Masterworks Singers Newsletter Fall 2024 No. 9

Dear Singers,

Here is your reminder Newsletter edition for our 7th rehearsal on Thursday night at 7 pm in the St. Theresa Sanctuary.

Just like last week we will rehearse in the pews closest to the organ and piano. We will try to not spread out as far as when we were in two sections of the Sanctuary.  For those who sang last Spring, I ask that you try to remember your "voice alignment" arrangement and  sit next to the people who were your standing partners.  For the new folks this semester, just continue to sing near the people you have been rehearsing with.,

Thursday is an important "polishing" rehearsal.  I ask that you spend at least a few minutes in individual practice on the sections you personally marked in your scores during our rehearsal last week.  

At the beginning of the rehearsal, we will also read quickly through the Mass Parts for the service in Fredericksburg.  We sing the 11:15 Mass service at St. Mary's Historic Church.  We sing the Mass acclamations as well as Let There Be Peace on Earth for  the choral anthem.  We then take a lovely lunch break, and return to the Sanctuary for warm-up at 2:00 pm.  Our Concert is at 3:00 pm on Sunday, October 20.  We return to Austin after the concert.

Important Info about the Bus to Fredericksburg

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For those riding the bus, I have received the quote from the bus company.  I am sad to say it is higher than it was two years ago when we last took this trip.  As a result of that increase I must ask for a fee of $35 per rider to help defray the cost of the bus.  We have enough to essentially take care of half the cost of the bus in our budget, so this extra fee is necessary for us to stay on budget with the total costs of the November concert and it's chamber orchestra.

We will develop a QR code for the bus riders to use to pay their fee.

PLEASE MAKE NOTE LISTED BELOW IN THE SCHEDULE SECTION OF THE REHEARSAL CHANGE ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 29.  WE WILL NOT REHEARSE ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT WHICH FALLS ON OUR REGULAR THURSDAY SCHEDULE. 

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE EDUBLOGS PAGE OF SCORES AND LEARNING TRACKS.

For anyone still needing to register, I ask that you do so online.  It is an easy process and it helps us keep our data accurate.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE FALL SEMESTER 2024

All the important information about the schedule, scores and rehearsal aides  that stays the same is always on the bottom of the Newsletter edition.  

Your excellence is due to your fine habits, along with your innate talents!!

Blessings and thanks to all,

Morris
 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

MASTERWORKS SINGERS WEB PAGE

Thanks to our web master Mark Stern, we now have the Newsletters archived on our Masterworks website for you use so you don't have to scroll through your emails to find what you want.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO THE MASTERWORKS WEBSITE 

From the Home Page, look at the top banner.  Find the button for Current Season. Click on that button and find the button for Past Masterworks Newsletter. The Newsletters for the Season will be listed with the most recent Newsletter being on top.

Please also feel free to forward the website address to you friends and family so they can learn about our wonderful community of fine musicians.  The website address is https://masterworkssingers.org.

FALL 2024 SCHEDULE:
 

• First Rehearsal: Thursday Evening, August 29, 2024. Registration begins at 6:30 pm. Rehearsal begins at 7:00 pm. St. Theresa Sanctuary. 4311 Small Dr. Austin, Tx. 78731
• Important Schedule Change for the Week of Halloween. Instead of rehearsing on Halloween night, Thursday, October 31,  we will move that rehearsal to Tuesday, October 29.  We will rehearse that evening in the Great Room of Elmer Hall
• First Performance: Sunday, October 20, 2024. St. Mary's Historic Painted Church, Fredericksburg, Texas. We travel to Fredericksburg to sing a late-morning Mass. After Mass, we enjoy lunch and return at 2:45 for a 3:30 pm Concert. This is a special invitation to participate in St. Mary's annual concert series.
• Second Performance: Sunday, November 17, 2024. 7:00 pm. St. Theresa Catholic Church. Austin, Texas. This concert is our major concert for the Fall semester 2024.

LITERATURE FOR FALL 2024 UPDATED September 11

An exciting and inspirational new setting of Magnificat by award-winning composer Taylor Scott Davis. This amazing text from the Gospel of Luke is set in five movements.

Reviews have described Davis' music as ... “sonically luxurious”, memorable, and inspiring of hope. He believes in supporting collaboration and creating musical opportunities at all levels.

Other pieces in our Fall program Include a thrilling opening by Paul Halley, an a cappella gem by Karen Marolli, a lovely new setting of Let There Be Peace on Earth with chamber orchestra by Craig Courtney, and an exciting new arrangement of the spiritual Soon We Will Be Done by Kyle Pederson that will close our concert.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE EDUBLOGS PAGE OF SCORES AND LEARNING TRACKS.
 

SCORES IN PDF FOR TABLET USERS Updated September 11
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE EDUBLOGS PAGE OF SCORES AND LEARNING TRACKS.

REHEARSAL AIDES AND LEARNING TRACKS UPDATED August 24

We all need to thank the members who work so hard to give us learning tracks to practice outside of rehearsal times. Without these aides, we would spend way too much time chasing notes in rehearsal.

Here is the link to our Edublogs page for the Fall 2024 Season. Please read carefully as you click on the links. The first set of learning tracks for Magnificat are now up, created by the great and marvelous Peter!!

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE EDUBLOGS PAGE OF SCORES AND LEARNING TRACKS.

REGISTRATION PROCEDURE FOR FIRST REHEARSAL UPDATED August 24

Our Fees for registration cover the cost of the music, plus a contribution to help offset the small orchestra we use for accompaniment. To help offset the expenses for music and orchestra, please be prepared to pay $30 for registration for the Fall semester. As has been our norm, we discount those who are from St. Edward's. SEU faculty, students, and grads are asked to pay $15.

Registration will be by cash, check, or credit/debit card.

If writing a check please make it out to Masterworks Singers.

Here again is the link to register online if you choose.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE FALL SEMESTER 2024

If you wish to register at the first rehearsal you may still do so.
If you prefer to pay by cash or by check, you will register at the first rehearsal in person.

For the mini-tour to Fredericksburg in October we will be offering a bus should you wish to not drive on your own. There will be an extra charge for riding the bus. That charge will be collected later, and will not be part of the first registration fee.

I look forward to welcoming new members into our community.  For those of you joining us for the first time, please invite a friend or two to come and join along with you. The fun is always better with friends on board! 

We will allow new members to continue to join us through the third rehearsal of this Fall Season.

The first image is The Annunciation by Henry Ossawa Tanner

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