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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Notes from the Chair, Dues and Financial Aid Information, Greetings

from Robert Hawthorne ������������������������������������������������������������������1

Oregon Chorale Schedule (September–December 2015) ������������������2

Agreement with Artistic Director Candidates, Kick-off Party ��������������3

THE CHORISTER Issue 4 September 2015

Notes from the ChairGreetings fellow Choristers! We’re down to the wire now - our first rehearsal of the 2015/2016 season is just around the corner. We’ve had a very busy summer making preparations for this transition year–the venues are all set up, the music is ready and available for our first rehearsal, and we are putting our new Team structure together. I’d like to call out the Financial Aid Committee (Allen Schauffler, Ward Nelson, Sheryl Wood, Jacob Mott & Ann Woods) and thank them for meeting over the summer to work on the Financial Aid application and guidelines. The first draft was presented to the Board in August and the finalized edition will be published prior to the first rehearsal. We appreciate their willingness and commitment to create a fair and just process. Also, a huge thank you to all of you who signed up to help with the various areas of responsibility on the Board teams. The Board members will be contacting their teams after the first rehearsal. They may set up a team meeting or they may assign tasks individually. This structure is new and untried–so I will ask you all to be open minded to new processes and ideas. Your overwhelming response to our

requests for help was awesome. We will do everything we can to make sure everyone who volunteered can use their gifts and talents easily without overloading anyone. And a gigantic thank you to the Board members for meeting each month over the summer in order to be prepared for this 2015/2016 season. They have given up a lot of their free time to ensure this organization continues to function and thrive. And finally, a fond farewell to our Treasurer, Ann Woods as she leaves Oregon to pursue a new life in Colorado. We wish the best of luck to her, and thanks to Ed Doyle, who was willing to be appointed as Treasurer for the rest of her term. I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of you at rehearsal on September 14th.

Thanks, Karen Kenyon, Board Chair

Dues and Financial Aid information:Oregon Chorale dues of $50 will be due by Sept. 28th. If you prefer to pay up to the whole year’s dues ($150) at this time, this is fine too.

Financial Aid applications are due by Sept 21. The application will be submitted to the Treasurer

(Ed Doyle), who will remove the names of the applicants and give the applications to the Chair of the Financial Aid Committee. (Allen Schauffler) The Chair and the Committee (Ward Nelson, Sheryl Wood and Jacob Mott) will convene to make decisions on the applications. Decisions will be announced before Sept. 28th.

Greetings from Robert HawthorneDear Oregon Chorale,

What a delightful adventure we embark upon this Fall! Preparation for the first concert of the season begins on September 14th at 7:30 pm! I look forward to working with you as we create a compelling concert full of the sights and sounds of the Christmas Season. Our concert, entitled “Rejoice!” will be performed in 6 song groupings. We will sing 11 songs in the first half, ten in the second half, ending with the singing of “Silent Night” in the round, involving the audience on the final verse! These twenty-one pieces range in style from Gregorian Chant, found in “Alleluia, Rejoice” and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”, to a smashing spiritual, “See dat Babe” and the Kenyan Carol, “Alleluja Sasa!” The men will

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serenade with “We Three Kings” and the women answering with “Still, Still, Still”. For added texture, we will incorporate handbells, pipe organ in an antiphonal choir and organ piece, “Hodie Christus Natus Est,” piano, tambourine, and African drumming. Languages will include Swahili, Latin, Spanish, French, and German. Much of our singing will be a cappella. These songs will have solo opportunities for 1st and 2nd Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone and Bass. Chorale members will play auxiliary percussion parts. Audition details will be forthcoming.

As part of our approach to the repertoire, we will explore a variety of seatings for voices, starting on the 14th with a TBSA format in 4 rows. Each member will receive a complete set of music in concert order at the opening rehearsal with a rehearsal plan for the duration of the Fall. This schedule may be adapted as the pace of learning becomes clearer. We will have a day retreat on Saturday, Nov. 14th (9 am–4 pm) to grow in relationship and solidify our performance. It is my plan to have the Chorale perform several of our pieces from memory. My commitment to you is to structure our rehearsals to guarantee that you feel comfortable with the choir’s level of preparation for the concerts.

As we begin this Fall, I am mindful that the Chorale is beginning an exciting odyssey to choose your new Artistic Director. This is a time of change and possibility! I am honored to be a part of your process. May this Fall be rewarding, invigorating and full of much music making.

Welcome! Robert Hawthorne

Oregon Chorale Schedule September–December 2015

9/14 Monday

Board Mtg: 6:00–7:00 pm

Q&A with Robert: 7:00–7:30 pm

Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm

Century HS

9/21 Monday

Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm

Financial Aid Applications dueCentury HS

9/28 Monday

Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm

Chorale Dues of $50 dueCentury HS

10/5 Monday Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm Century HS

10/12 Monday

Board Mtg: 6:00–7:00 pm

Rehearsal: 7:30–9:15 pm

Q&A with Robert: 9:15–9:30 pm

Century HS

10/19 Monday Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm Century HS

10/26 Monday Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm Century HS

11/2 Monday Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm Century HS

11/9 Monday

Board Mtg: 6:00–7:00 pm

Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pmCentury HS

11/14 Saturday

Retreat: 9:00am–4:00 pm

(With Q&A with Robert 11:45–noon)Century HS

11/16 Monday Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm Century HS

11/23 Monday Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm Century HS

11/29 Sunday Technical Rehearsal: 7:30–9:30 pm St Matthew

Catholic Church

12/5 Saturday

“Rejoice!”–Winter Concert

Concert Call: 4:00 pm

Concert: 7:00–9:00 pm

Living Savior Lutheran Church

12/6 Sunday

“Rejoice!”–Winter Concert

Concert Call: 1:00 pm (to be confirmed)

Concert: 2:00–4:00 pm

St. Matthew Catholic Church

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Agreement with Artistic Director Candidates: Karen Kenyon and Robert Hawthorne will sign this “Statement of Work” which sets out our expectations for the fall term.

1. Purpose: To identify responsibilities of the Artistic Director Candidate, the Communication Liaison Team, and the Oregon Chorale during the Artistic Director selection process.

2. Scope of Work for the Artistic Director Candidate: Plan and purchase (if necessary) music for the December concert.

Prepare the Oregon Chorale for the December 5th and 6th Concerts.

Conduct one rehearsal per week, Monday evenings, 7:30–9:30 pm in Century High School’s choir room, Hillsboro, OR, beginning Sept. 14 and ending Nov. 23.

Conduct one 2-hour tech rehearsal on Nov. 29, 7:30–9:30 pm, and one retreat on Nov. 14, 9am–4 pm.

Additional rehearsals may be scheduled if necessary upon consultation with the CLT and the Venues Coordinator.

The locations of the tech rehearsals, the retreat and concert performances will be determined by the Chorale’s Venue Manager.

Conduct Q & A sessions with Chorale members Sept. 14, from 7–7:30 pm, Oct 12, 9:15–9:30 pm, and Nov. 14, 11:45–12 pm.

Attend monthly Board meetings from 6–7 pm.

3. Type of Contract/Payment Schedule: Payment will be $1000 on September 30, 2015, $1000 on October 31, 2015 and $1000 on December 6, 2015 following the last concert.

$1000 has been budgeted for sheet music required for the concerts. Any purchases of this type will become Chorale property.

4. Questions or issues: Any questions regarding any aspect of this Statement of Work should be addressed first with the Communication Liaison Team (Karen Stratton, Karen Kenyon and Launa Rae Mathews).

5. Period of Performance: This Statement of Work ends December 31, 2015. This will allow time for a Feedback and Reflection Meeting between the AD Candidate and the Communication Liaison Team.

HOW THe STATeMeNT OF WOrK AFFeCTS THe MeMberS:

If you believe your section needs a sectional or special rehearsal, please bring the issue up first with the Communication Liaison Team (Karen K, Karen S and Launa Rae.) The Board would like all official communication with Robert Hawthorne (and our other two candidates) to go through the CLT.

MuSiC AT THE FiRST reHeArSAl:

All music will be distributed to Chorale members at the first rehearsal, Sept. 14.

Kick-off PartyChorale members gathered at our annual Kick-off Party on August 24th. Jenny Davis hosted us for a potluck dinner, a folk song sing-along and a meeting to discuss the new organizational team structure. Each board member is assembling teams of people to distribute the workload and build understanding within our organization. Members were encouraged to sign up for teams that align with their talents and interests. Thanks to Jenny for opening her home to all of us and to the many who signed up to help out on one or more organizational teams!

Rhonda Patten and Ron Swingen led Chorale members in song at the Kick-off Party

Short birds of a feather...