These two entries have been added to the Performances Page.
Sunday, May 29, 2011 – St. James Church, Richmond, Virginia
Recording
G. F. Handel, Judas Maccabaeus
Performed by St. James’s Parish Choir and members of the NOVA Community Chorus, Alexandria (VA) with members of the Richmond Symphony
Dr. Mark Whitmire, conductor
“Sing Unto God” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IWlGLhI2y4
“Hallelujah, Amen” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IDgIXZjg
Regular NOVAConnect registration for all 2011 Fall semester sessions is under way. Classes begin on Monday, August 22. The first chorus rehearsal is on Tuesday, August 23.
Chorus is MUS 137 001A (subject MUS, catalog number 137, section 001A, class number 12973).
For previous postings regarding Fall 2011, under Archives on the right-hand side of the page, click on “Fall 2011”
For archived Spring or Summer 2011 information, please see to the right-hand side of the page, also under Archives.
Reminder: Frequently Used Documents are always linked on the right side of the page:
Info for New Members (Great refresher for current members, too)
Dr. W’s Choral Singing Tips
Performance Guidance (includes concert dress guidelines)
Join the Chorus
From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers- I plan to be in my office tomorrow 2-6 pm. Please drop by and pick you rehearsal CD is you get a change. Yours-DrW
From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers- Listen to this! Super exciting! See you soon.
Chichester Psalms I.mp3, .mp3 file. For most systems, click to play file, right-click to download
From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-Just a note to let you know that our music has arrived in the campus bookstore. I have also updated our Schedule as you see below (4-pg .pdf). I will be in my office again on Tuesday, August 16. if you want to drop by to pick up a rehearsal CD. Let me know. In the meanwhile, use www.cyberbass.com to work on Chichester Psalms. See you on August 23. Enjoy the rest of the summer.
From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers- We had an excellent Vocal Seminar this summer, albeit short-only 6 weeks. Several of the students asked if we could continue Vocal Seminar this Fall. I hadn’t intended to teach it but due to an administrative error it is listed in the Fall Schedule. As it turns out, I can can get them to let me teach it if there is sufficient enrollment (more than guitar or piano classes). As you know, it is one of my favorite classes, so I would love it if we had the class. It will be 2 credits and will meet Saturdays 2-4 pm. If you would like to improve your singing and performing skills this is a great class: Mus 198 001a Seminar and Project. Please spread the word to anyone you think might be interested.
From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-
-I hope you are enjoying a great summer.
-I have finished rehearsal CDs for Fall. If a sufficient number of you would like to pick one up,
I will be on campus this Thursday, July 21, 2-8 pm. Please let me know. Bernstein is $5. Rachmaninoff (2 CDs) is $10. Cash or check made to NVCC Foundation.
-The music will be in the bookstore in two weeks. If you are ready to get started now, you can always order from www.sheetmusicplus.com.
Chichester Psalms
By Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990). Vocal Score. BH Large Choral. Book only. 48 pages. Boosey & Hawkes #M051321407. Published by Boosey & Hawkes (HL.48002894)
The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
By Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). For SATB Choir (Mixed Voices). General. Choral. 152 pages. Published by Galaxy Music Corporation (EC.1.3100)
[Admin note: SheetMusicPlus is currently offering a 20% discount on all choral titles, through July 26]
-I look forward to seeing you at our first rehearsal on August 23.
Yours-DrW
According to the NVCC Alexandria Campus Bookstore online, the sheet music for the Fall semester is:
CHICHESTER PSALMS # M 051321407. By BERNSTEIN. Publisher: LEONARD H. ISBN: 2818590090664
Link to Sheet Music Plus.
Link to Hal Leonard Publishing
LITURGY OF JOHN CHRYSOSTOM NO 1.3100. By RACHMANIOFF. Publisher: SCHIRMER M. ISBN: 2818590090671
Link to Sheet Music Plus
Link to ECS Publishing
Please note that Sheet Music Plus’ prices are often less than the bookstore, and may also offer discounts on all choral music. This information has not been confirmed. Order items at your own risk.
Thanks to Chorister Jane, a list of works previously performed by the chorus is now permanently posted on the Performances Page.
From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-
I hope this message finds you enjoying a wonderful summer.
There have been some changes in our schedule (.pdf) for the upcoming season that you will want to know about.
-As you will see, I have postponed Songs of Sunset to the Spring. That’s because our soloists, Grace and Rex Gori, are expecting a baby girl! (Their due date is October 24.)
-We will sing Chichester Psalms (one of my all-time favorite pieces) in the Fall.
-I am also very excited about the Rachmaninoff Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. It is sublime music that will be especially beautiful when we sing it at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church on December 2.
This is music that any seasoned chorister will want to sing. It is fabulous and challenging in both music and language (Hebrew and Old church Slavonic). If you know skilled singers (especially low basses) please have them join us. So spread the word—email, Facebook, Twitter, Morse code, smoke signals.
I have finished the Bernstein CDs and am hard at work on the Rachmaninoff. The CDs will include both notes and pronunciation. The Bookstore says music will be in mid-July.
I look forward to seeing everyone in the Fall. If for any reason you are unable to sing with us this Fall, please let me know. I don’t want anyone to slip away silently.
In the meanwhile, have a great summer!
Yours-DrW
[Admin: Two new music files can be found on the Music Files page.]
(June 14, 2011) Update: From Fred: Here is your chance to have fun singing five well known songs in the Kennedy Center as part of a special, two hour long Tribute to the Wounded Warriors. If you have never sung in the Kennedy Center, consider this to be a golden opportunity to be on stage and back stage in this huge venue. Don’t expect another like it.
37 members of NOVA Chorus have already signed up to join a large number of other choristers to sing for 15 minutes in this large concert. It is on Monday, June 27 at 8 PM. The only REQUIRED rehearsal is 3 – 5 PM at Kennedy Center (the morning rehearsal was canceled). There is an additional, optional, rehearsal on Monday, June 20, 7:30 PM, at the McLean Bible Church, which has taken on the daunting task of assembling, teaching and directing all of the singers.
I have attached all of the music we will sing in PDF format and the program for the entire concert. All of us are using the sheet music we printed from our own computers. (welcome to the new world)
Standard concert dress (all black for women, Black Tux for men) and your own black music folder are required.
Here is the list of our singers so far [see e-mail]. If you signed up earlier, check to be sure your name is on this list.
If you plan to sing in this concert and have not yet registered with me, send an Email to me ASAP at f.wulff [at] yahoo [dot] com. Marci Ward, who is the top level organizer of singers and I will only send out additional details to singers on my list (which she will add to her list).
(June 13, 2011) Update. From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers-
-Reminder: If you want to sing at the Kennedy Center on Monday, June 27, please let me know by tomorrow. If you have never sung at the Kennedy Center, you should try to do this. It is a thrill.
-Fred has sent PDF copies of most of the music. I will have copies that you may pick up at NVCC tomorrow between 6 and 10 pm outside the Choir Room.
-There is an optional rehearsal on Monday, June 20, at 7:30 pm at McLean Bible Church. There is a required dress rehearsal at the Kennedy Center, at 3:00 pm on June 27. I suggest you come to the dress rehearsal in concert attire.
-Fred will be in charge of the NOVA Community Chorus for this event. My mother arrives from Texas on the 27th, so I cannot attend.
-If you have any questions let me or Fred know.
Yours-DrW
PS- There have been some exciting changes in our Fall 2011-Spring 2012 schedule. I will give you the details soon.
(June 9, 2011) Update. From Fred: Mark asked me to keep records for him until he returns to the Alexandria Campus on Tuesday. I have attached “God Bless America” in PDF format.
Here is the list of names and addresses that I have so far. [See email] Almost all of these names were taken from Email replies to NOVAChorus-owner. If you responded directly to Mark I did not get a copy. If you intend to sing in this event and you are not on this list, reply to NOVAChorus-owner or to f.wulff [at] yahoo [dot] com so that I can add you to the list.
Conversely, if you are on the list and don’t plan to sing, let me know that, too.
Question marks indicate conditions and I made note of them.
I will begin using a special address list of just the participants in the next day or two.
(June 9, 2011) Update. From Fred: I have attached the first shipment of music that we will sing from Ul James. It is in PDF format.
Next is a copy of the entire program (.pdf) that will be presented on the 27th. This was taken from the Kennedy Center web site.
VARIOUS – Patriotic American Songs (our first shipment)
CONTI – Rocky- Lyrics by Carol Connor
CLEMENT – The Warrior’s Hymn
GERSHWIN – Summertime
Mark will pass more information to us as he receives it.
(June 7, 2011) From Dr. Whitmire: Dear Singers – You may have heard about this event on NPR. Our friend Ul James is conducting Beethoven Found Presents: A Tribute to the Wounded Warriors. He would like us participate. The concert will take place on Monday, June 27th at 8:00 PM at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, DC. There are two rehearsals for the concert on the same day June 27: 10-12:30 am and 3-5 pm.
It should be a wonderful event. The concertmaster and assistant concertmaster of Baltimore Symphony, the principal trumpet, trombone and horn of the National Symphony and other musicians from Philadelphia Orchestra and NY Phil are participating. There are four patriotic pieces with chorus.
If you would like to participate, please let me know by Tuesday, June 14.
Easy reference links:
Copy of the entire program (.pdf)
Program on Kennedy Center web site
All five pieces of music, in order (.pdf)
(4/12/2011) From Fred: The summer sings are really enjoyable. There will be 200 – 300 of the best choral singers in this area, seated by section in the sanctuary of this church. Be really early if you want to park under the church (no vans). Sometimes you can find on street parking 3 or so blocks away and there are commercial parking garages in the area.
For more info, see this Schedule (.pdf), or http://www.newdominion.org/summersings.php
(5/10/2011) Update: From Fred:
Fellow singers: Here is the Summer Sings schedule for this year (see above). I ALWAYS enjoy singing in this event.
Usually, there are about 300 singers who participate solely because they love to sing these well known works or to experience one they don’t know – with NO rehearsal. The directors of the best known choruses in this area and professional soloists donate their time so that you can have a lot of fun.
(6/7/2011) Reminder.
From Fred: Mary Yee, with the help of Kate, has placed 72 photos of the picnic on Ficker. cajunjoel placed 9 of our performance of the Verdi Requiem in the Schlesinger Center. Our thanks to both of them. NOVA Community Chorus Photo Group. Hint: click on “Slideshow”
Debbe has posted photos of Saturday’s picnic (main page) picnics in 2009 and 2006 (Click on Chorus Picnic on the right side), performances in 2011 and 2008 in Bishop Ireton, and 19 photos of the Verdi Requiem by Mary Yee. NOVA Community Chorus Flickr account.
[Admin] NOVA Community Chorus Flickr account.
Already have a Flickr account? Feel free to add your photos to the Photo Group.
Please note that both Flickr links have been permanently added to the “Helpful Links” section, to the right of the page. Flickr is a free and easy tool to share photos online.
From Fred: Here is the last part of Mark’s reminder on Tuesday, 4/19/11.
(4/19/2011) From Dr. Whitmire: This has been the most rewarding year ever for our chorus!
We have moved steadily upward into the ranks of the finer choruses in Metropolitan Washington. Next year we will continue to grow, improve and excel. But I need everyone one of you back. I have planned excellent repertoire for the Fall:
Sundays, October 16 and 23: Concert with the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic. Frederick Delius: Songs of Sunset, featuring Grace Gori (Mezzo-soprano) and Aurelius Gori (baritone).
Friday, November 11: Civil War Commemoration Concert with the Alexandria Band, Schlesinger
Thursday, December 1: Spring Concert. Rachmanov, Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Schlesinger
[Admin] From April 26: Schedule, Fall 2011, Spring 2012 (.pdf)
Dear Singers-
You knocked my socks off on Tuesday night! Everyone else’s too! It was a glorious concert! Your singing was a perfect balance of beauty and power. Our accompanists Ms. Koo and Ms. Hagan really brought it, didn’t they? And how about our awesome soloists Stania, Dorothea, Francisco and Brandon. I have never known a 4-year college that could better these four on the Ninth.
Please don’t miss tomorrow’s picnic. It is always great fun. As it turns out I will not be there as I have my daughter’s graduation in the morning, and she has made it known that I have engagements in the afternoon as well. Have a refreshing beverage for me.
You have been the greatest this year. I must have every one of you back in the Fall. In the meanwhile, have a great summer.
Peace-DrW
(04/09/2011) From Fred and Judy: Save the date.
Our chorus picnic will be on Saturday, May 7 starting at 12 noon at my home. It is a great chance to get to know the rest of your chorus members as you can see from the enclosed photos (click on thumbnails below). I’ll send a map and how to get here later on.
If you have not been to one of these events, make a special effort this time. We are getting too old to take care of 4.3 acres, 200 trees (and a LOT of leaves).
Click thumbnails to view enlarged photo on Flickr.
[Admin: Previously posted picnic photos can be found here: http://www.novachorus.org/gallery/v/picnic2009/]
(04/11/2011) Update: All members and families of NOVA Chorus, present and past; its director, band director, orchestra director, soloists and teachers are invited to the annual Chorus Picnic on Saturday, May 7 at 3 PM (not 12 noon as previously announced).
It is “Pot Luck.” Bring food and drinks to share. We will provide: picnic tables, hot dogs, gas grill, paper plates, utensils, volley ball court and a croquet set. We have a few old benches and chairs but you might bring your folding picnic chair in case we run short.
It is at 6551 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003 – near the intersections of Sleepy Hollow Road and Whispering Lane – both of which have traffic lights. Other large landmarks: it is directly across Columbia Pike from Belvedere Elementary School and just west of Mason District Park. As you will see from the attached map, our access road, Fitzhugh Drive, connects to Ancient Oak Court via an access road along Columbia Pike. There is additional parking along Sulky Lane which ends right at the volley ball field (not a court) and is the shortest distance to the picnic area next to our just repainted “guest house.”
http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=h&lat=38.837493&lon=-77.169341&zoom=16&q1=6551%20Columbia%20Pike%2C%20Annandale%2C%20VA%2C%2022003
Map (.pdf)
(05/05/2011) Update: Start time, Rain or Shine, is officially 3 PM but we welcome your help in setting up the tables and games any time after 2 PM. We look forward to seeing you then.
From Christine Hagan: Sandy just sent me this – could it go out to the chorus or on the chorus website? Thanks.
Chorworks Annual Summer Choral Workshop website.
From Dr. Whitmire: Welcome to our Final rehearsal of Spring 2011! We rehearse in Schlesinger,
Please sign in.
Please take a course evaluation form, fill it out, and return it to this envelope tonight.
Flyers are here. The college web and e-mail has been down all day. When it come you I will send these flyers.
Tuesday 5/3 -7:30 pm Band Chorus Concert, Schlesinger Center
The Call is 6:30 pm in the Chorus Room.
Saturday 5/7 – 3:00 pm Annual Chorus Picnic at the Wulff’s
This has been the most rewarding year ever for our chorus!
We have moved steadily upward into the ranks of the finer choruses in Metropolitan Washington. Next year we will continue to grow, improve and excel. But I need everyone one of you back.
Sing Well- DrW
Schedule, Fall 2011, Spring 2012 (.pdf)
From Fred: Cathedral Sings! (.pdf) Carmina Burana. Sunday, June 26, 2001 at 7:30 pm, Washington National Cathedral. Buy Tickets.
From Dr. Whitmire: SINGERS PLEASE NOTE
If you are a Singer who would like to improve your performing skills, register for my Vocal Repertoire.
MUS 198 Seminar And Project Vocal Repertoire 2.00cr Six Week – First
11332 040A T 7:30PM – 9:55PM AT-0130 Alexandria Whitmire,Mark A
Topics will include vocal technique, musical style, and expression.
The course will include individual coaching sessions to be arranged before and after the class meeting time.
Class will meet May 17, May 24, May 31, May 7, May 14, May 21
May 17, May 24, May 31, June 7, June 14, June 21
The course will be limited to twelve students.
Christine Hagan will be the accompanist.
From Fred: The music faculty of our college has a recital tonight, Friday, at 7:30 in the rehearsal hall.
It should be great!
See you there.
From Chorister Grace: Two items of possible vacation planning interest to our members from the newsletter below (linked) – the Chorus America’s annual June conference in San Francisco and the fact that most weeks of the Berkshire Choral Festival this summer still have openings. I will be sure to mention this at the sectional today and at next Tuesday’s rehearsal, but perhaps you could also post the information on our web site. The BCF web site for additional information about their open weeks is www.choralfest.org.
I had a hard time deciding between the Monteverdi Vespers week and the week in Vancouver this year, but decided on Vancouver and would love to have fellow NOVA singers along as well!
From Chorister Grace: The Berkshire Choral Festival has opened its online applications for the 2011 summer season. The web site is www.choralfest.org. The 2011 season includes one week in Vancouver, June 15-23, performing Voices of Light with the Anonymous 4 and conductor Tom Hall; 4 consecutive one-week sessions in Sheffield, Massachusetts, starting July 10th and including Mendelssohn’s Elijah and the Monteverdi Vespers and conductors such as Robert Page and Kent Tritle; and one week in Salzburg, Austria, September 9-18, performing Haydn, Mendelssohn and Brucker with conductor Thomas Bottcher. An audition CD is required for the Monteverdi week. Music and rehearsal CDs are sent out in the spring and the one week session is spent on polishing the nuances. Choristers have most afternoons free to sight-see in the local area, with rehearsals scheduled in the morning and evening. BCF also offers opportunities for scholarships as well as apprenticeships for those studying for degrees (undergraduate or graduate) in music.
(5/29/2010) From Chorister Grace: Perhaps some of the NOVA e-mail list would be interested in next year’s BCF schedule – looks like a great season.
Read the entire announcement, here, (.pdf)