Cambridge Community Chorus
P.O Box 390278, Cambridge, MA  02139-0022             www.cambridgechorus.org
                                                                                                                                       February, 2004

Rehearsals Begin on February 23 for Spring 2004 Concert
Has the current winter cold got you down? Think spring! A recent unsubstantiated research study by an unnamed and unreliable source claims that the best way to warm up during long, cold New England winters is to sing choral music with a community chorus. The study noted the benefit of the collective heat generated by the bodies of many singers huddled together, exhaling warm air in a synchronized fashion (singing). The study also reported that legislative bodies at work produced much hotter air, but observed that the quality of the air produced was not nearly as harmonious or generally pleasing as that produced by a community chorus.

The program for the Spring Concert will consist of the Mozart Requiem and the Sinfonia Concertante (a double violin concerto) composed by the Chevalier St. Georges (a contemporary of Mozart). Alto Mary Keith, will produce the concert, which will take place in Sanders Theatre at Harvard University on Saturday, May 29, 2004. If you would like to volunteer to help with any of the many tasks need to bring this concert to the stage, please call Mary Keith at (617) 427-8295. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated

The first rehearsal for our Spring Concert will take place on Monday, February 23, at 6:30pm at St. Bartholomew's Church.  Note that after the first two rehearsals in this season we will have a three-week "break". It's important to attend the first two rehearsals to get scores, practice tapes & CDs, and instructions so that you can continue to practice on your own during our mid-March break, and be that much better prepared when we resume rehearsing later in March.

Rehearsal Schedule for Spring 2004 Concert
Please join us.  Except where noted all rehearsals will begin at 6:30pm at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 239 Harvard Street.
FIRST REHEARSAL        Monday, Feb. 23, 6:30pm. Come sing!
MON. REHEARSALS      6:30pm - March 1, 29, April 5,12,19,26, May 3,10,17, (24 Sanders w/orch.)
SAT. REHEARSALS        April 17 10am-3pm, Cochran Chapel, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
DRESS REHEARSAL Saturday May 29, 10am-12:30pm, Harvard University, Sanders Theatre
PERFORMANCE   Saturday May 29 at 7:30pm??? Harvard University, Sanders Theatre

New Singers
The Chorus welcomes new singers in most voice parts (especially tenors and basses).  New basses, tenors, and sopranos should simply attend the first rehearsal of the spring cycle on Monday, February 23, at 6:30pm and sign-in on the New Singer sheet.  Due to the abundance of altos recently singing in the Chorus, new altos interested in singing with us should first contact Chorus President Paul Raila at president@cambridgechorus.org or (617) 625-6588.

Attendance Policy
Because the Chorus strives to be accessible to all interested community members it does not require an audition to sing in the Chorus.  All singers are expected to sign in at each rehearsal and attend all rehearsals in a given production cycle.  If you must miss a rehearsal, please mark the rehearsal sign-in sheet appropriately or notify the Concert Producer in advance of your absence if possible.  If you miss more than two rehearsals in a cycle you should speak with the Concert Producer to determine whether you will be permitted to sing in the performance.  New singers who join after the second rehearsal are welcome to sing in rehearsals but may not be able to sing in the performance for that cycle.

Non-Singer Help Needed for Spring Concert
We are always seeking volunteers to help with Chorus operations.  We also need non-singers to help us at performances. If you're not able to sing in this concert please volunteer to help in a non-singing capacity (or "volunteer" your friends and family). Please contact Spring Concert producer Mary Keith at (617) 427-8295.

Send Us Your New/Changed Contact Information
Please keep us current with your contact information (new, or changed email & postal addresses, telephones, etc.) so we can communicate with you more quickly, easily and inexpensively. If you have email please send a message from that address to: mystats@cambridgechorus.org otherwise please write your new information in the margin or on the bottom of the singer sign-in sheet.

Two Chorus Voices Silenced
The Chorus marks, with sadness, the passing of Anne Dow and George Papanek, two Chorus singers whose passion for singing helped to sustain them even as their health declined in the face of serious illnesses. Their voices and spirits will be greatly missed.

Anne died in November 2003, after battling bone cancer for several years. Although she worked conscientiously to manage her disease, she refused to surrender to it.  Based on the intensity with which she continued to work, travel, play, and sing, few people were even aware that she was ill. The grace and determination with which lived the final years of her life, despite her illness, were truly inspiring to those who knew her well. Besides singing with the Cambridge Community Chorus, Anne also sang with the North Cambridge Family Opera, and performed leading roles in recent productions. Her kindness, vigor, good spirit and sense of adventure were a good example to us all. The Chorus has been very fortunate to receive many generous contributions made in her memory.

George died in late in January 2004, after numerous hospitalizations during the past several months. Despite his infirmities, George continued to rehearse with the Chorus well into this past Messiah rehearsal cycle, until failing health made it impossible for him to continue. George's widow, Judith, hopes to have an opportunity to see Chorus members at our rehearsal on Monday, February 23, 2004 (if travel to attend her granddaughter's birthday in Brazil does not conflict). Although Judith does not sing with the Chorus, her face will be familiar to many of you because she frequently accompanied George to rehearsals and could be found reading and listening in the back of the room. Some of you may also remember George and Judith as enthusiastic participants in the Chorus tour to Japan in December 2002. Judith and George especially enjoyed getting to know better some of the Chorus members who participated in that trip.