August 8, 2011

Dear Singers and Friends,

After last season, full of choral-orchestral splendor, I am so excited for the 2011-2012 season, our 53^rd season. Please come sing and invite others who may be interested in singing this year! We would love to have 55-60 members this season, for a big choral sound. You will not want to miss either wonderful concert - so tell all your singing friends to come join us.

Here are just a few highlights for the season - detailed calendar coming soon:

September 12^th and 19^th are open rehearsals. Please come to one or both to experience the joy of choral singing. We welcome new and returning voices for all sections!

Our December concert, to be performed on Sunday, December 11^th, at St. Luke's in Scituate at 4pm, will feature songs of the season, both sacred and secular, including a special segment of the program dedicated to songs of peace. The program is called "Peace and Joy." We will, of course, have a sing along!

On Saturday, May 19^th at 7:30pm, we will present "War and Peace", with chorus, professional soli, and the Choral Art Society Orchestra. We will perform two powerful, fabulous works: Haydn's Mass in Time of War, written in the days of Napoleon, and Ralph Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, a profound, moving piece, written in response to World War I and with a recognition of the turmoil of 1936 Europe, set to texts of Walt Whitman's Civil War poetry as well as other texts. We hope to do this piece with its full orchestration in order to present it in its intended glory. We need 60 in the chorus and funds for the orchestra. This is a magnificent work.

In addition to our two major concerts, we do outreach singing at nursing homes and retirement villages. In October, we will again sing for the Hospice Remembrance Service. In spring 2012, in honor of the founder of the Choral Art Society of the South Shore, we will award our fourth annual William T. Adams Memorial Scholarship to a student from the South Shore going to college to major in music.

To produce our concerts, to do good in our communities through music making, and to award a scholarship each year, we must spend some of our time fundraising. To support our musical and educational mission, we seek donations for our annual fund, sell advertising in our concert programs, apply for a variety of grants, hold fundraising events, and sell tickets to our concerts, which are lively, well-rehearsed, and well-attended affairs. Come help us create concert magic!

For over 50 years, the Choral Art Society of the South Shore has provided opportunities for excellent choral singing and sharing music with others in the community. Come sing with us. You do not have to audition, and you do not even have to know how to read music. However, you must be able to keep a tune, match pitch, and balance your voice with others. You will learn to be a better musician and choral singer. If you are not sure of your ability or voice part, I would be happy to guide you in the right direction. You must also be able to commit to a majority of the rehearsals and agree to help with fundraising and concert duties.

I look forward to the first rehearsal this year, my seventh season with the Choral Art Society of the South Shore, and I hope to see you there for the downbeat at 7:30pm - come a little early to get your music and chat! Rehearsal is at First Trinitarian Congregational Church on Country Way in Scituate. Please call Nancy Boehne at 781-925-3638 or write to her at wcboehne@comcast.net if you have questions.