Welcome


Welcome to Renate's Baton. This blog is mostly for and about my choir, The York Region Community Choir.

But, While I'm holding the baton, I'm in charge. So, if I want to talk about other parts of my life, I will. :)

The choir itself is a community and I'm discovering that we have a lot in common with one another besides our love of music and singing.

When I go off on a tangent, there is always a crowd coming along. Join us!

Monday, August 28, 2017

YRCC Winter 2017 Start is 11-SEP-2017

Today is the second last Monday without choir.
I've been missing you all, but I'm working on choir today and thinking about you, because it's Monday :-)
Next Monday, Labour Day, will be the last Monday before we get started.
Monday, September 11th is our first day back! Yay!

Joy and I are working on the music, and the Executive is getting ready to register everyone and make sure all is set for our new season.

You should get an email asking you to pre-register soon so that we can quickly have everyone pay their dues so we can get singing right away!

We have a busy schedule this season because we're singing a concert on October 15!
Be sure to sign up for that so that I don't panic. We need lots of you there so that we can do our 4-part pieces. If you're not familiar with some of the titles, please go to the recordings page on the website and download them to start learning them on your own. Even if you kind of remember them, you might want to brush up on your own. We won't have a lot of time on Monday nights to review them.

I'm looking forward to our wonderful new season. We've got lots of great music to sing, as always.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

YRCC 2017/2018 Choir Leadership Team

Introducing 
the Executive of the York Region Community Choir 
for the 2017/2018 Choir Year:

The Executive works together with the Director and Accompanist, and the Reading Committee, to choose music, decide when and where we sing, and make sure people are there to sing and to hear us sing, and take care of our equipment, finances, website and music library. The Executive is elected and the Reading Committee, Conductor and Accompanist are appointed. The Executive is now officially called the Board of Directors since we are incorporated, but we can still use the name Executive, I think. 

Our President is Lauren Solar (laurensolar@gmail.com). This is Lauren's fifth year as President. Lauren is responsible for everything happening. 

Our Vice-President is Jane Griffiths (jane.griffiths@rogers.com). Jane's role is to help Lauren and anyone else on the executive when they need a hand. She's a fundraising superhero.  

Daphne Young (youngdc@rogers.com) is our Public Relations ChairIf you need to contact us regarding advertising, or to book us for a concert, or just need some information, contact Daphne. The PR role is to keep us connected to the community. 

Karen Andrews (karenc.andrews@sympatico.ca) is our Secretary/Treasurer.
If you want to write us a cheque, make it out to York Region Community Choir, and Karen will put it in our account. We accept cash too. Karen will keep our paperwork in order, creating and maintaining records like the minutes of our meetings and accounting stuff. Michele Horton supports Karen and will continue to represent us when we share condolences and congratulations. 

Trix Verge (trix.verge@gmail.com) is our Webmaster and former Music Librarian. She had our music collection in her basement for years and her organizational skills and patient dedication served us well in our greatest period of growth. Trix is the one to go to for help using the website, and she makes sure that it's functioning properly. Trix has magical computer skills, and could probably herd cats.

Lyn Gadd (maralynr@rogers.com)  recently took over the Music Librarian role but may have to ask someone to take over. She has several filing cabinets full of music in her basement now, along with tables and a printer, and she makes sure we all have music to sing every Monday, and has extra binders made up for guests, or people who are checking us out. If you have a binder of music that belongs to us and want to know how to get it back to us, contact Lyn! If you have space and can store our library, please let someone on the executive know!

Carol Ford and Debbie Hood are the Registrars. They make sure the membership list is up-to-date and coordinate registration in September. They will be calling you if you're on the waiting list. Debbie had our coffee (and tea) equipment and supplies in her basement for many years, and together with Carol took care of our refreshment needs, but Sophie is going to have a turn in that position this year.

Teija Cumming and Anne Marie Vandekemp are the Reading Committee. They help choose new music and order it from the publishers, shopping in person and on line. They are chosen for their ability to read music and knowledge of our strengths and weaknesses. 

Renate Naghavi (That's me.) is the Conductor/Musical Director of the YRCC. The Conductor chooses a theme and selects music for each season, with the help of the Executive and the Reading Committee, and with input from the Accompanist. The Conductor teaches the music with the help of the Accompanist, and leads the choir in performances. 

Anne Marie Vandekemp has been the Assistant Director, officially and unofficially for at least a decade. Since she is one of the original members of the choir, Anne Marie is consulted on everything from music to venues and managing member politics. Anne Marie leads the small group rehearsals. 

Joy Zhang is our Accompanist. She is a talented pianist who helps Renate teach the music and accompanies the choir in rehearsal and in performances. 

Monday, August 7, 2017

YRCC St. Andrew's Fundraiser Concert October 15th

Mark your calendars and start rehearsing!

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (click for map)
Sunday, October 15th 
2:00-4:00
(12:30 arrival for rehearsal)

We will be performing a concert for St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church as a fundraiser to thank them for providing rehearsal space for us whenever we are bumped out of our free space at the Admin Centre.

Members, please sign up for this event on our website. (click to follow link- you'll need to log in)
I do hope everyone can come!