1. Camerata auditions are ALL THIS WEEK (Week Eight) at lunchtimes– or anytime you can catch Mr. Burcin. PLEASE encourage your friends (and enemies) to come along to audition. You can come in with them for support.
2. Will you sing in Camerata 2010? Make your intentions know to Mrs. Sullivan NOW so she can finish plans for the Camp on 5-7 March. (the CORRECT date, now!)
3. Join us at 9.30am THIS Friday (4 Dec) to sing Siyahamba at WIS– or meet us over there by 10am. Wear school uniform. We need 2 juniors to stay behind and help with auditions
4. Junior Prizegiving is Friday 11 Dec– we will sing the National Anthem and Siyahamba. Rehearsal 9.30am. PG starts 11am. Wear: SCHOOL uniform
5. Ensembles BBQ follows Junior PG– we provide the sausages, you bring the rest (see the newsletter or notice in M block)
6. If you haven’t already, please CAST YOUR VOTE regarding rehearsals next year!

It is my great pleasure to announce that our glorious voice teacher, Barbara Grant, will be taking over the reins of Camerata from next year! [applause]

Barbara is busily preparing for next year and she would like some information & help from all of us.

Firstly, I have volunteered to handle Camerata Auditions in Week 8. These will happen at lunchtimes, so just drag your friends along to M1 and I will hear them. Group auditions are encouraged!

We will also head over to WIS for auditions and it would great for Camerata to sing Siyahamba for their assembly. (Time TBD but I expect it will be Friday morning). Any Year 9s able to stay behind to help with auditions?

Secondly, Barbara is considering changing Camerata’s rehearsal time and urgently needs your feedback on this. Please VOTE IN THE POLL below–you may tick several options, but please only VOTE ONCE

If you have additional thoughts (i.e. Wednesday afternoons are tough for me . . . ) then leave a comment.

Camerata Camp is confirmed for Fri 5th-Sun 7th March at Bridge Valley so clear your diaries now!

Camerata, as promised, here is a blog message (with secret password– see below) to make sure that you have checked this before our NEXT REHEARSAL: 13 Oct (got that? NO REHEARSAL 22 Sept– now we’ll really see who checks this thing . . . )

1. Buy a Tutti Concert CD! ($10 to Finance Centre)– Don’t miss out on this professionally-recorded souvenir of the concert. The meager fee of $10 goes entirely to covering the cost of hiring a professional who put top quality mics and mixed the thing, plus producing the physical disks. Get what I’m saying? If you want top-quality recordings of future concerts, pay the $10 for a CD

2. Are you interested in the workshop with Wellington Youth Choir? See the next post. Leave you name on it THIS WEEK or it will be too late.

3. Practice the NEW VERSION of the National Anthem– listen to it here:

Oh! and that pesky password? It’s the cost of the Tutti CD.

TUTTI
23 Aug, 2.30pm
Nelson School of Music

Please encourage your family and friends to attend! Tickets available from the Waimea College Finance Centre or at the door ($10/$5 students)

Here are the latest details for the concert:

When: Sunday 23 August, 2.30pm concert, rehearsals . . . (see below)
Where: Nelson School of Music, Nile St.
Who: Camerata, Bella, Wellington College Chorale with Waimea College and Greenhill Orchestras
Pieces: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, Anvil Chorus, Anthem + Two Dragon Songs
Wear: Performance Uniform

Rehearsals :

Saturday 22 August
Waimea College Hall

4.30-6.30pm– Camerata, Bella with combined orchestras

And if you are kindly taking billets, you will need to wait for . . .
7pm– Wellington College arrives– short reception and head home with billets

Sunday 23 August
At the Nelson School of Music (NSOM)

(9am– Orch arr. and sets up)

9.30am-12pm– Camerata joins–combined orchs and choirs rehearsal

12pm– all help clear stage, then Camerata members free for lunch

2pm– concert call time at NSOM

2.30pm– CONCERT

4.30pm– Approx. finish concert– everyone helps clear up!

Any questions? Ask!

You can still find practice YouTubes on your PRACTICE FILES page for the opera choruses. Hope they help.

Firstly, I’ve finally posted some YouTubes on your PRACTICE FILES page to help you learn these opera choruses. Hope they help.

Here are some details for the upcoming concert.

When: Sunday 23 August, 2.30pm concert, rehearsals . . . (see below)
Where: Nelson School of Music, Nile St.
Who: Camerata, Bella, Wellington College Chorale with Waimea College and Greenhill Orchestras
Pieces: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, Anvil Chorus, Anthem + Two Dragon Songs
Wear: Performance Uniform

Rehearsals :

Tuesdays 7.30-8.25am (as usual)

Saturday 22 August at Waimea College– 12-3pm (Time TBC)

Sunday 23 August at NSOM– 9.30-12.15pm rehearsal, then lunchbreak. Concert call time 2pm

Any questions? Ask!

CAMERATA: The Big Sing is THIS TUESDAY!!!! Here is a run-down of everything you need to know:

Meet: 8.30am in M block. NO MORNING REHEARSAL
Returning: We will return to Waimea College bus bay around 11.15pm

Please note: We WILL NOT HAVE EXTRA PERFORMANCE SHIRTS or any uniform items. It is your responsibility to bring what you need!

Do you still have questions? Ask them here– you may not be the only one who wants to know! Or find me in my office or parents can ring 544 6099 x896

THE BIG CHILL
Tuesday 9 June, 7pm
$5 Adult, $2 Students
Waimea College Hall

Camerata will perform alongside the college’s chamber choir, Belle a Cappella, in preparation for the Big Sing which will take place on 16 June in Blenheim. Read more . . . >

Cameratans,

How did you enjoy your special workshop with Robert on Friday?

Did you learn anything new?

Was it worth bringing him to Nelson?

We would love to hear what you think. It’s also a great way to share with each other what we learnt.
Please ADD YOUR COMMENT to the post on Bella’s blog. . . >

Camerata! You are performing at the ANZAC Day service on Saturday the 25th of April (the last saturday of the school holidays) along with the Orchestra & Belle a Cappella.

• Be at school at 9am for a rehearsal
• Be in your best school uniform
• Service starts at 11am so you should be finished by 12
• If you are in town, you are expected to attend. Tell us now if you are unable to make it.

You can find practice files for the pieces (same as last year) on the Practice Files page. (They will only work from home, not at school)

Thankyou for providing this service to your community, your efforts are much appreciated.

Next year’s choir is already auditioned and ready to rock for 2009. There are still places left (especially for GUYS) so don’t be afraid to come and see Mr. Burcin at any time if you would like to join Camerata.

WHAT HAPPENS AT CAMP?

Every year, Camerata begins with a rehearsal camp

Camerata Camp is a fun yet intensive environment where the focus is on:

• getting to know each other and become part of the group
• learning about our voices and gaining skills in choral singing
• learning music for the Big Sing and other concerts
• choosing leaders for 2009 (Choir Leader and section leaders)
• giving the student conductors a chance to hone their skills and learn what this year’s group is capable of

On the last day of camp, once the students have had a chance to experience what the choir is all about, students are asked to sign a Camerata Pact– a sort of contract outlining expectations and responsibilties of being a part of Camerata.

Since 2007, Camerata has been run mainly by student conductors. Mr. Burcin oversees as “Herr Director” and leads warm-ups and vocal training sessions, but the student conductors choose the music and run most rehearsals.

Last year, Camerata received their first award at the Big Sing Regionals, winning the Pre-1930 Composition section. This was a great accomplishment for the choir and an affirmation that our student conductors know what they are doing!

Camerata also has student leaders from within the choir. Experienced members of the group put their names forward for the following positions:

• Choir Leader– looks after the choir’s admin and musical “well-being”
• Section Leaders– assist their section with musical matters, lead sectional rehearsals, and report issues to the Choir Leader before they get out of hand

Camerata has an exciting year ahead. In 2006, the Waimea College combined choirs and orchestra presented Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana to rave reviews at the Nelson School of Music.

This year, it is time again for a big work: Mozart’s Requiem. The plan is to combine with the Greenhill Orchestra and perhaps other schools in the Nelson/ Marlborough region for a tour of performances (Blenheim? Nelson? Takaka?)

Watch this space . . .

Dates: 13-15 Feb 2009
Venue: Bridge Valley Christian Camp
Cost: $86 (pay to the Waimea COLLEGE Finance Centre, please)
Transport: bus from/ back to Waimea College bus bay

PARENT HELP WELCOME! Please let us know when you can help– Phone Trish on 544 6099 x897 or email ts@waimea.school.nz

Everyone should have received a trip pack with more details, and a permission slip that needs to be returned by 17th Dec 08, including payment to the Waimea COLLEGE (NOT Intermediate) Finance Centre.