Noteworthy News, September 17, 2021
Important upcoming dates:
Monday, September 20, Presentation on Singing Safely Together, 7 pm, via Zoom
Monday, September 27, First In-person Rehearsal, 7 pm, First Presbyterian Church (map)
Clarification regarding masks -- Two important components of "practicing safe singing" are for everyone to be vaccinated and wear effective masks even at rehearsals. Several folks have asked about the special masks that have been ordered. To expedite the process, the PSC Board authorized the expense to bulk-purchase a mask for each singer (and they arrived today!). This will ensure the quality of protection and uniform appearance come concert time. Those who are able to reimburse the Choir are encouraged to do so ($30). We are exploring options to distribute masks prior to our first rehearsal. A second order is planned for those who want to own more than one mask with a signup list at rehearsal.
From Wendy: I am so excited for us to get together again in person and want to encourage everyone to attend our upcoming Zoom meeting on Monday the 20th. We will present our plans to ensure a safe rehearsal, talk about the advantages of our new rehearsal space, and allow time for questions (and answers).
From Alissa: Our Board and Choir leadership have been working diligently to ensure we keep our singers safe and healthy. I'm impressed by this commitment and look forward to talking about many of these details when we get together via Zoom next Monday -- Please come! I know some of you would be disappointed if I didn't remind everyone that our craft deserves preparation time. Our “Let’s Get Ready To Sing Again” videos are still available on the Members page of our website. Click on the tab then scroll down the website page. (use "pschoir" to access the Members page). “Creative practice” can be just as beneficial as focused singing. Even if you don’t have time to commit 30 minutes to practice, 10 minutes of doing scales while washing the dishes also counts! Sing “dying cow” or “going through” while you are driving to work or do breathing exercises while you take your morning walk. Discovering creative practice opportunities in your daily routine can be fun and once you start, you’ll find yourself singing all day long. The most important thing is to do it!
From Claire: Hello Choir Members! Here's the third installment of our Singing Together Again series which culminates in our Zoom presentation on Monday night at 7. We are taking a multi-faceted approach to reducing the risks of singing together including being a fully-vaccinated choir and purchasing special masks for all rehearsals and performances. Today, I'll briefly mention some advantages of our new space -- think of it as a teaser for our meeting on Monday! We are very excited to be rehearsing at First Presbyterian Church (1200 SW Alder) starting September 27th. We get to use their underground secure parking garage. The entrance to Geneva Hall, our main rehearsal space, is via a doorway directly from the garage. Geneva Hall was recently renovated and features a new air handling system (heating AND cooling). Additionally, the PSC Board has approved the purchase of several Medify MA-50 HEPA Filters with UV light purification for use as an additional measure to clean the air. These are true HEPA-13 filters which remove aerosolized particles to .01 microns. We have calculated the square footage to ensure we have ample coverage in our main rehearsal space as well as the breakout rooms that we will be using for sectionals. As an additional note (no pun intended) these are the quietest HEPA filters currently available -- pretty important for rehearsals.
You'll be hearing more details from me about our new rehearsal space at our Monday meeting as well as additional information from Wendy and Alissa about changes in how rehearsals will be organized. We promise to save time for Q & A.