North Hills Singers at IUP
Sunday, October 14, 2018 Here are the details for this weekend: 10:45AM Meet at the school to get music folders. Come dressed in your uniforms. 11:00AM Load bus and depart for IUP (takes about 1.5 hours) From Dr. Beeken:
We will perform “I Love My Love,” “Harvest,” and “Double, Double” by ourselves, and “My Spirit Sang All Day” with the IUP Chorale. According to their website, admission to the concert is $10 if any family members are planning to attend. Concert ends at approximately 4:30PM. If you are traveling home with family, please let me know. Bring money for dinner…we’ll stop somewhere on the way back (probably like a McDonald’s or something) Should arrive back on campus at the high school around 6:30PM. We’ll drop folders off in the choir room and you’ll be on your way. As a reminder: make good choices at Homecoming. Try to avoid yelling or screaming (too much – I know you won’t completely avoid it), do the best you can to rest before we meet in the morning, and I shouldn’t even have to mention the other things that you know you shouldn’t do. It is an honor to have been asked to participate in this event – Dr. Beeken only asks one high school each year and he chose us, so let’s be the best we can be. [end Dad speech J] Thanks! What is the time commitment involved?
Rehearsals are Monday and Tuesday after school from 2:15-3:15 (occasionally later when needed). There are also several Saturday rehearsals throughout the year (3 or 4 total, mostly scheduled as we get closer to performance dates). Heavy time commitment involved in December as we perform throughout the community. How is the group selected? The audition process for this group is different than most other auditions. The goal is to achieve the best blend of voices possible, so everyone auditions at the same time. Returning members must also attend so that potential new members can be matched with their voices to create the whole group sound. Factors that go into the creation of the list are availability (too many conflicts can hold the whole group back), musicianship (we learn music at a faster rate than in class), and ability to match/blend with the group. The list that is posted is Mr. Cloonan’s best attempt at creating the “sound” that the NH Singers has become known for in their performances. What happens if I am selected for the group? The first rehearsals of the new North Hills Singers group will be Wednesday and Thursday from 2:15-3:15. There, we will go over more details about schedules, rehearsals, performances, etc. We’ll also make sure everyone has a uniform. The first performance is on Friday evening during Commencement at Martorelli Stadium. What if I don’t see my name? Please do not think that you are a bad singer if you don’t make the list. Keep in mind that there are only a set number of spaces available in the group (this year it is 3 sopranos, 3 altos, 4 tenors, and 4 basses), and going beyond 28 makes traveling and performing in small spaces more difficult. As Mr. Cloonan says in class, the list created is not meant to be personal, rather the best balance of voices to keep the level of musicianship as high as possible, always striving to make each year better than the last. It’s quite possible that you were the very next name that could have made the group and there just weren’t enough spots. Continue to work hard on all of the things discussed in choir class. Whatever you do, keep on singing!
Click to listen to the recording from the performance Thursday night. Congratulations on a job well done!
Here are the recordings from this Tuesday's rehearsal. Listen for section and ensemble blend and balance as well as correct pitches and rhythms. Be ready to discuss things we can improve and things we've done well at Monday's rehearsal as we finish preparing for the Fox Chapel Invitational on 2/16.
Even though Thanksgiving is next week, the North Hills Singers community performance schedule begins very soon! Here is the rehearsal/performance schedule for November & December:
Tuesday, November 22 2:15-3:15 Regular rehearsal (day before break) Monday, November 28 9:00-12:00 Rehearsal (No School) Tuesday-Wednesday, November 29-30 2:15-3:00 Rehearsal Thursday, December 1 1:00 Perform at North Hills Presbyterian Church Saturday, December 3 1:00-3:00 Rehearsal (after madrigal dinner practice) Sunday, December 4 3:30 Perform at Book Fair (Barnes & Noble @ Waterworks) Monday, December 5 2:15-3:15 Rehearsal Tuesday, December 6 1:00 Perform for NHSD Retirees at Shannopin Country Club Saturday, December 10 1:30 Perform at Faith Lutheran in Laurel Gardens Monday, December 12 6:30 Meet to perform at Knights of Columbus in Bellevue Thursday, December 15 Tour Day: Arden Court, Lunch, West View United Methodist, Pittsburgh Friendship Group at Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church, Seniors at St. Alexis (?) Sunday, December 18 9:00 Meet to perform at First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood Monday, December 19 7:00 Perform at Phipps Conservatory Wednesday, December 21 7:00 High School Choirs Holiday Concert Here are the recordings from yesterday's run-through of the competition pieces on stage. We've made major progress on both pieces since we started, but there can always be improvements. What can we do to make it even better by Friday night's performance?
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