September 2015 Newsletter
Mission Statement:
Sharing the passion of singing, Dakota Choral Union entertains, enlightens and enriches our Black Hills
community through the performance of significant choral works. DCU provides the opportunity for individuals to develop
within a supportive family of non-auditioned singers. We strive to bridge boundaries and touch lives through our music.
President’s Corner
☺
NEWS and excitement for 2015-16
Hello Singers!
It only seems like 10 days ago we had our spring concert
and two days ago that DCU was at Mt. Rushmore for the Naturalization ceremony. Where did the summer go?
While I hope your summer was enjoyable and relaxing, rest
assured that your Board of Directors and other volunteers
have been working hard to prepare Dakota Choral Union for
this next season and beyond. I know most of you don’t like to
talk about money, so just let me say that your Board of Directors strives to be fiscally conservative and responsible with
your money. Please review the summary budget (p. 3) in this
newsletter. It should remind you that it takes money to make
this non-profit organization operate successfully.
2015-2016 CONCERT SEASON
frost in autumn
7:30 P.M. Saturday, October 24, 2015
Performing Arts Center (PAC)
Rapid City High School
601 Columbus Street, Rapid City
Christmas at the Cathedral
Tables du Jour is a major component of our community
exposure and financial success. TdJ has located a new venue
for our January 2016 event. The kitchen is apparently very
well suited for our needs and the hall should be a delight to
entertain in. Please thank these volunteers for all of their behind-the-scenes work. Then, please volunteer to help make
this event a huge success for everyone.
7:30 P.M. Sunday, December 20, 2015
Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
520 Cathedral Drive, Rapid City
KOTA Care and Share event
Dr. Canaan has volunteered to take over leadership of the
Young Vocal Artists Competition. DCU and BHSU are now
partnering to present a quality, competitive and educational
experience to high school vocalists in this region. YVAC has
always been an important element of DCU’s community commitment. With new leadership and fresh ideas, I believe you
will see a rise in the number of students and the quality of their
performances. (see YVAC article p. 2)
Youth & Family Services
120 E. Adams Street, Rapid City
A festive, musically-themed luncheon.
BY RESERVATION ONLY
Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank Dr. Canaan
and Dr. Nero for putting together what should be an exciting
and challenging season of music for everyone, singer and audience alike. I spend a lot of time listening to other community
choral groups around the country and am proud to say that
Dakota Choral Union is right up there with the best. Dedicated
and talented singers led by quality conductors and artistic
directors are a fabulous combination. I am, as always, proud
to say I sing with DCU!
See you in a couple of weeks.
Ken Dewell, President
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Monday, September 14
7TH ANNUAL Tables du Jour
11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 30, 2016
NEW LOCATION
Young Vocal Artists Competition
DCU and BH State University co-sponsor this
annual competition to encourage, honor, and
hear the best young singers in our community.
9:00 A.M. Saturday, April 16, 2016
First Congregational Church
1200 Clark Street, Rapid City
Fern Hill
~ Under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Nero~
4:00 P.M. Sunday, May 1, 2016
Holy Cross Chapel at Terra Sancta
2102 City Springs Road, Rapid City
Naturalization Ceremony
at Mt. Rushmore
11:00 AM -June 16, 2016
7:00- 9:00 P.M.
Registration starts at 6:30
Terra Sancta
(formerly St. Martin’s)
2102 City Springs Road
 news continues ...
AND more news…
from our Artistic Director/Conductor , Dr. Charles Canaan ♪
Greetings! The calendar and changing temperatures remind us summer is rapidly coming to its conclusion, fall is waiting
to take the stage and it is time for another season of the Dakota Choral Union. Our first rehearsal is Monday, September 14
at 7:00 pm at Terra Sancta. You are encouraged to arrive early enough to register, pick up your music and be ready for warm
-ups at the top of the hour.
The fall program consists of a variety of musical styles. We open with an energetic selection by American composer,
Daniel Pinkham, taken from his Wedding Cantata, Awake O North Wind, with text from the Song of Solomon. The next
three are settings of poems by Robert Frost with music by Randall Thompson (remember And the Child Grew? same composer!) The second set features two spirituals: Standing in the Need of Prayer, arranged by Moses Hogan, and Witness by
Jack Halloran. We end with a lively folk selection, The Gypsy Fiddler, accompanied by fiddle, bass, percussion and piano.
In addition there will be several selections by Kantorei, Bella Voce and the All-State Choir Singers from Central and
Stevens High School.
The fall concert is scheduled for the PAC on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 pm with rehearsals that morning from
9 – 11:00. In addition to the regular rehearsals we will have a “Singing Saturday” on September 26. This will consist of sectionals for Tenors and Basses at 9 and Sopranos and Altos at 10:15. There will be a short coffee break between the sectionals. Please mark those dates on your calendars and do your best to be in attendance; with one less rehearsal than last fall we
need everyone to be faithful to each and every rehearsal.
I would like to meet any new members after the first rehearsal to determine voice placement.
Looking forward to seeing and hearing you on the 14th.
Charles Canaan, DMA
Artistic Director and Conductor
Our FUNdraiser... BIG NEWS—NEW LOCATION
Date: Saturday, January 30, 2016
Planning for Tables du Jour #7 began in February of 2015 just after we wrapped up #6 when it
was decided to move from Canyon Lake Center-Viking Hall to the Youth and Family Services at
Tables du Jour 120 East Adams Street for TdJ 2016. There are several advantages to our new venue including
a large entry/waiting area for our guests, a walk in cooler for food storage, sufficient tables on
site for our needs, more parking, and no rental fees. That last item saves us several hundred dollars.
Our popular and successful FUNdraising event provides dollars to fund many aspects of our concert season from the
purchase of music, rental fees for various venues, stipends for guest musicians and director/accompanist salaries. Beyond
that, TdJ provides another opportunity to sing, have fun as we get to know each other better and provide public exposure
for DCU and our mission.
We’re thankful that many of YOU are already making plans to decorate a table, to donate a money-making auction
item, to prepare our entrée salad or to help in other meaningful ways. All your talents and skills are needed to make this a
successful FUNdraiser. After practices begin in September, we will be holding a tasting event for a possible replacement for
our entrée salad. We’ve used the same recipe for five of the six years and think a change might be due. Look through your
recipe boxes for your favorites.
I hope you were able to collect items for the silent auction during your summer activities. You can bring the information
to DCU practice. Email or talk to Linda Matkins [email protected] , or Susan Anderson [email protected] or Sharon
Lee [email protected] (auction chair), if you have questions, talents, or skills you can share. If you are new to DCU,
check out the TdJ photo poster in our rehearsal room and pick up a handout opening night.
The Young Vocal Artists Competition will be undergoing several significant changes in 2016. The first is that YVAC will
now be jointly sponsored by DCU and the music department of Black Hills State University. As a result of the new partnership, the competition will be held this year at the First Congregational Church and the next year it will be held in the Meier
Recital Hall at BHSU. The second change is students will only be required to prepare two selections, as opposed the three
in the past, one of which is to be in English. The registration fee will now be $25, after March 15 it is $35. Prize money for
first place will now be $200, for second place $150 and third place will be $100. In addition BHSU will offer music scholarships for the winners. The top three contestants will also perform at the DCU spring concert.
The new board consists of Charles Canaan, Ken Dewell, Jon Nero, Nancy Roberts and Paul Robinson. Last year was the
first time in 28 years the competition was canceled because of low registration, so our goal is to work hard to keep this valuable venture strong and healthy for years to come. We ask you to please encourage young singers you may know to consider participating in this event. Those who have done so in the past found it to be a valuable learning experience. If you have
further questions please contact any of the above board members.
 news continues ...
REGISTRATION—MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 STARTS AT 6:30
Get ready to register
Annual dues $50.
1. Returning singers will receive an email from Deanne Farrar before Sept. 14. Replying to her will
speed up registration the first night.
2. Release of Information Form required by all singers– Form found in three places:
1) attached to this newsletter - page 5
3) attached at dakotachoralunion.org
2) attached to Deanne’s email
 Print, fill out, bring to opening night!
3. MONDAY NIGHT SEPT. 14
Go to the table labeled with your music section. You will confirm your address information, turn in your
Release of Information form, pay the $50 singer fee (checks payable to DCU), and pick up your music
folder.
New Singers Go on-line to dakotachoralunion.org, print the singer registration and Release of Information forms and bring them all filled in or fill out one at the NEW SINGER table Monday night. New
singers can come and test drive us the first week and then pay their dues the second week.
Monday night rehearsals
begin:
Monday, September 14
7:00- 9:00 P.M.
Registration starts at 6:30
Terra Sancta
(formerly St. Martin’s)
2102 City Springs Road
**Specific EXTRA Concert Rehearsals
Mark your calendars NOW
Fall: Singing Saturday Sept. 26 Men 9:00
Ladies 10:15
week of concert:
Monday Oct. 19 regular; Terra Sancta
Saturday Oct. 24 9-11 at the PAC
Christmas:
Singing Saturday: Nov. 7 Men 9:00
Ladies 10:15
week of concert
regular Monday night Dec. 14 Terra Sancta
Friday night, Dec. 18 Cathedral
Saturday morning, Dec. 19 Cathedral
$$$ HOW DOES THIS 501 © 3 ORGANIZATION WORK?
DAKOTA CHORAL UNION 2015-16 BUDGET
INCOME
EXPENSES
Singer Dues
$ 6,000 Conductor
City Grant
$ 8,500 Accompanist
Individual donations
$
400 Music Purchase
Concert Sponsors
$ 1,500 Instrumentalists
CDs and Concert
CDs and Concert
Attire
$ 2,000 Attire
Christmas/Cathedral
$ 3,000 KOTA Care/Share
Fall/Spring Concert
Tables du Jour
Total Income
$15,000
$ 3,400
$ 3,500
$ 3,200
$ 2,000
$ 500
$ 9,000 Concert Expenses
$ 9,000 Tables du Jour
Young Vocal Artists
Insurance
Maintenance
$
$
$
$
$
Misc. -copying,
Marketing
$39,400 Total Expenses
$ 2,500
$ 2,550
$39,400
Spring: Concert week usually has
extra rehearsals.
Call times for each concert
will be announced.
Dakota Choral Union at Terra Sancta
DCU extends special THANKS to Rapid City Catholic School System for
their gracious granting of Terra Sancta space, chairs, tables, and paved
and lighted parking for our Dakota Choral Union HOME.
3,150
1,000
1,100
1,000
500
Says Stacy Horn in her
book, Imperfect Harmony,
FINDING HAPPINESS SINGING WITH OTHERS,
“Once a week I return to one of the most beautiful
churches in Manhattan, pick up whatever masterpiece
we’re currently working on, open my mouth, and sing.
Life is hard, battles of all kinds continue to rage around
us, and disappointments accumulate. But singing is the
one thing in my life that never fails to take me to where
disenchantment is almost nonexistent and feeling good
is pretty much guaranteed.”
What do you think?
Ladies…
If you find you are unable to sing in
a concert and are willing to loan your
dress, please let Cindy Begley (concert
attire) know.
[email protected] 209-8499
You might want to
bring your own water
to rehearsals.
PO Box 9083
Rapid City, SD 57709
DCU invites YOU to be a part of this
organization that is a melting pot of people
from all economic positions, all educational
backgrounds, and all walks of life who
share a passion for singing.
dakotachoralunion.org
The Dakota Choral Union is organized for the purpose of supporting and encouraging quality choral music in the
Black Hills region, primarily through the training of a non-auditioned chorus for performances at concerts and other
events. Chorus singers may also be offered opportunities to participate in smaller auditioned choral groups.
The Board of Directors of DCU organizes financial and managerial support for the activities of the DCU Chorus
and small groups.
Board of Directors:
Ken Dewell, President
[email protected]
391-1929
Cora Fried, V-President
[email protected] 430-7637/721-9363
Lee Pfeiffer, Recording Sec.
[email protected]
348-2895/595-2590
Emily Tobin Tupa, Corresp. Sec.
[email protected]
701-741-0655
Patty Tlustos, Treas.
[email protected]
755-9044/430-4469
Carol Merbach [email protected] 939-4153/721-8884
** Board member at-large needed! See Ken Dewell
WITH THANKS:
City of Rapid City
Music Personnel:
Dr. Charles Canaan, Artistic Director & Conductor DCU
and Kantorei
[email protected]
651-0253
Cora Fried, Accompanist
[email protected]
430-7637
Email Communications: Lisa Werdal
[email protected]
Website Editor dakotachoralunion.org
Marty Larson
[email protected]
For your reference:
Membership Section Leaders: (contact about absence; can
help with questions/concerns/communication)
Soprano 1 Chris Dunbar [email protected] 721-3628
Soprano 2 Julie Schwandt [email protected] 716-0851
Alto 1 Judy Hengen [email protected]
718-9983
Alto 2 Lee Pfeiffer [email protected]
348-2895
Tenor: John TerBeest [email protected]
348-4277
Bass: Ken Dewell [email protected] 391-1929
Music Librarian:
Kakie Dewell [email protected]
Asst. Jean Harris [email protected]
Roster/Registrar
Deanne Farrar [email protected]
390-6805
Hospitality: Donna White
[email protected]
Programs: Marti Maron
[email protected]
Posters/tickets: Judy Hengen
[email protected]
Young Vocal Artists Comp: Chuck Canaan
Publicity/Marketing: Kakie Dewell [email protected]
Tables du Jour:
Linda Matkins [email protected]
Susan Anderson [email protected]
209-2597 Concert Manager Fall, Christmas, Spring
Carol Merbach [email protected]
342-0890
Concert Attire:
Cindy Begley [email protected] 209-8499