Educational Video

Want to more about famous classical composers? Just listen to the King's Singers. (BTW, they are so freakin' awesome!)

Connected!

Yay! The Market Street Singers website now has a "blog" button on the navigation menu so you can find this page more easily. Now I just have to get some other members interested in writing posts and we'll be cookin' with gas!

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!

Santa Russ gets noticed!

Our own Santa Russ was featured in a post over on the Seattle Times job blog. Russ has been singing with the Market Street Singers since the very beginning of the choir, has served on the board of directors and (wearing his other, non-Santa hat) has designed and printed all our publicity posters, fliers and programs. We're so lucky to have our very own Santa...

December 20, 2011

Yule Job: Santa Russ

(Arthur & Associates)

What do you do? I have the wonderful job of having my picture taken with thousands of children of all ages while they tell me what they’d like for Christmas. It’s also a good time for me to review the "Naughty or Nice" list. Since Santa’s milk glass is always half full, I sometimes have to ask the tough questions of those who might need to convince me they belong on the "Nice" side of the ledger.

How long have you been doing that? Some would tell you I’ve been bringing joy to children for hundreds and hundreds of years. My, how time and reindeer fly! It’s a good thing I age well.

What are the most important skills or qualifications for the job? Well, as you know, there is only one Santa and my qualifications are simple: I love bringing happiness to children. Seeing the magic and anticipation in the eyes of those coming to see me is what keeps me young.

Best part of the job? Without question, the best part of the job is seeing the genuine love and excitement children have for me. Being appreciated never gets old. Best adult thing that’s happened: I partnered with a young man to surprise his girlfriend with a wedding proposal, and she said yes! Best thing about the job that happens fairly regularly: It’s when a young child looks you in the eyes and says, “I love you, Santa.” That never gets old or taken for granted.

What surprises people about your job? It can be a little harder than it looks to sit with hundreds of families in a given day, hearing their stories and having flashes go off all around you, but it’s all worth it. Could you imagine a better job than being jolly old Santa? I get to play in the world of imagination with every child who believes in me and for that, I will never get old.
--Via his elf, David Mickelson at Arthur & Associates

And if that weren't enough, his space age, top-of-the-Space Needle persona is featured in a photo gallery also at the Seattle Times. Check it out here! Super cute pictures!

Music humor...

My choir director from Dallas sent me this one...

Ha!

Caroling photo

From a fan...

I really enjoyed the street show as well as the full chorus in the church. Here's a momento from the streets.

Best wishes, and thanks again!

Herbie Weisse