-you to Laura, Jennifer and all the folks that set-up for the farewell-to-Toby party last Tuesday. It was so nice to see people in person (though I missed hugs!) and to have some singing together, if not great music :)
Thanks to all of you for your generosity (nearly $1000) we were able to get gift cards for Quality Garden & Pet in Gibsons, for Toby & Kevin to use as they please. They have not yet sold the condo, and will be renting for awhile on the Sunshine Coast until they find THE house. We won’t lose touch – I will probably be asking Toby to record tracks from time to time.
Would people like to do another bring-your-own-picnic event again before we start rehearsals in the fall? Say, Tuesday 1 September?
I’ve attached a thing for your reading – please take time with it. The new season seems a long way away – especially when we don’t know just what we’re planning for. But I’d rather not confront all the tech problems in September, so I’m asking you to think about some of these issues now – especially if you’re not a comfortable Zoomer. It’s going to be our short-term crutch while we learn to sing together again. Please start thinking about how you’ll address some of the issues – and perhaps log in on a Tuesday evening with the usual link. I’ll be there at 7:30pm each Tuesday – I may log off at 8pm if nobody joins me – but it’s a good practice-Zoom option.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/95350781933?pwd=Y1NSQld3QTVROCtVUUdZMzZONnVIQT09
Meeting ID: 953 5078 1933 / Passcode: SATB
When I sent the questionnaire out back in May, one of the questions was about whether you were prepared to rehearse live or if you would prefer Zoom. Knowing what we know now (and having read the attached first) I need to ask you that question again. Let’s be clear that it’s not either/or – Zoom will have to be our primary vehicle for rehearsal. But part of the question for live rehearsal is both technical and financial, and part of it is your own risk factor, bearing in mind the precautions we will be taking.
So: two questions for a response to this email, please
are you interested in a pre-season outdoor gathering on Tuesday 1 September, tbc?
are you willing to participate in the “live” part of live-streamed rehearsals (possibly 2 in October, 2 in November), if we can solve the tech problems?
Hoping to hear from you all!
Brigid
From Brigid: Thinking about Fall Rehearsals
I've a lot of things on my mind: stuff at St Mary's; all the BCCF workshops, and especially, planning for ROCA in September. Some things for you to think about for the fall...
We still have no idea what we are formally going to be allowed to do in September. My own line is that we will plan for the worst and hope for the best.
The best would be that we are allowed to sing in person in a limited format – probably small pods of c.6 singers, scattered through the pews at Fraserview. To have this work
we would need for this to be OK with Fraserview – i.e. we would need to conform with whatever their protocols required (and they’re not making decisions till September)
we would need to make these rehearsals accessible in virtual mode to all those of you who do not feel safe meeting in person – i.e. we would need to (ideally) livestream or (if necessary) videorecord rehearsals so that the at-homers could still be part of it. There are financial issues here! as well as tech details. These rehearsals would be hard to find rep for, since probably half of our tenor section will be singing at home and therefore not audible to the group.
we would need to have our own protocols in place according to the requirements of the health department, and anyone taking part would need to agree to them. That means if we are told we have to mask when we sing, you would have to mask, even if it feels unnecessary to you personally
I would be open to you choosing your own pods, according to your comfort level. They would probably be better as sectional groups, but if you want a mixed group, that’s fine. You would remain with the same people in those groups for all in-person rehearsals.
We’d need a pianist. Here’s the sad news (for us) – Toby and his partner Kevin are selling their condo and moving to the Sunshine Coast, so Toby won’t be available to us as accompanist any more :( We’ll need to think about how we can celebrate his time with us, virtually! Ideas?
IF this works, I would probably be looking to do it on alternate weeks, so that we’re all on the same footing for Zoom rehearsals.
At worst, we'll be all-Zoom for the fall - not ideal, but better than not singing at all. Zoom rehearsals will contain elements of
vocal training – maybe me, maybe someone else, maybe a recording
solo song repertoire – classical song rep, for good singing technique, but also folk songs and other things. Not just singalonga, though – time taken to do some analysis, some reading skills and so on. Song suggestions accepted – I’m starting a list.
choral repertoire – much harder to bring off in a Zoom context, but by recording accompaniments and voice-tracks, I can give you a choir to sing against at home. I suspect we’ll focus on things we’ve already done through the first term. Any requests?
The other thing to try here might be prepping for a virtual choir project: learning how to sing against a foundation track and trying to record yourself. This might be worth doing with some Christmas rep – perhaps with an aim to preparing a video to send to the local seniors residences where we won’t be caroling. Virtual choir is not for everybody, and we won’t try anything really challenging unless you’re all up for the challenge
listening together to choir performances
perhaps for the repertoire – with some historic context, or for simply enjoying the music
perhaps for subsequent discussion of the performance – we all know of good and bad performances on YouTube – sometime you learn a lot from watching a bad one!
listening to a lecture or a TED talk, and discussing
We might also have the odd cabaret evening, where people have the chance to offer something they’ve been working on. (Anna and Rick, Bill and Sylvia ALWAYS have something they’re working on!). It doesn’t need to be sung – it could be instrumental or a recitation or something.
And we might have the odd singalonga evening, as we did with the Beatles. Jen has already asked about this, and as long as I don’t have to prepare them single-handedly, I’ve a bunch of possible ideas.
I think the important things to remember here is that we are community, and we need to work this out together. We long to be with each other and hear each other’s voices, and yes, Zoom is not at all the same. Sadly, there is not yet any conferencing platform that has truly beaten the latency problem – Jamkazam is probably the best, but not for more than 4-5 people.
But we can be together even when we can’t hear each other, and we will take time to unmute and discuss and be together in words, even when our music doesn’t mesh.
And I think the other important thing to remember is that in the normal way, we are goal-driven; our rehearsals all take place with a concert as the end-product. In this time of COVID-19, we need to change that. The journey itself will be our focus; where we get to in the end doesn’t matter as much as the fact that we travel together, we learn new things, we explore areas in which we may not feel so comfortable, we listen for the voices that we don’t hear, knowing that they are singing with us.
I’m going to start asking Robert Bridson to post these info things in our membership section so you can access them if you mislay them in your inbox. Remember – down to the black border at the bottom of the webpage, click on member login, enter the code ROCAisgr8. I’ve just posted the repertoire list, current to our March concert, if you’re looking to see what we’ve done before and should do again. Christmas is not included in that – I might get to sorting that....
But the next list for you will be one for you to start planning your tech for Zoom rehearsals...
I’m also thinking about how we might do a summer open-air sing somehow, whether informal with guitars, or something that actually has music and perhaps a keyboard... Even masked, it would be fun. Suggestions? Perhaps talk on Tuesday evening...
Be safe...
Brigid
From Concertmaster Larisa: Support the VSO
Larisa (who frequently performs with the VSO) sends us this message, in case some of you hadn’t heard:
From: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra <concertinfo@vancouversymphony.ca>
Date: March 24, 2020 at 3:56:21 PM PDT
To: lebedamusic@shaw.ca
Subject: Support the VSO — Stream and Share Beethoven's Symphony No. 6
For Your Viewing Pleasure
Last weekend, we had the great pleasure of doing our first live-stream performance, featuring the BeethovenFest Finale.
More than 70,000 virtual audience members, both locally and globally, experienced the joyful sounds of the VSO and people donated more than $16,000 to help keep the music playing.
We are thrilled to share with you, the new home of our Beethoven's 6th Symphony performance on our YouTube channel.
We're going to release another Beethoven symphony soon, but first, we need your help to unlock the next level on our YouTube account —help us reach our goal of 4000 viewing hours within the next 72 hours!
Beethoven's Symphony No. 6
Please share the link to watch the VSO performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 on YouTube and help us hit our goal of 4000 viewing hours.
We need your help now, more than ever before
Our orchestra relies on ticket sales and donations to thrive.
Now is the perfect time to subscribe to the VSO's 2020/21 season so that we can get back to performing live for you next fall.
Making a donation will help sustain the VSO during these unprecedented times. The arts are at the heart of our society. It is more important than ever to have music to help unite our community.
We thank all of you for your incredible support at this time.
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The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra does not sell tickets through third party websites, except in the case of vendors who control their own inventory and are authorized to sell tickets on behalf of the VSO, including but not limited to: The Chan Centre at UBC, the Anvil Centre, and the Vancouver Playhouse. If your tickets are purchased through unauthorized third party sites then they may be invalid and entry could be refused.
AGM Notice: October 15 at 8:30pm
NOTICE OF AGM 2019
The Richmond Orchestra and Chorus
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of the Society for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019.
DATE: Tuesday, October 15, 2019
TIME: 8:30pm
PLACE:Fraserview Mennonite Church
11295 Mellis Drive, Richmond, BC, V6X 1L8
Formal Business:
Call to order
Adoption of the Agenda
Adoption of Minutes of November 2018
Business Arising and Current:
President’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Artistic Directors’ Reports: Chorus, Orchestra
Election of Board of Directors
Any Other Business
Adjournment
An Evening of Song - February 2, 2019
On February 2, Rowena Bridson (Robert Bridson’s wife) will be performing some of the most beautiful art songs ever written by Schubert and Schumann as well as some lovely arias by Handel and Haydn. She will also be performing a Rodrigo set of four Spanish songs that look at four different aspects of love.
Featuring:
Rowena Bridson, Soprano
Victoria Smus, Piano
Venue:
West Point Grey United Church
4595 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver
Date and Time:
Saturday, February 2
Time: 7:00PM
TICKETS $20
Poster: Click here
A Classic Christmas - Concert Program Order
Dear Members,
Please see the link below for the ‘A Classic Christmas’ concert program.
@ChorusMembers, please review the ‘Program Listing’ so that you know when to sit and stand.
A Classic Christmas - Concert Program
Thanks!
Meghan
Volunteer Ticket Scanner Needed for December 8th
Dear members,
We’re short 1 volunteer ticket scanner for the December 8th concert.
If you know someone that would be interested in scanning tickets for this concert, please have them email me at roca@roca.ca. Thanks!
Meghan
Thank You!
Many, many thanks to everybody for the absolutely beautiful necklace you gave me last night at the AGM. It is totally my sort of jewelry and I will wear it often with so many fond memories of my time as ROCA president. The flowers are beautiful and sitting proudly on my mantle so I can see them everyday. Thanks also for the wonderful photo display, card and comments. I have tried to include a photo of them all, just in case you didn’t see them last night. Many thanks again. Cathy
Tapestry Music - CLEARANCE SALE!
Dear Members,
Tapestry Music, one of our sponsors, is having a HUGE SALE!
Sheet music, strings, trumpets, violins - you name it, it’s on sale!
Please see clearance sheet below and tell them that ROCA sent you!
AGM Notice: November 20, 2018 at 8:00pm
AGM Reports: November 20, 2018
Richmond Orchestra & Chorus Association
Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 8:00PM
Fraserview MB Church - Sanctuary
11295 Mellis Dr, Richmond, BC V6X 1L8
Agenda: Click here to view
AGM 2017 Minutes: Click here to view
Financial Statements 2017-2018: Click here to view
President Report: Click here to view
Treasurer Report: Click here to view
General Manager Report: Click here to view
Artistic Director - Chorus: Click here to view
Artistic Director - Orchestra: Click here to view