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A letter from the director

Dear Fellow Singers,

Catherine and I have been busy planning the spring concert season and I hope you will be as excited about it as we are. The theme of the concert will be “Why We Sing” and is inspired by the piece of that same name that we sang under the direction of Craig Robertson.

This concert will take us on a musical journey as we explore the reasons why we sing. There are many reasons we sing - love of music in general, country and patriotism, faith, nature, etc…. you get the idea. From a lyric in the song Why We Sing “music is a language, that can speak to one and all!” I have chosen music that will inspire and give us hope, take us on that journey and challenge us to become better singers.

Songs that will be included in our program are Earth Song by Frank Ticheli, Choose Something Like A Star and The Road Not Taken by Randall Thompson, The Road Home by Stephen Paulus, Why We Sing and How Can I Keep From Singing, both by Greg Gilpin. We will also sing Baba Yetu, a song in Swahili which is translated from the Lord's Prayer that I know you will enjoy. We will also celebrate our love of our country by singing Battle Hymn Of The Republic arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky that will bring the audience to their feet. There will be other songs in the program as well as our own Queen City A Cappella, so please make plans to join us on Monday Jan 6th and every Monday after that as we prepare to offer this music to the Staunton community.

Thank you for your support! I look forward to a great spring season with you!

In Harmony,

Gary

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join Staunton Choral Society?

Staunton Choral accepts new members at the beginning of the Spring and Fall seasons. You can contact us at stauntonchoral@gmail.com for more information.

What time commitments can I expect as a singer with Staunton Choral?

During the season, you should plan to attend rehearsal on Monday nights from 6:30-8:30, as well as a dress rehearsal (usually on the Friday before our performance). We usually have 1-2 concerts per season, and you should plan to arrive a few hours early for call time.

When is the next season?
Our next season starts with a 6:30pm rehearsal on January 6, 2025. Our spring concert will be on Sunday, May 4 at 4:00pm.

When are rehearsals?

Rehearsals are on Mondays at 6:30pm-8:30pm at Christ Lutheran Church in Staunton.

What should I bring to rehearsal?

You will need a binder and a pencil. You can also use a tablet if you prefer, but make sure you can annotate the music. Don't forget to stay hydrated! There is a water fountain available, but water bottles are encouraged.

How do I know if rehearsal is canceled?

If there is inclement weather or a scheduling conflict, you will get an email from stauntonchoral@gmail.com. If you're not sure if a rehearsal was scheduled, check the choir schedule.

What should I do if I can't make it to rehearsal?

We encourage you to attend as many rehearsals as possible. If you do need to miss a rehearsal, email our Secretary at stauntonchoral@gmail.com as soon as you know you won't be there.

What are the dress requirements for the concert?

Wear concert black. You can wear a dress, shirt and skirt, or shirt and pants.

Dresses and skirts must be knee-length or longer.
Tops should have sleeves (no tank tops).
Pants should be worn with a long-sleeve shirt and a black tie.
Wear black shoes.
Music must be in a black binder.

Other guidelines for all singers:

No bracelets that jingle, jangle, or make noise.
Tasteful jewelry may be worn.
No sneakers.
No perfumes or colognes (deodorant is fine).
Long hair should be up in a ponytail or pushed back behind the ears.

Do I need to wear my concert attire for dress rehearsal?

No, you can wear casual clothing for the dress rehearsal. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.

"If you love to sing, we'd love to have you!"

Mission

Staunton Choral Society is a non-auditioned, community-focused choir sharing the love of music with the Staunton area! The chorus welcomes all voices - soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Its repertoire includes a variety of styles including classical, folk, contemporary, and sacred. All our concerts are FREE to the community.

Origin

The Staunton Choral Society was established in 1962 by Dr. and Mrs. Jim Higgs. Since its founding, SCS presents a spring and winter concert. It was the dream of the founders to preserve beautiful choral music in our city, and to this end many have given much time, talent, and financial support.