Bravo CPCU!

Dear Choral Union,
I cannot thank you enough for the outstanding job you did in the concert last Sunday evening. Your focused demeanor and professionalism during the performance were superb. Each and every piece in the program was beautifully presented and deeply moving -- a true communion of music and emotion. I continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of spirit and generosity I felt from the Choral Union during performance!

Here are some of the glowing email comments I have received from audience members...

"You guys brought tears to my eyes. I am sooooo happy that I went to hear you guys. I can't believe what a great sound that you guys had. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Anyway - I had a blast. Please keep inviting me to stuff that you are doing!"

"It was WONDERFUL! We enjoyed it all so much: the choice of music, the director, the accompanist, the lovely sound of your voices. Please be sure to let us know about next year’s performance."

"The concert last night stirred me with excitement. I loved hearing the sanctuary filled with singing. I liked the selections interspersed with poetry. Thanks for a fun evening."

"Congratulations Ben! The performance was wonderful, and the singers seemed to have enjoyed rehearsals and the performance. The audience was sooooo happy. You sang and directed beautifully. A grand celebration! "

Many, many heartfelt thanks to...

1. Deby, Martha & Amy, who both set up before and CLEANED up after the spectacular post-concert reception!
2. EVERYONE who moved the piano and communion rails after the concert -- thank you, thank you, thank you!
3. All of our wonderful volunteer ushers and ticket takers!
4. Steve Cearley, who recorded our concert!
5. Mark Zwilling and the Steering Committee!
6. Every single wonderful member of the Congress Park Choral Union -- congratulations on your resounding success!
   

A few requests & reminders from the Artistic Director...

1. If you or your friends in the audience took any digital pictures during or after the concert, I would encourage you to email them to me -- I will collect as many pics as possible and post them on the blog next week!
2. Did someone in the audience video the concert? If so, please email me -- I would very much like to see the tape!
3. The Steering Committee & I are planning a reunion party to take place sometime in late September / early October. Stay tuned for details!
4. CDs of the concert will be made available to the performers as soon as they are prepared -- they will be $10 each. More information to come.
5. Please email me any concert/recital announcements that you would like to share with The Union -- I will be delighted to forward these to the CPCU email list.
6. Be sure to check the blog periodically over the next few weeks, as I will continue to add information there that will not be emailed (including more emailed comments, pictures, announcements, and the full text of the quotations read during the concert).
   

Again, my profound thanks. I'm speechless. Finally!

Concert THIS SUNDAY!

The Congress Park Choral Union is a 70-voice community chorus that will be performing at Christ Church United Methodist this Sunday evening. The debut concert will feature choral music of varied styles with the overall theme of "union". Composers include G.F. Handel, Gwyneth Walker, Eric Whitacre, John Rutter, and more. Please join us for an evening of song with the Congress Park Choral Union!

Congress Park Choral Union
DEBUT CONCERT
Sunday, August 6, at 7:00 p.m.
Christ Church United Methodist (690 Colorado Blvd., Denver)
Tickets: $12 general admission / $8 students & seniors
Tickets will be available at the door.

CONCERT this Sunday: 5pm call-time!

Dear Choral Union,
Congratulations on an excellent final rehearsal last night. I'm so pleased that we were able to deal with our standing arrangement, touch on some difficult musical spots, and run through the entire concert repertoire -- all in two hours! Thank you for your patience and your diligence last night, and throughout the entire rehearsal process. It is through the tenacity of each and every individual member, working together as a Choral Union, that our concert will be a resounding success!

A few concert reminders:

1. Concert warmup call-time is 5:00 p.m. this Sunday!
2. Concert Dress: black slacks/skirt & solid-color shirt/blouse (any sleeve length) -- please no CPCU t-shirts in the concert.
3. If you would like me to set aside "will call" tickets, email me the # of tickets and the name of the person picking them up.
4. If you are able, please attempt to find neighborhood parking (a block or so away), which will leave the parking lots open for our audience. You might want to check out the ample parking available on 7th Ave. Parkway, directly across Colorado Blvd. from Christ Church.
5. Plan to arrive a few minutes early to deal with parking and dropping off your reception items in the kitchen.
6. If you volunteered a friend as an usher, please have them arrive at 6:00 p.m. to meet with Carole London in the church lobby.
   

Hooray! See you this Sunday @ 5:00 p.m.!

CPCU @ Goodfriends (8/3)

JD & Christine

Nicole, Rosemarie, Shaun & Gabby

Dianne, Pat & Emily

Jen, Michelle & Josh

Emily, Raine & Kerry

Shawn, Darrell & Sarah (with an onion ring)

FINAL Rehearsal: Thursday, 8/3, 7-9 p.m.

Dear Choral Union,
One final rehearsal before the concert! Are you excited?! This Thursday's rehearsal is extremely important -- we will not only be putting final finishes on the challenging spots in our repertoire, we will also be making decisions about essential concert basics (where we will stand, how we will enter and leave the hall, etc.) Unless you are already signed-out for this rehearsal, please, please, please do not miss it!

For Thursday, please put your music in the following Concert Order...

1. Swell the Full Chorus, by G.F. Handel
2. How Can I Keep from Singing? arr. Gwyneth Walker
3. Rain, by Vijay Singh
4. My Soul Is a River, by Ben Allaway
5. Agnus Dei, by Peter Williams
6. This Marriage, by Eric Whitacre
7. I Will Be Earth, by Gwyneth Walker
8. Come Travel with Me, by Scott Farthing
9. Swimming to the Other Side, by Pat Humphries, arr. G. Dietrich
10. Distant Land, by John Rutter
11. Hold On to that Gospel Plow, arr. Larry Farrow
12. Bambelela/Ameni (you don't have music for these, but they will conclude the concert!)
    

A few announcements:

1. Checked-out tickets must be paid for or returned this Thursday.
2. Remaining tickets will no longer be checked out, but will be available to purchase at Thursday's rehearsal.
3. Concert Dress reminder: black slacks/skirt & solid-color shirt/blouse (any sleeve length) -- please no CPCU t-shirts in the concert.
4. Remember that Thursday's rehearsal will go until 9:00 p.m.
   

This Thursday, we will conclude our post-rehearsal socializing by heading back full-circle to our first meeting spot: Goodfriends Restaurant. One of our intrepid Steering Committee members suggested the appropriateness of returning to Goodfriends, especially considering how much time we have spent together getting to know one another. This Thursday, plan to join some of your new "good friends" as The Union meets for one final post-rehearsal bash!

See you this Thursday @ 7:00 p.m.!

Goodfriends Restaurant is located at 3100 E. Colfax (at St. Paul). Click here for a map with directions from Christ Church.