To All Staunton Choral Society Singers,

Fall is right around the corner, and I am looking forward to our first rehearsal beginning on Monday, August 25th. I hope everyone has had a nice summer break and you are ready to return and have some fun preparing for the upcoming holiday season! I think you will agree that the repertoire we will be working on while challenging, will be fun!!

For the upcoming semester, Staunton Choral Society will present a program that will take its audiences down the “Holiday Road” as we sing a variety of songs from movies and television programs that celebrate the holiday and winter season. We will delight our audiences as we take them on this journey of wonderful songs. Think about the music you have enjoyed when you have watched a movie or a television program and let those thoughts take you back to that special memory. Remember hearing Bing Crosby sing “White Christmas” with Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney? How about “Snow” when they were on the train and the beautiful ballad “Count Your Blessings”? Do you sing along with Josh Groban when he sings “Believe” from the holiday classic movie Polar Express? Are“Christmas Star” and “Somewhere in My Memory” from Home Alone 1 & 2 extra special to you?

And then there is the popular song from the movie Frozen. Do you remember hearing “Let It Go” for the first time….and second and third and fourth? We couldn’t get that song out of our heads for a long time afterwards, especially if you had young children in the house - and don’t forget “Do You Want To Build A Snowman” also from Frozen. And then of course, who could forget National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with the catchy tune “Holiday Road” written by Lindsey Buckingham (of Fleetwood Mac) specifically for the movie?

These are just some of the songs in our holiday season repertoire. There are more to discover at the first rehearsal!

Please invite your friends, neighbors, fellow church choir members, etc. and anyone else that you know to join us for our first rehearsal. When you are standing in line at the grocery store ask someone where they do their singing? We need to increase our ranks and get as many people as we can to join us in the fun as we sing and prepare for our concert. If you are having fun, and I certainly hope you are, then spread the word and get others to enjoy the camaraderie of Staunton Choral Society! Don’t keep it a secret - spread the joy!

I look forward to seeing everyone on the 25th and I look forward to making great music with you this fall.

In Harmony,

Gary