CHORUS NOTES 27 July 2026
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Act Now
Book your retreat room by September 1 — Chorus Retreat is October 2–4 at Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Submit a story of audacity by September 9 — your stories shape our spring concert
Sign up for dancer auditions — Sunday, August 30 at 1pm
Submit an LOA or resignation notice if the new calendar means you need to step back — this form replaces email notice
Volunteer or Lend a Hand
OutLoud! Musical Director — 3 hours a week, Monday rehearsals. Contact Gerald.
White or ivory LED candles needed the week of December 7 for the Borealis performance
FROM GERALD
OutLoud! Musical Director
OutLoud! is seeking a member of TCGMC to serve as musical director. Do you have a passion for the outreach work of TCGMC and being a part of a community of singers excited about a cappella pop music? Do you have experience directing ensembles in a collaborative environment with a melded focus of community and artistic excellence? We are looking for you!
Time commitment: 3 hours a week on average, more when there are outreach gigs or concerts
Rehearsals: Monday evenings from 7-9pm, September through June (weeks off as agreed upon with the ensemble and when the chorus is on break)
Meetings: Virtual monthly all-staff & artistic staff meetings
Full details in the Job description
To apply: Email Gerald at ggurss@tcgmc.org
What Matters
A peek at one of the pieces we’ll learn this fall. “What Matters” is by singer-songwriter Randi Driscoll of California. The song reflects on the life of Matthew Shepard and is now the official song of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. It has been a GALA Choruses staple for years. When I learned TCGMC had not sung the piece, I wanted to share this with you.
Listen: One Voice Mixed Chorus performs the SATB version of “What Matters”
FROM THE OFFICE
Strategic Plan Update
PricewaterhouseCoopers is reviewing all 590 survey responses to prepare initial findings, cross-survey synthesis, and materials for a full-day board and staff retreat on August 3. We will share the final Strategic Plan with the full membership when rehearsals resume.
Chorus Retreat: October 2-4
The 2026 Chorus Retreat runs Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4 at Treasure Island Resort & Casino. Skipping retreat rehearsal will not count as an absence, and attending may count as a make-up.
How to book a room:
Confirm your roommates first
Only one person per room completes the sign-up form
That person provides credit or debit card information plus the names and emails of everyone in the room
Deadline: September 1 — the second rehearsal this fall.
Book a room or sign up for Saturday-only attendance
Thank you to Mitchell Greene, Jack Leon, and Kyle Thomas, who negotiated a significant discount on room rates and built our reservation website.
Taking an LOA or resigning? Let us know!
The 2026–2027 calendar is now posted in Chorus Connection, and looking it over may tell you that you need to take a leave of absence.
Use the form below to notify Chorus leadership. This form replaces any email notice. It also gives you the option to share why you're stepping back, so we can keep learning about our membership and improving. We appreciate your feedback.
PRODUCTION
Stories of Audacity: Submissions Open
We're accepting stories of audacity to help us program songs for our spring concert. Additional details are available at the submission link, or reach out to production@tcgmc.org.
Deadline: September 9
Dancer Auditions
Dance auditions are Sunday, August 30th at 1pm at Grace Trinity Church. Auditions are open to all individuals over the age of 21 regardless of singer status or gender expression.
LED Candles Needed
Borealis will be doing a candlelit performance on December 10 at the Landmark Center. If you have white or ivory LED candles that you are willing to loan the week of December 7th, email production@tcgmc.org and let us know how many you can provide.
COMMUNITY BOARD
Email Miranda with community events you'd like to share in this section: mgruber@tcgmc.org.
