November 9, 2018 Latest date to register is Friday, December 14 Dear Singers, Registration is now open for the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus! Cleveland Orchestra Assistant Conductor, Vinay Parameswaran, will lead the Martin Luther King Jr. Concert, and Dr. William Henry Caldwell will return as the MLK Chorus Director. Concert repertoire includes “I’ll Never Turn Back,” “Hold On,” “We Shall Overcome,” “There’s a Man Goin’ Round,” and “Lift Every Voice.” The concert will be radio broadcast on WCLV and WCPN. Below are a few important points to remember: The chorus size will be limited to the first 160 singers who register. Beyond that number, singers will be waitlisted. Registration is tracked in the order that it is received and is numbered accordingly. Confirmation letters and waitlist notification letters will be sent via mail on Monday, December 17, 2018. Age requirement: 16 years or older. Attendance at all rehearsals is mandatory, in addition to the performance. Therefore, please be absolutely sure you are able to make this commitment prior to registering. As a reminder, a singer that misses a rehearsal will be automatically dismissed from the chorus. Please see rehearsal/performance schedule below. Registration: Registration can be completed quickly and efficiently by visiting the website www.clevelandorchestra.com/MLKchorus OR by returning the postcard included in this mailing (be sure to include postage). The registration deadline is Friday, December 14. Early registration is recommended, as meeting the deadline does not guarantee your spot. Once the chorus is full, you will be placed on the waitlist. As in previous years, dinner will be provided for you on the day of the concert. Please note the four options listed on the registration form (either online or via postcard) and be sure to make your selection. REHEARSAL SCHEDULE Rehearsals will be held at Morning Star Baptist Church, 10250 Shaker Boulevard in Cleveland. There is a large parking lot behind the church off of Buckeye Road. Please enter the church from the Buckeye Road entrance. Friday, January 4, 2019 from 6:00-9:00pm Saturday, January 5, 2019 from 1:00-4:00pm Friday, January 11, 2019 from 6:00-9:00pm Saturday, January 12, 2019 from 1:00-4:00pm Friday, January 18, 2019 from 6:00-9:00pm Saturday, January 19, 2019 from 1:00-4:00pm Sunday, January 20, from 12:30pm – 9:00pm, Severance Hall (Orchestra Dress Rehearsal & 7pm Concert) * Dinner provided. Please be sure to indicate your preferred meal choice on your registration Special Note: This is a multi-generational chorus. Please keep in mind that the chorus risers on the Severance Hall stage are not accessible for those with certain physical limitations. A few stairs are unavoidable. While we do our best to make accommodations where we can, if you have large medically necessary devices (such as a walker or oxygen tank) we will likely not be able to accommodate you for the concert. If you are uncertain about whether this applies to you, please do not hesitate to contact us. Jill Harbaugh and Julie Weiner from the Chorus Office say hello and will be with us during the first rehearsal. Please feel free to contact us with any questions and we hope you have a wonderful holiday season! Sarah Lamb Courtney Gazda Community Engagement Manager Coordinator, Education & Community Programs (216) 231-7356 (216) 231-7355 [email protected] [email protected] .