Fall 2023 Deeji’s Full Choir Email Messages
8/1/23 Important Dates for ‘23-’24
Sept. 13th-rehearsals begin.
Saturday, October 7th CCMI 9:30-8:00. Choir retreat and photo shoot.
Holiday concerts: Nov. 18th (10:00-2:00), Dec. 4th, 9th, 11th, 16th (both matinee and evening).
Fundraiser concerts: March 15, 16, 22, 23
Spring concerts: June 7, 8, 14, 15
9/12/23 Welcome Message
I'm so excited to see you all tomorrow and to get started on our FABULOUS holiday music! I'm also super excited to be adding several new members (you're going to love them!) and to welcome back a few members too!
Important Reminders:
Rehearsals begin at 7:00. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early tomorrow, and as a rule 5-10 minutes early so that you can greet each other and be ready to begin right at 7:00.
Rehearsals are at St. John United Lutheran. Corner of 55th and Phinney. Park in the back and enter there through the double doors. Carpool if you can, and if you do, don't make each other late!
Tardy Arrivals: If you are going to be late, contact me right away, if it's after 6:15 please text Marc at (206) 484-3681 and let him know. If you arrive after we have moved upstairs you will need to text him to let you in.
New members: You will all be assigned a "choir buddy" to help guide you through the first few rehearsals. Please show up by no later than 6:50 so that they can find you!
Absences: Always contact me and your section leader right away if you are going to miss a rehearsal.
The "Health and Wellness Committee" has updated the guidelines for keeping one another healthy throughout the season. I will be sending that email out shortly.
If you have any questions please email me at the "bigdsparkles" email. Please don't reply to group emails and please do not text me. If something is urgent, call me.
See you tomorrow at 6:45!!!
9/12/23 Health and Wellness Guidelines
Please take a good look at the new Guidelines. As always, these will be subject to change. A HUGE thank you to Carol Brinster for putting this together for us, and for Catherine and David who also serve with her on the committee!
Greetings from the NWFC "Health and Wellness Committee"! Our team (Carol Brinster, Catherine Sparks and David Martin) met with Deeji a few days ago and agreed on the common sense wellness protocols outlined below. These are intended to help prevent the spread of viruses and respiratory ailments (including COVID-19, RSV, flu and colds) within our community. If we receive updated guidelines from the CDC/Washington State DOH over the next few months, we will communicate any changes.
If you need clarification, or have any questions or concerns about the protocols, please contact Carol, Catherine or David.
In short:
- weekly testing for COVID-19 no longer required (except as noted below)
- masking optional
- stay home if you are sick
- get the updated COVID-19 vaccine (available by October) when and if you are able to
- maintain good ventilation and reasonable distancing
Details:
Testing for COVID-19
You do not need to take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test before every rehearsal! However, we will ask everyone to start testing in the week following Thanksgiving and through our performances in December. We'll provide details as we get closer to the holiday, but plan to have enough tests on hand to cover that period. This NYT article has some good information about home test expiration dates:
If you have any concerns about obtaining tests, contact a committee member.
EXCEPTIONS:
- DO TEST before rehearsal if you have any symptoms (even if you think it's just a cold), have had a direct exposure, or within a week of flying.
- If you test negative and do not have any symptoms, you can attend rehearsal in person, but wear a mask and sit apart from the rest of the choir for a week.
- If you are sick, have a fever or any respiratory symptoms (even if you test negative for COVID-19), stay home. Participate online until symptoms have diminished and you have been fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications. You can then return to in-person rehearsals wearing a mask and sitting apart from the group.
- IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19: let Deeji and the committee know immediately. Stay home until you test negative (CDC recommends 2 negative tests 48 hours apart if you had symptoms, 3 negative tests 48 hours apart if you were asymptomatic). If after a week of first testing positive you continue to test positive but symptoms have gone away and you have been fever-free for 24 hours, you can return to rehearsal but remain masked the entire time and sit well apart from others. Contact the committee if you need clarification.
Masking
Masking is optional except as noted above. We will sing unmasked in the rehearsals leading up to our performances, and during our performances.
Vaccinations
We encourage everyone to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available in late September/early October. The current assessment is that this updated vaccine will be effective against the latest COVID variant in reducing severe disease and hospitalization. Info on the updated vaccine/approval: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/health/covid-vaccine-boosters-fda-pfizer-moderna.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Ventilation and Distancing
Good air flow is healthy! We will continue to keep windows open, turn the fans on and use all air filtering systems available in our rehearsal spaces.
Leave some space between each other in the pews, and respect that some people may have a different comfort level than you do with how close to sit next to others.
We’ve done a great job of avoiding major outbreaks and staying healthy as a choir over the past few years, and hope to continue on that path. Look for additional updates and wellness tips from us over the course of the season.
The Health and Wellness Committee:
Carol Brinster, Catherine Sparks, David Martin
9/20/23 Holiday concert attire photos
There was a message from Deeji about choir uniforms. The main part of this message had photos, which wouldn't cut-and-paste here. There will be more messages about this.
9/23/23 Holiday concert attire
Dear Firelight Friends,
You will need our current holiday concert attire in order to participate in the concerts. Please see the info below from Jean Leavens, who is assisting Sabina in helping you all to get outfitted!
Jean did a great job of explaining what you need to do. Please be respectful of the fact that they are volunteering their time to help you by responding in a timely fashion. Please do not make them chase you down for your order!
The only thing I would add to Jean's instructions, would be this: If you are on the fence as to whether or not to order a dress vs. the pant and top options, know that I prefer the dresses. This is because I often have movements that involve "swishing" the skirts around. If you are in pants I have to make sure you aren't in the front row where the choralography is the most visible.
Happy Autumnal Equinox and happy singing!
9/25/23 St. John Spaghetti Dinner—Save the date
St. John has been our rehearsal home church for the past 13 years. They have been so generous with us, keeping our rental fee low, and always working with us to make sure we have the time we need. They even store our risers for us right there in the sanctuary, which saves us a heck of a lot of time, energy, and money that we would need to store them.
Once a year we have the opportunity to show our gratitude and give back by attending their annual fundraising event. This years Spaghetti Dinner and Dessert Auction will take place on the evening of Friday, Nov. 3rd. I don't have any more details at this point, but it's very likely from 6:00-8:00. Please do mark your calendars and plan on attending if you can. Each year we have filled several tables with Firelighters and they have been so appreciative!
Stay tuned for more details....
10/4/23 Confirmed concert dates
We have confirmed one of our senior living outreach concerts for Dec. 8th. Here are the details.
Concert at Mirabella Retirement Community. 116 Fairview Ave. N
Friday, Dec. 8th Call time: 6:00. Concert 7:30-8:30
Full Concert Attire
Test Beforehand
10/4/23 Important June Dates
I just confirmed one of the staging rehearsals for our spring concert:
Monday, June 3rd from 6:30-9:30. St. John The Baptist Episcopal, West Seattle
*Remember that you are to treat staging rehearsals as performances.
10/9/23 Social Media info for the choir
Thank you all for attending the retreat on Saturday! We learned a lot of music and had a heck of a lot of fun!
Please see below from Nitara and do what she asks when you have a moment. It's a simple but effective step toward helping us to share love and send healing to as many people as possible!
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Please see below for our choir social media links! And please remember to like, follow, and share our posts!
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/NWFirelightChorale
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nwfirelightchorale/
TikTok:
Check out Kat's first post on our choir TikTok!
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8rAGA2V/
10/10/23 Memorization through 10/18
MEMORIZATION:
"When The Song of the Angels is Stilled."
We will practice this piece tomorrow without anyone holding music so be prepared!
From here on out I will be adding a piece to memorize each week so that we are fully memorized on our program come concert time.
Have memorized for October 18th:
"Everlasting Light."
At this point you want to be sure you are studying your music between rehearsals. Not only will this bring you more confidence and joy as you deepen your relationship with the pieces, but the more you run the pieces along the way, the more quickly you'll memorize them when the time comes. It's a win win!!
Are you someone who waits and crams at the last minute? Well...don't be!
Procrastinating causes stress that could be totally avoided by simply spending time enjoying your music throughout the week. Make a scheduled time for yourself each day to delight in singing through your music. Note the feeling of accomplishment when you tackle a trouble spot and fix it. Note the pride and joy you feel as you commit each song to heart!
10/10/23 December 13 performance confirmed
Wednesday, Dec. 13th Concert
Location: Skyline Retirement Community. 725 9th Ave. Street parking so please plan ahead and carpool if you can.
Time: 6:00 Call with performance from 7:30-8:30
Full Concert Attire
Test beforehand.
As always, they are really looking forward to having us!
10/19/23 Memorization through Nov. 1 and “diphthong” explanation
Thank you all for a great rehearsal last night! I can really tell that the sectionals have helped move us forward, which is a wonderful thing! Please do keep the momentum up.
MEMORIZE:
Oct. 25th. "White Christmas Medley" up through pg. 14.
Nov. 1st. "That Christmas Morning Feeling." and the rest of "White Christmas Medley."
I can't stress enough the need for all of us to give special attention to pure vowels. Every time you practice your music you must give focused attention to committing to a vowel. How can you tell if you are successful? It will feel free, it will be easy to crescendo, and if you plug your nose the sound won't change and you won't feel vibration in your nose.
I heard a recording of us last night that Jonathan made of "Everlasting Light." There were stunning moments, and some flat moments. The flatness was primarily caused by closing to the second vowel in the diphthong while singing extended notes. I noticed it on other pieces as well. We need to fix this, and it will take consistent practice and focused attention from all of us. Once we fix this issue the results will be astounding!
Here is the definition of a diphthong:
Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more
diph·thong
/ˈdipˌTHäNG,ˈdifˌTHäNG/
noun
noun: diphthong; plural noun: diphthongs
