After a few crash IT lessons I am now able to send out my very first Oxford Operatic newsletter as your new communications officer! Firstly can I say I am really excited and honoured to be a committee member for this wonderful society. 2016 is looking set to be a really great year for us.
As Ed said last week please do feel like you can come and ask me and the other committee members anything you want at any time. Lots of us are involved in the Gala and so there should always be somebody at hand. If we don’t know the answer we will be sure to point you in the right direction.
I hope you are all having a great week and for those auditioning next week best of luck with the preparations. I have been spending my afternoon trying to jump over my leg in a dancer like fashion – thanks for that one Nancy and Emily!
Claire
Gala Auditions
The auditions are taking place on Sunday 24 January from 12pm to 6pm at St John’s Church in Kidlington. If you are unable to attend then, there will be an opportunity to audition on Thursday 21 January. Please indicate clearly when you are signing up that you will be auditioning on the Thursday.
Please remember that in order to audition you must be a fully paid up member by the audition date. Please contact Rachel Haydon atrachelhaydon@hotmail.co.uk or grab Rachel or Guy at rehearsal if you need to update your membership status.
The deadline for signing up to audition is the end of the break on Tuesday 19 January. The same deadline applies if you wish to be one of the two membership representatives on the audition panel. A survey monkey email will be going out Wednesday night to give you the opportunity to vote for those members who put themselves forward.
If you have still not signed up but won’t be attending rehearsals on Tuesday then never fear there is another way! Please email Frankie or Simon by 7pm on Tuesday.
Audition Music and Preparation
For the auditions, you can sing up to 2 of the songs from the list below. You are free to choose things from outside your normal vocal range – however please remember to pick music that you can really perform to the best of your ability.
There is one Audition Preparation rehearsal left at St Clements
Tuesday 19 January – Men from 7.30, Women from 8.15
Soprano
Green Finch and Linnet Bird – Sweeney Todd
If I Loved You – Carousel
Poor Wand’ring One – The Pirates of Penzance
Alto/Mezzo/Belt
Hearts Do Not Break – The Mikado
Not For The Life of Me – Thoroughly Modern Millie
I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No – Oklahoma!
Tenor
Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes – The Gondoliers
Heaven on Their Minds – Jesus Christ Superstar
On the Street Where You Live – My Fair Lady
Baritone/Bass
Cool – West Side Story
Toreador’s Song – Carmen
Some Enchanted Evening – South Pacific
You can download the music by clicking on the relevant titles. There are also some explanatorynotes available to download.
Dance Audition Information and Videos
Message from our choreographers…..
Dance auditions:
You can choose the following options:
– Do no dance audition if you just want to do general ensemble movement (and therefore you don’t have to attend the dance auditions on Sunday)
– Do between 1 and 4 of the dance audition pieces (ballroom/jazz/tap/can-can) if you want to be considered for the more specialist dancing – choose the ones you want to do based on which style of dance you want to be considered for
– In any of the dance auditions you can choose to do the basic part of the routine only, or the basic and more complicated section.
Please find below all of the dance videos you will need for the auditions. If you are anything like me these videos are an absolute lifesaver! Huge thanks to our choreographers for taking the time to make them. Enjoy!
Ballroom
https://youtu.be/1_eRbSsC8QE
Modern Dance
https://youtu.be/WN54XdrekwY
Tap
https://youtu.be/Sdx3_f6TSw0
REMINDER: Creative Team Contact Details
Chris Payne – chrismpayne1@gmail.com
Frankie Alexandra – frankie.alexandra@hotmail.co.uk– 07757 109331
Simon Tavener – simon.tavener@gmail.com – 07973 636844
Membership Survey Working Group
Thank you to everyone who completed the membership survey, which has provided a great deal of valuable feedback. We would now like to invite members to form a working group – this group will use the findings of the survey to make recommendations to the committee on how we should develop and improve our society, and ensure that member’s wishes and suggestions are acted upon wherever possible.
If you would like to join the group please contact Rachel (rachelhaydon@hotmail.co.uk) by Sunday 24th January or sign up at rehearsal (thank you to those who have already done so). If there is alot of interest we may need to ask the membership to vote for who it would like to represent them on the group.
Rachel Haydon
Membership Secretary
Reminder of Absentee Process for Gala
Please note any absences in the absence book available at rehearsal or contact Rachel 07734 853 630/ rachelhaydon@hotmail.co.uk
Any absences with less than 24-hours notice please contact the relevant Director by text:
–Frankie 07757 109 331
–Simon 07973 636844
Thank you for taking the time to read this email. If you have any questions or queries then all you need to do is simply reply to this email or email our secretary Marilyn who is always more than happy to help or point you in the right direction.
oxfordoperatic@gmail.com
Marilyn Moore | Secretary
marilyn.mr1@live.com
