December Update #16: Most Important

Last and most important, may I ask a favor please?  If you feel so inclined, would you please remember our concert, our choir, our conductors and our accompanists in your petitions and prayers today?  If you would like to participate in a group prayer, we will meet in the choir room, room W252, at 6:40 p.m., prior to lining up to go on stage.

Thank you again for the time you have devoted to this concert and your efforts on behalf of all South High Alumni.  I wish you a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, Wonderful Holidays and a very joyful and prosperous New Year.

December Update #15: Names Please

So much was going on last night that I neglected to write down the names of the soloists, vocal and instrumental.  If you know the names, please let me know.

The Christmas Song Soloists:  Marge Overly Dalton and ?

Gloria Soloist:  Darlene Baldwin Spencer

Mary Had a Baby, Soloist:  Barbara Kearl Brown

Percussionist:  ?

Violinist:  ?

December Update #14: Song Order

Tonight is the night!  Thank you again for your support!  We are working on obtaining a shell and/or adding some monitors that will improve our ability to hear each other.  Here is the song order for tonight:

“Jingle Bells”, sung by the audience
“Gloria in Excelsis”
“O Come, O, Come, Emmanuel”
“Away in a Manger”
“Angel's Carol”
“Mary Had a Baby”
“Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful”, sung by the audience
Bel Canto and Family Number (Choir Gracefully sits down on the risers)
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, sung by the audience
“Caroling, Caroling”
“The Christmas Song”
“Carol of the Bells”
“Do You Hear What I Hear?”
“Peace, Peace/Silent Night”
“The Lord Bless You and Keep You”

December Update #13: Shell Setup CANCELLED!

After taking a good look at the concert shell, it was determined that it will NOT work with the riser setup, so the assembly of the shell at 5 p.m. today has been CANCELLED.  If you were planning to arrive early and would like to join us for sectionals, please meet in room W252 at 5:30 p.m.  See you tonight!

December Update #12: Tuesday Night Rehearsal

Last one for today.  I PROMISE!

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  What a wonderful way to spend a few hours on a Saturday morning.  I am so looking forward to the concert, but can honestly say that I'm enjoying the rehearsals just as much or more.  I may be 50, but sitting and singing under Mr. Torgerson’s direction made me feel like I was 17 again!

Don’t forget rehearsal tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 20!  We will meet in the auditorium at 7 p.m.  Remember to “woodshed” your part before the rehearsal.  All music and rehearsal tracks can be found at www.southhighsings.com (password is “cubs”).  Gloria in Excelsis, Angel’s Carol, Mary Had A Baby and The Christmas Song will need the most attention.

If you were not able to attend our Saturday morning rehearsal, please plan to meet in room W252 (old Girls Gym) at 5:30 p.m. for sectional work.  In fact, anyone who would like to spend some extra time drilling parts is welcome to attend.

Our final rehearsal will be on Wednesday, December 21 at 5 p.m. in The Grand Theatre/South High School Auditorium and don’t forget to come in concert dress:

Men:  White, long-sleeve shirt, traditional tie, dark pants

Women:  Long-sleeve, jewel tone top (ruby red, sapphire blue, emerald green, etc.), black pants or below the knee skirt.

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  to all of you wonderful choir members, conductors and accompanists.  It’s going to be a great evening!

December Update #11: Looking for able bodied men

Steve Lewis and Dick Taggart will be in the South High School Auditorium/The Grand Theatre at 5 p.m. tomorrow afternoon with the goal to assemble the concert shell.  If there are any able bodied men available to help with this task, please plan to meet in the auditorium.  Just in case there are issues with the shell (parts missing), please watch your e-mail for changes to the assembly plans.  Thanks!

December Update #10: Children's Choir

If you have a child, grandchild, great-grandchild of any age that would like to join us on stage, please comment so that we can gauge interest.  There will be a rehearsal for the children’s choir on Wednesday, December 21 at 5:45 p.m. in room W252 (old Girls Gym).

Due to a death in the family, the young woman who was planning to help us with the children’s choir will not be able to join us.  We would still LOVE to give the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of South High Alumni the opportunity to sing a short song, one that is familiar to many of us, Roger Miller’s “Old Toy Trains”, which we sang as “Little Toy Trains”.  I have uploaded an mp3 file to www.southhighsings.com (password is “cubs”).  Here is a link to Glen Campbell’s rendition of this song and following are the lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAUheEHtOyQ&feature=related

Little toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?

Close your eyes
Listen to the skies
All is calm, all is well
Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells

Bringin' little toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?

Close your eyes
Listen to the skies
All is calm, all is well
Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells

Bringin' little toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?

December Update #9: Video Copy of Concert

We have had several requests for a video copy of the South High Sings Christmas Concert.  If you know someone who can help us in this endeavor (including making DVD copies) please e-mail southhighsings@gmail.com.  Thank you!

December Update #8: Soprano Soloists

Three of the pieces that we will perform on Wednesday night have a soprano solo.  If you are a soprano soloist and would like to help us in this capacity, please meet us in room W252 (our Saturday rehearsal room) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20.  The songs that need a soloist are Gloria In Excelsis, Mary Had A Baby and The Christmas Song.  Mother Abbess has expressed an interest in The Christmas Song and I know I have two Maria’s who are planning to sing with us on Wednesday night!  Who have I missed?

December Update #7: HELP!

If you know of someone who IS NOT singing in the choir that would be willing to volunteer to help with the concert, please contact Susan Hansen at (801) 957-4658 or susan.hansen@slcc.edu.  Where do we need help?

1.       Will call tickets:  Most of the tickets are still being held in will call.  We’ll need to be able to distribute them quickly so that people can get seated.

2.       Ushers, program distributors, traffic directors and “Japanese subway pushers”.  We’ll be using the balcony and if you remember correctly, the access and seating is designed for the younger set.  We would hate to see alumni from the 1940’s have to make their way up the ramp to the balcony.  Also, we’ll have a full house, so at some point, those that are saving seats will have to give them up.  At approximately 6:45 p.m., we’ll have to employ our “Japanese subway pusher skills” and ask people to move to the center of the rows so that we can fill in any empty seats.  The Grand Theatre will provide five ushers, but we will need additional assistance in this area.

3.       Cookie distributors:  We have made arrangements for refreshments after the concert (Christmas cookies and water).  If you would like to help us man the refreshments table, please let us know.

December Update #6: First Rehearsal Saturday Morning

First rehearsal is tomorrow morning starting at 9 a.m. at South High School/Salt Lake Community College.  Please park on the east side of the campus (where the football stadium once stood) and enter through the east doors.  As you walk through the lobby, please think about all the hours you spent sitting in the choir room because you’ll be walking right through it!

Attached please find a map for tomorrow’s rehearsal.  Only TWO doors will be open in the morning:  the East entrance and the Handicapped entrance next to the Grand Theatre (starred on map).  Directional arrows lead you to the elevator and the starred areas on the second floor are the rehearsal rooms.  We will begin the rehearsal in room W252 and may split off into sectionals at some point during the rehearsal.  The doors will be open at 8 a.m.  The east parking lot where the football stadium once stood provides the most parking options.  A parking permit and quarters for the meters are not required because school is not in session, but please remember to follow standard parking regulations (no red curbs or handicapped spots without proper tags).

We will have original copies of the music available at rehearsal tomorrow.  However, since we have only an estimate of the number of people who plan to sing in the choir, please bring your copy of the music if you took the time to print from www.southhighsings.com (remember, the password is “cubs”).

There is a great deal of excitement about this concert and the opportunity to be reunited with our fellow A cappella and Bel Canto friends.  We anticipate that rehearsal will last until noon and if you would like to join us for lunch following the rehearsal at Chuck-a-rama, located at 700 East and 400 South, they are expecting a surge in diners between 12:30 and 1 p.m.

We know it is a busy time of year and we appreciate your taking the time to be with us at rehearsals and the concert.

Remember, you can practice anytime, anywhere by accessing and/or downloading the rehearsal tracks at www.southhighsings.com.  A few more accompaniments have been added in the last week.  Thank you to my Cedar City friend and neighbor, Mary Anne Anderson, for helping me with the accompaniments.  Did I happen to mention that while we were working on this project, I discovered that her husband, Le Grand Anderson, is a South High Alum who was one of Dr. Willardson’s students.  I also learned that like many of you, he was involved with Dr. Willardson and the Salt Lake Symphonic Choir.  What a small world!

December Update #5: We're a sellout!

Wow!  All available tickets for the South High Sings Christmas Concert have been distributed except for the tickets I have on hold for choir members.  If you did not get a chance to request tickets, I will have extras available at our rehearsals.

If you know of someone who would like to attend the concert and DOES NOT have a ticket, please let them know standby seats will be available.  We have been told by The Grand Theatre that approximately 10-15% of tickets are no shows (100-150 seats).

It’s going to be a great night!

December Update #4: Practice Anytime, Anywhere

Are you practicing your music?  Just think, if you have an Internet based phone you can practice your music anytime, anywhere by going to www.southhighsings.com and logging in with the password “cubs”.  From there you can practice your part, access the sheet music or practice along with a performance by simply clicking on the link.

The rehearsal tracks for “The Christmas Song” were added today, and the Tenor part (wrong song) and sheet music (missing pages) for Angel’s Carol have been fixed.

December Update #3: Free Tickets for South High Sings Christmas Concert

If you think the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert is the hottest ticket in town, better think again!

As announced in the latest issue of the Scribe, the South High Sings Christmas Concert scheduled for Wednesday, December 21 at 7 p.m. will be a free concert but tickets are required.  As of today, over 800 tickets have been distributed..  If you are planning to sing with us and would like your friends and family to attend, please contact The Grand Theatre box office and order your tickets today!  If you would like to come and enjoy the music performed by your fellow South High Alumni, please order your tickets today!  Here is the contact information for The Grand Theatre Box Office:

The Grand Theatre
1575 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Phone: 801-957-3322
Fax: 801-957-3300

Box office hours are 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

December Update #2: Men's Concert Dress Modifed

Men's Concert Dress Modified

As much as we would like to be back in the 80’s (for the most part), we realize that the pastel shirts men wore way back when may no longer be in their closet.  With that said, we have decided to change the men’s concert dress to long-sleeve white shirt, traditional tie, dark pants, no jacket.  It’s just two weeks and two days until the concert!  Are you practicing your music?  Watch for more updates to come!

December Update #1: Practice, Practice, Practice!

Only 20 days until the concert!  Time to start practicing your music!  Rehearsal tracks and sheet music are now available at the website:  www.southhighsings.com.  The password is “cubs”.

Please practice, practice, practice your part!  If you would like to learn a second part such as 2nd soprano or baritone, please do so.  We will not know our mix of voices until the first rehearsal on Saturday morning, December 17.  There are only two rehearsals, and we want to make sure that we use our time to polish these pieces rather than learn parts.  Accompaniments will be available next week.

Please keep in mind the following:

1. The Salt Lake School District, West High School and the Salt Lake Symphonic Choir have graciously allowed us to use their original copies of the music selected.  We want to make sure this music is safe and secure while under our watch and have made the decision to NOT mail out music packets to choir members.  Yes, we trust you, but it opens up a few avenues for some of the music being misplaced or lost.  Original copies of the music will be available at rehearsals and for the performance.

2. We are very sensitive and mindful of copyright issues and there has been much discussion and thought given to how to provide music to choir participants.  Sheet music is available via the website for personal practice purposes only.  If you choose to print a copy, please destroy all copies on or before December 22, 2011.

3. You will discover why the person plunking out the parts on the piano (me) WAS NOT an accompanist in high school.  The rehearsal tracks are not perfect, but should help you learn your part.  If I have made any gross errors, please let me know so that I can fix the track.  Again, a recording of the accompaniment will be available next week and you will be happy to know that it WILL NOT be me trying to play something way out of my league!

4. The music tracks can be downloaded to your computer and then transferred to CD or your mp3 player (phone, iPod, etc.).  Simply right-click your mouse on the link, select “Save target as” (may be different in other versions of Windows, and then save it on your Desktop or in a folder on your hard drive.

5. There are two pieces of music that have not been uploaded, “Away in a Manger” and “Peace, Peace”.  Please watch your e-mail for a notice once these are available.

6. We will notify you when the rehearsal tracks for The Christmas Song, Mary Had a Baby and Gloria in Excelsis are uploaded.  The sheet music is available.

We have had a great response to this concert and look forward to a wonderful evening as we present a gift to South High Alumni, our families and the community.

Planning Meeting Change

South High Sings Christmas Concert Planning Meeting Change!

Thank you for helping the cause of me not having to travel from Cedar City to Salt Lake TWICE this week.  The planning meeting has been changed from this afternoon to Friday, December 2 at 4 p.m.  Only three weeks until the concert!  See you there!

November Update #5 of 5: Repertoire

Update 5 of 5
South High Sings Christmas Concert Repertoire

Here we go!  Ready to sing?  There was a lot of discussion and way too many great songs to choose from, but we have narrowed the repertoire down to the following:

Gloria in Excelsis, Martin Luther/Florence Jolley/arr. Lara Hoggard
O Come, O, Come, Emmanuel, Chrstimas Choral Music for The Youth Songfest at Christmastime on Temple Square
Away in a Manger, Lowell Durham
Angel's Carol, John Rutter
Mary Had a Baby, William L. Dawson
Caroling, Caroling, Alfred Burt Carols/Whila Hutson/Alfred Burt
The Christmas Song, Mel Torme and Robert Wells/arr. Roy Ringwald
Carol of the Bells, Peter J. Wilhousky/M. Leontovich/arr. Peter J. Wilhousky
Do You Hear What I Hear?, Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne/arr. Harry Simeone
Peace, Peace/Silent Night, Bock
The Lord Bless You and Keep You, Peter C. Lutkin

Watch for an e-mail on December 1 that will have a link to rehearsal tracks that can be downloaded to your computer.  From there you can load on to your mp3 player (phone, iPod) or make your own CD.

We’re just three weeks away from the concert!  It’s going to be a great evening!

November Update #1 of 5: Rehearsals

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I am grateful for the many wonderful responses we have received from South High Alumni and former A cappella and Bel Canto choir members.  Now that Thanksgiving festivities are complete, let’s start thinking about Christmas!  Please mark your calendars for the following:

Saturday, December 17, 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

South High Sings Christmas Concert Rehearsal

South High School Girls Gym/Salt Lake Community College Room W252 (which is no longer a girl’s gym but a choir room and theater)

Saturday, December 17, 12:30 p.m.

Lunch and Visiting

Chuck-a-rama on 744 East 400 South

We know that many of you will want to visit with one another and with our choir directors and want to provide you with this opportunity during an informal lunch and mingle.

Tuesday, December 20, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

South High Sings Christmas Concert Rehearsal

South High School Girls Gym/Salt Lake Community College Room W252 (which is no longer a girl’s gym but a choir room and theater)

Wednesday, December 21, 5 p.m.

South High Sings Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal

South High School Auditorium/The Grand Theatre

Wednesday, December 21, 7 p.m.

South High Sings Christmas Concert

Please help us prepare for this concert by practicing your music and part on your own.  Music and rehearsal tracks will be available for download on Thursday, December 1, and a link to this website will be forwarded in a separate e-mail.

Thank you again for your interest in participating in the South High Sings Christmas Concert!  It’s going to be a great event and a wonderful Christmas present to Old South High and our community.

November Update #2 of 5: Tickets

And you thought the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert was the hottest ticket in town, better think again!

As announced in the latest issue of the Scribe, the South High Sings Christmas Concert scheduled for Wednesday, December 21 at 7 p.m. will be a free concert but tickets are required.  As of today, over 500 tickets have been distributed and The Grand Theatre has a seating capacity of 1,100.  If you are planning to sing with us and would like your friends and family to attend, please contact The Grand Theatre box office and order your tickets today!  If you would like to come and enjoy the music performed by your fellow South High Alumni, please order your tickets today!  Here is the contact information for The Grand Theatre Box Office:

The Grand Theatre

1575 South State Street

Salt Lake City, UT 84115

Phone: 801-957-3322

Fax: 801-957-3300

November Update #3 of 5: Concert Dress

As you are looking through your closet and preparing your holiday wardrobe, please keep in mind the concert dress for our upcoming South High Sings Christmas Concert.  If you are planning to sing in the choir, please check your closet for the following:

Women:  Black pants or below the knee black skirt, long sleeve jewel tone top (jewel tone:  ruby red, emerald green, amethyst, teal . . . .)

Men:  Dark pants, pastel, long sleeve shirt, traditional tie

November Update #4 of 5: Remembrances

We want to hear your remembrances of singing in A cappella and/or Bel Canto, especially during the Christmas season.  No essays please, just short and sweet.  If you follow “tweet” requirements as your pattern (140 characters or less), you’re on the right track.  Please forward to southhighsings@gmail.com.

11-07-11 Update

SOUTH HIGH SINGS CHRISTMAS CONCERT UPDATE:  There will be a planning meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9 in the Alumni Room (main lobby, across the hall from the auditorium/Grand Theatre entrance) at South High School/Salt Lake Community College.  I will be there at 4:30 to discuss music and the repertoire.  Any and all interested parties are welcome to join me.

10-10-11 Update, South High Sings Christmas Concert

ATTENTION SOUTH HIGH CUBS!  If you would like to participate in the planning meetings for the South High Sings Christmas Concert, the next meeting is this Wednesday, October 12 at 12 noon in the Alumni Room in the lobby of South High School/SLCC.  Can't make it but would like to help, keep watching for announcements via e-mail, southhighsings.blogspot.com or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=205201872823758.

10-02-11 Update, South High Sings Christmas Concert

Thank you for supporting the South High Sings Christmas Concert and for your willingness to join the alumni A cappella choir.  We have had a great response and look forward to a wonderful evening with friends and family.

Mark your calendar!

We are finalizing the details and want to keep you updated as we move forward.  Please mark the following dates on your calendar:

Wednesday, October 12, 12 noon, South High School Alumni Room (South High School/SLCC lobby across from the Grand Theatre)

Planning Meeting (if you are interested in helping plan this event, you are welcome to attend)

Wednesday, November 9, 5:30 p.m., South High School Alumni Room (South High School/SLCC lobby across from the Grand Theatre)

Planning Meeting (if you are interested in helping plan this event, you are welcome to attend)

Saturday, December 17, 9 a.m., location TBD

South High School Sings Christmas Concert Rehearsal

Tuesday, December 20, 7 p.m., location TBD

South High School Sings Christmas Concert Rehearsal

Wednesday, December 21, 5 p.m, Final Rehearsal, South High School Auditorium/The Grand Theatre

Wednesday, December 21, 7 p.m., South High School Sings Christmas Concert, South High School Auditorium/The Grand Theatre

Rehearsals

We are very aware of the demands on your time during the Christmas season and have made the decision to keep rehearsals to a minimum.   Once we have finalized the repertoire, we will post rehearsal tracks at southhighsings.blogspot.com.  Helen Moody Petersen will also make rehearsal CD’s available upon request.  This will allow you to become familiar with the music on your own time and at your convenience.  All we ask is that you be ready to polish the music at the first rehearsal.

Dress

This concert has obviously been on my mind, even on my subconscious mind.  A few nights ago I had a dream that I was trying to get a consensus on the fabric for the A cappella dresses and we were leaning towards a lovely shade of apple green!  No, we are not going to resurrect some of the beauties that we wore way back when (mine was a lovely brown knit qiana), but we would like you to peruse your closet for the following:
Women:  Jewel tone, long sleeve top with black skirt/pants
Men:  Long sleeve pastel shirt, no jacket, traditional tie, dark pants

Children’s/Grandchildren’s Alumni Choir

We hope that you will invite your children and grandchildren to participate in this concert by being a member of the audience and perhaps singing in a children’s/grandchildren’s choir which is being organized by the daughter of a South High Alum and music major at the University of Utah.  We will provide details as they are finalized.

We’ll keep you posted!  Thanks again for your support!

South High Sings Christmas Concert, Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 7 p.m., The Grand Theatre (South High School Auditorium)

Blog:  southhighsings.blogspot.com
Facebook:  "South High Sings Christmas Concert", http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=205201872823758

Date Change!

The concert will be held on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 in the Grand Theater/South High School Auditorium.  Questions?  Please e-mail southhighsings@gmail.com.

Yearbook Pictures needed!

South High School Sings Christmas Concert Update:  Looking for copies of A capella and Bel Canto pictures from ALL yearbooks.  I have 76,77,78 and 79 handled.  If you have access to years other than those mentioned, please scan (high quality jpg is just fine) and e-mail to southhighsings@gmail.com  Thanks much!  Don't forget to mark your calendars for December 23!  More details to follow here and in the next issue of the Scribe.