SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 What a great first rehearsal last Monday! Bodes well for how successful this 40th Anniversary Season will be. 1. UPCOMING REHEARSALS When: Monday September 18, 2023, 7:30pm to 9:30pm, and Mondays thereafter unless changed in the “Important CCO Dates” section, below. Where: the ballroom at the 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street, Toronto Required: musicians must bring their own music and music stand. Music to rehearse for September 18: Nutcracker Suite, Die Fledermaus Overture, ’Twas the Night before Christmas (the narrator for this piece will be drag performer Fay Slift!) Warning Music for September 25 Rehearsal: Beethoven’s Third Symphony. Although we are not performing this work until our March 23 concert, it is a huge undertaking for the CCO, and our Music Director wants to play it through so that we all know how much work each of us will have to do to be ready. The link to that symphony will be available online. Music Links: Pdf’s for all of the music in the December concert programme are available in the Members Only portal on the CCO website: 1. CCOrchestra.org 2. Click on the Musicians Only portal 3. Click on the Sheet Music square. 4. Click on the piece and find the Pdf for your instrument. https://www.ccorchestra.org/sheet-music Musicians need to create an account to access the Musicians Only website. You can request one, or update the one you have forgotten, by following the instructions on the site. If you really cannot print your part, please contact the CCO’s Librarian, Bob Mitchell, and ask him to bring one for you: robertmitchell@rogers.com. 2. APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP Several musicians have now taken care of the requirements for membership - thank you. For those who have not, you can renew your membership or join the CCO at rehearsals with a Door Volunteer or online. Musician members and non-playing members are welcome. To renew your membership or to become a member you must:
complete an application for membership (form attached),
sign a Media Consent (form attached),
pay membership fees.
Return your completed forms by email to emitchell1727@gmail.com or give them to a Door Volunteer at a rehearsal.
Other things you need to know:
(i) Potential new musician members can attend two trial rehearsals; fees become due and payable at the beginning of the third rehearsal attended, and you will be asked about your fee payment.
(ii) Membership fees: $120 before the December concert (for the full year of 3 concerts), $80 between January and the March concert (2 concerts), and $40 from March 24 to the June concert (1 concert). Students pay one half of this amount. Financial hardship should never interfere with being welcomed into the CCO community - please email or speak to the Chair who, in the appropriate circumstances, can reduce or waive fee payments: emitchell1727@gmail.com
(iii) Paying fees - first choice: pay your fees by e-transfer to treasurer@ccorchestra.org, Please include a note with your e-transfer saying “Membership fees for _______________(your name)”. Fees can also be paid by cheque or cash to the Door Volunteer or to any Director you see at the rehearsals.
(iv) COVID - The CCO’s Vaccination Policy and its COVID Safety Policy are currently in abeyance. For now, the Door Volunteers will not check vaccination status and face masks are strongly recommended, although not required. The Door Volunteers will have extra masks available at rehearsals. COVID is expected to make a resurgence this fall. Musicians and volunteers are expected to self-monitor and not attend rehearsals if they are ill or have symptoms.
3. POSTERS AND VOLUNTEERS
(1) Posters: Musicians are expected to advertise our upcoming concerts. One way to do this is to post CCO posters around your neighborhood and circulate them to friends, families, and contacts by email.
It’s always rather surprising to hear the comment “Oh, I did not know there is a gay orchestra in Toronto!”, considering that the CCO has been around for over 40 years! To increase awareness, we are producing a poster containing the information for all 3 of our concerts, and inviting readers to get involved with the CCO as musicians, volunteers, and/or donors. Copies of this general poster will be brought to the September 25 concert, and all musicians are expected to take and post several copies. Closer to our holiday concert, there will be another concert-specific poster - you will know where to post it as you can replace this first, general one. Please start seeking out and planning to post CCO posters in your favorite bookstores, coffee shops, and neighborhood notice boards.
(2) Volunteers: The CCO always needs volunteers, people with different skills and differing amounts of free time. We are very grateful to the volunteers you see at all our past events, many of whom are regulars who give us time every season.
Many musicians may feel they do not have time to work, rehearse, play, and also volunteer. But you may know some friends or family who could help us. Or you may know you do have some time for a couple of hours of “work from home” tasks that you are willing to do. Potential volunteers should email emitchell1727@gmail.com.
Urgent needs
(a) Finance Committee - for persons with experience handling money or doing bookkeeping for a not-for-profit corporation;
(b) Membership Committee - to keep track of attendance, membership fees, new members, etc.
(c) Volunteer Committee - finding and recruiting volunteers, figuring out their skills and referring them to appropriate committees, maintaining lists, contacting them for when particular jobs come up or particular skills are required, etc.;
(d) 40th Anniversary planning - do you or someone you know have the skills to make videos and create attractive displays? We want both for the “look” of the 40th Anniversary concert on June 15; the work to get that ready has to start now, including reviewing what the CCO currently has access to, what we’re missing, seeking more “stuff”, and organizing everything;
(e) Door Volunteers - each rehearsal has at least one volunteer at the door, taking attendance, collecting forms and fees, etc. There is a roster already, and more people would be welcome to join so that these volunteers can rotate - and hear a rehearsal of a work in progress. Hours are 7:00 to 8:45 on Monday’s;
(f) Fundraising - the CCO’s continuing existence for another 40 years and beyond depends on the generosity of sponsors and donors. Our membership fees do not cover our costs. If you have, or someone you know has, experience with fundraising initiatives, we need you!
4. IMPORTANT CCO DATES
Monday September 11 and Mondays thereafter unless noted below - Rehearsals from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Monday October 9 - no rehearsal, Thanksgiving
Monday November 6 - 7:00pm to 10:00pm - AGM + Rehearsal. Location: Holy Name Parish, 71 Gough Ave. (on the Danforth at Gough), 1 block west of Pape Station. (The 519 is not available)
Monday November 13 - rehearsals resume at The 519, 7:30pm.
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
(No rehearsals Dec. 11, 18, 25, or Jan. 1)
Monday January 8, 2024 - Rehearsals resume Mondays, 7:30pm 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
Monday March 25 - no rehearsal
Monday April 1 - Easter Monday. Discussion required re rehearsal or not.
Monday April 8, 7:30pm - rehearsals resume at The 519
Monday May 20 - no rehearsal, Victoria Day.
Friday June 14 - 7:00pm to 10:00pm Dress Rehearsal, East End United
Saturday, June 15 - 7:30pm 40th Anniversary Concert, Eastminster United
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