CHORUS NOTES 13 July 2026
Chorus - we hope you're enjoying a relaxing summer hiatus!
FROM GERALD
Slay Bells Ring
This year’s holiday concert is one sure to evoke joy while ringing in the season!
Will there be bells? Well, yes, it is a concert with a bell theme, so we will be joined by the Bells of the Lakes handbell ensemble. Additionally, everybody in the audience will be given a jingle-bell necklace, which will come into play several times during the concert.
Will there be familiar music? Yes! This concert is a delightful fruitcake of music from various traditions. Already programmed: Carol of the Bells, Angels We Have Heard on High, Silver Bells, 12 Days of Christmas, and more!
Will we have a big production number? Yes! At one point, the stage will be adorned with elves, doing an intricate hand jive to welcome in the jolly old man with the bag. Another moment in the concert will feature an exasperated office clerk, who cannot seem to please everybody while arranging the annual holiday party.
Will there be touching moments and LGBTQ-specific moments? Yes! A couple of pieces that come to mind: “What Matters,” the Matthew Shepard foundation song, and “Little One,” a song about bringing new life into the world when old life has passed.
Our concert is during pumpkin spice month. Will there be a nod to Thanksgiving? Yes! We will indulge ourselves in a little bit of Broadway fun with “Turkey Lurkey Time.”
For those of you who want to preview the music and/or who use electronic scores, the music is available in Chorus Connection.
FROM THE OFFICE
Strategic Plan Update
Thank you to the 96 singing members who filled out their Strategic Planning Survey. Altogether, we have 534 responses from singers, audiences, donors, and community members, a very strong response rate for our FY27 Strategic Planning. Next, PricewaterhouseCoopers will prepare initial findings, cross-survey synthesis, and board retreat materials. Then they will meet with the Strategic Planning Task Force for the first sharing of the survey results in preparation for a whole-day board and staff retreat on Monday, August 3rd. We plan to share the final Strategic Plan with the full membership when rehearsals resume.
Retreat
The 2026 TCGMC Retreat will be Fri. 10/2 through Sun. 10/4 at Treasure Island Resort & Casino. Use this link to sign up for your room or Saturday-only attendance. Forgoing retreat rehearsal will not count as an absence, but attending may count as a make-up.
Before you start filling out the form, please make sure your plans are solid and you are ready to reserve with a credit or debit card. Deadline to book rooms is Sept 1 - the second rehearsal this fall.
A few things to know before you click:
Only one person per room needs to complete the lodging signup.
Please confirm your roommates first. The Room Captain will need the name and email address for everyone staying in the room.
Room cost is $358 total per room for two nights in the Wolf Tower. Rooms include two queen beds.
Estimated lodging cost if split evenly:
Single: $358
Double: $179 per person
Triple: $119.33 per person
Quad: $89.50 per person
There is also a Saturday-only signup option for anyone joining us Saturday but not staying overnight. So text the group chat, pick your roomies, and get signed up.
Shoutout to Mitchell Greene, Jack Leon, & Kyle Thomas who negotiated a huge discount on room rates & built our reservation website!
Taking an LOA or resigning? Let us know!
The 2026-2027 calendar is up in Chorus Connection, and you may realize you need to take an LOA. Click HERE to submit a form to notify Chorus leadership. This process will replace any email notice.
We understand members must step back from the Chorus last-minute or mid-CPP for a variety of reasons. Whenever possible, however, we appreciate the advance notice so we can effectively plan and distribute Chorus resources.
This form provides the option to share your reasons behind stepping back from the Chorus so we can continue to improve and learn about our membership. We appreciate your feedback!
PRODUCTION
Stories of Audacity
Production is gathering submissions for singer stories for our Spring concert as they will affect programming. If you’ve reviewed the submission form and still have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to production@tcgmc.org. Deadline to submit is 9/09.
Production Think Tank
We will be hosting a production think tank on Tuesday July 28th at 6p in North Minneapolis. More details will be sent out to those who have expressed interest later this week. We’ll be focusing on wardrobe, projections, and movement to gain better insight from singers prior to finalizing plans for Season 46. Email production@tcgmc.org if interested in participating.
COMMUNITY BOARD
35th Annual Powderhorn Art Fair
August 1st - 2nd, 2026 | 10 am - 5 pm | Powderhorn Park
200+ visionary artists
20 mpls fav food trucks
one legendary weekend!
Organizers are seeking volunteers. Connect with over 15K attendees and help bring this event to fruition.
Email Miranda with community events you'd like to share in this section: mgruber@tcgmc.org.
