Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all of your hard work last Tuesday night! I really kept your noses to the grindstone, trying to give you an overview of this term's music. 

This column will be pretty short, since we haven't really worked on anything yet. I'm simply going to list what we'll be doing next week, and add a few other little details.

Agenda for 1/20/26 Rehearsal: 

Brahms: Liebeslieder #s 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18

Pinkham:  Wedding Cantata

IMPORTANT:  At the following week's rehearsal, Tuesday, January 27th, the sopranos and altos will be excused at the break.

A Note on Seating Arrangement  

Starting next Tuesday, we'll have the basses and tenors sitting in the first two rows rather than at the back of the choir, for at least the first month. The order, from left to right from my perspective, will be Bass, Baritone, Tenor 2, Tenor 1, in two short rows per section.

Looking forward to learning notes next week!

Take care,

VOLUNTEERING

Festival Chorale Oregon accomplishes its goals and missions through the volunteer efforts of its members. It is the group's expectation that each member should strive to contribute two hours of volunteer time per term. Some of the activities FCO volunteers take part in are:

• Set up for rehearsals and performances
• Tear down for rehearsals and performances
• Ticket selling
• Selling advertising
• Patron communication and donation appeals
• Grant writing
• Database maintenance
• Distributing concert posters
• Manning FCO Booth at Salem Art Fair or Farmer's Market
• Serving on the Board of Directors or ad hoc committee
• Serving as section leader
• Singing in Festival Carolers
• Social Media promotion and curation
• Hauling chairs, risers, and other equipment between storage and venues

You will be informed regularly throughout the term when volunteers are needed, and you will be able to sign up in person at rehearsal or online through the FCO website. Volunteer Coordinator is Bass Section Leader Phil Davis [503-999-8200]

When you volunteer with FCO, the choir thrives and new friendships are formed!!

Your Section Leaders for the 2025-2026 Season

SOPRANO:

Tracy Ragland (Eyes) 503-580-2798

Jessica Coons (Ears) 503-917-9309

ALTO:

Tami Gillette (Eyes) 503-936-0295

Trudy McKinnell (Ears) 503-949-7290 [mckinnell.trudy@gmail.com]

TENOR:

Rebekah Wozniak-Gelzer (Eyes/Ears) 503-580-5578

BASS:

Phil Davis (Eyes) 503-999-8200

Stuart Sparkman (Ears) 515-974-9012

Note to new members: Each section has two leaders. The "ears" leader will be concerned with musical issues and addressing Solveig during rehearsals about the needs of the section. The "eyes" leader will be concerned with logistical issues such as seating arrangements and attendance. It is important that you contact the "eyes" section leader when you are unable to attend rehearsal.



ANNOUNCEMENTS

From your Music Librarian: If you have no desire to keep the scores of the Schutz or Beckstrand pieces which you purchased for Fall Term, you may donate them to FCO's music library. To do so, simply bring them to the music librarian during any January rehearsal.

Next Rehearsal:

Tuesday, January 20, 7:00 pm

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

1998 Lansing Ave NE

Salem

NOTE: If you did not attend the first rehearsal on 1/13/26, Please plan to arrive early to allow time to complete registration and to receive music.



Communicable Respiratory Illness Policy

To minimize spread of respiratory illness, FCO continues to follow best practices established by state and federal health officials. Please stay home if you feel unwell. Any member that tests positive for COVID-19 or influenza should report their diagnosis to FCO as soon as possible and may not participate in any FCO event until determined safe to do so by their healthcare provider. FCO will not disclose the identity of any member who tests positive but will notify all members of potential exposures.

FestivalChorale.org