Reflections in the sunset

AUTHOR: 
Jeffery Wall, conductor & Artistic Director
[email protected]

Here we are at the last day of 2017 and just 10 days ago, Vox Solaris Chamber Choir performed the 2nd concert of our inaugural season.  I thought this a perfect time to reflect on the journey as the world ushers in a new year.  It has indeed been a joyous ride!

As you may know, we operate on a biannual concert model: one in the summer and one in the winter.  This works best for our many singers who are music educators, music professionals, and college music students.  We had our summer concert (our first ever) on July 1st and our winter concert was December 21st.  Our winter concert was appropriately held on the winter solstice. 
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From the last blog entry, you might recall that I had an initial aversion to performing Christmas music.  Those of us that are music educators have been preparing holiday music of some kind since probably September.  I felt that myself, the singers, and the audience would be quite tired of Christmas music.  Boy, was I wrong and glad for it.  It was the perfect way to welcome in the season leading up to the final days before many in our community celebrated with their families.  It seemed to really put everyone in the holiday spirit – myself included. The camaraderie and feeling of working together at a high level towards this common goal brought out what the season is all about. ​

Everything we performed wasn’t explicitly Christmas or holiday themed.  We had a few wintery, seasonal songs as well.  This concert was titled “Winter Walk” after a piece we performed by composer, Tim Takach by the same name.  We sang everything from a 15th-century Spanish carol to a multi-sectioned, tongue-in-cheek selection about different kinds of pie.  It was a great time.

We gathered this time at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Broken Arrow.  The Rev. Shelby Scott, Parish Administrator, Suzanne Shepherd, and Choir Director, Lyn Bromiley were all so accommodating leading up to the performance and for our actual rehearsal and performance meeting.  The venue was just right and I am so grateful that we have been invited back to host our summer 2018 concert at St. Patrick’s. 

I didn’t run a physical postcard mailing this time due to cost constraints.  I relied solely on electronic means of advertising, promotion, and communication.  We were also charging admission for the first time.  Our summer concert was free so that we could build our audience and because we hadn’t yet received rights to charge.  I was again afraid that we wouldn’t have an audience (much akin to my fears before our first concert).  I was proved wrong a second time.  The audience was so lovely and welcoming.  We had a very decent crowd and they were really kind.  Following the concert, it seemed that everyone had an enjoyable time. 

Our crowd after the concert.

If you’ve been following this journey, you know that it hasn’t all been rainbows and sunshine.  A lot of work, time, energy, focus, and anxiety has been expended to get this little chamber choir off the ground.  From the initial singer invitations, to programming, music preparation, to marketing, to incorporating, applying for non-profit status, opening a checking account, applying for fund-raising permission from the state, and securing venue – it has been taxing at times!  Now, I feel like we have sufficiently left the ground and we’re off!  This go-round, we formed committees and self-nominated for service on those committees.  We now have an Executive Council, Publicity/Marketing Committee, Fundraising Committee, Membership Committee, Finance Committee, Programming Committee, and Audience Care/Logistics Committee.  We discussed further a future scholarship program for college vocal music students.  I told the singers this during preparations for the summer concert and for this concert as well:  “I will continue to do this as long as you guys are on-board and it remains fun.”  In the end – among the struggles, it WAS fun!  
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If you’re reading this and whether you support financially with tax-deductible contributions, taking ad space in our programs, attending concerts, following us online, or sharing our story, we are extremely grateful for you as we enter this new year.  We will strive to continue bringing great arts programming to make our community a better place to live and doing our part to further the future of the choral art that we love so much.  Happy New Year from Vox Solaris Chamber Choir to you and your family.
 

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