SEPTEMBER 26, 2024
I. APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP - Fees, Forms, and the Respect Policy
If you have attended two trial rehearsals, it is time to decide if you want to continue with the CCO as a member. The Door Volunteers are prepared at rehearsals to receive your forms and fees.
Fees: $120 for the year - $60 for students. Our fees are pro-rated; if you know you can only do the holiday concert, for example, you need only pay $40 now, although you will have to pay again in January if your plans change. Contact emitchell1727@gmail.com confidentially if you cannot pay your full fees because of financial hardship.
In addition to paying fees, to complete the membership requirements, please sign and return:
the Application for Membership - in your Welcome Package, on the CCO website, or from a Door Volunteer
the Media Consent form - also in the Welcome Package, on the website, or from a Door Volunteer
Appendix B of the Policy for Respectful CCO Spaces.
The Policy is on the CCO website - CCOrchestra.org - in the “About Us” portal. Here it is as a Word document:
,
Appendix A of the Policy tells you that Dr. Russell Westkirk (cello) is the Respect and Safety Officer appointed by the Board under the Policy and gives you his contact information. We all have an obligation to report inappropriate conduct to ensure the CCO remains a safe, inclusive, and respectful place to play music as a community.
Appendix B of the Policy is the Acknowledgment that you have read and understood the Policy. Please print that page, sign it, and return it to a Door Volunteer.
If you cannot access the Policy electronically, or cannot print Appendix B, a Door Volunteer can give you a copy of the Policy for you to take home and read. You can then return your signed Acknowledgment at the next rehearsal.
New Membership & Volunteer Committee: Jeff Buchyns (trombone), Russell Westkirk (cello and Director), and Robert Mansell (Front of House Manager) are the Membership & Volunteer Committee, with Jeff as Chair. Please direct any questions about membership to them.
II. REHEARSAL AND HANDBELL RECORDING
Most of the music for our holiday programme is now available on the CCO website, CCOrchestra.org, Members Only portal, Sheet Music.
This coming Monday, September 30th, is a string sectional. Winds and brass musicians have the evening off.
Tetsuya has provided the following links to hear the handbell concerto:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sh7fogryj69r47on5qrrm/Concerto_mov1_final.mp3?rlkey=jk7jbbpprstsau1hime1g4q3f&e=1&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/msz83p4xfi3tbopst5hz2/Concerto_mov2_final.mp3?rlkey=ok3aadsrhoicg073mqihyz2ap&e=1&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/635vhq7sgfau3o5hvlt8t/Concerto_mov3_final.mp3?rlkey=u4sgtcv09qic0t5xlrclbvt8s&e=1&dl=0
plus the following note about what you can find on the website:
A reminder to new members that musicians are expected to print and bring their own music and their own music stand.
III. EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT CATS - Wild and Otherwise
Kevin Seymour’s guided tour of his Wild Cats exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum is filled now: Tuesday October 15, 7:00pm. Meet Kevin under the totem poles just inside the University Avenue entrance. More details to follow from Kevin closer to the event. If you have missed out, you will need to speak to Kevin - kevin.seymour@sympatico.ca.
IV. DIRECTORS ARE NEEDED AND VERY VERY WELCOME
The CCO is run by many volunteers. Our volunteers:
sit as Directors
work at concerts as ticket takers, 50/50 raffle volunteers, cookie servers, ushers, Stage Manager, Front of House Manager, etc.
sit on Committees (eg, Finance, Membership, Programme, Fundraising, etc)
get the concerts ready - e.g., artwork for posters and programmes, advertising on social media, preparing the programme content, ensuring posters are posted, etc.
run special projects - such as the ones that made our June anniversary concert so special (eg., T shirts, slide show, Members and Milestones Banners, refreshments, post concert reception, congratulation notes from politicians, etc. - there was a lot going on behind the scene and many volunteers contributed!)
organize other special projects such as several summers of Playing in the Park concerts, and carolling last December at a Cabbagetown design store.
Please consider being a Director: Right now, the CCO is facing its Annual General Meeting on November 18, and the annual election of Directors. Our By-Laws require 5 to 9 Directors, 3 of whom must self-describe as members of the 2SLBGTQIA+ community. Directors must be members of the CCO. They stand for election to a 2 year term to a maximum of 3 terms. The elected Directors elect the CCO’s Officers, ie, the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary at their first meeting after the AGM. Directors meet monthly, usually by Zoom, for about 2 hours. Different Directors assume responsibility as well for the Committees or projects in which they have an interest.
We know that some of the current Directors will not be seeking re-election. There is room for you - or for someone you know. Non-musicians are welcome.
Every year, the CCO looks for people with fresh ideas or existing talents, and an interest and commitment to continuing the goals of the CCO. Can you find room in your schedule to join the Board? Do you have a friend or family member who you think would be good? Please seriously consider becoming a Director, or getting someone you know to run for the Board. If you have questions about the Board, how much time is involved, what kind of volunteer work is available, how you can join, etc,, please speak to any current Director and let your interest be known, at rehearsals or by email at:
Chair: Liz Mitchell, emitchell1727@gmail.com
Vice Chair: Daniel Payne, payne.danny@gmail.com
Treasurer: Kevin Seymour, kevin.seymour@sympatico.ca
Secretary: Russell Westkirk, rwestkirk@gmail.com
Directors: David Brownstone, davidbrownstone66@gmail.com
Tetsuya Kobayashi, tty103g@gmail.com
Andrew B. Q. Lam, andrewbqlam@hotmail.com
V. IMPORTANT CCO DATES
Mondays September 30 - string sectional. NO REHEARSAL FOR WINDS AND BRASS. 7:30 to 9:30 at the 519 Community Centre 519 Church Street. (snacks viola and celli)
October 7 and after (excluding statutory holidays) - regular rehearsals resume. (snacks winds, brass and piano on Oct. 7)
Wednesday October 9 - CCO Board meeting by Zoom. Members may attend. For a Zoom invitation, contact emitchell1727@gmail.com
Monday October 14 - no rehearsal, Thanksgiving
Tuesday October 15 7:00pm - Wild Cats tour at the ROM, hosted by Kevin Seymour (kevin.seymour@sympatico.ca)
Monday October 21 - rehearsals resume
Monday November 18 - Annual General Meeting for the first 45 minutes of the rehearsal. Election of Directors to the Board.
Friday December 6, 7:00 to 10:00pm - Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster United, 310 Danforth (Chester subway)
Saturday December 7, 7:30pm - CCO Holiday Concert, Eastminster United
Mondays January 6 and after (excluding statutory holidays) - Rehearsals resume, 7:30 to 9:30 at the 519 Community Centre
Monday February 17 - Family Day, no rehearsal.
Monday February 24 - rehearsals resume
Friday March 21, 2025, 7:00 to 10:00pm - Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster United
Saturday March 22 - 7:30pm Concert, Eastminster United
Monday March 24 - possible date for resumption of rehearsals. Otherwise they resume on March 31
Monday April 21 - Easter Monday. The 519 will be closed. Discussion required about rehearsing elsewhere this night (or not). Otherwise they resume April 28.
Monday May 19 - no rehearsal Victoria Day
Monday May 26 - rehearsals resume
Friday June 6 - 7:00 to 10:00pm - Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster United
Saturday June 7 - 7:30pm - Concert, Eastminster United.
VI. OTHER MUSIC & CCO MEMBERS
Elizabeth Brown (oboe) is inviting everyone to a fundraising concert on October 13, 2024, 7:00 to 9:00pm, at the Annette Studios, 566 Annette Street. Tickets $35.
All proceeds to the Neva Tesolin Commission Project - that is, to the woman composer who is composing a work for International Women’s Day 2026 and the musicians who will perform it. At the Oct. 13 concert, you will hear performances by Elizabeth Brown, Chris Buchner, Alondra Vega-Zaldivar, Emma Vachon, Jaye Marsh, Fanny Tang and Freddy Abu Sido. Tickets available on line or at the door (or maybe Beth will sell you some at rehearsal).
If you personally are performing in a concert or gig you would like others to know about, you can:
(i) post it in the Musicians’ Only section of the CCO website;(ii) bring your poster to a rehearsal and leave it at the table at the entrance to the rehearsal venue (Beth’s posters are available there); (iii) send details to emitchell1727@gmail.com for including in this spot in the CCO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Comments