CE News 9 March 25

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What fantastic rehearsals this last week! You can hear the music that we are making improving each time we sing. I'm incredibly proud to part of this group of fabulous choristers. Keep working to finesse the music at home and sectionals, and then when we get together, Andre can shape our music. I'm sure most of us wrote notes in our music; please share with those that weren't there on Saturday. If you want a repeat of everything learned, check out the recordings in the members area. They have tons of information, but also allow us to sing against whomever was singing and see how we measure up. Great resource, thanks, Paul.

Thank you again to everyone who brought goodies on Saturday: Mary M, Carollyne, Paul, Marj and anyone who also brought that I wasn't aware of! They were great and gave us a chance to visit while having our break. Thank you to Mandy for the ice breaker game...it was kind of fun to wander around quacking at people! You can certainly communicate in "animal voice" if you change your intonation.

Not to terrify anyone, but we have 8 rehearsals left, plus the long rehearsal; we are basically at the halfway mark in our session. The production team will be forming soon, so if you wish to be part of this amazing creation and showcase your talents, send an email to choralevolution@gmail.com to let us know how you would like to help. And remember to check out FaceBook and to "like" and share the posts. We want to get word out that we are awesome and creating a great show.

A big thank you to Andre and Gabe, our fabulous musical team. Your exceptional musical skills show through every rehearsal. Thank you for joining us on this adventure!

See everyone at Centre Mountain Lellum on Wednesday at 7. If you weren't aware, there is a second parking lot that leads to the middle school: take the second turn off on the right and drive to the left of the round-about. See you soon! And make sure you check out Andre's notes to see what we are working through on Wednesday.

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News

CE News 27 April 2025

By Sherry Walters • April 28, 2025

Woot! We are almost there! Just one rehearsal--yes, it is the dress rehearsal so please wear your costume so we can see how awesome you look and take pictures--on Tuesday at Sooke Community Hall. Sally will be sending out an email with details of when to be there. For those that haven't had dress rehearsal experience, it can be a long evening as we need to get the lights, sound and logistics accomplished so we are ready for Friday. Please check out Andre's blog for the running order and put your music in order; use the elastics to hold each piece in place by sliding the middle of the piece into a single elastic. You can also attach tab holders so you know the location of each piece. Andre has shared the dynamics for each piece and they should be marked on your music. Although we need to be watching Andre, please keep an eye on the dynamics so we know when to be quiet and when to let our voices soar. This is another new venue for us, so watch Andre as he will tell us if we are too soft or too loud. Besides, the audience really wants to see the expression on your faces, so don't hide behind your book! You are gorgeous and your expression sells the show. Reminder that our "after party" will be after the Sunday afternoon show. It will be a "potluck" of sorts as everyone is encouraged to bring appetizers and finger food. This will also be a BYOB/drinks. It will be a blast to end with a chance to relive some of the moments of the shows. I'm sure it will be a very successful run....make sure you are sharing about the shows so we can pack those seats. The room is large at the Hall, so lets fill it! You are doing an amazing job, and this will be a great show. Well done, everyone. Thank you Andre for leading us in a great group of songs....okay, even Texas has grown on me.... Sherry

CE News 20 April 25

By Sherry Walters • April 21, 2025

Hey everyone! We have only 1 rehearsal (at Centre Mountain Lellum school) , plus our dress rehearsal on Tuesday, 29 April at the Sooke Community Hall!!! Then it will be show time. Sally has shared the times we are expected for the dress rehearsal and for each show, and that will be sent by email with all the concert notes. We are so close to presenting our music to our audiences...did you listen to last week's rehearsal? Sounding good! Thanks Paul for sharing that. It is a very exciting crunch time, so work on your trouble spots and try to memorise your music; there are a couple of songs that go by so quickly that you can't read the music, like Paint it Black, Bohemian Rhapsody, Texas Hold 'Em, to name a few. I'd like to remind everyone that the audience would really like to see your face and the expressions that you have. In order to do that, you need to look up from your music and engage with the audience. It has a two-fold purpose as you can actually see Andre's direction when your face is up. Let's try to practice that for the next two rehearsals and see if Andre notices.... I'd like everyone to wear their concert attire on Wednesday so we can see what we will look like. Get those blue jeans on! Any solid colour blue top will work, and if you have a denim/denim-like jacket/shirt, throw that on top. Jewelry should be subtle so the focus is on you. Thank you to the riser helpers: John, Tony, Thibault, Keiran, and Dylyn and for Haley's dad's truck to move them about. We will need a team of people at the Sooke Community Hall to hang the black background and lights and create a bit of a set for us. This can't occur until Friday before we are ready to have our last sing-through. If you would like to help, please email Sherry at labtech1963@gmail.com. We are nothing without our volunteers so I would like to give a big shout out to everyone who has taken on a task, no matter how big or small. THANK YOU. We will be sharing our "thank yous" after the last show, so make sure you stick around. We also usually have a get together on the Friday night after the show and planning for that is in the works. So, pencil in Friday evening after the show. As a reminder, our AGM and get together will be held Wednesday, 7 May at the same time as rehearsal (7-9:15 pm), with the location to be announced. To that end, if you are interested in running for a position on the board, please submit your name and the position to choralevolution@gmail.com before Wednesday, 23 April (sorry, the time got away on me). We encourage everyone to be part of this amazing governance for Choral Evolution. If you have questions around any of the positions (President/Co-president, Treasure, Secretary, Directors at Large) please ask one of the current board.

Director Notes

Rehearsal Notes May 2nd 2025

By Andre Clouthier • May 1, 2025

Hello Choral Evolutioneers! Isn’t that Dress Rehearsal a Bitch! So many distractions and confusing new experiences. The big resonant venue, trouble hearing yourselves, the risers, those damn lights, the sound, musicians, all that standing and sore feet and singing tunes one after the other. So many questions to answer. Luckily, we answered loads of them, and we’ll answer the rest before the show on Friday night. If you can, do our warm up before you arrive so your pipes are ready to go. We’ll practice getting on and off the stage before the show so you’re comfortable with the process. We’ll line up in the Green room and make an orderly entrance. We’ll move the lights back some so they are less in your eyes and you’ll be lit more from the side We’ll start every tune before the show, so you get a feel for the room again. Between songs, while I’m reading notes, look at your scores, especially your 1 st couple of entrances, you have to sing every line in tempo. Focus on what you have to say, the emotional underpinning of the song. We’ll sing “By the Waters of Babylon” after “All the Diamonds” before “Texas Hold ‘Em” I will introduce you and the musicians after “Creep” and we’ll take our bows. I’ll let the audience know that our big finish will involve some movement so this is our curtain call. If you haven’t already done so, put your music down and out of the way at the start of “Aquarius”. The arm movements look great, keep up the energy. Start moving into the hall as soon as the band starts “Let the Sunshine In” Keep up the energy and the clapping till we finish. We’ll sing “Golden Slumbers” from our positions in the hall. When we finish the tune, the show is over, feel free to mix with the audience. Don’t forget to recover your music and return your booklight before you leave. See you Friday ready to go at 6 pm. André ♪

Rehearsal Notes April 29th 2025

By Andre Clouthier • April 24, 2025

Hello Choral Evolutioneers! As promised here is the order of our May Show “Soundtrack of our Lives” Memories Eternal Flame Thinking Out Loud All The Diamonds Texas Hold ‘Em Vincent Bohemian Rhapsody Intermission Big Yellow Taxi Paint It Black Wicked Game You Learn Creep Hair Golden Slumbers We will also sing “By the Waters of Babylon” in the 1 st half and encourage the audience to join in. Tough rehearsal last night in yet another new venue. We’ll be pros at working under new and difficult conditions, something that will come in handy on our concert weekend. Gabe and I will rehearse with Cheryl Dennett, our percussionist, this weekend and work out musical support so things go smoothly at the dress. I will see you all Tuesday April 29th evening. Keep your eyes peeled for an email with details about when and where to arrive for the rehearsal and shows. Keep running through your music and double checking your notes, practice every day and keep those pipes lubricated. André ♪