Dear Chorus,

Thank you so much for your flexibility on Monday night! You helped an exciting town/school musical event happen, and the young musicians enjoyed hearing each other and singing together. (For more on the positive impact of the evening, please see a personal postscript down at the bottom from Kristin.)

A few updates and reminders for us all:

1) Ads for the concert program: Please go forth and sell ads! They’re an important part of our concert revenue. The ad form is up on the chorus website (in the Members section) for you to download and print. It’s often helpful to bring previous programs with you when you approach potential advertisers, so that they can see what a lovely professional job our program committee does. Marianne’s ad deadline is May 1.

2) Praise Page: In keeping with our musical theme this semester, Cindy Marshall will be assembling a “Praise Page” in the concert program. For $5, you can purchase a line praising someone who deserves to be applauded! You may offer your praise in memory of someone dear to you as well. Cindy will have a form to submit soon; stay tuned!

3) Sing into Spring! Fundraising Silent Auction and Sing-Along: Here’s an update from Nancy Tougas:

Sing Into Spring
April 1, 2017
Ascension Church Hall – Ipswich
7:00-9:00 PM
Admission: Adults – $10
Children ages 5-16 – $5.00
Children under 5 – free!
(Maximum per family – $25)

We will have light refreshments, a Silent Auction, a Sing-Along to some of your favorites, and special performances by chorus members and the Honors Youth Choir.

Auction items have been coming in (thank you for your support), but the more the merrier!! There is still ample time to bring in those items or contact me for information on how we can help you with pick-up.

To date we have: a boat trip on the Ipswich marsh for 6 adults (with martinis), a private State House tour with a state rep, concert tickets and a private voice lesson, original art, a plane ride over the North Shore, dinner served in your home by Jen and Patsy, jewelry, restaurant gift certificates, and much more!

Please join us on April 1st, and think Spring!!!

Nancy Tougas
nancytougas223@gmail.com

4) Black String Folders: Trish will be taking orders for people who need these (or want an additional one): they’re a great size for our concert pieces.

5) Cyberbass: Need help practicing your part on your own? Check out cyberbass.com! From their main page, click on “Major Works,” then scroll down the list of composers to find Mendelssohn, and our pieces. You can listen to all parts together, or your part highlighted with the other parts softly underneath; you can listen right online, or order practice CDs (great for long commutes!).

6) Amazon Smile: An easy way to earn a little money for CNS, just by shopping online at Amazon as usual. As you shop, Amazon donates a percentage of your purchase to your chosen charity or organization (like us!). Here’s how to get started:

If you use Amazon, but are new to Amazon Smile:

1. Go to https://smile.amazon.com, and log in with your usual Amazon login information. You’ll be prompted to choose your organization.
2. Please note: for your donations to work, you must start your shopping through smile.amazon.com. Don’t worry: it’s still Amazon.

If you already use Amazon Smile for another organization, and want to set up to donate to CNS:

1. Go to https://smile.amazon.com/ and log into your account.
2. Hover over “Accounts and Lists” in the upper right and scroll down to “Your AmazonSmile” (or Click on “Accounts and Lists” then go to “Settings” and click on “Change your charity.”)
3. At “Change your charity” (or “Pick your charitable organization”) type in Chorus North Shore and click Select.

***Make sure you log in to https://smile.amazon.com/ from now on, and CNS will automatically get a percentage of every purchase you make!

7) Concert Program Committee Search: To quote Dr. Seuss, “Somebody, somebody has to, you see!” We still need some Somebodies to take on the Program job next year, and to start meeting with Marianne, Kathy and B.B. this year in order to learn the ropes. Please see the job description at the bottom of this e-mail, where you’ll also see what skills are recommended (basic computer skills, organization and communication skills)…but please also note what skills are NOT needed: you don’t need to be a graphic artist, or an advertising wiz, or an IT expert. Fear not! Plus, it’s FUN, and satisfying. CNS needs you!

That should do it. See you next week!

Kristin and Jane

Personal P.S. from Kristin: My son is a 5th grader here in Ipswich, and performed at the All-Town Choral Concert on Monday night. He loves music, but is a reluctant performer; he sings to himself, but does not love to sing in front of people, and has not caught the chorus bug. BUT! After the event, he could not stop talking about the high school choral groups. He and his friends (future tenors and basses!) were blown away — to the point that he now thinks he wants to be part of it. An event that encourages kids to sing? That’s a success! So, again, thank you for your flexibility on Monday night: you helped!

Job Description for Program Committee:

TASKS:

  • Devise and follow working schedule for each concert:
  • Compile info for concert program graphic design (posters, program covers, postcards, tickets)
  • Correlate info with graphic designer/printer
  • Obtain printing quote
  • Update ad forms, distribute to CNS
  • Coordinate ads
  • Compile copy for program interior
  • Proof interior layout; confirm final file with graphic designer, printer

Gather information for Program book interior:

  • Advertisements
  • Copy – Program page (order of music),
  • Season program,
  • conductor’s notes,
  • program notes,
  • CNS announcements,
  • credits,
  • Mission statement,
  • MCC statement,
  • GBCC preset page,
  • Chorus America logo,
  • special acknowledgements and info
  • Bios and photos – Conductor, accompanists, soloists
  • CNS, HYC bio updates
  • List of Board members
  • List of CNS singers, HYC singers, schools, teachers
  • List of musicians (orchestra)
  • List of donors, and Endowment donors
  • Grant acknowledgement
  • Donation request form

SKILLS REQUIRED:

  • Basic computer skills necessary
  • Good communication/organizational skills helpful