Masterworks Singers Newsletter Fall 2024 No. 12

Dear Wonderful People,

I am always proud of you, but this evening as I write this, I have a new definition of pride.  My pride is grounded in pure admiration for each and every one of you... you lift me up... and you lift up Polly as well. This is truly a family thing for us.  As we were driving back from Fredericksburg, both of us were in that zone of appreciation where words were not really adequate to express how much gratitude we felt being a part of this wonderful community.  

Now let's continue to just get a little better each rehearsal between now and our full Fall concert on November 17!

Thursday night will be regular rehearsal at St. Theresa's.  We will jump back in to Movement 2 and Movement 4 of the Magnificat.  We will also continue to work on polishing and even a bit of memorization on the works we sang so beautifully this past Sunday.

I am always so pleased to have you experience the beauty of what you bring to your art in such a beautiful place as Historic St. Mary's. 

Now as we work toward the larger performance with our full Chamber Orchestra, let's all commit to bringing at least one, if not two or three new people to our concert to experience your amazing hard work!

Keep up the practice on your own with our wonderful practice aides.  I cannot thank Peter and Earl enough for their incredible contributions to the learning tracks!!

Here again is an important announcement about next week. Don't forget!!

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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.

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

Excellence in personal effort.  Beauty is present in every phrase of every piece.

Support each other in your work all the day long.  We give thanks to the Spirit for the inspiring breath that makes this all possible! 

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.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 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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