Welcome to the New Year!

Dear Symphony Chorus Singers:

I hope you have had a peaceful and rejuvenating holiday season and offer my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and musical New Year!

I have some good news: within a few days the Arts Council of New Orleans will be announcing that Symphony Chorus of New Orleans will be a recipient of the 2009 Community Arts Award (along with David Cuthbert, Luther Gray, Deacon John Moore, Auselkis Ozols, and WWOZ Radio). If you would like to join in the celebrations, mark your calendar - you will be able to purchase tickets at a later date for an Evening Reception from 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Wednesday, May 6th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Windsor Court Hotel and for the Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 7th from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM at the Audubon Tea Room. In any case, pat yourself on the back for this award which recognizes the thousands of hours of effort by singers and board members of the chorus in musical performance and civic engagement. This award is sure to help us attract potential donors, audience members, and new singers.

Speaking of new singers, I will be holding auditions during early January (and again in March), so if you know someone who might like to join us, please have them call Betsy Miller to schedule an appointment with me.

Here is the schedule for our upcoming SOUL Concert:

January 6 NO REHEARSAL (auditions for new singers)
January 13 7:00 - 9:30 PM Regular Tuesday Rehearsal at Loyola
January 20 7:00 - 9:30 PM Regular Tuesday Rehearsal at Loyola
January 27 7:00 - 9:30 PM Regular Tuesday Rehearsal at Loyola
February 3 7:00 - 9:30 PM Regular Tuesday Rehearsal at Loyola
February 10 7:00 - 9:30 PM Regular Tuesday Rehearsal at Loyola
February 17 7:00 - 9:30 PM Regular Tuesday Rehearsal at Loyola
February 24 NO REHEARSAL (Mardi Gras)
March 3 7:00 - 9:30 PM Regular Tuesday Rehearsal at Loyola
March 10 7:00 - 10:00 PM Tuesday Rehearsal with SOUL Quartet at Loyola
March 12 7:00 - 10:00 PM "DRESS" Rehearsal with SOUL Quartet at Most Holy Name of Jesus Church
March 13 7:00 PM call for 7:30 PM CONCERT with SOUL Quartet at Most Holy Name of Jesus Church
March 20 NO REHEARSAL (auditions for new singers)
March 27 7:00 - 9:30 PM Regular Tuesday Rehearsals resume at Loyola

Please visit http://soulands.org/default.aspx to get acquainted with this year's quartet and see their itinerary and repertoire in progress. Our concert repertoire is nearly complete and most of our music is here. You will be able to purchase the packet of music at our first rehearsal for $12.00. Please bring cash (correct change, if possible) or check and arrive a few minutes early so we don't lose our valuable rehearsal time to commerce and record keeping.

The American portion of our program will consist of:
A Jubilant Song - This vibrant 1945 setting of a Walt Whitman text by composer Norman Dello Joio (1913 - 2008) is one of the finest pieces of twentieth century American choral music. A good performance by the Uuniversity of Illinois Concert Choir: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAKfLmVHKW4 There are several other performances available at YouTube. Notice the choirs who look up (some even sing by memory!).

I've Been in the Storm So Long - traditional spiritual arranged by Jeffery Ames in 2006 in response to Hurricane Katrina. Streaming audio of a fine performance from the publisher's website: http://www.waltonmusic.com/Sound9/IveBeenIn/

Worthy to Be Praised - Gospel anthem for chorus and piano by Byron J. Smith. Lots of performances on YouTube. A pretty good one (piece starts about 1:30): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJVYmdkKfqM

The Multi-Cultural portion of our program (so far) is

LATVIA: Dziedot dzimu dziedot augu (arr. Kalnins) SATB div.

Audio performance with scrolling text:
http://www.opentoeverycitizen.net/lv/songs_lv/dziedot_dzimu_dziedot_augu/

To learn more about Latvian history and culture:
http://www.latvians.com/en/index.php

CHILE: TBA

KOREA Arirang (arr. Chen Yi) SATB div.

Streaming audio performance from the publisher's website:
http://www.carlfischer.com/mp3/1-09%20Arirang.mp

To learn more about Korean history and culture:
http://www.arirangeducation.com/main/

KENYA Sigalagala (arr. S. Otieno) SATB div. perc.
(This is a piece from the Luo tribe - the people that Barack Obama's father came from)

To listen to a music clip from the publisher's website:
http://www.earthsongschoralmusic.com/catitem.php?seqnum=100236#

Ululation audtions TBA!