New Website Survey

Dear  Singers,
  So, as many of you have probably noticed, our Philadelphia Singers Website is in dire need of a makeover.  The staff at TPS is busy at work brainstorming all types of new ideas to implement in our brand new website, due in late spring 2013.  We need your input as to what you, as a singer and valued member of our personnel, might like to see in the updated website.
    Some things to think about and possibly comment on:

•  Membership gates: should you have to login to get relevant singer info, such as rehearsal schedules? definitely this makes the information more secure, however it will certainly slow down the access via mobile phone.

• Singer names and bios: It seems a shame that there's currently no dedicated space to introduce and credit the singers to our audience.  Plus I know that for many singers, their duties with TPS are a side job, so perhaps we can link to all of their other websites and blogs (with individual permission of course).  

• Rehearsal Schedules:  I think the addition of the Google calendar is a huge improvement, but it can still be expanded.  We could make separate calendars for each concert series or run it through another program

   These are just a few of the things to think about.  I would love any feedback or comments you might have in regards to the new website.  Please feel free to e-mail me at megan@philadelphiasingers.org when you get a chance to let me know your thoughts.
  Thanks so much!

Megan Machnik
Chorus Manager

Small Ensemble Invite:

My name is Carol Grey.  I'm a member of The Philadelphia Singers Chorale. I'm also the leader of a primarily a cappella chamber group called Cantores.    We are looking for a tenor and a bass fill out the current roster (aiming for 15-18 singers). We performprimarily a cappella choral music from the 15th through 21st centuries.

 

Members have a good deal of choral singing experience, are familiar with singing in various languages as well as English, have the ability to sight-read and learn music fairly quickly (we work on parts as needed), possess good vocal quality, and (for the most part) have the ability to adjust their vibrato as styles dictate.  

 

Cantores is made up of a group of friends who love to sing. We rehearse weekly from 7:30-9:15 on Monday nights. We meet in the homes of some of our members (as well as other locations) on Philadelphia’s Main Line, making about equal amounts of music and fun.    

 

Our repertoire is drawn from madrigals, anthems, love songs, folk songs, spirituals, octavos, and occasional popular music and jazz arrangements in settings for two to eight voice parts.  We prepare one or two programs a year and give concerts in area churches and retirement communities. 

 

The current program is called Sacred and Profane.  Previous programs have included Coming and Going, music describing the comings and goings of our lives; A Grand Night for Singing; Music of the Four Seasons; A Celebration of Love, madrigals to vocal jazz; A Celebration of Psalms, psalm settings from Germany, Italy, Great Britain and the Americas; and From Dusk to Dawn, with selections describing things that transpire during the night.   

 

Other members/former members of TPSC and Cantores include Bill Grey, Fred Heiler, Fran Healy, Doug Stuart, Doug Clayton, Robert Hand, Louise Evans, Kit Grundstein, and Peter and Margaret Sipple.  

If you are interested in learning more about Cantores, please contact me at 267-847-4314 or email greyc1221@yahoo.com.  

"American Snapshots" Rehearsal Information

Our first rehearsal for the SUB#1 concert series "American Snapshots" is coming up on October 1st.  Here's all the information about rehearsal and performance locations as well as parking options:

Most of our rehearsals will be at the NEW Friends Center on 15th and Cherry (actual address 1501 Cherry Street).  The main entrance is directly on the corner; after you enter, please turn to the left for our rehearsal rooms.  There are three main rooms that we will use throughout the season at this location: 1) The Cherry Street Room, on the first level, 2)The Race Street Room, on the first level which is actually the Meeting House, and 3) the Martin Luther King Room, on the second level.  Most of our original 5:00pm start times for rehearsal have been CHANGED to 5:30 (please check the current rehearsal schedule carefully) in order to take advantage of reduced parking rates.  The garage is located at 1540 Spring Street, directly north of the Friends Center.     

                                                                                                     After 5pm, parking rates are $5.00

                                                                     

Our first rehearsal on October 1st, though, is at the Academy of Music Rehearsal Hall at 1420 Locust.

Several rehearsals and one of our concerts will be held at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Rittenhouse Square at 1904 Walnut Street.  The nearest parking garage is located at 1845 Walnut Street.

The other concert location is the Church of The Good Samaritan in Paoli, PA  From Philadelphia: I-76 west to Rt 202 South. Get off at the Paoli / Rt. 252 south exit.  Go approximately 2 miles, through traffic lights, up a long hill and under the railroad tracks. Then turn right at the intersection of Rt 252/Rt 30. The church will be on your left after the 5th traffic light – approx 1.2 miles.

Our New Partnership with SCGC

 Dear Philadelphia Singers Members,
     I'm pleased to announce a new partnership between The Philadelphia Singers and The Sister Cities Girl Choir.  We will be sponsoring members of SCGC at several of our concerts this year, and I wanted you, as members of our chorus, to hear about it first.
    This partnership will be an amazing opportunity for both our audience and our choir.  Our main purpose in establishing this type of community relationship is two-fold: firstly, The Philadelphia Singers has received so much generous support in terms of donations and attendance over the years that it's time for us to give back to the community that so wonderfully supports us.  And there's no one more deserving then these girls.  Not only do they all come from economically disadvantaged schools in the Greater Philadelphia area, but 90% of participants have never had a music class before, and 100% of them have never been in a choir.  By introducing them to the amazing sights and sounds of The Philadelphia Singers, we hope to provide them with that moment of musical inspiration.
       Secondly, this partnership will foster the positive publicity and public outreach efforts that our organization so desperately needs.  The Philadelphia Singers is a beloved regional institution, and I hope that these types of efforts assist us in becoming more ingrained in the community around us, as well as cement our status as the premier Philadelphia chorus.
      Join me in extending a hearty welcome to SCGC! Feel free to check out their website, and stayed tuned on this message board, on Facebook, and on our website for further developments.

Sincerely,
Megan Machnik
Chorus Manager

Second Round Contracting

Second Round Contracting is now Complete! 
After reviewing our personnel needs and available staff, we have now e-mailed out our second round intent to contract offers complete with schedule and payment breakdown.  Depending on responses, there might still be several more contracts yet to be sent, however they will be considered on a case by case basis, with no set time limit.
I would like to thank everyone for their patience with this process, and if you have any further questions, please contact me at megan@philadelphiasingers.org

Calling All Computers!

The Philadelphia Singers are having a Technology Drive! We are in urgent need of many different types of technology for our main office.

Upgrading to a new laptop? Getting rid of your desktop for more room? Consider donating to the Philadelphia Singers!  We are currently accepting donations of:

• Laptops: with at least 2GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive
• Flat Screen Monitors
• Desktop Computers: with at least 4GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive
• Scanners 

Best of all, any donation that you make to the Philadelphia Singers is tax-deductible! All we ask is that computer equipment is newer then five years old.

If you have any items that you are considering donating, please reply to this post or call us at 215-751-9494.  We can come pick up equipment or arrange for easy drop off.

Thank you!

Release Requests

As of Wednesday, September 4th, release requests approvals or denials have been e-mailed to all singers who delievered such requests to me by August 24th.  If anyone sent a release request after that date, they will be dealt with on a case by case basis in the coming weeks.

If you requested a release from a normally scheduled rehearsal and DID NOT get an e-mail notifying you if it was approved or denied, please e-mail me immediately at megan@philadelphiasingers.org

Thanks for your patience!