CCO ANNOUNCEMENTS SEPTEMBER 26 2025

SEPTEMBER 26,  2025 

Remember, this Monday’s rehearsal is strings only. 

!. SEPTEMBER 29 REHEARSAL: String Sectional only. 

Rehearsal Monday is strings only. Winds and Brass have the evening off. Same start and end time: 7:30 to 9:30. 

Concertmaster Gemma Donn requests that all strings attend, and that everyone bring questions. This is an opportunity to figure out better fingerings for difficult passages, ask about dropping an octave from a section that’s too high for you or doing first notes only in bars that are too fast, practice a rhythm or a dynamic, etc. 

Snacks September 29 - first violins. October 6 snacks: winds, brass and piano. (No point assigning spaces to winds and brass for this Monday!)

II. MEMBERSHIP FEES AND FORMS 

To get on the list of Members, you must pay your fees. There are forms to be filled out as well - available from the Door Volunteers - although anyone on the Membership List in 2025 does not need to complete new forms. In October, the Board will be doing an up-date to Members Only about the conductor’s search - you will want to be on the list. So, new or long-term members, please pay your fees. 

Fees: $120 for the season, half that for students. If paying fees causes you financial hardship, email emitehell1727@gmail.com or speak to the Chair at a rehearsal, confidentially. Pay the Door Volunteers with cash or cheque, or the CCO Treasurer by e-transfer at treasurer@ccorchestra.org. 

Membership Forms: new members must sign an Application for Membership, a Media Consent form, and an Acknowledgment of having read the Safety and Respect Policy.  If your forms are up to date, you New members will find the forms in the Welcome Package from a Door Volunteer. 

Potential New Members:  please check in with the Door Volunteers when you first arrive at a rehearsal, pick up a Welcome Package, and say hello to your section leader. Enjoy the two free trial rehearsals, then pay your fees and return your signed documents to be added to the CCO Membership List.  

Donations - Please consider adding a donation to the CCO when you pay your fees. if paying by e-transfer, please indicate the amount of the donation.The CCO is a charitable corporation and all donations over $20 will receive a tax receipt. 

III. MUSIC FOR WINTER MOSAIC 

A link is now posted to the sheet music for John Finnegan’s Christmas Singalong on CCOrchestra.org, Musicians Only portal. Sheet Music. 

The music for Canadian Mosaic is expected to arrive from the publisher in early October, and will be distributed in hard copy by Librarian Mario Lo Monaco.

IV. ITEMS OF INTEREST 

(I) Search for a New Music-Director/Conductor - members on the Membership List will receive an email in mid to late October, up-dating them on the Guest Conductors for the audition concerts and on the survey questions that musicians  will be asked after each concert. Please ensure you have paid your fees, signed your forms, and your name is on the List. 

(ii) Annual General Meeting November 10 - the CCO is run by a Board of Directors. Directors are elected annually at the AGM. We have vacancies - and new Directors, with their new ideas and new energy, would be most welcome! If you may be interested in becoming a Director, please speak to any Director. Directors are involved in everything about the CCO: programming, planning, advertising and organizing the concerts, fundraising, new projects, acting as Officers, community outreach, etc. Most Directors start out as Volunteers on one of the Committees. If you would like to volunteer on a specific committee please also let a Director know. 

(iii) Winter Mosaic -   All three of our concerts this season will be at Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth, 7:30pm. We have capacity for 600 at Eaastminster, and our audiences normally are well under 300. We have room for more. Musicians are expected to help advertise the concerts by circulating a concert poster to their personal email list, and posting on their personal social media, plus are expected to purchase at least two tickets. The poster for Winter Mosaic will be ready in mid October and will be distributed at rehearsals and in these Announcements. 

(iv) CCO 40th Anniversary T Shirts - A sample 40th Anniversary T shirt will be with the Door Volunteers for the next three or four rehearsals. If you are interested, please sign the sheet at the entrance table. If there is enough interest, you will be contacted about size and cost. We need to order 26 shirts to make up a bulk order. Great for new members, great holidays gift idea! 

(v) Music Stands For Sale - the CCO has two things: a storage crunch and a super-heavy suitcase of used music stands. The Board is selling most of the music stands to cut back on the number of things in storage. Suggested price: $20 for one, $30 for two. A few stands will be available at some rehearsals, including September 29 and the Dress Rehearsal. Unsold stands will eventually be donated. 

(vi) Promoting your Gigs -  if you are performing somewhere and would like CCO members to know about it, please email the details to emitchell1727@gmail.com for including in future Announcements, or bring brochures and leave them at the entrance table at rehearsals. 

(vii) November 24 Rehearsal - since the 519 is unavailable, we are holding the rehearsal that night at Eastminster United Church. 

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V. IMPORTANT CCO DATES

Musicians are responsible for bringing their own music and stand to each rehearsal. Rehearsals are every Monday evening, 7:30 to 9:30 at the 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street, unless otherwise noted here. Please let your section leader know if you cannot attend a rehearsal. Snacks are provided for the break by section in rotation: first violins, then seconds, then violas and celli, then winds, brass and piano. Concerts this year are on Saturdays December 6, March 7 and June 6, with Dress Rehearsals the Friday night before at the concert venue. All concerts this season at Eastminister United Church, 310 Danforth Avenue (Chester subway). 

September 29 - string sectional. Winds and brass have the evening off. Snacks: first violins.

October 6 snacks: winds, brass and piano.

October 13 - second violins.

October 13 - No rehearsal, Thanksgiving

October 15 - Board meeting by Zoom 7:30pm. Ask to attend emitchell1727@gmail.com 

October 20 - soloist Rebecca Grey will be attending the rehearsal

November 10 - Annual General Meeting 7:30 to 8:30 at the regular rehearsal. Election of Directors and reports on other CCO business.

November 24 - The 519 is not available. The rehearsal will be at Eastminster United Church (Chester subway).

December 5, 7:00 pm - Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster Church

December 6, 7:30pm -  concert, “Winter Mosaic”, Eastminster Church. Featured soloist Rebecca Grey, sopranoNo further rehearsals in December.

January 6, 2026 - 7:30pm rehearsals resume Mondays at the 519

February 16 - no rehearsal - Family Day

March 6 - 7:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster Church

March 7 - 7:30pm Concerrt, Eastminster Church, featured soloist Brian Baty, double bass March 9 - No rehearsal

March 16 - 7:30pm - rehearsals resume Mondays at the 519

April 6 - no rehearsal - Easter Monday

May 18 - no rehearsal - Victoria Day

June 6 - 7:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster Church

June 7 - 7:30pm Concert, Eastminster Church, featured soloist, Gemma Donn, violin