Forty Niners Chorus

Spring has sprung...

2010-03-04T11:45:00.003-05:00

Here we are again, already in the rehearsal process for the spring show! We've had a few new members join our ranks, which is great news. As a seasoned old-timer (just kidding - I've been in the chorus for a year, unlike many whose membership can be counted in decades) I am helping a new member get acclimated as her chorus "big sister".

So, the show...what can I tell you without giving anything away? Let's just say it will be an OUT OF THIS WORLD production, STARRING our fantastic group. The performance SPACE will RING with the sounds of some classic songs. Even after TAKING OFF a few weeks for winter break, we are ready to have a BLAST. Whether you are a man from MARS or a woman from VENUS, we think you'll LOVE this spring production.

Any guesses what our show is about?

2009-11-19T12:15:00.003-05:00

It's almost time for the Holiday Show!

We've been rehearsing up a storm, getting ready for the show. We open on December 10th, which means there are only a few more rehearsals before the show starts!

I do really love many of the songs we are singing - I like that it's a mix of classical, sacred, secular, modern, comical and serious. Something for everyone. A few of the songs are new to me, and some are old favorites. It's rewarding to learn new songs but the memorizing...ugh! We don't hold our music in our hands for concerts, we memorize it all, so that is a challenge.

I know that the 49ers holiday show is a tradition for many Chester County residents. Like The Old Fashioned Christmas Parade in West Chester, or Santa at the Exton Mall, the show is a fixture in the area. I am sure this year will be the best show yet!

I hope to see you there!

Exciting weekend...

2009-10-12T16:56:00.002-04:00

After three weeks of auditions, all the parts have been assigned. I got a speaking part and a singing solo! I won't give away the part I got in the holiday show- you'll have to see the show. But I'll give you a hint - I wear red and have a very famous husband.

We're learning all the music for the concert, and start working on staging next week.

I am helping Kelly, our choreographer extraordinaire, on show choreography. I haven't choreographed anything in years, but apparently my mad arm-swinging and snapping skills are being put to good use....

And in other news, the chorus' hot chili ladies Rebecca, Kelly and Abby competed in the West Chester Rotary Chili Cook-Off yesterday, and won an honorable mention. I liked the Texas-style chili, which was meaty and smoky with a nice touch of heat. I hear there were slop buckets and a million pounds of chorizo involved.

Stay tuned for more updates....

Auditions

2009-10-02T12:42:00.003-04:00

AUDITIONS...

No, not auditions for the chorus...auditions for the roles in the holiday show!

All chorus members sing as an ensemble, but there are featured roles in songs as well as in the stage show we will perform. Each part is open, so the members can sign up to audition for the roles.

We audition before the regular rehearsal, and it might take two or three weeks to fit in all the auditions. This time around, it will take three weeks.

There are some great solos and some funny parts in the show this time around, so there is a lot of interest. I admit, I auditioned for lots of parts. There were some songs that really appeal to me and that I think fit my voice part well - a few of the songs, though pretty, were not good fits for my voice part. And since I'm a ham I also auditioned for a speaking part in the show.

We'll see what happens! There is some stiff competition for the roles, and lots of strong voices and talented actors, so however it turns out, I am sure it will be a really fun production.

I'll let you know the outcome soon....

First rehearsal of the semester!

2009-08-31T16:27:00.002-04:00

So, we started rehearsals for the Christmas show last night. I was excited to see that we have four new members this semester (for those who don't know, we have two semesters a year)! And since I'm fairly new myself, it was great to meet the members who took the spring semester off (even though I'm a seasoned vet now, with a full semester under my belt). After some wisecracking from the group and introductions, we started to review the new music.

The music for the show will be great - a mixed bag of old and new, funny and serious, simple and complex. It's a lot to learn, so I am planning on recording everything and making that recording my soundtrack as I drive to and from work each day. My ring-binder is crammed with all of my new music. The show is half-concert, half-play/revue/vaudeville act. We promise lots of comedy, and lots of holiday music, with maybe a cheery message or two mixed in. Don't expect serious drama!

And the 49ers have been asked to perform at a Naturalization ceremony at the West Chester Court House - that should be fun, too. I've never attended one, and it would be very meaningful to see the candidates become citizens of the US, and to provide the music.

All in all, a very satisfying beginning to the semester!