ABOUT THE CHOIR
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Crescendo is an amateur a cappella choir resulted from passion and utter persistence. Its main goal is to promote the splendid heritage of the European Renaissance and Baroque along with North American and Romanian music. A distinctive feature of this ensemble is the presence of vocal adaptations after instrumental pieces. These adaptations are unique and can't be listened anywhere else in the world.
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Crescendo's repertoire also includes original compositions by Catalin Ursu, the founder and conductor of the ensemble, Associate Composer with the Canadian Music Centre.
REHEARSALS AND TIME COMMITMENT
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We rehearse every Friday from September to June, at Queens Avenue United Church, 529 Queens Ave., New Westminster, BC, starting at 6:30 p.m. and ending around 8:30 p.m. It is important to be arrive no later than 6:30 p.m. for the warm-up. This is the most important part of the rehearsal in terms of building a unified choral sound and should not be missed.
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Singers are expected to make a commitment to sing with the Choir for all major concerts of a season.
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Members should expect extra rehearsals to be scheduled throughout the season, especially before our major concerts. Members are expected to attend the majority of these rehearsals.
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Members should try to make the time to rehearse at home as much as possible.
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HOW NEW SINGERS CAN JOIN THE CHOIR
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Admission to the choir is by invitation/audition. We are always eager to hear new singers and hold auditions throughout the year.
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The Music Director will conduct auditions of new members to determine the suitability of a person to join the Choir and the appropriate section. These will usually be scheduled immediately before a rehearsal.
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Most of our singers are not professional musicians and do not have any formal musical training. We have accountants, engineers, designers, teachers, computer analysts, science researchers, etc. What we have in common is a desire to make excellent music and have a good time along the way.
MUSIC SCORES AND APPAREL
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Each singer is expected to provide for his/her own music scores copies and performance attire. Scores and music are available for download to newly accepted members. The choir usually performs in white shirts / blouses, black skirts / pants, black shoes (women), and black tuxedo / suit, white shirt, grey bow-tie and dress shoes (men). For the annual Christmas-time concerts, we typically perform in renaissance/époque rental costumes.
MAINTENANCE OF MEMBERSHIP
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Continued membership depends on attendance to rehearsals and concerts, and prompt payment of annual membership subscriptions. The choir society members will set an annual membership fee, and agree on a suggested donation to choir funds – to be used primarily for covering location rental fees. It is preferable for all annual fees to be paid in one instalment, within the first two months of each year, or upon becoming a member. Receipts will be issued for membership subscriptions and donations.
- Voting privileges are accorded to active members (i.e. those satisfying the criteria set out just above).
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