CE News 1 Feb 2026

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What a fun and enlightening rehearsal last week! Learning about rhythm is one of the fundamental ways to ensure your notes are placed in the correct place. I tell you, I'm still clapping my way through life. My hands hurt, but I've got rhythm! Thank you Gordon for taking us back to the basics. It will only make us sound better. When you feel the music in your body, it just works.

An update on Andre: I met with Andre on Thursday, and he was discharged from hospital on Friday. Wow, incredible healing in such a short period of time. He is now at home resting and recuperating with his daughter Miriam to attend him.

We are starting to get into the groove of Wednesday rehearsals, sectionals and rehearsing on our own. Well done everyone! If you haven't made sectionals, there is still time! It is a great way to work through your part with the support of your section. I highly recommend them! When working at home, ensure you read along with the music when you listen to the tapes; it allows you to see the roadmap of the music as you move through the piece. If the words aren't familiar yet, sing la or da or ah instead of the words so that you get the idea of the flow of the music. Take some time every day with at least one song, and you will have it down.

Thank you to those using the attendance email (attendance.ce2023@gmail.com) to advise when you won't be at rehearsal. It is really important for us to keep track. We know sickness, family commitments and emergencies happen, but this allows us to ensure everyone is doing well with their music and doesn't need support.

Section leads this session are: soprano: Adriana, alto: Keiran, Tenor/Bass: Sheila. Please seek out your section lead with problems, concerns or for support. Thank you to those fulfilling this much needed role.

Based on the calendar on the website, we are in Sooke at the Sooke Community Hall this Wednesday.

See you there!

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News

CE News 15 Feb 26

By Sherry Walters • February 15, 2026

It's another beautiful day, although a bit cold, but a great time to go for a walk. And do you know what works great when walking? Keeping step with your music. If you don't know all the words, da-da-da, or la-la-la works great. Take some great deep breaths and sing. Pop in those earphone/earbuds and sing with your tracks or with the all voices track. Some of the songs are "earworms" so it is easy to learn and sing them. Last week I spoke out of turn by putting attention on the possibility of shirts for the choir for this show. It may occur, but I don't want anyone to be alarmed about the prospect of the shirt. We are still fact finding and are early enough in the season to be able to do something about an added cost. As we have more details, I will ensure they are shared with the group. Thank you to those who shared thoughts. Our first retreat/long rehearsal is fast approaching (Feb 28) so make sure you keep that day free and are able to attend. We accomplish a lot at these 4 hour sessions, so it is very appreciated when everyone comes. Section leads will keep notes so if there is anyone who cannot attend, please speak with your section lead to get the scoop. I have 1 person (thanks Mary) who is bringing goodies to the event. Any more takers? I will be asking at rehearsal for help. Everyone should have received the email from Andre to say he is healing remarkably well. I spent some time with him yesterday and can confirm that he is doing very well. Although he is on his healing journey, he will participate in some regard for our shows so we will get the opportunity to see him before next session. Just a reminder, this is flu and cold season....I let myself get stressed and run down and a cold found me. Now I get to deal with post nasal drip and sounding like a bass! If you are not well, please see the wellness policy and stay home to take care of yourself. If you are feeling better, please attend, wear a mask and sit off to the side/back so that you get the benefit of the lesson even if you can't (and probably shouldn't, as I learned) sing. Prevention is the best way to remain healthy, so wash your hands often. Hoping to see everyone in Langford on Wednesday at 7! Enjoy family day tomorrow.

CE News 8 Feb 2026

By Sherry Walters • February 8, 2026

Although I wasn't at rehearsal, I'm sure you had a good one. As I don't know what took place, I'll dedicate this blog to sharing information of what the board is working on and plans that are being prepared for the show. Diane has advised that we had a great attendance for the rehearsal so thank you to everyone. It is very appreciated by all that there is improvement in the "no talking" policy. I'd also like to direct attention to the wellness policy on the website. Please take an opportunity to familiarize yourself with this. This is also a call for the remaining participation spots on the "volunteer sheets" to be filled. The word volunteer is being changed to participation as we are a group of singers that must work together in all aspects to bring forward a performance: we must all participate to make it work! Because the theme of the shows will be "all request radio", we (the production team and board) are thinking that we need something to help people recognize us as a group. The idea of t-shirts with the CE logo on them will show us as a group and we can use them for other performances. It will involve extra cost, so some fundraising is not a bad idea. Remember us speaking of sharing your bottle cash with the choir? It might be a good idea to take your empties in and have the money for the t-shirt. I'm researching sources for printing our logo on the shirt (top left chest) and hoping to keep it local as well as cost friendly. More info will be coming soon. Once we have a cost number, if there is financial hardship around the purchase of the shirt, please speak to Jackie. We are trying something new with new members: each person has a mentor, someone to check in with for questions (not during rehearsal, of course) or to support them as we all learn. I would love some feedback from our new members if this is value-added. Reminder that the Retreat/Long rehearsal is coming up on 28 February and will be at St Rose of Lima church in Sooke from 9am to 1 pm. This is a good opportunity to work long stretches of music, get more familiar with the music and ask questions. It is a great opportunity to get ahead with your music, so please ensure you mark the date on your calendar. It is on the CE calendar on the website. We enjoy a break in the middle of the rehearsal where there is tea and coffee and goodies supplied by our members. If you would like to bring a snack for this event, please email me (labtech1963@gmail.com). It takes about 4-5 people bringing goodies. That's enough info for now. I'm going to go and try to get rid of this lovely cold that a few of us have succumbed to. See you Wednesday in Langford!

Director Notes

Copy of Rehearsal Notes for February 18th, 2026

By Adriana Test • February 17, 2026

Please look at all the words and associated rhythm of those words in SOMEBODY TO LOVE. My experience of this song with a previous choir was that I was NOT able to teach this to you in rehearsal. I became a success ONLY through your individual hard work and the work you did at sectionals. I will take NO credit for your ability to sing SOMEBODY TO LOVE. Yes, I can and I will help. But ... ... ... it's really all about you. Truly, don't worry about the rest. I am feeling comfortable with you and with the repertoire chosen and I am beginning to look forward to my Wednesday evenings with you. Gordon MORE THAN WORDS it was just a run through through last week ... we need to seriously look at the road map. SOMEBODY TO LOVE BLINDING LIGHTS BIBLICAL WANNABE LINK: Gordon Notes LINK: YouTube Playlist

Rehearsal Notes for February 11th, 2026

By adriana.morales • February 11, 2026

Hello everyone! Gordon’s rehearsal notes are available at the following link:: Gordon Notes . However, for those who prefer to view the details directly on the website, I’ll also be posting his comments here each week. Additionally, Gordon has created a YouTube playlist to help convey the style we’re aiming for. You can find the playlist here: YouTube Playlist Adriana. GORDON NOTES: SHINE: beginning to first time ending on PG 5 (20 min) HOTEL CALIFORNIA: review what we did last week and move on to the chorus at bar 33 then move on to second vs all the way to bar 57 (20 min) WANNABE: Pg 11 bar 43 to bar 51 (5 minutes) MORE THAN WORDS: looking at the whole piece as one. (20 min) GOOD VIBRATIONS: Page 9 (15 min) BUDAPEST: 61 to the end (10 min) SOMEBODY TO LOVE: ok, I guess we better get started, hey?