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Weekly Newsletter

February 21, 2020

Doc’s Corner Pre-Rehearsal Dining

• Only two more rehearsals until ACDA. PLEASE KNOW Please join us at 6:00pm Tuesday at Lenny’s Burger, YOUR MUSIC! I need eyes up, not buried in your Central Avenue at Virginia. (Newly opened – like night and music. If you don’t spend time with your music day compared to their old location at Central and outside of rehearsals, it isn’t going to happen. PLEASE Thomas.) Try one of their many burgers, or a corn dog or look and listen to music 15-20 minutes a day. hot dog, with onion rings, plain fries, chili cheese fries, • I will be contacting soloists for "There’s a Meeting sweet potato fries, or fried zucchini. Or a salad if you Here Tonight” later today. must. And of course a sundae, shake, malt or float. Or just • I will also be reaching out to a few more singers for the come in for some Wild Cherry Pepsi or Sobe Life Water donor event due to some last-minute changes. and good fellowship. • We’ve had a lot of absences and a lot of people sitting out at rehearsal due to illness. It would be great to Spring Social Pot Luck Signup have the entire team healthy and at rehearsal for these final two before ACDA. Don’t forget the Spring Social on March 21 at David Schwarz’s house. An on-line signup list is now available at Upcoming Events www.Orpheus.org/signups

February From the President’s Desk 29 (Saturday) Donor Appreciation Event (TBA (evening)) *~30 singers Greetings Men of Orpheus: Drew and Gail Peterson’s home 4701 E. Calle del Norte, Phoenix 85018 • Wednesday night your Board of Directors voted to recommend to the Chorus the approval of proposed March changes to the Bylaws. Kudos to Emerson Yearwood 4-7 > ACDA in Salt Lake City (exact dates dependent and Alex Areno for the excellent research and work on personal travel arrangements) they did on this project. The details of the “A” uniform for performance recommended proposed changes will be posted to the “B” uniform (polo shirt, but jeans and sneakers OK – Orpheus website soon. probably not shorts for winter in Utah) for rehearsal • This will act as notice that we will have a Special Meeting of the Chorus membership on Tuesday, 17 (Tuesday) 6:30pm March 17, 2020 at 6:30pm to consider and vote on the Special Meeting of the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix proposed Bylaws changes. Also on the agenda will be at Central UMC (our rehearsal venue) the election of a Treasurer to replace Bob Meier for Agenda: (1) approval of revised Bylaws; (2) election of the remainder of his term. As you know, Bob has Treasurer to replace Bob Meier resigned in preparation for his move to Florida. The Board recommends that the Special Meeting elect 21 (Saturday) > Spring Social David Schwarz to this position, as he has been serving Home of David Schwarz admirably as Treasurer Pro Tem. However, other Sign up at www.Orpheus.org/signups nominations will also be received should there be any. • Gary Hapip has agreed to serve as Nominating 29 (Sunday) Committee chair for our anticipated open Board of Outreach concert for Sounds Academy (time TBD > ~3:00) Directors seats. In May we will be electing (assuming First United Methodist Church the Bylaws changes are approved) a Vice 5510 N. Central Ave, Phoenix 85012 President/President Elect, a Treasurer, and at least SECTION LEADERS ( * = Administrative) LAST FIRST SECTION EMAIL LAST FIRST SECTION EMAIL * Bickerstaff David 1Tenor [email protected] Ferris Justin Baritone [email protected] Stevens Ryan 1Tenor [email protected] Griset Rick Baritone [email protected] * Bennett Peter 2Tenor [email protected] * Loui Jim Baritone [email protected] Suelflow Jim 2Tenor [email protected] * Janac Dick Bass [email protected] Pentzien Jeff Bass [email protected] McComb Sean Bass [email protected]

two Members-at-Large. If you think you might want to be a part of Orpheus leadership, please reach out to Gary and let him know of your interest. • We’re also actively looking for someone to step up as Production Committee chair, as Floyd Land will be leaving after this semester. • Spring Raffle time is upon us! Owen Swenson and J.D. Helms are busily working to lay the groundwork for a successful fundraising effort. We need YOUR engagement to create a super list of prizes! If each of us contacts only one vendor or company for a donation of goods or services, we’ll have almost 100 items for the raffle! To help sweeten the pot, the Board has authorized a $500 Grand Prize directly from Orpheus! • Speaking of the Scholarship Raffle, we’re excited to share that at least one of our recent scholarship recipients, C.J. Case, will likely be able to join us for some of our spring concerts for a brief performance. This will add to the raffle ticket sales interest. • Kevin Staab and your Marketing Committee have been busy preparing to promote our spring concerts. Channel 3’s Dan Wilson has arranged for Orpheus to appear live on Channel 3 in April to perform. It will probably be Friday, April 17. Mark your calendars now! • Those of you who completed a Volunteer Opportunities form recently will shortly be hearing from someone to follow up on your interests. Thank you to everyone who stepped up to volunteer. If your form is still stuck in your folder, there’s always time to turn it in! • ACDA is only two weeks away! Practice, practice, practice! Get rest! Drink water! Eat healthy (even for just two weeks)! Make sure your tuxedo still fits (ahem!) and it’s clean! Note that for our Thursday rehearsal in Salt Lake City, we’re asking everyone to wear their Orpheus black polo with jeans or any pants. (Probably not shorts – the temperature in Salt Lake City has been ranging between 25° low to 50° high.) Not our full “B” uniform, but at least we’ll all look like we belong together.

Thank you for your continued support. Ira Rubins, Board President

SECTION LEADERS ( * = Administrative) LAST FIRST SECTION EMAIL LAST FIRST SECTION EMAIL * Bickerstaff David 1Tenor [email protected] Ferris Justin Baritone [email protected] Stevens Ryan 1Tenor [email protected] Griset Rick Baritone [email protected] * Bennett Peter 2Tenor [email protected] * Loui Jim Baritone [email protected] Suelflow Jim 2Tenor [email protected] * Janac Dick Bass [email protected] Pentzien Jeff Bass [email protected] McComb Sean Bass [email protected]

PROGRAM NOTES

Sweet Caroline

Neil Diamond wrote “Sweet Caroline” in 1969 as a tribute to President John F. Kennedy’s daughter Caroline, who was 11 years old at the time. Diamond sang the song to her at her 50th birthday celebration in 2007. Much later, however, Diamond claimed that the song was about his wife Marsha but that he couldn’t think of anything to rhyme with her name. The fact that was born in November seems to suggest that the line “Was in the spring, then spring became the summer” does not refer to her. However, Marsha Diamond never publicly revealed her date of birth, so you may think as you please. But the line “good times never seemed so good” can be taken as a nostalgic look back at JFK’s presidency, which those of us of a certain age fondly called “Camelot.” The song has been played at games since at least 1997. After the in April 2013, Diamond himself led the crowd at in a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” – an event that resulted in a 600% surge in sales, all of the royalties from which Diamond donated to the One Fund Boston charity. But urban legend has it that Diamond never really cared much for the song, and was surprised not only when it became a hit but also that it has become a part of Americana.

SALT LAKE CITY CHECKLIST

• Most of you are staying at the RL Hotel. Some have reserved at Homewood Suites. • The Courthouse Station appears to be the closest light rail stop to both hotels. • First Presbyterian Church is on South Temple Street at C Street. Distance from the RL hotel measures out to be about 1.65 miles. • Temperature in Salt Lake City has been averaging between 25° low to 50° high. Bring hat, scarf, gloves, and winter jacket if you think you’ll need them. • “A” uniform for the performance. Be sure your tux is clean and pressed, and that it still fits! Be sure your shirt is clean and pressed. Be sure your shoes are polished. Don’t forget to pack tie, vest, cufflinks, black full-length socks. • “B” uniform for the rehearsal. Orpheus polo shirt and whatever pants and shoes you wish. Please note that given the temperature range mentioned above, it is doubtful that you’ll be comfortable in shorts. • Don’t forget your music! No need to bring numbers that we aren’t doing. • Even if you don’t need them – consider packing disposable underwear. That way you aren’t schlepping dirty underwear in your luggage for the trip home.