choir community info & schedule

Spring 2012 Season     Fall 2012 Season     Spring 2013 Season
Radio interviews, photos & videos
Concert Information     Concert Beneficiaries
Sectionals   SWAT Events   Other Events   Drop-Ins   Calendars

Events/activities updates will be announced in the choir newsletter
or via special announcements and posted here as they are scheduled.

photo by Andrew Kielbowicz, choir photographer and former GHC Bass

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Spring 2012 Season

Our 2012 Spring season started week of Feb 13th and ends with two benefit concerts (see Concert Beneficiaries below) on June 8th & 9th (Go to "Upcoming Concerts" for more on our concert schedule.)

If you, or someone you know, would like to be notified by email in advance of our:

next new singers intake please email your, and/or their, name, phone and email address to New Singer Notifications   

end of season concerts and other public performances please email your (and/or their) name, phone and email address to Concert & Event Notifications

FALL 2012 Season

Our 2012 Fall season will start week of September 17th and ends with two benefit concerts (see Concert Beneficiaries below) on February 1st & 2nd of 2013

Our new singer intake dates for the 2012 Fall season are:

Mondays (Sept. 17 & 24)

The First Unitarian Church of Victoria, 5575 West Saanich Rd.

Tuesdays  (Sept. 18 & 25 and Thursdays (Sept. 20 & 27)

The Church of Truth, 111 Superior St. (James Bay)

We meet from 7:30 to 9:30 each night of the season and there will be New Singer Orientation sessions from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. on each of the intake nights. 

Choir fees are $175 for the season with a sliding scale discount from there down to $130 for seniors/ students/unwaged as needed. If a discounted fee is appropriate for you we ask you to decide where on the sliding scale you fit based on your knowledge of your own finances. Payment plans and partial or full scholarships are also available as needed. Our bottom line is, no one misses choir because of money.   

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SPRING 2013 Season

Our new singers intake is always the first two weeks of the season.  Our 2013 Spring season will be the weeks of Feb. 18th and 25th with three nights to choose from in each of those weeks.  (details TBA later)

The17 week 2013 Spring season starts the week of February 18th, 2013 

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For more Gettin' Higher Choir information: check out FAQs for New Singers, visit some of the other pages in this "Choir Community Info" section of our site using the menu in the left hand panel (above) and/or listen to these radio interviews from past seasons:

Shari Ulrich on CFAX radio January 22, 2010
(Shari was our guest artist for our 2010 January 29th & 31st concerts)

Shivon Robinsong & Perpetua Alfazema on CBC Radio, June 4, 2010
(Shivon is our founding director & Perpetua is one of the founders of the Kapasseni Project and the founder/manager of the Kuwangisana Project.  We have been supporting the former organization with our June concerts since 1999 and the latter since 2007.

Aurafidelite Arindam on the Francophone community radio station, CILS-FM 107.9, July 2, 2010   (Aura is an enthusiastic GHC Soprano)

...and check out our Choir Photos and Choir Videos pages.

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Concerts

While a significant portion of the singing we do each choir night is purely for the fun of it we also work toward a pair of concerts at the end of each session. There is no requirement that every member sing in these concerts but we enthusiastically recommend the experience. Usually two thirds or more of the members do so with many of the rest enjoying the concert from the audience. Singing for friends, family and well wishers, to raise funds for very worthy causes as part of our 300+ voice singing community is a great means of "Gettin' Higher".

Our end of Spring season concert in June 2012:

Title	When I Sing
Dates & Times	Jun. 8 & 9 @ 7:30 p.m.
Location	Alix Goolden Hall
Guests	Soundings Vocal Ensemble plus Soloist Kim Willoughby
Poster*	Letter sized poster
~ Add yourself to our ~ "Concert & Event Notification List" (please include your full name and phone #)
* Letter size suitable for residential, local and work display please support our efforts on behalf of The Power Of Hope and post copies in the places you frequent such as your car window, windows of local businesses and residential, work and community bulletin boards.

Our end of Fall season concerts in February 2013:

Title	TBA
Dates & Times	Fri. Feb. 1st/13 @ 7:30 p.m. Sat. Feb. 2nd/13 @ 2:00 p.m.
Location	Alix Goolden Hall
Guests	TBA
Poster*	Will be added when available
A link to a full concert listing will be added here when that listing is posted to the "Concerts" section of this web site. ~ Add yourself to our ~ "Concert & Event Notification List" (please include your full name and phone #)
* Letter size suitable for residential, local and work display please support our efforts on behalf of The Power Of Hope and post copies in the places you frequent such as your car window, windows of local businesses and residential, work and community bulletin boards.
Past Concert Listings

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Concert Beneficiaries

Fall Season (late Jan. early Feb.) ~ A Benefit for the Power Of Hope

The Power Of Hope 
PoH Video
Power to the Kids ~ A Photo Essay

Spring Season (mid to late June) ~ A Benefit for Mozambique

All projects are funded through:

     Caia Connection

Benefitting projects past and present:

     The Kapasseni Project

     The Kuwangisana Project

     Ray Of Hope 

Other information about these beneficiaries:

Journey To Kapasseni ~ A video on how the project started

Return To Kapasseni ~ The village 11 years later

Kapasseni Project Newsletters (from 2000 to now)

Sarah Petrescu's March 23/07 Times Colonist article

Honouring Fund (all concerts)

For each concert the members of the choir take up a collection among themselves to donate to a worthy cause that is connected to the primary beneficiary. This donation is made in honour of the choir's directors, guest artist(s), and others sharing the stage with it in liu of purchasing the traditional bouquets.

Honouring Fund Origins & Uses

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Sectionals

WHAT ARE SECTIONALS?

New Members please note:

A Sectional offers an individual section (Sop/Alt/Ten/Bass) an opportunity to practice its parts without the distraction of waiting while other sections are learning theirs. There are two types. Choir Sectionals that happen for ¾ of an hour before the regular choir sessions and Home Sectionals that happen at times and places set by those who choose to host them.

Announcements about home sectionals, and any other rounds of choir sectionals, will be made in the newsletter as we approach concert time.

Special note:
If you are so solid in your parts that you don’t feel a need to come to a sectional please come anyway, others in your section could use your support. The more strong voices there are around them the easier it will be for those others to learn.

Choir Sectionals

Basses with Denis

                 May 14, 15 & 17 from 7:00 to 7:30 each night

 

Soprano & Tenor

                 TBA

 

Instead of Choir Sectionals in the last weeks before the concerts, starting May ???, (TBA) our practices will be 1/2 hour longer, running from 7:00 to 9:30

Home Sectionals

Tenors @ Lori's – May 16th

I am hosting a home sectional for all Tenors on Wednesday May 16th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.  Social Following: Feel free to bring a snack to share, and your choice of beverage.

3163 Irma Street, (near Burnside and Harriet Road). http://g.co/maps/8qr2t

For further information please contact me at 250-361-4660 or at lori.mcelroy@shaw.ca

Submitted by: Lori McElroy, Thursday Tenor

Basses @ Bill's – May 20th

I am hosting a home sectional for all Basses on Wednesday May 220th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.  The more of us there are the better it will be.

Beverages of choice and snacks to share are welcome. The practice will be followed by a social gathering for those feeling social.

77 Gorge Rd. West, (at Wascana across from Wings ~ # 8 or #11 bus). Follow the signs from the gate. Map: http://www.crucible.ca/home77.jpg

For further information or answers to your questions please contact me at 250-920-4160 (8 to 8) or at bill@gettinhigherchoir.ca  Submitted by:

Bill Hanson, multi-night rotating Bass

Basses @ Ron & Sylvia's – May 25th

We’ve made a bit of a change this will be a sectional for basses only!

We hope you can make it to the Bass sectional to be held at our home on: Friday May 25 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

We will practice from 7:00 to 9:00 and then enjoy some social time with dessert etc.  Please feel free to bring your beverage of choice.  If you can make it, please confirm by email. This will help us know how many people to prepare for. If you don't have access to email please call us a 250-472-9443.

Denis will be with us.

Directions & Map

Submitted by Ron & Sylvia Samborski Monday Soprano & Bass

Altos @ Jannah's – May 26th

I will be hosting a home sectional for any altos who wish to attend and which Shivon has kindly agreed to lead. It will be on Saturday, May 26th, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm-ish. I can't offer a full-on potluck opportunity, but we could probably squeeze in some coffee/tea and snacks afterward, if a few people would like to bring some nibblies to share.

The address is 4472 Fairmont Pl, near Ash & Majestic, in Gordon Head (access off of Edgemont). If further information is needed, I can be contacted at jannah@shaw.ca or (250) 920-4181.

Submitted by Jannah Cunningham Tues/Thurs Alto

Tenors @ Dale & Merrie's – May 27th

We look forward to having a TENOR SECTIONAL / POTLUCK/ SOCIAL again at our home this spring. Welcome all tenors.

At Dale Shpak and Merrie Houghton's 8646 Emard Terrace, North Saanich.

Sunday, May 27, Singing 3:00 - 5:00; Potluck 5:00 - 7:00 or so.

We will make the pizzas and a dessert.

Bringing a SALAD or tidbits is optional, but appreciated.

Please RSVP so that we know how many pizzas to make. merriehoughton@gmail.com or 250 652 2703.

Directions: Pat Bay Highway North. Left onto Mount Newton Cross Road.
Mount Newton Crossroad, right onto East Saanich Road ( You will be passing through Saanichton)
East Saanich Road, right onto Leal (just past MacDonald's Farm)
Leal is one block long, turn left onto Emard Terrace.
Emard Terrace 8646 - we are on the left side (or upper, sunny side) three houses from end of our block.

Looking forward to seeing you then.

Submitted by:
Dale Shpak and Merrie Houghton Monday Tenors

Sopranos @ Laureen's – May 25th

I will host a soprano sectional at my house on Sunday June 3 at 3pm, Gonzales Bay at 1840 Crescent Road

Laureen Belland Tuesday Soprano

THE JOY OF HOSTING A HOME SECTIONAL 

*** EXTRA PRACTICE! *** EXTRA SOCIABILITY! *** POTLUCK? ***

Just pick a date and time that works for you, let me know and I will:

1. add your sectional to the “Home Sectional Invitations” list in the appropriate issues of the newsletter
2. email a special advance announcement to everyone in your section (just your night or all nights)
1. email you a call list of names and phone numbers for members of your section who are not on email

If you want to host a home sectional either during our break or in January please call me at 920-4160 (8 to 8 weekdays) or
email me

Our last choir night before the holiday break is Thursday Dec. 16th and we start up again Jan. 3rd

Sectionals will be announced in our newsletters as well as here

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SWAT Events
"Sing When Asked To"

SWATs will be announced
in our newsletters as well as here

Sunday May 27 SWAT

Walk for Water Walk

In the afternoon, at Beaver Lake Park (by the picnic shelter)
Repertoire: African songs, One Voice, etc.

More information

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Saturday, June 9 SWAT

Victoria Grandmothers for Africa 2012 National Walk

At Centennial Square. Time TBA, We will sing 4 or 5 African songs.
Stay tuned for further details on these SWATs plus one other currently under discussion.

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???? SWAT

TBA - One more under discussion

???????????

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Other Events  

Other events will be announced in our newsletters as well as here

POTLUCKS    (TBA)

There will be potluck gatherings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on each of the following choir nights:

    Tuesday ???TBA??? 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
    Thursday ???TBA???, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. (choir 7:45 to 9:45!)
    Monday ???TBA???, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

These potlucks, held every season, are a tradition in the choir that allows us to get to know each other a little better.

Please bring a tasty dish to share and your own plate, cup and cutlery. An ingredients sign would be helpful for those with dietary considerations and perhaps a name label in case someone wants to get your recipe from you.

All choir members are welcome at all potlucks. Come and enjoy!

Editor’s Note:

Grace & Birthday Song Lyrics
(for choir potlucks and other food oriented events)

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Summer Drop-Ins
TWO TOONIES FOR TUNES ON TUESDAYS

Unless otherwise specified all drop-ins will be held at the Church Of Truth (111 Superior St.) Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. 

Please check back periodically in case of changes or add yourself to our New Singer Notification list so that we can update you by email.

Drop-ins will be announced
in our newsletters as well as here

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ONLINE CALENDARS
WHERE YOU MAY FIND OUR EVENTS LISTED
(and list your events free of charge)

Kids In Victoria/Island Parent	Snap Victoria	Swanky Ants
Black Press	A TV	VancouverIsland.com
Child's Play		Linking Boomers
If comments can be posted ~ Please do!

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