Noteworthy News, April 17, 2020
Reconnecting with the Choir: Monday, April 20 at our usual start time of 7 pm. We will be using Zoom, an industry leading video conferencing service. Zoom is designed to operate on Smartphones (iOS and Android) as well as Laptop and Desktop computers running Apple or Windows operating systems AND connected to the Internet. Pro tip: if you have the option, you will want to use a device with the largest screen. The Laptop/Desktop version is the most user friendly. We have found the Zoom application to be "watered down" for Tablets and really abbreviated for Smartphones. If you plan on using a Tablet or Smartphone, please download the app before our meeting. You will also want to create an account with Zoom before the meeting. Most of us are using the free version.
The Zoom meeting access code will be announced via email on Monday morning.
Do you have video editing skills? I need a volunteer(s) to assist with a future Zoom-based project. Please respond via email to president@pschoir.org.
Choir Member Page on the pschoir.org website: We are moving from ChoirGenius and migrating to a member page on our pschoir.org website. This is a work in progress as we move all of our resources so please bear with us. You can access the member page by:
Go to our website at www.pschoir.org
Click the Member link
Type in the password: pschoir (temporary for now)
We will keep you updated as more resources become available on our Member Page.
Here are some thoughts from Alissa: For our inaugural Virtual Singing Meetup we will begin working on Biebl’s Ave Maria. You can download the music attached to this email or you can access it by clicking on Study Resources on our new Member page. Rehearsal tracks are available under Rehearsal Recordings. In addition to the Biebl, we will be working on some voice technique in the coming weeks to keep us in shape. This is a great time to work on our voices so if you have anything you would like to specifically address, please let me know.
About using Zoom:
When you sign on, please feel free to chat and catch up. However, when we are ready to start singing, the director will ask you to mute your microphone. The unavoidable issue with online group rehearsals is latency -- the time delay that takes place when moving data from one place (or singer) to another. It doesn’t matter how fast your connection is, latency will still be an issue. In order to work around that factor, we have to mute everyone when we sing as a group, so you will only hear yourself as we practice.
If you want to make a comment during the rehearsal, use the chat function in Zoom. We will talk about that on Monday night so that everyone knows where it is and how to use it.
The most important thing to remember as we start our online singing collaboration is to be patient! Zoom is new, exciting, and different for most of us so everyone's understanding is appreciated and we'll figure it out.
I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing you on Monday!
And from our Board chair, Katherine Lefever: Hello again, singers! I want to remind you about the special matching opportunity between now and June 30th. The Miller Foundation is generously matching gifts to PSC to help us make up for the revenue lost when we had to cancel our March and June concerts. This matching challenge could help us raise up to $20,000 for the Choir at a time when those funds are critically important. But we need your help to get there!
Perhaps you’ve recently received a stimulus check and you’re looking for ways to invest in the local community. If you have the means to support your Choir right now, your impact will be doubled.
Please help PSC and make your donation now online here or by mailing a check to Portland Symphonic Choir, PO Box 1517 Portland, OR 97207.
And from Wendy: To help us stay in touch and feel connected, we would like to try sending out an email with photos and updates from you on how you’re all doing at home.! Examples of photos or updates you could send might be:
Photos spending time with your family
Photos of you studying or making music
A song or piece of music that has brought you comfort
Photos of meals or recipes you’d like to share
A book, movie, or TV show that you’ve enjoyed
A funny or meaningful story about something that has happened to you recently
These are just a few examples of an update you might send. We are open to your ideas. A compilation of updates will be sent next Monday. Depending on response, we might continue this photo album weekly.
You can send your photos and/or updates to jayde@pschoir.org
Miss you all -- Stay well, Wendy
Upcoming Choral (musical) events of Note: In an attempt to bring a West End and Broadway experience to viewers, The Shows Must Go On YouTube Channel will feature free productions of some Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals. Each show will become available on Fridays beginning at 11 am, Pacific Time for a limited 48-hour period online. For April 17, it's Phantom of the Opera. Here is the link for the video: (here). This version was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011 and features Ramon Karimloo as the Phantom and Sierra Boggess as Christine.