January 31, 2017
Dear Singing Friends,
Spring is coming! (Eventually!) Winter’s hold will not last! And we can sing through and into
the spring together, making music with an absolutely WONDERFUL group of songs I have
unearthed. The theme is “On Wings of Song”, or “Sing My Sister, Sing”, with songs about the
power of voices raised in song. There is also a thread of love and hope that weaves through these
songs.
Our BWC Spring 2017 session begins Wednesday, March 1 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at All Souls
Church, and Thursday, March 2 from 10 am – 12 noon in the Centre Church parlor. You can
choose one rehearsal time to sing with, but are welcome to come to the other time as a make-up
should you need one. We are working to have those All Souls rehearsals on Wednesdays be
warm enough, but do dress in layers (affordable rehearsal spaces with good rehearsal acoustics
and plenty of parking are hard to come by)!
The first rehearsals are Open Rehearsals, for new singers to come and check out whether chorus
is right for them. Spread the word and invite your friends! While many singers enjoy performing,
some prefer to sing weekly and not participate in the concerts at the end of the session.
I won’t tell you all of the gems I’ve come up with, but I am truly excited. We’ll sing two songs
by Australian composer/vocalist Lisa Young (http://lisayoungmusic.com/): one called Thulele
Mama Ye that I sent you last fall (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZbmpvrshQk) and
another called Unity; both are on the Coco’s Lunch album called A Whole New Way of Getting
Dressed. There is a song, I Come From Women, by Amy Carol Webb that I sang at the Sister
Singers convention. I just love in the way it brings in our ancestors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAdj5DrzY30. Debbie Nordeen, the conductor you see in
this next link, has also shared with me her arrangement of Annie Lennox's powerful song, Sing
My Sisters, Sing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U50woaEOCNU. Finally, I have in mind
to sing Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry Be Happy – here’s Bobby and friends having fun with it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU
And there’s more great music! But I think that’s enough to give you a sense of the spring, and I
really settle on exactly what we’ll sing once I hear you that first night! We will be joined by
Julian Gerstin and more on percussion, and Lisa McCormick on ukulele and more. We will
perform ONE CONCERT ONLY at the Latchis Theatre on Mother’s Day, Sunday May
14th. (The week before it, the Vermont All State Music Festival is here in town, a big deal!)
If you’re new to chorus, you will receive a practice recording to help you learn. Most of these
songs will be taught by ear; in some cases you’ll get music to help you learn, if that helps you.
We will have two potlucks, March 15 and April 5 starting at 5 pm. We will have sectionals
(where each part comes for a specific time, an hour or two) on Saturday mornings, April 1 &
April 29.
Our last week of rehearsals is a bit up in the air at the moment, because I’m coordinating many
people and spaces, but we WILL plan to rehearse the morning of Saturday May 6 AND the
morning of Saturday May 13th (the Latchis is only available to us Saturday mornings); AND be
sure to save MONDAY MAY 8 for an extra rehearsal night as well.
If you have yet to register, but are planning to return, the DEADLINE FOR RETURNING
SINGERS TO REGISTER IS FEBRUARY 17! Making plans for our concert is difficult
without knowing our base numbers. We expect some new singers, but you returnees will be most
of the chorus! And thank you to those who already registered at our Winter Party!
I look forward to seeing you in March; if you have a friend you think would love chorus, feel
free to pass this letter and information along to her, and invite her to join you that first session of
chorus, either Wednesday or Thursday, for our “Open Rehearsal”. I will introduce the varied and
wonderful songs we’ll be bringing to life with our voices and our beings.
Until then, stay warm and well, heart strong and beautiful as you are!
Love, Becky
Registration
Please mail in the form below (last page) along with at least a $40 deposit to Becky at the
address below. Deposits or full registration fees must be received by February 17 to avoid a $10
late fee. YOU ARE REGISTERED ONLY WHEN YOUR DEPOSIT IS RECEIVED!
**The Registration Fee is the same as last year: $110 for individuals, $60 for students, and $170
for a family pair – with a Late Fee of $10 if I receive your deposit ($40) or full registration fee
AFTER February 17th!**
The late fee is for returning singers ONLY (if you sang in chorus in the past two years)!
Brand new chorus members can register at the first three rehearsals with no late fee.
We work hard with fundraisers to make chorus affordable for all! So if you need financial aid to
attend chorus, fill out a form from our website (or write or email to request one):
http://www.brattleborowomenschorus.com, and include it with your registration.
As always, if you are able to give more to help someone else join chorus, please indicate so on
the registration form. All donations are tax-deductible.
Registration Form
Brattleboro Women’s Chorus SPRING 2017
Send this form with deposit/payment (amounts below) to:
Brattleboro Women’s Chorus, c/o Becky Graber, 120 Guilford St, Brattleboro VT 05301
Please make all checks payable to: Brattleboro Women’s Chorus or BWC
BY FEBRUARY 17: Send ($40) deposit OR
Pay in full: Adults $110, Family $170, Students (age 15-25) $60
AFTER FEB. 17 – Returning Singers (within past 2 years) Please Add $10 to your Payment
Additional contributions are welcome, and will go to the BWC scholarship fund.
Name _______________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address ___________________________________________________________
Phone ______________________________________________________________________
Email _______________________________________________________________________
Voice Part ___________________________________________
How did you Hear about Chorus? _________________________________________
Which Rehearsal Will You Sing With? (circle one): Wednesday PM Thursday AM
Do You Have Trouble Finding Your Pitch?
______________________________________________________________
(This helps me know if you might need some extra help, but is NOT a reason not to join!)
Other Ideas? Suggestions? Comments?? _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
MONEY ENCLOSED (check those that apply)
______$40 deposit (remainder due by March 16)
_____$110 adult ______$170 family
_____$60 student (between 16 – 25)
_______ Other amount
_____ Additional tax-deductible donation enclosed – Amount: __________