CCO ANNOUNCMENTS SEPTEMBER 16, 2025

A successful start to the Season of Guests, under the baton of Guest Conductor Daniel Manley!

I. SEPTEMBER 22 REHEARSAL NOTES FROM GUEST CONDUCTOR DANIEL MANLEY

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7:30 - 8:00 Nightmare Before Christmas

8:00 - 8:30 Fantasia on We Three Kings

8:30 - 8:40 break

8:40 - 9:00 March of the Three Kings

9:00 - 9:20 Four Last Songs - mvt I, II

II. MEMBERSHIP FEES AND FORMS 

September 22 is rehearsal #3, marking the end of the free trial period. The Door Volunteers can accept your membership fees, signed membership application, and other documents. You can pay your fees directly by e-transfer to the CCO Treasurer at treasurer@ccorchestra.org. 

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. 

Trial Period:  musicians who think they would like to join the CCO may attend two free trial rehearsals to see how they “fit”. 

Membership Forms: in addition to paying fees, members must sign an Application for Membership, a Media Consent form, and an Acknowledgment of having read the Safety and Respect Policy.  

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. LINKS TO CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG & MORE

CCO Librarian, Mario Lo Monaco, expects to have the link to the Christmas sing-along music in the Members’ Only section, Sheet Music, on CCOrchestra.org  within the next week.Since the CCO has played this in the past, some members may already have a copy. 

You may have met the new CCO Webmaster, Lee-Ann Ngu, at rehearsals as she has been a Door Volunteer. Lee-Ann  has lots of plans for increasing the CCO’s social media presence and adding more content to our website. Check out our site on occasion, and make any suggestions you may have to ccorchestrawebmaster@gmail.com.

IV. SUMMARIES OF ITEMS OF INTEREST 

(I) Search for a New Music-Director/Conductor - we are in the fortunate position of having several talented applicants seeking  a long-term position with the CCO. In the meantime, the Board is working on offering audition concerts to a few applicants. The names of the successful Guest Conductors are expected to be announced in December. Starting in October, there will be information about the search sent only to CCO Members, such as a preview of the questions to be asked in the post-concert surveys. Please ensure your name is on the Membership List by October - ie, fees must be marked “paid”  to be on the Membership List

(ii) AGM - November 10 at the rehearsal. If you may be interested in becoming a CCO Director, please let any current Director know. 

(iii) September 29 String Sectional - with Concertmaster Gemma Donn, at the 519. Winds and Brass have the evening off. 

(iv) December 6 Concert Name: "Winter Mosaic"

(v) CCO 40th Anniversary T Shirts - We have had several requests for the 40th Anniversary T Shirts, and we’d be glad to do a bulk order. However, we need to order at least 26 shirts, and so far, we only have 5. New members may be particularly interested, as may be people looking for holiday gifts. If you want to be part of a bulk order, please sign the Form left with the Door Volunteers. Cost can’t be finalized without knowing the number of shirts in the order, but will be about $25-$30. Once there are a sufficient number of orders, a volunteer will contact you to confirm. 

(vi) Promoting your Gigs - anyone wishing to let others know of an upcoming performance can send the details to emitchell1727@gmail.com for including in future Announcements, or leave their brochures at the entrance desk at rehearsals. 

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V. IMPORTANT CCO DATES 

Musicians are expected to bring their own music stand and part 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 will be at Eastminister United Church, 310 Danforth Avenue (Chester subway). 

September 22, 2025, 7:30 to 9:30  – rehearsals continue. Snacks viola and cello, Sept. 29 winds, brass and piano.

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

October 6 snacks: winds, brass and piano. 

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. Check these Announcements for re-location venue

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

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

Following the concert, the next rehearsal will be in January.

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