Archive for the ‘Fall 2013’ Category

Call & Go down, Moses

Friday, January 3rd, 2014

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-
Ul is going to rehearse Beethoven first, so our call is now 1:00 pm this Saturday.
As last year, our Black History Month Concert will feature a piece sung by Music Majors (and other auditioned singers as space allows.) I have attached Go down, Moses. I would like Music Majors to learn it by our first rehearsal on January 14. Soprano and alto tracks are attached. Tenor and Bass will follow.
I look forward to seeing everyone this Friday at 7:30 pm at NOVA.

Go down, Moses
tenor and bass tracks [not attached – TBD]

[Admin: Tracks are posted on the music files page.]


Music Files

Sunday, December 29th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-

Reminder:The postponed performance of the Haydn mass is this Saturday, January 4, at the Masonic Memorial. The call is 12:30 pm; concert time is 3:00 pm. I have only heard from one person the might not be there, so I am expecting all of you to be present.

We have an important rehearsal on Friday, January 3, at 7:30 pm in the choir room at NOVA. As you can imagine, I need everyone present. Please work with your rehearsal CD every day between now and then.

Upcoming semester
Sheet music and rehearsal tracks for Sea surface full of clouds are now available at http://www.novachorus.org/music-files. It is modern and very interesting. Like other modern works, it may take time to fully appreciate.

Sheet music and rehearsal tracks for Jazz Mass are also available at http://www.novachorus.org/music-files. I hope it will be fun and exciting for you to revisit this piece. Thanks to our fabulous webmistress Kate.

You may print and download music for free. I will have sheet music and CDs at our first rehearsal if you want to purchase them.

Happy New year to all. -DrW


Beginning Class Voice

Tuesday, December 17th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers- I will have an exciting opportunity for intermediate and advanced singers in the Spring semester. MUS 131/132 Beginning Class Voice meets M-T 6:00 to 7:15. The class will feature a live pianist (Christine Hagan) on Tuesday nights. intermediate and advanced students will be able to sing their own repertoire on a weekly basis and receive instruction and coaching. Beginning students will sing with the rehearsal CD on Mondays. More opportunities to sing with piano accompaniment has long been a need in our Voice Program, and I hope this course will help meet this need. The course will be limited to 20. I encourage seniors to register as paying students. Let me know if you have any questions.


Concert Tickets

Tuesday, December 17th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers- You did a great job of selling tickets for our Haydn concerts. If, because of the cancellation and rescheduled concert, you would like to to be refunded for tickets you purchased, please let me know. We will happily refund your money.


Concert Rehearsal

Tuesday, December 17th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-
As you know, our make up concert on Saturday, January 4, 1:00 PM Rehearsal, 3:00 PM Concert. It will be at at George Washington Masonic National Memorial.
Please find time over break to work with your Haydn reh CD.
We will have a chorus rehearsal on Friday, January 3, at 7:30 pm, in the Chorus Room. Please make every effort to attend this critical rehearsal.
Let’s all go for a New year celebration afterward!

Please consider taking a course next semester to strengthen your musicianship so that you can make a maximum contribution to our chorus.
MUS141 02aClass Piano, Saturdays at noon
MUS131 01a Class Voice, M T at 6:00 pm
MUS 101 01a Basic Musicianship, Tuesdays at 11:00 am
MUS 121 06a Music Appreciation, Saturdays at noon
(I teach all of these sections)


Fun Singing Opportunity

Sunday, December 15th, 2013

From Lisa Eckstein, Music Instructor, Band and Summer Band Camp Director: Dear Musicians,

The Medical Musical Group (MMG) is looking for singers (especially male), and flute, French horn, and string players for a concert they are performing next week at the Strathmore Concert Hall in Bethesda, MD.  There are rehearsals next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings with the concert on Friday.  I have played bassoon with this group before and it is a fun gig.  It is a volunteer gig, not paid.  This is a good opportunity to play with some great musicians and on stage at Strathmore.  The concert will have a large audience and will likely be streamed live.  (I’ll be playing bassoon for this one and have to miss rehearsal on Tuesday but will see you for the rest if you can join.)  I know Harris Wood from band plays with this group a lot, although he is unable to make this concert next week.

There are some “celebrities” who are also a part of this concert.  Please read below for more information, and also pass this onto other flute, French horn, and ESPECIALLY string players if you can.  If anyone is interested in joining the MMG for this concert, please let me know and also contact Beth Davis directly at fictacello@gmail.com.

—–

From Beth Davis, Program Assistant (and acting Principal Cellist): Lisa,

I’m writing to ask if you can help us find a few French Horn and Viola players. We could also use a good flautist. At present, our string count is 5 – 5 – 3 – 5 – 2 and we only have one confirmed French Horn player! Any help finding players would be greatly appreciated.

For your convenience, I’ve attached a flyer about the concert (it also has the rehearsal and concert dates and times). This is an updated Performers flier which includes the rehearsal site information — the Academy of the Holy Cross (4920 Stathmore Ave, Kensington) which is very close to the Strathmore. Also attached is a general concert flyer that just has the concert and ticket information.

Flyer 1, flyer 2 (.pdfs)

We hope the concert will be streamed live on Friday, December 20, 2013, 8:00 pm, from Strathmore Concert Hall in Bethesda, MD. In addition to our 200-member Medical Chorale and Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Francis Collins, NIH Director and a gifted musician, will strum the guitar with us. We’ll also feature special guests Ricky Skaggs, Maureen McGovern, and Julia Nixon, and Cokie Roberts (ABC) and Jim Bittermann (CNN Paris) will host. The gala concert will benefit wounded warriors and we anticipate that it may become a Washington Holiday tradition!

NOTE: The concert starts at 8PM Friday December 20, not 7:30 as previously noted.
This also pushes back the Pre-concert by a half hour to 7PM.


Concert Rescheduled

Tuesday, December 10th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-

As you see below, our 2nd concert has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 4. Please make every effort to sing. Let me know if you cannot sing. You have infested so much in this magnificent music, we simply must sing it again.

What an incredible season! Brahms’ Neue Liebeslieder in October and Haydn Mass in time of war in December. You brought such musicianship and vocality to each. I am proud to direct such a fine group.

The next season is going to be equally great. I hope you enjoy singing my Jazz Mass again at the Black History Month concert. I think you will enjoy being a part of the premier of Sea surface full of clouds by Larry Ries. I know you will love singing Frostiana by Randall Thomson. Please register for chorus as soon as you can. If you know good singers who would enjoy singing with us, sign them up!

Also-Please consider taking a course next semester to strengthen you musicianship so that you can make a maximum contribution to our chorus.
MUS141 Class Piano, Saturdays at noon
MUS131 Class Voice, M T at 6:00 pm
MUS101 Basic Musicianship, Tuesdays at 11:00 am
(I teach all of these sections)

Attached is Gloria (.m3) from our concert at Epiphany.

Have a very Happy Holiday!

From: Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association <wmpa@earthlink.net>
Date: December 10, 2013, 3:40:54 PM EST
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Second Performance of DEC Concert SAT., JAN 4 2014

Hi all,

The second, postponed performance of the December 8 concert will be on Saturday, January 4. We’ll have a lengthy rehearsal from 12:30 to 2:30 PM, with the concert at 3 PM. We’ll perform at the Masonic Memorial (it is available) OR T. C. Williams (have not been able to communicate with them due to weather closings). I’ll confirm the location as soon as I can discuss the concert with TCW.

This should leave enough time for everyone to schedule the event into their calendar. I did not think it possible to bring the orchestra together for a concert prior to Christmas given everyone’s previous committments. If you currently have a conflict on January 4, please do everything you can to resolve it so that you can perform that day with WMP. If you can’t, please let me know.

Strings, the January 4 weekend will be very busy as the first rehearsal for the February concert will be on Sunday, January 5 from 5 to 8 PM. Please plan on it as well!

Warmest regards,

Ul

Ulysses S. James
Music Director/Conductor
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association


Alert

Tuesday, December 10th, 2013

ALERT — Tue., Dec. 10, 2013 — College Closed
NOVA day and evening classes and activities are canceled Tue., Dec. 10 due to inclement weather. All campuses and administrative offices are closed. Please refresh your browser for the latest update.

From Dr. Whitmire: Sadly, tonight’s concert (Tues. 12/10) is canceled. The college is closed (Much ado about nothing).
-DrW


Performance Canceled

Sunday, December 8th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Sadly, this evening’s concert has been cancelled. See you on Tuesday.


Fourteenth Rehearsal Preview

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Welcome to our 14th rehearsal of Fall 2013! Please sign in.

Tonight’s rehearsal is in Schlesinger at 7:30 pm.

Thanks for your outstanding performance on Sunday. You were amazing. I listened to the entire concert on Tuesday night on the way home. Bravo!

Schedule

Saturday, 12/07/13 noon rehearsal (Please make every effort to attend)

Sunday, 12/08/13, 2:00 pm call; 3:00 pm concert
Concert with the WMPO
T. C. Williams High School
3330 King St, Alexandria

Tues 12/10/13, 6:30 pm call; 7:30 pm concert
Chorus/Band/Jazz Band Concert
Schlesinger

Please give your ticket money your Section Leader. You may buy them to give to your friends and family. Cash or check to NVCC Foundation.

Invite your friends!!!


Winter Flyer

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

Click image for flyer PDF


Performance

Saturday, November 30th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-
I hope that you have enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I certainly have, and the best is yet to come!
tomorrow
Please arrive at Epiphany no later than 1:55 pm. Ul will be rehearsing. At 2:10 pm he would like the chorus to take the stage. Arrange yourselves as we did at the dress rehearsal. Men go up first, then women. There should not be any problems; Sections Leaders will sort out any kinks that arise. Be silent as you take the stage. Section Leaders- Make sure that there are chairs on the sides for any singers who need to sit. Ul will start as many movements as time allows.
We are on after intermission. I can’t wait.


Thirteenth Rehearsal Preview

Tuesday, November 26th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire:

Welcome to our 13th rehearsal of Fall 2013! Please sign in.

Thanks to all who auditioned last week for 12/10 solos. Here are our soloists:
Matt Relton, Halina Banas-Jones, Peggy Harrison, Debbie Peetz, Mike Jarvis

Schedule

NO rehearsal this Saturday.

Sunday, 12/01/13, 2:00 pm call; 3:00 pm concert
Concert with the WMPO
Church of the Epiphany
1317 G St. NW Washington DC

Tuesday, 12/03/13, 7:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal
Schlesinger

Sunday, 12/08/13, 2:00 pm call; 3:00 pm concert
Concert with the WMPO
T. C. Williams High School
3330 King St, Alexandria

Tues 12/10/13, 6:30 pm call; 7:30 pm concert
Chorus/Band/Jazz Band Concert
Schlesinger

Please give your ticket money your Section Leader. You may buy them to give to your friends and family. Cash or check to NVCC Foundation.

We will be last on the 12/1 and 12/8 concert. Before us there is a newly commissioned piece and Beethoven Symphony No. 2.

Invite your friends!!!


Publicity

Tuesday, November 26th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire:

NOVA Community Chorus (Dr. Mark Whitmire, Director) and the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra will present Franz Joseph Haydn’s Missa in Tempore Belli (Mass in Time of War). The concert will feature soloists Therese LaGoe (soprano), Grace Gori (mezzo-soprano), Patrick Cook (tenor) and Aurelius Gori (bass).

Performances are:

Sunday, December 1, 3:00 p.m.
Church of the Epiphany
1317 G Street, NW
Washington, DC

Sunday, December 8, 3:00 p.m.
T.C. Williams High School
3330 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22302

For discount tickets or information call 703-845-6097or email mwhitmire@nvcc.edu

Click image for flyer PDF


Rehearsal

Monday, November 25th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-
Thanks for a GREAT dress rehearsal last night. This is going to be a fantastic concert.
Tomorrow night is going to be cold and wet. Nevertheless, we cannot afford to have absences. Break out the umbrellas. DON’T MISS REHEARSAL.


Twelfth Rehearsal Preview

Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Welcome to our 12th rehearsal of Fall 2013! Please sign in.

Auditions for solos in our 12/10 concert are tonight.
Gloria – bass p. 19 on; Sanctus – alto p. 54 Gloria – sop, alto, tenor, bass p. 71

Please do your best to attend rehearsal this Saturday 11/23 at noon. Our soloists will be here.

Our Dress Rehearsal with orchestra is this Sunday 11/24 at 5:00 pm
at First Baptist Church of Alexandria
(2932 King Street Alexandria, VA 22302)

From Washington, DC:
Take I-395 South into Virginia.
Take the King Street Exit heading EAST.
Follow King Street past T.C. Williams High School, and our church will be on your right.
From the Beltway:
Take I-395 North, towards Washington, DC.
Take the King Street Exit headed EAST.
Follow King Street past T.C. Williams High School, and the church will be on your right.

Tickets are here. See your Section Leader. Please do your best to sell 5 tickets at $10 each (half of the door price). Or you may buy them to give to your friends and family. Cash or check to NVCC Foundation. Section Leaders- You might want to come early tonight to organize your tickets.

Our Flyer is attached again.

Schedule
Sunday, 11/24/13, 5:00 pm
Dress Rehearsal
First Baptist Church, Alexandria

Sunday, 12/01/13, 3:00 pm
Concert with the WMPO
Church of the Epiphany

Sunday, 12/08/13, 3:00 pm
Concert with the WMPO
T. C. Williams High School

Tues 12/10/13, 7:30 pm
Chorus/Band/Jazz Band Concert
Haydn: Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei
Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, We wish you a merry Christmas
Schlesinger

Yours-DrW

Click image for flyer PDF


Noon Rehearsal

Saturday, November 16th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Please make every effort to attend today’s noon rehearsal. We will rehearse all-together.  Next Sunday (11/24) is our Dress Rehearsal with orchestra!


PHILOMENA Concert

Wednesday, November 13th, 2013

From Alta Section Leader Debbie: I don’t know if a notice will go out to the whole chorus but Ruth Herndon and I wanted you to know about the concert we will be singing in this Sunday, Nov 17th, at the Lyceum in Old Town Alexandria.  The group is PHILOMELA and Terri LaGoe is in the Soprano section of this women’s vocal ensemble.

Performance starts at 3pm and features a set of songs, “Pieces of Night,” composed by Jonathan Kolm of NOVA, with text from the poems of Sara Teasdale.  Accompanied by Denise Wilkinson, violist from The National Symphony Orchestra.  Many of you also know Kathy Kessler Price, Philomela’s director.

The concert is called ‘Patterns of Life’ and includes songs by Laitman, Cohen, Walter, Copland and Lennon/McCartney.

Ticket prices are $15 Adults and $10 Kids & Seniors.
===================
The Lyceum
201 S Washington St,
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-4994

It would be lovely to see you in the audience.


Eleventh Rehearsal Preview

Tuesday, November 12th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire:

Welcome to our 11th rehearsal of Fall 2013! Please sign in.

Thanks for your good work with Chris while I was in Haiti last Tuesday.
Thanks also to all who attended to all who attended sectionals at noon on Saturday.

Next week is our last Tuesday rehearsal before our November 24 Dress Rehearsal with orchestra. Do your best to attend this Saturday as we have only 1

Auditions for solos in our 12/10 concert will be next Tuesday Nov. 19
Gloria – bass p. 19 on; Sanctus – alto p. 54 Gloria – sop, alto, tenor, bass p. 71

A Poster for our December 1 and 8 concerts is attached (.pdf). Spread the word!

I hope to have Tickets next Tuesday.

Schedule

Sunday, 11/24/13, 5:00 pm -Note: this is a change (10-11-13)
Dress Rehearsal with
location TBA

Sunday, 12/01/13, 3:00 pm -Note: this is a change (10-11-13)
Concert with the WMPO
Church of the Epiphany
Haydn: Mass in Time of War

Sunday, 12/08/13, 3:00 pm -Note: this is a change (10-11-13)
Concert with the WMPO
T. C. Williams High School
Haydn: Mass in Time of War

Tuesday, 12/03/13, 7:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal
Schlesinger

Tues 12/10/13, 7:30 pm -Note: repertoire added (10-29-13)
Chorus/Band/Jazz Band Concert
from Missa in Tempore Belli (Mass in Time of War), Haydn
Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei
Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, We wish you a merry Christmas
Schlesinger

Click image for flyer PDF


From Russia with Love

Wednesday, November 6th, 2013

NOVA-Annandale Symphony Orchestra Fall Concert. Friday, November 8 at 8:00 pm. See the flyer (.pdf) for details.


Berkshire Choral Festival 2014

Tuesday, November 5th, 2013

From Chorister Grace: Registration is now open for The Berkshire Choral Festival’s 2014 season – www.choralfest.org.  BCF is offering a choice of six one week vacations next year, three in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, one in Winter Park, FL, one in Maynooth, Ireland (near Dublin), and one in Scheggino, Italy.  The last one is already full, but you can sign up for the wait list and hope if that’s the place you want to sing.

The web site has been redesigned and allows you to sign up for the BCF newsletter and get news about their programs without committing to anything, as well as allowing online registration if you want to do that.  There’s also a link to the YouTube video done a couple of years ago, which is a good introduction to BCF.

BCF offers a BCF Scholar program for young singers. We had five alto scholars the week I went last year.  One was a senior in college, and two had just graduated last spring.  The scholar attend the week free (lodging, meals, tuition)- only major expense is getting there and back.  It’s really a terrific opportunity for young musicians.  Applications for the Scholar program don’t close until April, so there’s time to think about it.

Applications for the rest of us are due in January, although registrations are accepted after that if the chorus is not yet full.


Ninth Rehearsal Preview

Tuesday, October 29th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire:
Welcome to our 9th rehearsal of Fall 2013! Please sign in.

Thanks to all who attended sectionals at noon on Saturday. Do your best to attend this Saturday as we have only 3 more Tuesday rehearsals before our November 24 dress rehearsal with orchestra.

Pick up a copy of three carols for our 12/10 concert.

Auditions for solos in our 12/10 concert will be Nov. 19
Gloria – bass p. 19 on; Sanctus – alto p. 54; Gloria – sop, alto, tenor, bass p. 71

Schedule
Sunday, 11/24/13, 5:00 pm              -Note: this is a change (10-11-13)
Dress Rehearsal with
location TBA

Sunday, 12/01/13, 3:00 pm              -Note: this is a change (10-11-13)
Concert with the WMPO
Church of the Epiphany
Haydn: Mass in Time of War

Sunday, 12/08/13, 3:00 pm             -Note: this is a change (10-11-13)
Concert with the WMPO
T. C. Williams High School
Haydn: Mass in Time of War

Tuesday, 12/03/13, 7:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal
Schlesinger

Tues 12/10/13, 7:30 pm                   -Note: repertoire added (10-29-13)
Chorus/Band/Jazz Band Concert
from Missa in Tempore Belli (Mass in Time of War), Haydn
Gloria
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, We wish you a merry Christmas
Schlesinger


Saturday

Saturday, October 26th, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-
Please make every effort to attend today’s noon section rehearsal.


Tenors Needed

Friday, October 25th, 2013

From Chorister Jane:  Tenors are needed for the Rutter Gloria on Christmas Eve 9PM at Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington.  Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 8 PM.
Jane Roningen
jane.roningen [at] gmail.com


Eighth Rehearsal Preview

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013

From Dr. Whitmire: Welcome to our 8th rehearsal of Fall 2013! Please sign in.

Thank you again for your splendid performance last Tuesday night. What a rich, romantic sound you made! Our soloist and small groups did a wonderful job. Special thanks to Chris and David for their magnificent playing.

Absences
If, for any reason, you did not sing at our concert, please see me tonight. If you had already spoken to me of your absence, please remind me.

Thanks as well to all who attended sectionals at noon on Saturday. Do your best to attend this Saturday as we have only 4 more Tuesday rehearsals before our November 24 dress rehearsal with orchestra.

Schedule

Sunday, 11/24/13, 5:00 pm                  -Note: this is a change (10-11-13)
Dress Rehearsal with
location TBA

Sunday, 12/01/13, 3:00 pm                  -Note: this is a change (10-11-13)
Concert with the WMPO
Church of the Epiphany
Haydn: Mass in Time of War

Sunday, 12/08/13, 3:00 pm                  -Note: this is a change (10-11-13)
Concert with the WMPO
T. C. Williams High School
Haydn: Mass in Time of War

Tuesday, 12/03/13, 7:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal
Schlesinger

Tues 12/10/13, 7:30 pm
Chorus/Band/Jazz Band Concert
Schlesinger