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Voices of Omaha is looking forward to its
47
th annual performance of Handel's
Messiah on Sunday, November 22, 2015; 3:00 p.m. at the Holland Performing Arts Center. Here are details and other news!
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From the President...
Greetings, Voices of Omaha members and friends!
The Board of Directors has been busy during the past year preparing for Voices of Omaha's 47th annual performance of Handel's Messiah!
Invite a friend; as always, we are in special need of tenors and basses. Give them a recruitment flyer in English or Spanish for their information. Remember, high school age students participate without fees. Let us know you (and your friends) are coming by registering in advance online. You can also let us know if you need a vocal score, a practice CD, new logo coffee mug or polo shirt.
I am looking forward to seeing you and those you have invited to join us on October 11!
Sincerely, Amanda Patrick
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Membership Registration - ONLINE!
Let us know you are coming! Pre-register online; this will make check-in very smooth at 1:30 p.m. on October 11 and ensure that we have accurate information for everyone. You can also let us know if you need a vocal score, a practice CD, coffee mug, polo shirt, or would like to buy a poinsettia for the stage. Everybody will need to register using the online system. We will have computers set up on October 11 so singers can register when arriving for rehearsal. You can pay by check at the registration table on October 11 or in advance by mailing a check to: Voices of Omaha, P.O. Box 24711, Omaha, NE 68124-0711. Join the 56 others who have already registered online. Register now! 
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Rehearsal Attendance
 Rehearsal attendance is very important for mastery of your part, ensemble sound, seating, etc. No one can miss more than one Sunday rehearsal without the permission of your Section Leader. If you will be missing rehearsal(s) for any reason, send a message to [email protected]. Please note that this means all singers must be registered at or before the October 18 rehearsal in order to participate this year! Attendance is especially important this year because there are only five Sunday rehearsals. |
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TAGG - Together A Greater Good
This year we have joined with Together a Greater Good, or TAGG, to bring you a new, FREE way to support Voices of Omaha! When you make a purchase at a participating business (see the list here), you can "TAGG" Voices of Omaha and a portion of your purchase will be given directly to Voices of Omaha!
Please watch this 90-second video!
It's as Easy As 1-2-3!
Download the app now!
The app is available on the Apple and Google Play stores.
(Search:
Together A Greater Good
)
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Diversity Outreach
 In our ongoing efforts to increase chorus and audience diversity, we are again working with the Spanish language newspaper El Perico and collaborating with Arts For All! Posters and FAQ sheets have been translated into Spanish. If you know members of the Latino community who might be interested in singing Messiah with us, give them materials from or direct them to our website; all materials in Spanish may be downloaded on the Members tab of our website!
We are continuing the excellent collaboration with our friends of the New Era Baptist State Convention of Nebraska.
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Grants & Donations
The following organizations have made gifts supporting this year's Messiah performance, diversity and educational outreach activities. The grants will help us greatly in reaching our $33,844 operating budget goal!
- Nebraska Arts Council - $5,150
- Whitmore Charitable Trust - $2,500
- Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation - $2,500
- Giger Foundation - $1,500
- St. John Lutheran Foundation - $500
- Anonymous gift - $1,867
- Omaha Gives! campaign - $3,805
- Omaha Performing Arts - $18,595 in-kind
- Automatic Printing - $4,000 in-kind
- Omaha Symphony Orchestra Association - $500 in-kind
Remember, your generous individual gifts are tax-deductible; all donations are acknowledged with a substantiation letter for your tax purposes. All donations are duly recognized in the program. You may make these donations at rehearsals, by mail, or online through the secure JustGive.org link here or on our website. You may also name Voices of Omaha, Inc. in your wills and estate planning or in memory of someone.
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GuideStar Gold!
GuideStar.org is the online organization funding entities look to for information about grant applicants. The "Exchange" program involves submitting complete information regarding a non-profit's mission, goals, programs, and budget. We are very pleased to be continuing our GOLD level participation in the GuideStar Exchange program as a symbol of our commitment to transparency and accountability!
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Fundraiser - Red Wheel Sales
As in the past, we will participate in a fundraiser of Red Wheel food products. If you wish to participate, pick up your sales packet at the registration table on October 11. This program helped us raise about $1,000 last year. Thank you for your efforts to make this fundraising activity a success.
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Poinsettias
The front of the stage will be decorated with as many poinsettias as are voluntarily purchased by the singers. After the concert, take your poinsettias home in protective sleeves provided to protect the plants. Orders may be placed at each rehearsal at the registration table.
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Logo Mugs and Polo Shirts
VOO logo coffee mugs and polo shirts can be ordered when registering online, at rehearsals, or at the performance. The coffee mugs are great for warm beverages and excellent conversation pieces. $10 each. The polo shirt is a classic white style (men's or women's) with our logo embroidered in color on the upper left placket. $30 each.
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Nebraska Community Blood Bank Drive
Are any VOO members be interested in donating blood through Nebraska Community Blood Bank if appointments for drive were to be scheduled before, (during), and after one of the Sunday rehearsals?
If yes, please send a quick "Blood Drive Yes" message to [email protected]. Check your eligibility or learn more about NCBB on their website. If we have enough interest to move forward with a blood drive, NCBB promises to publicize the performance on their social media platforms - helping us reach a whole new segment of the community!
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Increase Our Reach
   
Help us extend our "reach" and keep current on the latest news.
Like our Voices of Omaha Facebook page. Follow us on LinkedIn and Google+. Write a review of our organization at GuideStar.
Also, explore the Voices of Omaha website for current information and share it on your social media pages. You can download all posters/flyers and info sheets from the site. Put up a poster at your school or church.
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From the Artistic Director...
It will be an honor to work with Voices of Omaha on the 47th annual presentation of Messiah!
The Sunday, November 22 performance promises to be as exciting as ever. Our soloists are Carole Jeanpierre-Finch, soprano; Janet Carlsen Campbell, mezzo-soprano; Paul Koenig, tenor; and Kyle Drew Sandall, bass. View their bios on our website!
Continuing our educational outreach activities, high school singers are participating with fees waived, scores and tuxes (for the men) provided! Each rehearsal will include a brief exploration of a musicological topic relating to Messiah, complete with PowerPoint, audio and handouts which may be compiled into a notebook for future reference.
Oct. 11: The morphing of Messiah - Part 1
Oct. 18: The morphing of Messiah - Part 2
Oct. 25: 25 Brook Street
Nov. 1: The Society of Decay's Musicians
Nov. 8: Handel and Blindness
Nov. 15: No rehearsal on this day
This year's presentation includes all of Part I and much of Parts II and III. To achieve the highest possible performance quality, please note the optional section rehearsals on the schedule.
Please note that there are
only five Sunday rehearsals this year. We are striving to maximize our efficiency during rehearsal and minimize everyone's time commitment.
The 2015 Voices of Omaha rehearsals and Messiah performance promise to be enlightening and glorious! I look forward to the opportunity of working with such a fine and dedicated organization of singers, once again. See you at rehearsal on Sunday, October 11!
Sincerely yours, Edward B. Hurd
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Practice CDs ...
... are available for every voice part free of charge! Let us know if you would like one when you pre-register online. It will be ready for you at the check-in table on Sunday, October 11 at 1:30.
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Rehearsal Checklist
 - Messiah score (Bärenreiter edition preferred) - Pencil for notes - Bottled water - Arrive early for the best parking |
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Nuts & Bolts
What is the complete
schedule?
Which
choruses from
Messiah are we singing?
What is the
dress code for the performance?
Where do I
park?
Where do I
enter the Holland Center for rehearsal and performance?
Answers to these questions and more may be found in the
FAQ sheet!
Download it in English or Spanish!
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Board of Directors & Staff
Amanda Patrick, President Glenn Smith, Vice President Ben R. Baldwin, Treasurer Ashley Voorhees, Secretary Kevin C. Abelein Evelyn Dillard Molly George Dee Nielsen Rigoberto Ramos, Jr. Sharon Struve Michael Zehnder Edward B. Hurd, Artistic Director Burçtan Soyulmaz, Artistic Administrator Are you interested in serving on the Voices of Omaha board? Send an e-mail to [email protected] to find out more information! |
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Our Mission
The mission of Voices of Omaha is to present an annual performance of Handel's Messiah
without admission charge as a gift to the community. Voices of Omaha is committed to development of a diverse audience and chorus membership by maintaining relevance in the present, and nurturing musicians of all ages to assure an audience and chorus for the future.
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