January 29 - Blocking Notes

Winter Sky - Video

Sopranos standing clumped SR in the window frames, Altos SL.

Measures 17 - 25 - Slow drift out of the window frames into the main space, filling in the space behind the soloist in a mixed scattered formation with shorter people near the front. You will need to take turns stepping through the window frames.

Measure 26 & 27 - Move into a tighter clump

Measure 20 - Raise arms to connect with the people on either side.

Measure 31 - 44 - Clump and Individual movement (see video)

M 45 - 53 Two soloists drift to the front. Everyone else move to two straight lines up the centre of the stage behind the soloists.

M 54 - 56 Starting at the front, move into two diagonal lines with the soloists still at the front.

Prep for Jan 29 Rehearsal

Thanks for your focus and hard work this past Sunday, everyone! We made some really excellent progress on the music for The Hours Turn to Nothing. Here are the things that need your focus before our next rehearsal.

Homework

• Memorize Winter Sky (including dynamics, phrasing, breaths, etc.)
• Review and continue to refine the work we did on Psalm 69 so we don't lose ground
• Review the work we did on V'la l'bon vent

Plan for Sunday, Jan 29th

Alto 2s on SNACK duty!

1:15	Soprano 2 sectional (in 3 AND 4 part split)
2:00	Full Ensemble physical and vocal warm up
2:20	Regular rehearsal with a focus on: Winter Sky memory check and blocking Psalm 69 ready for memorization V’la l’bon vent Pacem Auditions for roles and vocal solos
5:30	Home

Auditions
We'll be posting on our Facebook group a link to a form where we'd like you to let us know which roles/solos you plan to audition for. This will allow us to plan an efficient audition session. We'll also post the text we'd like you to prepare if you want to try out for Voice of the News or Midwife 1. Here is a list of the vocal solos, so you can assess what you'd like to try:

• Winter Sky, mm. 3-15 (S2 line)
• Winter Sky, mm. 45-53 (S1 line)
• Winter Sky, mm. 45-53 (S2 line)
• Psalm 69, mm.1-2 (S1 line)
• V'la l'bon vent solo quartet (all parts, throughout)
• Kyrie, mm. 1-8 (S1 line)
• Kyrie, mm. 17-21 (S1 line)
• Pacem (see below)

Please note, there will be solo(s) in Pacem. This is the one piece of music we don't yet have. It is supposed to be finished this week. If it is, I will post a PDF of the score so you can prepare. Please look at/listen to the reference score (video below) to see if you are interested in a solo (based on the SATB version). I can't guarantee the solos will be the same but let's go with that idea for now.

HTTN Social Media Fun!

Hi all!

We are hoping to provide you and our audiences with lots of content this winter in the leadup to our performances of The Hours Turn to Nothing. We heard your concerns from the fall about lack of content to share about the show, so we are actively trying to brainstorm new ways to help you get the word out through all your networks and beyond! Here are just a couple of the things that we are doing that will require your help!

Blog
We will be publishing blog posts throughout the winter months from various different members of the cast and production team. These will be short and easy to share on your social media networks, plus give our audiences a look into the behind the scenes world of the show. I would like to feature two blog posts by singers over the next few months, sharing your insights and ideas! If you are interested, please send me a message. Ideally we would post one in February and one in March.

Instagram Takeover
Running with our very successful Instagram takeover for the Fatty Legs tour, we will be featuring a different section of the ensemble every month! When it's your month, we will be asking you to take photos/videos etc during rehearsals, practice parties, or anything Xara related. You'll text all your photos and videos to me (Claire) and I will post them on our Instagram. It will give us a bigger picture into Xara life and show prep rather than just coming from my little phone! Here's the schedule:

January - Sop 1s
February - Sop 2s
March - Alto 1s
April - Altos 2s

So that means for the next two rehearsals, Soprano 1s are going to be generating all of our Instagram content. As always, please don't let photo taking interfere with your ability to be present and focused during rehearsals, but find moments where you can to capture the Xara magic and we will share it! :) Any questions, let me know!

Memorization Schedule: The Hours Turn to Nothing

Jan 29	Winter Sky
Feb 5	Psalm 69 + Soundscape 1
Feb 11 (+ Feb 12)	(Power Weekend)  Soundscape 2 +  V'la l'bon vent
Feb 19	Pacem + Soundscapes 3 and 4 (Blocking-focused rehearsal)
Feb 26	(Prep prep prep for Choral Competition Recording)
Mar 5	Cronan
Mar 12	Choral Competition Recording Session
Mar 19	Spoken Text up to Stage IIa and HIGH CALIBRE memorization on  everything that has come before this deadline.
Mar 26	Even When He Is Silent + Snow
Apr 2	Kyrie + All Text (i.e. Show fully memorized)
Apr 9	Fully memorized
Apr 17	(Easter Monday rehearsal) Fully memorized
Apr 24	Fully memorized

Jan 22 Rehearsal Prep

What a great first rehearsal!! In preparation for this coming weekend, here's what you need to know:

Yoga Fundraiser
A reminder that our yoga fundraiser is this Saturday, Jan 21, 10:30 AM at DANSpace (1531 Grafton St). For those who are new to this, it's very simple! Our Claire is a well-known and very experienced yoga teacher. She has offered to teach this drop-in, all levels class as a support to Xara's fundraising efforts for the year. The cost is $10 and the class is an hour. Bring a yoga mat or a large towel and wear clothes appropriate for moving. Bring as many friends as you can! Please let Erin, Christina, and Claire know if you are not able to attend.

Sunday Rehearsal Plan (Jan 22)
Alto 1s on SNACK duty!

1:15	Soprano 1 sectional (3 pt split)
2:00	Full Ensemble physical & vocal warm up
2:20	Regular rehearsal with a focus on: Winter Sky Psalm 69 V’la l’bon vent Outline of audition process for Jan 29
5:30	Home

Section Divisions (Divisi)

A reminder that the full divisi list was posted on facebook last week and can be found in the "Files" section of our facebook group for your review (it can also be found here). You are responsible to know what part you sing in ALL of our different configurations.

Speaking and Vocal Solo Auditions
At the end of rehearsal on Jan 29 we will be auditioning for the following:
- Voice of the News
- Midwife 1
- Winter Sky solos
- V'la l'bon vent solos (duet + quartet)
- Pacem solos (assuming music has arrived from the composer)
- Kyrie solos

Expectations Reminder

• One of Xara's core values is to be a supportive, loving community of women - always choose a spirit of generosity and compassion when interacting with your fellow Xaras.
• Another of Xara's core values is to strive for excellence at all times - this should include your posture and focus during rehearsal, your tools (always have a pencil and your music), and your preparation.
• You must arrive at rehearsal no later than 5 minutes PRIOR to the posted call time. You are considered late if you arrive at 1:15 rather than 1:10, for example.
• If you have to arrive late, you must text Erin at 902-300-9840 so she knows to come open the door for you. Make sure her number is in your phone.
• Your music is on loan to you from Xara. We spend over $1000 on music each year and it's important that we take good care of it. Only pencil markings are permitted and you may not punch holes or alter the scores in any other way. Please keep your music in some kind of folder to protect it from being damaged.

When we all work together to uphold these values, it makes Xara incredibly rewarding for everyone! 

Getting ready for Jan 15 Rehearsal

Hi everyone!

Well, we're getting ready for Attempt #2 at our first rehearsal of the season ... fingers crossed that this one takes!

Rehearsal Schedule

1:15 By call: New Singers and YMP Program Participants only

1:30 Full Group: Intro Ami McKay, Group Bonding

2:00 Music

3:00 Show & Tell + Read-through

3:45 Break

4:00 Board Reps Report (Shila & Natasha)

4:05 Music
4:35 Creative exploration/teams for Soundscape development - guided by Ami

Snack

Since last week was a bust, we will combine forces for snack this week - ALL SOPRANOS (1s and 2s) will bring snack. It's gonna be epic!

Yoga Fundraiser - Saturday, January 21 at 10:30 AM

Please do your very best to book off our Yoga Fundraiser and attend! We need to have at least 30 people there to meet our financial goal. This is a really easy fund raiser for us so we should take advantage of it. As you all know, Claire is an AWESOME teacher and a $10 drop-in class is a total deal. Please bring as many friends along as you can!!

Youth Mentorship Program

This is just a reminder that we are, once again, running our Youth Mentorship Program this term. The 2016-17 season has been a "pilot" year for this opportunity. This term we have three young women who will join us to experience the full-on joy and intensity of a Xara show. These girls are Rylee Hendricks, Antoinette O'Keefe, and Sophie Warwick-Bauer. They are all soprano 1s (!!!) so Kallie and Shila will be serving as their mentors. Please be really welcoming to them and do your best to offer them encouragement and support along the way!

Happy New Year!

Hi everyone!

We're so excited to get started on The Hours Turn to Nothing this weekend. Here are some things you need to know prior to Sunday:

Rehearsal Plan
1:15  Youth Mentorship Program Orientation (only YMP Artists + Kallie/Shila)
1:30  Full Rehearsal Begins
            Welcome
            Group Bonding
            Physical Warm up
            Vocal Warm up
            Music rehearsal
3:15  Snack
3:30  Show & Tell + Script read-through
4:00  Music rehearsal

Bad Weather Plan
Now that it's winter we need to have a plan for inclement weather. Please make sure to check the facebook group before you set out for rehearsal. If the weather is poor, we will make a call about rehearsal no later than 11:00 a.m. and post accordingly. Remember that even if the conditions seems passable where you live it may be unsafe elsewhere. We will make a call about rehearsal taking into account the roads/conditions that the whole group needs to contend with.

Timeliness Reminder
All singers are expected to arrive at rehearsal no fewer than 5 minutes prior to the stated start time. Erin will only be at the door to let people in until 5 minutes prior. If you are late, you will need to text Erin to come back down and open the door. Her number is 902-300-9840. Please put this in your phone's address book. You are expected to arrange your travel so that you are at rehearsal in plenty of time to start.

Snack Schedule
Erin has already posted a new snack schedule for this term on our facebook group (yippee!!). Soprano 1s are on for this week!

Fees
It's a new term so fees are once again due. Please speak to Erin to confirm the amount you need to pay and make arrangements to pay by cash or cheque before the end of January. Cheques are payable to Xara Choral Theatre Society.