Choir Annual Report 2010

by Choir Director Paulette Velazquez

The choir has been rehearsing every Sunday in preparation for Christmas services. Much of the music has so many written changes in it that for next year I am planning on putting in clean copies of the music and would like to purchase more music for this season if there is a book available like the Easter book I now have. Next year for the Sunday School program I will be planning all of the music. Since we have many talented musicians in our congregation, Maria Kopulos and I have discussed many ideas one of which is a children's choir with orchestra accompaniment. There is a lot a beautiful music for Christmas out there but I will need funds to purchase the music for a new growing section of our library. Easter is fast approaching and we will be starting rehearsals for this season immediately after Christmas. Attendance has been good and we are starting to really sing together as an ensemble and with confidence. They have been very patient with all my drills but it's paying off.  One issue I have is with the teen girls in the choir. They need to attend rehearsals if they are planning on singing in the choir, especially when I introduce new music. We usually rehearse at noon for an hour and the girls are welcome to come after Sunday School. If I can get a commitment from them and support from the parents then I will keep all new music to learn at the end if rehearsal. Otherwise, the girls need to stand in the back and let those who attend rehearsal be in the front. Mark Olsen and I have been talking about a forming a men’s choir with weekly rehearsals and possibly changing the Sunday morning service to znameny music instead of Byzantine. We will need to have a meeting after church for those interested so ideas can be talked about and a rehearsal schedule can be set. I would like to lead these rehearsals and would be attending Matins to listen. Father Andrew, and all the men who participate in Matins would need to attend.