Summer fun

We took a break from rehearsing for our September 8th concert last week and held our annual choir picnic at Golden Gardens. We had a little more sun than last year and the temperature was a bit warmer but it was still brisk at the beach. Chris B. served as grillmaster providing hot dogs for all and members brought salads, fruit and yummy desserts. Gordon brought his ukelele and strummed out a few tunes for us. Chris V. and Brandon sang in Italian. Penelope, Rosalyn and Mariah got some rounds going. Meghan brought her darling kids. It was a lovely time. And now back to rehearsals!

More pictures on Flickr!

New season, new music!

Welcome to June! Our spring concerts are over and it's time for a new season at the Market Street Singers. Did you know that we're one of the few choral groups in Seattle that keeps singing through the summer? It's a great time to come check us out if you've been considering joining us. We keep things light and breezy in the summer with a lighter music selection. This season we'll be entertaining ourselves (and our audiences, we hope!) with musical theater. We'll be singing a selection of pieces from Gilbert and Sullivan and Lerner and Loewe.

We start rehearsals for our new season this Tuesday, June 5th. Can't wait to see what Chris V has picked out for us. They Call the Wind Maria? Get Me to the Church on Time? If Ever I Would Leave You? We Sail the Ocean Blue? Three Little Maids from School Are We? The possibilities are nearly endless!

Report from Folklife

We had a great sing-a-long at NW Folklife on Saturday. It was a gorgeous day and lots of people came out early to enjoy the festival. We had more than a hundred people at the classical sing-in we hosted at noon! The music went well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We were in a little courtyard next to Intiman Theater that had good acoustics and shade (not usually a problem in Seattle, I know, but we were happy to have it on Saturday!). It was even pretty with blooming rhododendrons and a climbing hydrangea. Thanks to Chris V. for leading, to Ingrid for playing, to all the choir members who came for participating, to the festival-goers for singing and to the weather for cooperating! More pictures on Flickr (see the link to the right) but here's what it looked like...

Michael Delos as guest soloist

Michael Delos will be singing the baritone solo in Earl Robinson's "Ballad for Americans" at our upcoming concert. In addition to an active performing schedule and private teaching, he is also an adjunct professor of voice at Cornish College of the Arts. Check out his bio on their website. We're very excited about partnering with him on this project. We hope you'll be there to hear it!

See concert details on our website!

Concert coming soon!

New season, great new music!

We had a great first rehearsal of the season last night, dipping our toes into some of the fantastic music that we'll be singing for our concert in May. The theme of the concert will be music for change, music that took a stand for some political or social cause. Sound dry? SO not true. I was choking back tears during more than one first reading of a piece last night. Of course, as an opera lover, the highlight of the evening for me was getting to work on Va Pensiero from Verdi's Nabucco, an anthem for unification of Italy when it was first written and performed. Check out this video from the Rome Opera recorded this fall to see what is means to modern Italians. Not a dry eye in the house!

Thanks to Roger in the tenor section for first posting the video on our Facebook page. Unless your Italian is really good, be sure to click on the CC button at the bottom of the player for the English translations!

Funded!

The Market Street Singers are extremely proud to announce...


WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CIVIC PARTNERS GRANT FROM THE SEATTLE OFFICE OF ARTS & CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN 2012!!!

This is one of the most prestigious grants award by local government, even more so than the Department of Neighborhoods grant that we received while producing the Shilshole on the Pacific Rim concert in 2006. We don't yet know what level of support we will receive (we'll be told in January) and that may not be a huge sum, but just being selected is no small honor as it represents a meaningful endorsement by the city and our peers (a team of people who are very much in the know about music and choirs in Seattle). It also looks great to future possible grantors. Here are key portions from the city's very complimentary awards letter:


"On behalf of the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, we are pleased to notify you that based on the score you received in our peer panel review process and current budget projections, your organization is set to receive Civic Partner funding in 2012.


Congratulations! Your organization has passed rigorous review for public impact, quality and capacity by an independent peer panel of professionals with wide knowledge of the cultural sector. The city is proud to invest in your programs and services, knowing that your work is central to the vibrancy and quality of life in Seattle.


For planning purposes, you may count on Civic Partner support from the city in 2012 and are welcome to use our commitment in approaching other funders. Funding amounts are contingent on the city budget so as always, the Seattle Arts Commission, our citizen advisors and advocates, will count on your continued support in communicating the impact of these funds."

Huge thanks and kudos to everyone who worked on the grant application, especially Lucinda!