YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review Sept. 8th

First rehearsal of the 26/27 Choir Year!

We chatted a lot, registered, got binders, and started singing! We had a short physical warm-up, and then did a quick exercise that I saved on Facebook. "This the way the har-mo-ni-nize". I'll share it in our Facebook Group. If you haven't yet joined the FB Group: YRCC Choristers and Friends, then please do. It's a private group for now, so you need to be invited. 

1. The Hockey Song: We're going to do this as written, the whole song, so you might need to erase some notes from last time. The first time, we're singing Great Wayne Gretz-ky, but the second time we'll replace him with Syd-ney Cros-by. It works. And, it will be a nice surprise. 

2. Shine Hanukkah: We're going to do this one as written too. So, erase your notes about the first and second verse. Sopranos and Altos sing verse one alone, Tenor/Bass join on verse two only. At the end, on the last page, we'll have all sopranos on the top/descant divided, first and second. In the regular chorus, we'll have some altos sing soprano, altos divide too there. This will give us more of that special timing for the big ending. 

3. Song for a Winter's Night: We're also going to do this one as written! We can now learn the whole thing, including the choral intro. No solos, all ahs. So, you might need to erase old notes. For us and for our audience, this will make are repeated songs special, more interesting. 

4. Angles Among Us: Same thing here. We'll take the time to learn the whole song, not depending on soloists to carry the verses. Your old notes will not apply. 

5. Little Tree: My favourite winter season YRCC song! I love this little song. Part I=Sopranos; Part II=everyone else. As written, except we might add some harmony at the end and make it a bit bigger. 

6. Calypso Christmas: Fun! Drums, shakers, jingle bells and attitude.  It's a real calypso Christmas party. Not difficult but satisfying. 

7: Edelweiss: Very satisfying for the Altos! There's a special section that features the altos. That means the sopranos will need to do the ahs along with the bass clef voices. Everyone knows this song, but this arrangement is really special and has a super-big ending. I love it. You will too. 

Others: We had a quick look at a few new songs. Very few of us have sung (or remember singing) So Long, Farewell which is also from the Sound of Music, None of us has sung this new arrangement of You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, and we have a new classical-ish piece called Nutcracker Jingles. 

There is a lot to learn this season, but there is so much that we already know. I hope it will be a good balance for you. We have many of the parts recorded already and Donna is going to make new ones too. We'll review how to find those so you can sing your music on your own. Whenever you miss choir, don't panic. You might be totally fine following everyone who was there, and if not, you'll have my notes here on my blog and the recordings to work with. Please don't come to choir sick. If you have a cough or productive nose, please stay home or wear a mask to protect other choir members, and keep your distance. 

Next week, we're back in our room and we'll have new people starting. Make them feel welcome.  We're going to talk about activities that are planned and things that we might want to add (participating in a holiday market, making crafts, pub choir night, theatre night,...). 

 Here's the list of songs we'll sing next week:

• Angels Among Us
• Edelweiss
• Hockey Song
• So Long, Farewell
• Song for a Winter's Night 

Share this little poster far and wide, please. We're especially hoping to attract some new low voices, having lost a few good men. But, we have room in all parts at the moment. Consider learning the new songs with the Tenors right from the start. It's so much fun singing with Melinda and Jane! 

 

New Stuff for YRCC Fall/Winter Season 2026

I'm getting excited, as usual, for the start of the new choir season. This year, this time, I'm even more excited. We have some new stuff planned, besides the new music to learn. 

First of all, we're going to participate in a Holiday Market! People have been talking about promoting our concerts so that the seats are as full as they were in the past. One reason for the lower attendance is that we used to have 60 members and a waiting list. Since COVID, we've dropped down to around 40. So, we don't have as many family and friends tickets to sell. Some of us older members have family who are less excited about our concerts after having heard them for decades. So, promoting choir membership is also something we're talking about. We need more low voices (men would be nice), as we have lots of good music with tenor and bass parts. And, younger members too are needed. Some of us older members are super-energetic and have more time in our retirement, but others have lost some strength and stamina. Some of our members have 'graduated' to Donna's seniors' choir in Newmarket that meets during the day. Our table at the market will promote the concert primarily, but also membership. How do we attract younger people and how do we attract men/people with low voices? Put your thinking caps on, and if you have good ideas, let us know, or maybe we can form a Promotions Team?

For the market, we can get crafty! I want to have things with a musical theme that we can sell as a fundraiser. Each thing can have a sticker to promote the choir. If you donate your time and the stuff you make, we can use the funds we raise for more promotional activities. I've bought some wooden tree ornaments and little wooden music notes to paint and I have a few other ideas. I'll host a craft night at my house. What ideas do you have?  I know that we are a talented bunch, with lots of hidden talents. 

Secondly, we're going to try to be more social. It's always wonderful when choir friends get together to attend an event outside of choir. We've gone to movies, shows, and recently had a "pub choir" night.  I'm going to suggest we go to the next Choir Revolution night at Market Brewing in Newmarket on October 21st. The one-night choir experience is fun and carefree, and includes alcohol and snacks to purchase. I'd like us to have flyers to give out to promote the choir there. That experience is very different from our choir experience, and it's $25 for one night, while ours is $100 for a year (approximately 20 Tuesday rehearsals plus two shows and several seniors performances: that works out to less than $5) What we have is more than a singing experience; it's a community, an opportunity to belong to something bigger, with different levels of commitment, more than a one-nighter. 

I hope to see the YRCC do more extra-curricular activities! There is also an opportunity to go to the theatre. A group of us went to Theatre Aurora last year to see a musical revue and loved it. We discovered that Donna is connect to Theatre Aurora, and this year she's in a play, Over the River and Through the Woods. We should go! It's the same weekend as our market, but wouldn't that be fun and a lovely reward for our work? I see that they have another musical revue there too, September 18-26, "Yesterday Once More", hits from the 60's and 70's. That should be a good one! Years ago we had a group go to see an opera at the movie theatre. That was so interesting! We also went to a sing-along version of a movie. There is stuff going on in Newmarket and Aurora all the time that some of us might be interested in doing. When we add dinner to one of these things, it's even better. We learn so much about each other and see how much we have in common! Maybe someone would like to lead a Social Events Team?

I hope you are as excited as I am, and are ready for new challenges and lots of fun! The binders are ready, full of good music for us to sing. September 8th is our first night back. Can hardly wait!

Hey, if you just want to come and sing on Tuesdays to escape "reality" for a while, that's fine too! Singing together every Tuesday is the best and most important thing about the YRCC. 

 

Here's a link