CCO Announcements November 10th 2023

NOVEMBER 10, 2023  

1. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, NOV. 6, 7:00PM

Thank you to everyone who attended last week’s Annual General Meeting. We enjoyed excellent attendance. Below are the draft Minutes, showing the composition of the new Board of Directors, and the other motions that were passed.Thank you to the retiring members, Bob Bentley and Holly Price, for their past service, and thank you to Russell Westkirk and Kevin Seymour for becoming Directors. The Minutes are in draft, waiting for approval at next year’s AGM. 

Members are permitted to attend Board meetings, which are normally held on Zoom. The first meeting of the new Board will be Thursday November 23, 7:30pm. If you would like to attend, please ask for a link at emitchell1727@gmail.com. 

2. DECEMBER 9 HOLIDAY CONCERT 

Tickets for the December 9 holiday concert can be purchased on-line at  https://www.ccorchestra.org/tickets. 

Posters and tickets will also be available at the rehearsal on Monday. Helen has the tickets, and the Door Volunteers have the poster. Please post and sell! Remember we have committed to a larger than normal concert venue, so we have lots of room for new audience members. Members are expected to sell at least two tickets. 

For the first time since March 2020, our concert will include an intermission. We hope to run a couple of fundraisers - photos with drag star Fay Slift, for a fee, and possibly a 50/50 raffle. We also hope to offer cookies and water at intermission, or at the end of the concert - please plan to donate some home-made or purchased holiday cookies. 

If you are not performing and can volunteer at the concert, or if you know anyone who can volunteer, please contact Volunteer Co-ordinator, Robert Mansell, at robert.mansell@sympatico.ca. With so much going on, we will need more than our usual number of volunteers. 

3.  UPCOMING REHEARSALS: 

We are back to The 519 on Monday. Trish Tervit, Co-Chair with David Brownstone, of the 40th Anniversary Planning Committee, will attend and use 10 minutes of rehearsal time to bring everyone up-to-date on plans for the 40th Anniversary Concert on June 15. Be forewarned, Trish will be leaning on members to get involved in the planning; there are lots of different opportunities to use different skills. 

This week, we will be running through most of the programme in anticipation of our soloists, Fay Slift and Rebecca Gray, rehearsing with us on November 20. Music for our programme is available at CCOrchestra.org in the Musicians’ Only portal.  

To see how 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is performed with an orchestra and a narrator,  you may enjoy this Youtube performance of the Bill Holcombe score:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCeGi1xJTHE.   

Please do not attend the rehearsal if you are unwell, and wear a mask for your own protection, if you so chose, or as a courtesy to others if you have recently had a cold or flu. The Door Volunteers have free masks. 

The 519 is not available to the CCO on November 20. Instead, we have again booked Holy Name Parish Church, at the corner of the Danforth and Gough, one west of the Pape Station, 7:30pm start, 7:00 doors open. The ballroom is not available as The 519 is holding, among other events, a candlelight vigil for its Trans Day of Remembrance, In Power and in Unity. Details available at The519.org/tdor. 

4. APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP 

If you have attended two or more CCO rehearsals, your application forms and membership fees are due. You can get the forms from the Door Volunteers, and pay them by cheque or cash, or e-transfer your payment to  treasurer@ccorchestra.org, with a note saying who the fee payment is for. Fees right now are $120, or $60 for students. If fee payment is causing you financial hardship, please speak to the Chair or email emitchell1727@gmail.com. Financial hardship should not cause you to miss out on the joy of making music together. 

5. IMPORTANT CCO DATES 

Monday November 13 - at The 519, 7:30pm. Discussion of the plans for the 40th Anniversary Concert on June 15, 2024. Plan to volunteer! 

Monday November 20 - 7:30pm Holy Name Parish, 71 Gough Avenue (on the Danforth, one west of Pape station). Rehearsal to include Rebecca Gray and Fay Slift

Thursday November 24 - first meeting of the new Board of Directors, 7:30pm by Zoom. If you would like to attend, please request a Zoom link from emitchell1727@gmail.com. 

Monday November 27 - rehearsals resume Mondays at The 519. 

Friday December 8 - 7:00pm to 10:00pm Dress Rehearsal, East End United Church (formerly Eastminster United), 310 Danforth (Chester Station) 

Saturday December 9 - 7:30pm Concert, East End United Church. Please donate holiday cookies for the intermission. 

(No rehearsals Dec. 11, 18, 25, or Jan. 1)

Monday January 8, 2024 - Rehearsals resume Mondays, 7:30pm ti 9:30pm, at The 519

Friday March 22 - 7:00pm to 10:00pm Dress Rehearsal, East End United

Saturday March 23 - 7:30pm Concert, East End United

(No rehearsal Monday March 25) 

Monday April 1 - Easter Monday. Discussion required re rehearsal or not.

Monday April 8, 7:30pm - rehearsals resume Mondays 7:30pm at The 519 

(No rehearsal Monday May 20 - Victoria Day) 

Monday May 27 - rehearsals resume at The 519, 7:30 to 9:30pm

Friday June 14 - 7:00pm to 10:00pm Dress Rehearsal, East End United 

Saturday, June 15 - 7:30pm 40th Anniversary Concert and other celebratory events, East End United