Links to NYC tour site.

Hi everyone! We have 1 day before we depart. Here is a tinyurl to get to our site. This will be active during the tour and shortly afterward to share photos. http://tinyurl.com/2b2belr Otherwise you can type in the long name. http://sites.google.com/site/singingsaints2010/
We depart at 9:00 a.m. Sunday. Enjoy!

Choir Tour 2010

Hi everyone. We are counting down the days until choir tour 2010. We actually have 12 days as I write this post. We depart Bismarck on June 6th. I'll keep in touch a bit as we go. I'll see what I can do about a picture gallery. You are welcome to join us for a Tour Mass on June 5th at St. Mary's Central High School. Prelude music begins at 8:00 (our idea of a concert). Fr. Joshua Waltz will celebrate mass. We are traveling to NYC; Sandusky, Ohio; Mackinaw Island, MI. Stay "tuned" for more details.

Ratings posted... advancing to state!

OK Everyone. We have had a crazy month. First of all... thanks to all the awesome students that have auditioned for honor choirs this year. You are amazing! Congratulations to the 12 wonderful vocalists that were selected to North Central ACDA. Also, NDMEA All-State? Can you believe that 14 students were selected? I can! You are to be commended for you hard work and dedication. The concerts were so enjoyable. Rosanna Eckert, Dr. Seelig and Eugene Rogers sure must have been great to work with as conductors, because you all progressed quite nicely from the first rehearsal. Now... The NDHSAA West Region Vocal Contest results. Not much time to get ready. I hope you felt like you could all take something away from today and will be better singers. Here is the list that will go on to state in Jamestown. I will bring the ratings to school tomorrow. I will take time in class and you'll get a chance to view the rubrics. I felt there were a couple others that might have been selected to advance, but I'm not the judge. So... Enjoy the list and congratulate each other.

• Sarah Porter - Ridente la calma GVS
• Rachel Burckhard - Sebben crudele GVS
• Alexandra Streifel - Vergorgenheit GVS
• Paige Willey - Helft mir ihr schwester GVS
• Christian Boechler - Si tra i ceppi BVS
• Catherine Bopp - Du ring an meinem finger GVS
• Kendra Weigel - Nel cor piu non mi sento GVS
• Brittany Dunnigan - Che fiero costume GVS
• Juliana Keller - In torno all'idol mio GVS
• GVE 5 - Bright Morning Stars are Rising
• BVE 5 - The Lord Bless You and Keep You
• GVE 2 - Bel tempo che vola
• GVE 11 - Je le vous dirai
• BVE 2 - Zion Hears the Watchmen Singing

"Sing a New Song"

Just thought I'd let you know about our upcoming SMCHS Concert Choir Performance. Here's the info:
St. Mary's Central High School Presents: A Christmas Choral Concert Thursday, December 10, 7:30 P.M. at Saint Anne Church in Bismarck.
"Sing a New Song" conducted by Vicky R. Boechler - featuring the concert choir including performances by the concert choir women, St. Mary's men, and the St. Mary's Blues.
Works by Rheinberger Gabrieli, and GF Handel along with Christmas favorites! Free and open to the public. A reception will follow the performance.

A life filled with sound

The Messiah, Cathedral Church Choir, Voices+, St. Mary's Central High School Choir, St. Mary's Blues, school liturgies and the choir tour... Wow! OK - So I know everything will turn out just fine, but I think I'll learn how to delegate a bit more. I think the toughest part of it is keeping everyone informed. My computer has become my other right arm with the audio files, lesson plans, spreadsheets for fundraising, posters and program preparation, grade book, liturgy slides and major form of communique. LOL! Well, if I can get a computer to do my workouts, I'll be set. I hope people are able to take time to enjoy all the beautiful music that the wonderful singers are preparing.

Our next big SMCHS Choir thing is November 20 out at U-Mary. It will be a great retreat day for the singers. On Sunday, November 22, the choir sings at 3:00 in the Cathedral for the Feast of St. Cecelia Concert. I get to combine my church choir AND my school choir. Should be fun! That evening at the Kirkwood Mall, the St. Mary's Blues will sing carols from 6-9 PM. They will be taking part in the "Season Premiere". We are selling tickets for admitance. $5 gets you into the mall and also registers you for a $1000 shopping spree. Let me know if you want a ticket.

We requested our performance at Ground Zero. This week we also pick broadway musicals to attend. Amazing fun and learning.

Touring is definitely a great experience. The Saints are working to pay for their trip. When I listed all the fundraisers they have already had, I was surprised. I thought I'd let you know what's up in case you're looking for a way to help. Tuesday, October 20th from 4:30 - 6:30 the students were planning to tailgate with baked potatoes. They will serve them at SMCHS since we are having unseasonably cold weather. Come stuff a potato. Proceeds go directly to the students. If you can't come, you can help by telling others. And, if you want to have a great coffee, just see any student to order your fresh roasted bean from them. They'll help you find the best type for your enjoyment.

OK - enough. The Messiah starts in a little more than a week. I know the 80th will be amazing. If you want to sing - check out the link for rehearsals. Join us at TLC.

For fun - I've included a clip of a really neat stairway. You'll see what I mean. :-) Enjoy. Here is the link to youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26-aZd4uv_o

Breakfast News and more

Today we served french toast, sausage, and fruit for breakfast to all guests at SMCHS. Our chair couple did a great job. The parents were awesome volunteers and the students definitely got the task done. It was a nice collaboration of music parents. I saw a lot of smiles and heard good things about the food and workers; (better than McDonalds-lol). So, I will be taking a class in Mandan for the next two days and I guess that means I'll tell you how we did financially on Wednesday. We did serve 384 adults and 74 children. The bake sale was a success. I hope everyone feels as good as I do about a job well done.

We start selling coffee on Wednesday. When I get back to class I will hand out forms and information. The link to the coffee company is here. All money will be turned in by October 26. Next week... We'll pick two broadway musicals from the many options available. You'll be voting for your top choice.

Congratulations to all 12 students that were accepted by recorded audition to be members of the ACDA Honor Choirs in March! Excellent work! Remember, North Central ACDA Honor Choir members, your forms are to be postmarked by October 15th. If you need the forms, here is the link. It's a .pdf file. I'll also have these available at school on Wednesday. Minneapolis and the Real Group will be quite an experience!

Have a great couple of days. I'm looking forward to continue my coursework, learning to be a better teacher.