♫♫ A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR ♫♫

Hi Fellow Young Musicians,

I know you are still basking in the success of Cinderella Kids. I hope you have even heard just a few of the torrents of good comments that have been pouring down ever since the weekend of the show. I can't imagine a smoother week end. Thank you for all of your hard work, extra rehearsals, great attitudes and focus that made this possible. You deserve your accolades.

Now on to the next thing. Brenham Broadway Kids are already in the middle of auditions for “Seussical Jr.” and on Monday, October 22 we will start our Christmas music. Hope you're in the mood for holiday cheer because musicians always have to begin learning the music a bit before everyone else starts on the season. We'll be the ones who get everyone in the mood
for Christmas and we can't do that unless we start preparing before Halloween. Crazy, isn't it?

Be sure to thank your parents for all they have done to help us with “Cinderella Kids”. From making costumes to moving sets to simply getting you to rehearsal, our parents are the best!

Seeya in rehearsal,

Pam Young

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!

A heartfelt thank you to all the parents who helped the Fall Concert and “Cinderella Kids” go so very well! From chaperones to prop masters to set movers to make-up and costume artists, there were so many parents who helped.  We deeply appreciate you giving of your time, your energy, and your support. We could not have done it without you.  Thank you, thank you, one and all.  Well done!

CINDERELLA PHOTOS

There were a lot of cameras flashing and performers posing following the performance of “Disney’s Cinderella Kids”. We would like to be able to share some of these wonderful photographs with each other and with the chorus office. If you would be willing to share some of your pictures with us, please put them on a disc and bring it to the chorus office. In addition to being able to put them on our website and other promotional materials, we can share them with other chorus parents. Thank you for sharing these precious memories with us. 

* *  Please pick up your chorister from rehearsal on time and ask for memos * *

Please make sure you pick up your chorister on time -- our chaperones and staff have commitments and families they need to get home to.  Remember, Monday rehearsals for BCC end at 5:30 and “Singenspiel” rehearsals end at 5:00.  Please be there to pick up your chorister on time.  To facilitate smooth pick-up, please stay in the carline and follow the map directions that were dispensed in August.  A chaperone will escort your child to your car.  Thank you for assisting us in this process!

A NOTE FROM SINGENSPIEL DIRECTOR

Dear Singenspiel Family,

Thank you for your support during the “Cinderella Kids” performances and rehearsals. It was a great production and we were so fortunate to be asked to participate.  Did you spot your precious little mouse on stage:  For many of the children, it was a “first time” and they were nervous! But, they did an excellent job.

We now will be preparing for the Christmas concert, so you may hear holiday music being sung around the house a little early this season! Remember to encourage them. Music is a wonderful outlet and positive means of self-expression. 

Sing and be happy!

Karen Chance

THANK YOU TO OUR PARENTS!!

Thank You to Box Office Workers and Ushers: Lillian Yelenic (chair), Mary Petersen, Ceci Wagner, Gerri Williams, Allicyn Robinson, Gloria Wills, Shelly Miller, Wendy Wheeler, Lynda Drake, Shari Irwin, and Resty Villegas.

Thank You to Set Painters:  Daphne Gonzales

Thank You to Publicity: Daphne Gonzales, Page Michel, Lari Machart

Make-Up and Backstage help: Rose Pryor, Michelle Catron, Mary Thornton, Daphne Gonzales, Ceci Wagner, Shelly Doyle, Lynda Drake, Penny Dahlquist, Lillian Yelenic, Kellie Rodenbeck, Georgette McCurry, and Jonni Hart.

Props:  Laura Upchurch, Julie Steen

Backstage Help:  Thank you to our high school intern, Stephanie Lewis!

NOTE: The risk of thanking everyone is that someone’s name will be deleted. Please know that this omission is not intentional. We are so fortunate to have so many parents helping – sometimes, a name gets missed (but not the person). Please let us know of anyone who might have been missed.  We appreciate all of you – spoken and unspoken.  Thank you one and all!

Thank You!

Special Thanks to Jonni Hart for doing an outstanding job on the costumes for “Cinderella Kids”. Didn’t our performers look wonderful?! And, thank you to Laura Upchurch for such creative and authentic props and the beautiful fairy costumes (thank you to Laura’s mom)! We appreciate all the extra time it took to prepare and we appreciate your commitment to the chorus! It was a beautiful production!

Please keep the office informed about your change of address, phone number, or email.

What to do with those Khaki Pants?

Each chorister was issued a pair of khaki pants for the fall concert.  Please keep these pants until we have asked for their return. If the pants did not fit properly, please contact the chorus office as soon as possible. Thank you! 

Fall Concert Video

You probably noticed the video cameras at the fall concert.  As soon as the video is complete and ready for distribution, we will notify you of the cost and instructions for ordering. Thank you for your cooperation with our request not to video the performance as individual photographers. Wasn’t it nice to sit and watch and not worry about that camera angle?

Thank you for your cooperation!

MEMOS

At the risk of sounding repetitious or annoying, please remember to ask your chorister for notes or memos after each and every rehearsal. We still have parents who are not receiving necessary information from their chorister. At the end of rehearsal and a busy day of school, it is hard for them to remember to voluntarily give you memos from the chorus.  Their minds are filled with after school activities, sports, homework, and music. Please ask them for these memos and we’ll all be on the same page. Thank you!

THANK YOU!

Thank you to our set and keyboard movers the week before the performance and during concert weekend: Rick Weiss and Jeff Appel.  Concert weekend: Rick Weiss,  the entire Steen family, Patrick Drake

COMMITTEE NEWS

“I would like to thank all the parents who helped chaperone “Cinderella Kids” performances and rehearsals:  Lillian Yelenic, Trish Tompkins, Annette Little, Kristen Wiesepape, Lupe Rios, Samie Wessinger, Lisa Conner, Michelle Catron, Cindy Giebler, Kellie Rodenbeck, Mary Lovelidge, and Malet Weatherby.  Parents: please remember that you must sign your child out at every performance and extra rehearsal. For the safety of all our choristers and Singenspiel members, please remember to pick your child up at all practices using the side street at the Community Ed Building. Chaperones are ready to escort the singers to waiting cars. This system seems to be working well when all parents follow this pattern. Thank you!” Donna Kaltwasser

The Chorus website and scrapbook are always looking for pictures or articles about the Chorus or its activities or concerts (especially “Cinderella Kids”). If you have any of these, please get them to the Chorus office or email them to

bccinfo@brenhamchildrenschorus.org

♫ CONCERT  INFORMATION ♫

Our Christmas Concert will be on Saturday, December 15 at 2:00 pm at the Brenham High School Auditorium.  Rehearsal for choristers in BCC will be from 9:00 am – 12 Noon at the high school.  Following rehearsal, choristers will remain for lunch followed by the concert. Choristers will not have time to leave the high school in between the morning rehearsal and the concert at 2:00 pm.  Singenspiel Members: Please watch for memos regarding your rehearsal time on Saturday, December 15.  You will receive information about uniforms and other concert specifics in a weekly memo.  All Choristers: Please watch for these concert updates.  

RESERVED SEATING AT CONCERTS

At the Christmas concert at the high school: In order to better serve our audience, please…no seat reservations except for handicap seating.  Please call the office in advance if you or a family member needs special seating accommodations.  Thank you for your help and cooperation.

Parents, please spread the word that flash photography is not acceptable at any of our concerts. It’s so distracting to the singers and momentarily blinds them, not to mention what it does to those in the audience sitting by the flashes. We appreciate your help and cooperation.

˜ CHAPERONE – SECURITY UPDATE ˜

If someone else is picking up your child after rehearsal, please remember to send a written note.  Your child cannot be released to another adult without your written permission or a call to the office staff.  Thank you for helping us keep our children safe.

REHEARSAL ABSENCES

If your child is going to be absent from rehearsal, please call or e-mail the chorus office:  chris@brenhamchildrenschorus.org –or- rosellyn@brenhamchildrenschorus.org.  Please do not contact the artistic staff.  The office will notify the artistic staff of chorister absences.  Regular rehearsal attendance enables your singer to be confident and secure when performing on stage.  As noted in your Parent Handbook, more than 2 unexcused rehearsal absences per semester may result in dismissal from the choir. 

NOTE:  All choristers should bring their music folders to every rehearsal -- this includes members of Singenspiel.  Children in BCC and Singenspiel will be assessed $1.00 each time they forget to bring their music folder. Please make sure your child has his/her music each rehearsal day.

 REACHING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY

BCC has been invited to sing at the Brenham State School on Tuesday, December 18 at 6:00 pm.  This is a wonderful opportunity to share our gift of music and to give back to the community. Only the members of the core cast of “Cinderella Kids” will be performing at the State School on December 18. On Monday, December 17, regular rehearsal of the core cast for this performance will be held at the State School from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Mark these dates on your calendar and please watch for information regarding transportation on both of these days. The holiday season is the time for giving and sharing gifts from the heart. Thank you!

SPRING RETREAT

Parents of singers in the Chorus (not “Singenspiel”): Please mark your calendars and note the change in date for the Spring Retreat at Cathedral Oaks Retreat Center in Weimar, Texas. This mandatory retreat is a time for preparation and rehearsal for the April Concert at Festival Hill and is required.  The date for this year’s retreat is:  Friday, February 22 – Saturday, February 23, 2008.  Please mark your calendars with this important (and fun) date!  Thank you !