The Angelica Note

Angelica Adult Alumni Choir-

2012-01-21T19:57:00.000-06:00

Dear Angelica Alumni,
We invite you to take time this winter to nourish your soul by singing with special Angelica friends. Nancy Grundahl, Alumni Choir Director, has selected 8 wonderful pieces of music that will lift your spirits and make not only your voices, but your hearts sing!
Come, bring lots of friends, and sing with us for the next few weeks.
2012 Rehearsals
The following rehearsals will be 7pm - 9:30 in the Rehearsal Hall at the Bloomington Center for the Arts. 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road. 
Thurs., Jan. 26 
Thurs., Feb. 2 
Thurs., Feb. 9 
Thurs., Feb. 16 
Thurs., Feb. 23 
Fri. Feb. 24 - Dress Rehearsal at the Schneider Theater - time tba 
Sun. Feb. 26 Concert at 3pm at the Schneider Theater, Bloomington Center for the Arts 
Looking forward to seeing you next Thursday January 26!
Rita Docter
Alumni Choir Coordinator

2012-01-17T05:50:00.000-06:00

Dear SNOW DAYS Singers and Families,

What a creative, lively, soulful, productive, inspiring, and beautiful time together this weekend at SNOW DAYS! And to think that we packed all of this into just 30 hours! What we as directors love most about this annual gathering is the way in which each of our singers commits to the music and to each other. Our fabulous Cantanti and Concert Choir members demonstrate the epitome of "coolness" by helping our newest singers to feel welcome. And our wide-eyed and eager Cantabiles join right in and try everything! This amazing interaction - both musical and social - among singers from such a wide age range is what we think sets Angelica apart from most youth-oriented organizations. It is this which is at the heart of the SNOW DAYS experience and we have YOU to thank for it!

We were so pleased to have had special guest composer Jay Broeker with us to introduce the piece he has written for "Grandma Rita," as he thinks of her. He was quite impressed your progress on "How Can I Keep From Singing" after only seeing it for the first time the day before. Won't it be exciting to see his face, and Rita's, when we present this to her on February 26?! You will all be involved in giving a most amazing gift to someone we all love very much.

Finally, we would like to thank our parent "Angels" who watched over all our singers with such love, grace, and humor this weekend. Without your presence, SNOW DAYS could not happen (nor would it be so much fun!). Many, many thanks for setting aside this time to be with us.

We are so honored to be your Directors,

Philip, Nancy, and Ann

As we were passing by, the singers called to us, and they said to us you've got to take time in life!
You've got to take time in life, take time in life, take time in life cuz you've got far way to go.

Summer Music Camp ideas....

2011-04-23T23:25:00.006-05:00

1. St. Olaf Summer Music Camp in Northfield, Minnesota
• http://www.stolaf.edu/camps/musiccamp or (800) 726-6523 or e-mail summer@stolaf.edu.
• June 19-25, 2011
• For musicians in grades who have completed grades 9-12
• Orchestra, Band, Piano, Choir

2. National Catholic Youth Choir in Collegeville, MN
• http://www.CatholicYouthChoir.org or (320) 363-3154 or awruff@csbsju.edu
• Camp and multi-state tour – June 14-28, 2011
• For Catholic singers going into grades 10-12

3. Minnesota Opera Summer Opera Camp at Perpich Center for the Arts in Golden Valley, MN
• http://www.imagineopera.org/summercamp or (612) 342-9573 or andrews@mnopera.org
• There is an audition process – see the website. Vocal auditions in Rochester on March 26.
• For boys and girls, both singers and instrumentalists, in grades 9-12

4. Upper Midwest String & Chamber Music Conference l St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota
• http://www.mnsota.org/summercamp.html or (320) 363-5389; darnott@csbsju.edu
• July 24-29, 2011
• For string students in grades 7-12

5. Dorian Summer Music Camps at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa
• http://music.luther.edu/dorian/summer_programs/index.html or 563.387.1208 or
buzzja01@luther.edu
• June 12-18, 2011; one –week camp for those entering grades 7, 8, and 9
• June 19-25, 2011; one week camp for those entering grades 10, 11, 12, and 2011 graduates
• A wide variety of music disciplines and interests offered

6. The Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival in Decorah, Iowa
• http://www.lutheransummermusic.org or (888) 635-6583 or solstad@lutheransummermusic.org
• June 26-July 24, 2011
• Four-week residential program for musicians who have completed grades 8 through 12
• An excellent month-long music camp that HC singers have attended in the past. The camp has a
band, orchestra, choir, piano and organ. The academic work includes private lessons, master/studio
classes, music theory training, etc.

7. Lakeland College Summer Music Camp in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• http://www.lakeland.edu/CampConf/summer/musiccamp.asp or (920) 565-1350 or e-mail
pettittm@lakeland.edu
• July 31-Augst 6, 2011
• For musicians in entering grades 6-12
• Orchestra, Band, Piano, Choir

8. University of Wisconsin in Whitewater, Wisconsin
• http://www.uww.edu/conteduc/camps/musiccamps.php or (262) 472-3165 or cesevents@uww.edu
• June 12-17, 2011; Choir & Strings Camp - students entering grades 7-12
• Other one-week camps for other musical areas: flute, piano, band, jazz, percussion

9. International Music Camp at the International Peace Gardens (15 miles north of Dunseith, ND on Hwy. 3)
• http://www.internationalmusiccamp.com/program/music or (701) 838-8472 or
info@internationalmusiccamp.com
• Six sessions stretching from June 19 to July 30, 2011
• For grades 5 and up in a wide variety of areas of music interest

10. Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan (on Little Blue Lake 12 miles north of Muskegon, MI)
• http://www.bluelake.org/programs.html or (800) 221-3796 or (231) 894-1966
• Offers two-week programs for Junior & Senior High students, including Orchestra, Band, Piano, Harp, Choir, and Jazz.
• There’s also a Suzuki Family Camp for piano and strings.

11. Interlochen Summer Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan
• http://www.interlochen.org/camp/index.htm or (800) 681-5912 or (231) 276-7472 or
admission@interlochen.com
• World-renowned summer program for youth in all musical areas; 1-week, 4-week, & 8-week sessions
• Junior Division: Students have completed grades 3, 4, 5 or 6.
Intermediate Division: Students have completed grades 6, 7, 8 or 9.
High School Division: Students have completed grades 9, 10, 11 or 12.

12. Indiana University School of Music Summer Music Clinic in Bloomington, Indiana
• http://www.music.indiana.edu/precollege/summer/music-clinic/index.shtml or (812) 855-1372 or
jgershma@indiana.edu
• June 12-18, 2011
• Summer music camp for high school instrumentalists currently in grades 8-12.
• Summer academy programs in recorder, piano, strings, and college audition preparation

13. Malcolm Dalglish Outdoor Singing Camps
For ages 16 -28
Tasmania, Austrailia
http://www.oooliticmusic.com/campframe.htm

Cantus named "Best Classical Musician"

2011-04-21T14:49:00.001-05:00

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Cantus-Named--Best-of-the-Twin-Cities-.html?soid=1101049323934&aid=IjYIbM-VzFs

What is behind all these extra rehearsals?

2011-04-20T11:44:00.015-05:00

Ah, things couldn't be busier with last minute details and logistics for our big May 1 30th Anniversary Spring Concert. As with any sport tournament, dance recital or opening play performance - it takes extra time and rehearsals to prepare for our big concert finale.

The four Angelica choirs have been rehearsing individually - but on May 1 they will sing 5 selections together: WATER UNDER ICE, NON NOBIS, FROGGIE, FOR THE FUTURE AND UBI CARITUS. Each of these pieces require time to sing together with instructions and direction from the Conductor and time to walk through how the groups with get into their places, where they will stand and move together either on the risers, the steps or down the walkways. Moving around 4 groups for a concert requires much thought in terms of where they will wait, where they will sing, how they will get into place and how they will leave. We are sensitive to our younger singers and we need to allow more time and practice so they feel comfortable. It is a complicated process.

Here is a "tentative schedule" of rehearsals:
Tuesday, April 19 (no risers)
4:00 Warm ups
4:10 Work on Water Under Ice together (This is the 1st time we've sung this together)
4:45 Work on Non Nobis Processional
5:00 Work on Froggie and movements
5:30 Work on For the Future
5:40 Review Water Under Ice and Froggie
If time - work on Ubi Caritus

Monday, April 25 (w/risers)
4:00 Each choir rehearses individually
5:00 All choirs work on Water Under Ice and Froggie until CANTUS arrives
5:15 work with Cantus

Friday, April 29 (w/risers)
3:45 Warm up
4:00 Everyone work with Malcolm, Water Under Ice, For the Future, Froggie
5:00 Con Brio work with Malcolm - Little Potato

Saturday, April 30 (w/risers)
9:00 Con Brio with Malcolm
9:40 Cantabile with Malcolm
10:00 Everyone with Malcolm
11:00 Cantanti with Malcolm
11:30 Concert Choir with Malcolm

Sunday, May 1
12:30 Everyone with Malcolm and Cantus

NOTE: Because we are celebrating our 30th Anniversary with special guests CANTUS and Malcolm Dalglish, the recognition of the Angelica High School Seniors and Rita Docter's retirement - this concert has required more rehearsals than usual and it will run long, close to 2 hours.

A little about CANTUS
These guys are very busy these days! They are everywhere! We are thrilled that they have time in their busy calendar to come and sing with us and help us celebrate our Anniversary. Check out their website to see the crazy schedule they keep and all of the exciting things going on with this group!

30TH ANNIVERSARY SPRING CONCERT PROGRAM
To Sing - Concert Choir
Non Nobis - All Choirs, Cantus
Charlotte-Town - Cantabile
Hush! Sombody's Calling My Name - Cantabile
One by One - Cantanti Singers
In Pace in Idipsum - Cantanti Singers
Son de Camaguey - Cantanti Singers
Einini - Con Brio
Swimnging on a Star - Con Brio
May You Always Have a Song - Cantabile & Con Brio
For the Future - All Choirs, Malcolm Dalglish
Water Under Ice - Commission piece written just for Angelica's 30th Anniversary and performed for the first time - All Choirs, Cantus, Malcolm Dalglish
My Little Potato, Cantus Malcolm Dalglish, Con Brio
Sheep in the Meadow by Malcolm Dalglish, Cantabile
Pleasure by Malcolm Dalglish, Cantanti Singers
Field of Wings, Concert Choir, Malcolm Dalglish
Now and Here, Concert Choir, Malcolm Dalglish
Froggie, All Choirs, Malcolm Dalglish
Ubi Caritas, All Choirs, Cantus
Won't You Sing Along?, Con Brio

Final note from a couple of the Angelica Directors:

-I always look at these special rehearsals as OPPORTUNITIES - This year we have the opportunity to work with the some of the very BEST MUSICIANS in the world......It's like getting to work with some of the best Twin's or Vikings players - only in the music field.....

-Part of what makes the Angelica experience SO powerful, is that we desire to go beyond simply learning notes. We strive for beauty, and for 200 young singers to achieve this beauty TOGETHER it takes an investment of time practicing TOGETHER. Great collaborative works of artistic experiences take time rehearsing TOGETHER. You can't put the Bach B Minor Mass together with every singer simply listening to and learning their part on their own. Time together, building relationships, working together toward a common goal, these are experiences that plant a joy for artistic expression and joy deep in our souls.

Join our FACEBOOK page!

2010-09-29T20:56:00.004-05:00

Stay up to date with the latest news about Angelica!
Click here to "Like us" and be our fan!

Auditions are going on now!

2010-08-18T06:53:00.001-05:00

Auditions for 2nd - 12th Grade are going on now for our 30th Anniversary Season. Please call the choir office at 952-563-8572 or email us at contacts@angelicacantanti.org

Thanks for the last minute help at the Brat Stand this weekend!

2010-07-26T21:10:00.004-05:00

On Friday Cub Foods called me as the group that was suppose to run the brat stand did not show up. They asked if I would be able to get a group of volunteers together on short notice to run it Saturday and Sunday. Audrey jumped to her computer and both of us got on our phones and between the two of us we were able to get enough people to run the brat stand on both days!

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Leah and Kacie Riddle, Vince (Grandpa) Riddle, Charlie, Emily, and Charlie Morse, Andrea Dittmer, Dal, Emma and Claire Liddle, Barb and Greg Becker, Jodi, Claire, Ben and Steve Eiswirth, Marie Burton, Stephanie and Julia Sunnarborg. Because of your help Angelica was able to raise $256.00 on Saturday and $263.00 on Sunday for a total of $519.00!

It is because of our valued volunteers like you that we are able to have such a great organization as Angelica for our children to experience.

Once again....Thank you!
Julie Morse
Angelica Board Chair

Singing Around The World departs tomorrow!

2010-07-25T09:10:00.003-05:00

Angelica's summer day camp takes off tomorrow on a Singing Around the World trip! We will be learning how to soar in our singing, how to maneuver our way through the music map (the score), meeting people from the countries we visit by listening to their written stories, creating some artwork from other lands, and maybe even learning a few dance steps. You will also have the opportunity each day to do some journaling - in a passport that you will customize - about all that you are experiencing. It should be great fun!
Your Tour Guide and Musical Instructor for the Week,

Ann Schrooten
Director, Cantabile

Grant for Bloomington "Everybody Sing" Choir Festival

2010-07-23T23:03:00.002-05:00

The Angelica Choirs have received a $2,300 grant to support our Bloomington "Everybody Sing" Choir Festival next March! Thank you to the Bloomington Fine Arts Council for supporting this event!

Mark your calendars - Oct. 16 at 7pm

2010-07-10T06:46:00.004-05:00

The Angelica choirs are going to Feed My Starving Children in Eagan. Join us for a singing good time while we pack food and spend time helping others.
Saturday, October 16 at 7:00pm.
Feed My Starving Children Eagan Location
990 Lone Oak Road, Suite #160
Age 3rd grade and up
Space is limited.
To sign up and save a spot send us an email at angelicayouthchoirs@gmail.com

Grant awarded!

2010-06-27T16:55:00.000-05:00

Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs has received a $5,000 Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) grant to support the commission and workshop by Malcolm Dalglish for our 30th Anniversary Season!

Summer Camp for 2nd - 5th Grade

2010-06-04T09:41:00.002-05:00

Cantabile Director Ann Schrooten is leading a Summer Music Day Camp in July.
Join us for a fun week of singing, games, crafts and other activities.

Monday - Friday
July 26 - 30
9:30am - 12:30pm
Oak Grove Middle School, Bloomington
Free busing for kids in Bloomington
Sign up through the Bloomington Summer Spectrum Program
Cost is $105

Deadline to register is July 16.

Click here for more information: http://angelicacantanti.org/SummerCamp.html

Work at the Target Center to pay for tours...

2010-05-27T14:50:00.002-05:00

Singers and families - you can work the concessions stands at the Target Center to earn funds to pay for tours and tuition. JUNE 29 (Justin Beiber) 4:30pm and JULY 1 (Foreigner/Styx) 5:30pm.
Email us at angelicayouthchoirs@gmail.com if you want to sign up or need more info!

Snow Days 2011!

2010-05-26T10:44:00.002-05:00

It's official.
The dates for our annual Snow Days weekend retreat will be January 14 - 16, 2011. (This is Martin Luther King weekend).
Mark your calendars now for a great time!

Pictures from Con Brio 2009/10 season

2010-05-23T22:44:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of parent Gail D. Thank you!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=f7duptb.26a5qwez&x=0&h=1&y=-16ko9c&localeid=en_US

More pictures from the May 14 - 16 Duluth tour

2010-05-23T22:17:00.000-05:00

http://picasaweb.google.com/KaareGallery/AngelicaConcertChoirAwardsDuluthTour?authkey=Gv1sRgCI77-bOsrvPGwgE&feat=email#

Special night for the Docter Family

2010-05-20T09:58:00.005-05:00

This year’s 2010 inductees into the JFK Fine Arts & Activities Hall of Fame all come from the same family, but represent a variety of accomplishments. The Docter family, parents Dave and Rita, and children Kari, Kirsten, and Pete, will all be honored at the Kennedy Fine Arts & Activities Hall of Fame festivities on Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m.

www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/indschool/jfk/index.htm

A gracious THANK YOU!

2010-05-20T09:56:00.001-05:00

"It is in giving oneself that one received" -- Francis of Assisi
Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for the beautiful, joyful concert you presented at Pines III Assisted Living. The songs brought comfort to our residents and spirits were lifted.
We were all impressed by the respect and kindness shown by each of the students to our residents.
Words cannot adequately convey our thanks for such a unique gift!

Sincerely,
Kathy A.
Housing Manager

Concert Choir Duluth & Split Rock Lighthouse trip May 14 - 16

2010-05-17T06:14:00.008-05:00

What an amazing way to end a great year for the Concert Choir!
The North Shore tour was 3 days jammed packed with singing, bus riding, singing, eating, singing, swimming, singing, (some) sleeping, singing, site-seeing, singing, rock-climbing, singing, boat-viewing, singing, socializing, laughing, hugging, and of course SINGING!
The kids saw the kind of joy that their music can bring to others when the residents of Mount Royal Pines hung around to greet and talk to each and every singer. The audience was so happy and appreciative to have us come and sing for their Friday entertainment. The kids saw that same joy in our Split-Rock Lighthouse tour guide when they sang in Swedish standing over the beautiful waters of Lake Superior. Other lingering tourists stopped to listen to the angelic sound and take a few pictures. Connecting with the other two choirs for rehearsal and the Sunday concert was not only fun, but great to hear how each group had their own sound performing styles.
Finally, this is a wonderful group of kids, and it showed. - Parent Chaperone Keri A.

Bloomington Kite Day!

2010-05-09T08:54:00.001-05:00

Con Brio Choir singing the National Anthem on Kite Day, May 1, 2010.

2010 Angelica Seniors

2010-05-02T20:37:00.004-05:00

Molly B.
Shannon B.
Ali G.
Solveig H.
Zac M.
Olivia N.
Karen R.
Bridget R.

Cantabile choir on a mini-tour today!

2010-04-30T12:16:00.004-05:00

The Cantabile choir is taking a bus and traveling to sing at Hillcrest Elementary School in Bloomington and Cornelia Elementary School in Edina!

Note to parents from Rita Docter....

2010-04-18T23:52:00.001-05:00

THANK YOU! Thank you for your commitment, thank you for having your child be a part of Angelica.

It is always a great privilege to make music with children. Music making is great fun, but it also includes work and commitment. However, long after the toys and activities of childhood are gone, the gift of music remains! Music changes lives!

Thank you for your part of this wonderful process of music making!
Rita Docter

Pete Docter

2010-03-08T06:11:00.001-06:00

Pete Docter’s Oscar Acceptance Speech

Posted using ShareThis

Mrs. Docter was on Kare11 News

2010-03-01T10:16:00.004-06:00

Click on this link:
http://www.kare11.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=69218637001

Choral Music - Bringing the world together

2010-03-01T08:44:00.006-06:00

What a terrific time we had with the girls from Estonia, who live so very far away - and yet they do just what we do - sing beautiful music and grow friendships. A truly wonderful exchange.

Host families needed for Estonian Choir

2010-02-02T22:19:00.002-06:00

Angelica's Concert Choir and The Girls Choir of the Old Town Music House from Tallin, Estonia, will perform a joint concert at Mayflower United Church of Christ in South Minneapolis on Saturday, February 27 at 4pm.

Host families are needed for February 27 and 28. Please email the choir office at angelicayouthchoirs@gmail.com if you can help.

Snow Days Group 2010

2010-02-02T21:48:00.003-06:00

Click on picture to see larger

Thank you William!

2010-01-31T22:36:00.003-06:00

We appreciate all your help with the music and sound system at Snow Days!

SNOW DAYS 2010

2010-01-31T22:22:00.008-06:00

Congratulations to Mrs. Docter!

2010-01-18T09:01:00.005-06:00

Rita's son Pete won a Golden Globe award on Sunday, January 17 for writing and directing the Pixar movie UP!

Fast forward to about the 5 minute mark to see him accept the award:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPoTSEyJVE4

Angelica on Bloomington 30 Cable TV

2010-01-10T20:21:00.003-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watchb30#p/a/u/1/gMkFOJCtOvY

Click on this link above to see a nice program put together by Angelica parent Gina Szafraniec.
Thank you Gina for your fine work!

Con Brio choir has busy weekend performing!

2009-12-06T23:14:00.006-06:00

Our first performance in our formal attire...

2009-12-04T07:54:00.002-06:00

Away in the Manger with Cantus on Nov. 28, 2009 at Harriet Island

2009-11-29T07:45:00.010-06:00

Thank you Mrs. Keesling for the pictures!

Program for the Cantabile performance at the Veteran's Hosptial today

2009-11-11T08:00:00.001-06:00

Veteran’s Day Concert
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veteran’s Hospital, Minneapolis

My Country ‘tis of Thee
Bells Ringing
Circle Round for Freedom

Presidential Proclamation (singer Julia Sunnarborg)
NOW , THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2009, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I call on all Americans, including civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, and communities to support this day with commemorative expressions and programs.

Pledge of Allegiance
Star-Spangled Banner

About Veterans Day (singer Connor Meany)
Great Britain , France, and other countries celebrate November 11th as Armistice Day to commemorate the ending of World War I on November 11, 1918. Fighting ceased at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month.
The history of the Veterans Day in the United States is as follows:
1919 - President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as Armistice Day to remind Americans of the tragedies of war.
1938 - The day becomes a federal holiday.
1954 - Congress changes the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all United States Veterans.
Today, in the United States, Veterans Day commemorates the courage and patriotism of all the men and women who have served in the United States military.

America , the Beautiful

Veteran’s Day Reflections from our Presidents (singers Elsie Hanken and Ethan Quezada)
On this Veterans Day of 1961, on this day of remembrance, let us pray in the name of those who have fought in this country's wars, and most especially who have fought in the First World War and in the Second World War, that there will be no veterans of any further war -- not because all shall have perished but because all shall have learned to live together in peace. (John F. Kennedy, President of the United States).

Take the Time

Long after their honorable discharge, our veterans still symbolize what it means to be a citizen. Go to any community in this country and you will find veterans in positions of service and leadership. In so many ways, veterans live out the meaning of patriotism and idealism and concern for others. Those of us who are the children and grandchildren of veterans have seen those qualities up close -- each of us is better because of the influence of a veteran. And so is America… Every veteran once stood ready to give all for our country, and they know that a true soldier never welcomes war. This nation loves peace. We work and sacrifice for peace. (President George W. Bush, Veteran’s Day, 2002).

It Won’t Be Long Now
Closing Remarks – Ms. Schrooten
You’re A Grand Old Flag

More Spirtwear pictures!

2009-11-10T23:23:00.005-06:00

Pajama bottoms (Angelica logo on the leg) and more pictures of the sherpa grey jacket and Navy full zipper fleece jacket.

Jackets, hats and bags!

2009-11-10T23:17:00.003-06:00

The Sherpa jacket above is the grey one. It is like a sweatshirt with fake black sheep wool on the inside. It has a full zipper, a hood, a hidden ipod pocket and thumb holes in the sleeve cuffs. On the right is a dark navy full zipper fleece jacket with no hood. 1/4 zip fleece jackets are available too with no hoods. Both are navy. There are Angelica hats and a cinch bag with the logo.

Singing with the North Dakota Valley City Children's Choir on Friday, November 6, 2009

2009-11-10T23:13:00.003-06:00

Spiritwear!

2009-11-08T22:54:00.002-06:00

Just in time for the holidays - Angelica has sweatshirt hoodies, full zip fleece jackets, 1/4 full zip fleece pullovers, flannel pants, sherpa lined jackets, hats and cinch pack bags for sale.

First round of orders are due November 23!

Angelica singers receive HONORS

2009-10-24T16:22:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to Angelica singer Sylvia Kaare who has been selected to participate in the 2009-10 Honor Choir program as part of the North Central American Choral Directors Association Conference. Sylvia will sing with other top high school singers from Minnesota and its five border states and will rehearse together and perform at Orchestra Hall next March.

Congratulations to Angelica singers Emma Liddle and Connor Meany above who have been selected to sing in the 4 - 6th grade Elementary Honors Choir at the November Minnesota State American Choral Conductors Association state-wide fall convention.

Slyvia, Emma and Connor were carefully selected as outstanding young Minnesota choral musicians from hundreds of applications.

Great night singing with CANTUS

2009-10-24T10:24:00.006-05:00

The kids sounded fantastic tonight - everybody was raving about how great they were tonight! - Aaron Humble, Cantus

Cantanti Singer in Forever Plaid

2009-10-03T22:42:00.002-05:00

Bloomington Jefferson High School Theatre Company will stage "Forever Plaid" 10/7 - 10/11 featuring Angelica singer Bridget Roepke.
Call 1-800-838-3006 for tickets.

New Season upon us...

2009-08-29T23:15:00.002-05:00

The Angelica Board and Staff are busy getting ready for our 29th season of singing! We are very excited to have a new conductor on staff to lead the Cantanti Chamber Singers group. Mr. Philip Brown can't wait to get these kids together to start some singing!

Our 3rd Annual Back to Choir event is tomorrow and this year we are serving up a free Sloppy Joe dinner. We are all looking forward to seeing all of our singers and families back for a fun evening.

More exciting news to come!

Music on the website!

2009-07-28T15:19:00.002-05:00

Check it out. Music from all four choirs on the website.

Never Stop Singing

2009-06-20T17:26:00.003-05:00

Choral enthusiasts won't want to miss Never Stop Singing, a new public TV special airing on the dates below.

Minnesota is renowned for its outstanding choral music, but what inspires this intense love of singing? Notes musicians Dominick Argento, Anton Armstrong, Philip Brunelle, David Cherwien, Rene Clausen, Peter Hendrickson, Maria Jette, Stephen Paulus, Robert Robinson, Kathy Saltzman Romey, Dale Warland and others share their passion for the choral art, along with performance excerpts featuring serveral Minnesota choirs. For more information visit: http://www.neverstopsinging.org

July 5 at 7:30pm
July 6 at 1:30am
July 6 at 7:30am
July 6 at 1:30am

Orchestra Hall lobby performance 4/25/09

2009-04-26T08:36:00.002-05:00

Recap of the Concert Choir tour on Friday April 24, 2009

2009-04-25T09:46:00.008-05:00

The Angelica Concert Choir began their In Town Tour at Augsburg College, where they sang for the morning chapel service. They sang a "prelude" to which the Augsburg faculty and students responded with great applause! The Riverside Singers, Nancy Grundahl's freshman women's choir, then joined Concert Choir for a special song that both choirs know by heart, Not One Sparrow is Forgotten, written in honor of Nancy's Grundahl's stillborn grandson. After chapel was over, about 30 people stayed to listen to more selections by our choir, again to enthusiastic applause. They didn't want us to leave!

But leave, we did, because we were due at St. Olaf Catholic Church to lead the noon mass which was attended by at least 200 people. Lynn Trapp, the director of music at that beautiful downtown church, was very impressed with our young people.

Then, after a two hour break, Green Mill Pizza and yummy cookies, we headed to St. Thomas University where we attended (at VERY close range) the rehearsal of their two college choirs who are preparing for a trip to Greece in a month. They were FABULOUS and we loved their music. They are conducted by Dr. Angela Broeker, who conducted our Angelica Varsity Choir for two years. She is a great supporter of Angelica. Our singers were very impressed with how hard the college singers worked for two hours, their focus, posture and enthusiasm. And THEN, we got to sing for them in that beautiful space with GORGEOUS acoustics. Again, the college kids whooped and hollered!!!! Our singers loved it. After the college kids were excused, we continued to sing some special songs for Angie, who gave us lovely and supportive feedback. She said things like, "Is there anything these singers can't do?" and "what I love to see is the looks on individuals faces as they interpret the music." "These kids put the college kids to shame." THAT was absolutely NOT true, as we were mightily impressed with the college choir. They sounded WONDERFUL!

Then, off to Grand Slam for food, fun and games, perfect end to a wonderful day. Tonight we sing in the lobby of Orchestra Hall, and tomorrow we have a collaborative concert with two other children's choirs at Cantabile Director Ann Shrooten's church. We are looking forward to both.

It is so much fun to sing all of our repertoire! We are enjoying the fruits of our labors!

From: Nancy Grundahl 4/25/09

Endowment Deadline is approaching

2009-03-20T07:03:00.002-06:00

Long after the toys of childhood are gone, the gift of music remains

April 1, 2009
Deadline for DOUBLING your contribution to the Angelica Cantanti Endowment Scholarship Fund

Angelica has been given a matching challenge gift of up to $50,000 to help establish a Scholarship Endowment Fund

With Angelica donations of $50,000 we would have an endowment of $100,000

We have $17,000 in Angelica Contributions to date.

*Only a few days remain before our matching grant expires. Your gift, in any amount, will be DOUBLED, under the conditions of this challenge gift and will bring us closer to our $50,000 goal. *Give in memory of a special person in your life or in honor of your singer or someone who has helped you or your family. *Please send your contribution, BEFORE APRIL 1, to Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington, MN 55431.

Thank you.

Rita Docter

Pictures from Children's Choral Festival

2009-03-01T11:04:00.006-06:00

Angelica's Concert Choir participated in a Children's Choral Festival at Central Presbyterian Church on Saturday, February 28. They had the opportunity to hear other local youth choirs and under the direction of Kathy Romey, gather to perform a mass rendition of J. David Moore's "Joyful Noises."

Snow Days 2009 Weekend Retreat

2009-02-04T07:43:00.006-06:00

Angelica's connection to Hollywood!

2009-01-24T11:27:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to Pete Docter, son of Con Brio Director Rita Docter on being nominated for his 4th Oscar! Watch for Pete's newest Pixar film called "Up" coming to a theater near you this May.

Click here for a preview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOzqIL_HSBk

Angelica's connection to the Inauguration!

2009-01-24T07:22:00.002-06:00

The San Francisco Boys and Girls Chorus sang America, the Beautiful arranged by Angelica's Concert Choir Director Nancy Grundahl at the Inauguration on January 20, 2009.

"And then a voice boomed over them, “Ladies and Gentleman … the boys and girls stood and the first words of “America the Beautiful” rolled out across the two mile expanse before them, the mall. And the words reverberated back to them, echoing and rolling off of the buildings of the Smithsonian Museums, and up and the buildings of Pennsylvania Avenue to the right and Constitution Avenue to the left, two canyons of white buildings. And before them the towering, simple Washington Monument, flanked far in the distance by the Low, Rectangular Lincoln Memorial. And when they finished, thousands, perhaps a million voices cheered."

Click here to listen: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99619575

Follow Mrs. Schrooten on tour in England

2009-01-24T07:02:00.013-06:00

Ann Schrooten, Director of the Cantabile Choir, is on a week long tour in England with the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and Artistic Director Philip Brunelle. Their performances include six public concerts in Oxford, Birmingham, London, Cambridge and Ely, an engagement in one of the world's most famous churches, King's College Chapel in Cambridge, as well as an in studio collaboration with the BBC Singers in honor of choral conductor Stephen Cleobury. Click here to follow the tour: http://vocalessence.blogspot.com

Away in a Manger with CANTUS

2009-01-24T06:44:00.008-06:00

Horses, hay and holiday cheer! The Angelica Cantanti Singers joined Cantus at the Harriet Island Pavilion in St. Paul for an evening of sing-a-long caroling, hot chocolate, apple cider and horse-drawn hay rides along the Mississippi river!

Angelica sings at the Govenor's Mansion

2009-01-04T21:58:00.004-06:00

Cantanti Singers at the 2008 Target Holidazzle Parade

2008-12-06T21:50:00.004-06:00

Cantabile performance at Bloomington Arts Center

2008-12-06T21:42:00.002-06:00

WHAT IS A BENEFIT CONCERT?

2008-12-04T00:35:00.002-06:00

Angelica Cantanti has been given a generous matching grant of $50,000 to use for a Scholarship Endowment program. So far about $20,000 has been raised. We have $30,000 to raise, by April 1, to take advantage of the entire matching grant of $50,000 The interest from this $100,000 will be used for scholarships.

Dallas Liddle, an Angelica father, tells us that it was in English theaters, more than 200 years ago that the first benefit performances were held. When a beloved actor or singer or other artist needed help, the rest of the theater company would forego payment for one night and one performance so that all of the receipts from that special gathering could go to help that performer.

Nowadays, every year brings “benefit” performances for many worthy causes. But it's worth remembering that the first benefit concerts weren't meant to help causes. They were help by friends to help beloved friends.

On November 22, Angelica Cantanti came together for that special kind of benefit performance. The beloved performer we wanted to honor and help is the next child, the next singer who will walk through the door tomorrow and will ask to sing by our sides.

In singing for the Endowment Fund in our benefit performance, therefore, the singers of Con Brio and Concert Choir were singing for beloved friends they have yet to meet. They sang to help children who will sing beside them next year, who will follow them from Con Brio into Cantabile, into Concert Choir, and then into Cantanti Singers, and who may well become lifelong friends.

Rita Docter

MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC!

2008-12-04T00:29:00.002-06:00

The weekend of Nov. 21, 22 was a time of rich musical Angelica memories!! Our Concert Choir was selected to appear in concert, on Friday November 21, at the American Choral Directors Association ACDA Fall Convention held at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN Our wonderful young singers, and their talented and gracious director, Nancy Grundahl presented a stunning and interesting program of great variety, all very beautifully sung! The faces of the singers were so expressive and their bodies were completely into the act of singing. They looked totally convinced that singing is a very special and very important thing to do!!!! Thus, their gift of music to the audience was even more meaningful.

On Saturday morning, the Bel Canto and Chamber Choirs from Visitation School, directed by Nancy's daughter, Randi Grundahl Rexroth, performed an exciting concert on the morning ACDA Convention Session. What a thrill for Nancy, and for those of us who know Randi, to hear and see this talented young conductor and her wonderful young women of song!

On Saturday evening the Concert Choir and the Con Brio Choir, composed of 42 of our youngest singers, presented a benefit concert in the Schneider Theater of the Bloomington Art Center. Each choir sang alone and then combined to tell the charming story of the Hormigo Tree, a Guatemalan legend with music by Nancy Grundahl, actors from the Concert Choir, guitar, percussion, marimba and bass accompaniment and a tall, beautiful Hormigo tree with colorful “creatures” made by the Con Brio singers.

Rita Docter

Concert Choir will perform at the Minnesota ACDA Convention

2008-10-29T13:02:00.005-06:00

The Angelica Cantanti Concert Choir has been invited to perform at the 2008 Minnesota State American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Convention. Led by Director Nancy Grundahl, the choir will perform Friday, November 21 at 2:00 p.m. in the newly renovated Boe Chapel located on the campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

The ACDA invites outstanding high school, collegiate, and professional choirs to perform at its annual state convention. Selected via a rigorous audition process, the Angelica Cantanti Concert Choir will share the stage this year with choirs from Rosemount High School, St. Olaf Cantorei, Bethel Lutheran Choir, U of M Morris Concert Choir, Treble Choirs from Visitation High School, St. Olaf Viking Chorus, and The Summer Singers among others.

Concert Choir performs at the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest

2008-10-19T23:50:00.003-05:00

Angelica's Duck on display at the Art Center

2008-10-15T13:32:00.003-05:00

The Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs will be singing at the Opening Ceremony of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest on Friday, October 17. Look for our "Angelica Duck" outside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

A Metaphor for Music Selection

2008-10-01T23:06:00.006-05:00

Photo credit gabrielbu
We conductors in Angelica pick music and plan programs in the same way that a great cook plans a nutritious and healthy meal. A great meal will nurture the body and delight the taste buds! It will be a well balanced meal with a great variety of flavors, colors and textures and will often include a tasty appetizer and a luscious dessert. It may be a fancy, gourmet meal or just good, traditional comfort food. And in our global society, don’t we all love to explore the diverse spices and ingredients of ethnic foods from around the world?
In the same way, we choose music that nurtures our souls, seeking to find a well balanced variety of styles, harmonic colors, textures and rhythms to insure variety and interest. We often include a grab your attention choral appetizer and a satisfying musical dessert . Our gourmet pieces may be newly written, we seek to savor time honored and traditional music, and we love to program ethnic songs for wonderful flavors.
What we try not to serve on our tables, and in our programs, is snack food or fast food that is unhealthy, filling and devoid of nutrients. Healthy eating, healthy singing and appreciating good music, is often a learned experience over time. We are teaching music appreciation in our rehearsals and in our concerts in addition to beautiful singing technique. This is what Angelica is all about. It feeds our souls.

Nancy Grundahl, Concert Choir Director

WHAT IS CON BRIO?

2008-09-22T14:31:00.003-05:00

I love flowers, especially the ones now available at farmer's markets - huge, colorful bouquets with a variety of flowers of all colors, sizes, shapes, textures,..

The Con Brio Singers remind me of such a bouquet - Each individual singer is like a beautiful flower. Each singer brings his/her own bright and sparkling personality, each has something special to give to add to the colorful beauty of our musical bouquet. Several singers have had lots of experience singing, some not very much but want to learn, some are very mature and focused and understand what being part of a singing team is all about, some are just learning.

Being part of a singing team means bringing all of your energy, your creativity, your enthusiasm, your wonderful personality that makes YOU the special person that you are, to every rehearsal. But, it might also means giving up a “little bit of you” to help make a great singing team - following directions, being kind and respectful to others, listening and focusing on singing and activities at hand. Those with more experience might need to be patient and help those who are just learning. All of us need to work together doing what is best for our choir, but also being the special individuals that we are!

As the Con Brio director I promise to nourish and to cherish each individual singer in our choir so that together we can help each other to become the best singing team ever - and a most beautiful musical bouquet of wonderful, individual singers!

Rita Docter
Con Brio Director

Our First Rehearsal

2008-09-09T12:08:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends and Fantastic Colleagues,

Our first Cantabile rehearsal was all about getting to know one another, making a few new friends, discovering what our voices will do both alone AND together, and of course, learning some new songs that will travel with us through the week!

We welcomed one another by singing a traditional West African Song
"Fanga a lafeyya, Ashey, Ashey"
Means welcome to one and all, we're on our way!

We learned a lively new round, in a haunting minor key, which had us stepping, clapping, AND singing!
If you dance then you must have boots of shining leather
Money in your pocket book, in your cap a feather,
But if you will come with me,
You don't ned a cent you see,
Come and sing together!

A beautiful American folk tune helped us glide along on some very long phrases like an eagle rides on the wind.
The water is wide, I cannot get o'er;
And neither have I wings to fly;
Give me a boat that can carry two,
And both shall row, my love and I.

Ms. Schrooten like to make up songs in the car as she drives from place to place! This is one of her silliest songs that she accompanied herself with on the guitar and taught to her new Cantabile friends.
Macaroni and Cheese, Macaroni and Cheese,
We all love Macaroni and Cheese.

Apple Pie and Ice Cream, Apple Pie and Ice Cream
We all love Apple Pie and Ice Cream.

Chocolate Shakes and French Fries, Chocolate Shakes and French Fries
We all love Chocolate Shakes and French Fries.

To find just the right place for each of the voices in Cantabile, we used one of our most beloved patriotic melodies, sung many, many times, but in the end, our combined sound gave Ms. Schrooten goose-bumps so tall the front row of singers could see them!
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain.
America! America! God shed such grace on thee.
And crowned thy good with brotherhood from sea to shinging sea.

And to send us off with a feeling of being able to soar, we joined together on the following Christmas song. Those swirling "Glorias" are pretty challenging to sing precisely and in just one breath!

Ding Dong merrily on high in heaven the bells are ringing
Ding Dong verily the sky is riven with angels singing
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Cantabile is ready to fly,
For singing is the thing that sends us high,
High in the air, to soar and see
How music inspires us to BE!

Ann L. Schrooten
Cantabile - Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs

Back to Choir Night

2008-08-30T14:58:00.009-05:00

It was great to see everyone again. It was an evening of rootbeer floats, Sound of Music sing-along, uniform fittings and friends. If you couldn't be there, here are few photos from that night....

Pictures from Summer Day Camp

2008-08-10T23:26:00.006-05:00

First Day Choir Camp News!

2008-07-29T10:36:00.001-05:00

Dear Parents and Campers,

We had a great first day at Choir Camp. Parents, you will be pleased to know that your sons and daughters were introduced to seven new choir songs and many were learning to read a piece of music for the first time! Everyone had an opportunity to and were courageous enough to sing by themselves. We are working on The National Anthem this week, so don't be surprised if your children are listening for YOU to sing as well as they are the next time you attend a sporting event and are invited to sing! We had many singers who were awarded stickers for singing by themselves or in a small group, so I was very impressed with the work we accomplished in just one session.

In addition to being great fun, singing does require energy, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn new skills and languages, and patience with singers of all different skill levels as we learn to work together. Those of you with piano skills, choir skills, and music reading skills can be of GREAT help to our younger singers who are learning all of those things for the very first time.

I had some requests from parents who are interested in signing up for an audition time with Angelica Cantanti for our 2008-2009 season. Please contact Andrea Dittmer, our Choir Manager, at adittmer@mcg.net to arrange for an audition time during the month of August.

Good work and good singing today! We'll see you all tomorrow....Dress C-O-O-L and remember to bring your water bottle and a snack to eat!

Ann L. Schrooten

Grant awarded!

2008-07-25T10:36:00.002-05:00

The Angelica organization has been awarded a $2,500 grant from the Bloomington Fine Arts Council. This money will support our upcoming November 22 Scholarship Endowment Fundraiser Concert at the Schneider Theater.

We are very grateful to the BFAC for their generous support!

Summer camp coming soon

2008-07-18T10:00:00.005-05:00

Angelica is pleased to present our first Summer Music Day camp.
Students in grades 2 - 5, come join us for a week filled with singing, music games, movement, and arts activities. This camp will serve as a springboard from which singers will explore their vocal potential and increase their confidence in singing. No experience or audition required.
July 28 – August 1
9:30am – 12:30pm
Cost $105
Location: Oak Grove Elementary School in Bloomington

Taught by Cantabile Director Ann Schrooten and Akuorkor Ablorh. Akuorkor is currently pursuing a Masters in Teaching and licensure in K-12 Vocal Classroom Music at the University of St. Thomas. While earning a BA in music from Harvard University, she produced an original musical and performed in the Spoken Word Association. After returning to her home state of Minnesota, she taught piano lessons through Musical Avenues and played piano for a local church. She is looking forward to helping young singers explore the voice and make music at Angelica Cantanti's Summer Camp.

THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER!
Call the choir office at 952-563-8572 or click here for more info:
http://angelicacantanti.org/SummerCamp.html

BIG NEWS!

2008-07-11T12:53:00.004-05:00

Wow!

This fall, Ann Schrooten the director of our Cantabile Choir will join the Ensemble Singers of VOCAL ESSENCE, a professional Twin Cities choir directed by Phillip Brunelle.

http://www.vocalessence.org/

Congratulations Ann!

Check out the movie "The Singing Revolution"

2008-07-09T10:20:00.000-05:00

It is playing at the Lagoon Cinema until July 10. It comes highly recommended by Jim Hawthorne. Eventually it will be out on DVD too.

Movie website:

http://www.singingrevolution.com/

Lagoon Cinema website:

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Minneapolis/Minneapolis_Frameset.htm

Easy ways to earn money for Angelica:

2008-07-03T00:16:00.001-05:00

Search the Internet and Raise Funds for the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs

Raise money for Angelica just by searching the web. Instead of using Google or Yahoo, bookmark http://www.goodsearch.com/

Angelica will earn a penny every time you searched the Internet. You can also click on "amount raised" to see how the pennies are adding up.

GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up! Read about GoodSearch.com in the NY Times, Oprah Magazine, CNN, ABC News and theWall Street Journal.

Shop Online and Raise Funds for Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs

Do you shop online? Consider shopping at iGive.com.

iGive.com is an online shopping portal that brings together some of the country’s leading retailers to promote charitable giving. iGive.com gives you easy, all-in-one-place access to all the on-line shopping programs of the participating companies, and in return, each company will contribute a portion of your purchase to Angelica. The amount contributed varies from company to participating company, but is clearly indicated on the iGive.com website. When you purchase items through iGive.com, up to 26% of your purchase is donated directly to Angelica Cantanti.

Some facts about iGive.com:

iGive.com has been online since 1997
600+ stores participate in the iGive.com program
iGive.com shoppers have raised over $2,203,182.32for their favorite causes
Just this year, shoppers have raised over $374,832.95 in donations!

Registration is FREE! So go to www.iGive.com and become a member. When asked to choose your cause, choose Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs. Now every time you want to buy a book from Barnes and Noble online or Land's End or JC Penny or hundreds of other online stores, you can do so knowing that the Angelica will benefit.

Please spread the word to your families and friends too!
Thanks,

Audrey Riddle

GREAT weekend selling brats!

2008-06-22T23:48:00.006-05:00

Rumor has it that everyone had a GREAT time at the brat trailer this weekend! The weather was fabulous and the crowds were hungry.

I am thrilled to share that we earned $440 in tips over the 3 days! Our total profit was almost $1,000.

A HUGE thank you to the following Angelica singers, parents and families: Glenda Kibat, Diannah Robertson, Miriam Harries, Jodi and Rachel Schauer, Lori Bartels, Sharon and Rebecca Schenck, Mark and Leah Riddle, Andrea Dittmer and family, The Kaare Family, The Richter Family, Steve and Claire Eiswirth, The Symington Family, Ethan Uphoff and Marcy Sackett, Josie and Sarah Roers, Susie and Forrest Schrader, Jocelyn and Jennifer Jaimez, The Morse Family, Kris, Medori and Emily Wicklund, Nancy and Alex Claycomb, The Becker Family and The Helgeson Family. Special thanks to the VERY HELPFUL staff at the Valley West Cub Foods, Julie Morse and Andrea Dittmer.

I would love your feedback on whether we should sign up to do this again next year.

Audrey Riddle

Post Garage Sale

2008-06-09T21:48:00.002-05:00

The garage sale was a huge success for being a first time adventure of this scale! We made $880.83! Not bad for having only four weeks to have our Angelica members find stuff to donate and put the whole thing together. Imagine what we can make next year now that you have a year to save up stuff to donate! (Yes, we are crazy enough to do it again)

We owe a huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers that made this sale the success it was. Thank you Lori Bartels, Chris Bartels, Rachel Schauer, Emily Morse, Sharon Schenck, Dana Rechtzigel, Andrea Dittmer, Jodi Eiswirth, Barb Becker, Emily Wicklund, John Gerber, Steve Eiswirth, Glenda Kibat, Rebecca Waller, Ellen Keesling, Kris Wicklund, Medori Wicklund, Mike Sedwick, Charlie Morse and Greg Becker.

To Carla Berger, who just came to the church with her dad as he was learning something on their computer system and had no idea we were setting up for the garage sale, a big thank you for coloring in the signs for us.

Thanks to Sharon Kaare for donating bottled water for the volunteers to drink and to Lori Bartels and Andrea Dittmer for the donut holes that went straight from our lips to our hips!

An extra special thanks to Jennifer Jaimez and the people of St. Marks for donating their church as a drop off and sale spot! We can not thank you enough for this.

And to Jodi Schauer I owe my sanity. This sale could not have been accomplished with such professionalism and success without her. To the Schauer family...you can have your mom/wife back now.

If I have forgotten to mention anyone I am truly sorry.

We had some Alumni and Parents of Alumni, who, when they got home from work on Thursday, had the postcard that Audrey and Andrea mailed out in their mailboxes, so they quickly found some items to donate and brought them over to St. Marks! One of them, Joyce Baughman, even offered to help early Friday morning and stayed most of the day. We also had some people that saw the flyer that I put on the Cub Foods community board bring in some items.

A lot of hard work went into the making of this sale and a lot of good conversation was had by all who were there! I look forward to making it even bigger next year. Please start helping now, by putting items aside to donate next year, as you do your spring/summer cleaning !

Julie Morse
Board of Directors

What do we learn in Concert Choir?

2008-05-08T09:57:00.002-05:00

The final concerts of the year allow us to assess what we have accomplished throughout the year. All Angelica Choirs sang so very beautifully at our spring concert and we conductors were all very proud. And now it’s time for auditions!

Some parents and singers may be wondering why the progression into Concert Choir requires more rehearsal. In Concert Choir, we continue to work on the basics of wonderful choral singing which is taught in all of the Angelica choirs – breath, posture, beautiful tone, diction, vowel and consonant production, blending, tuning, reading musical symbols, expression and interpretation. These skills can be continually improved and refined as we grow, and with almost four hours of rehearsal per week, Concert Choir has the potential to go to the highest level of refinement. This year’s choir HAS!!!!!

In addition to choral fundamentals, Concert Choir has learned to:

Read a non-traditional score (no notes, just drawings)
Sing melismas (many sixteenth notes on one syllable)
Sing aleatoric (or chance) music where singers sing independently of others
Tune note clusters (half steps and whole steps right next to each other in the scale)
Sing a whole tone scale, a chromatic scale, and a regular scale.
Identify and sing intervals (major and minor)
Stagger breathing on long phrases
Continue vocal growth, sometimes finding vibrato, and always exploring range (including the boys and their changing voices)
Learn and memorize complex and sophisticated music (high school and college level)
Tune a major seventh jazz chord (very difficult)
Isolate rhythmic components (clapping the melodic rhythm while stomping the pulse or vice versa, which is hard!)
Take artistry and expression to a higher level every time we sing, giving depth to the meaning of the songs

These words from a choral colleague were printed in the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) journal this spring.

“Young people have grown up with technology-related endeavors which are isolationist, individual and passive. Participation in choral music, however, provides our singers opportunities to explore their humanity and strive for excellence, to create beauty, to find the source of artistry within themselves and to build community. These singers are building character and leadership, and developing personal responsibility and concern for others. Sharing their music with an audience is the communication of the singers’ artistry.” (Marguerite McCormick, Children’s Chorus of San Antonio.)

Our young singers are the beneficiaries of the wonderful art of choral singing.

Nancy Grundahl

WE LOVE TO SING!

2008-05-06T22:18:00.002-05:00

My heart will be blessed with the sound of music...

2008-05-05T12:45:00.001-05:00

Dear Angelica Friends,

I just want to say how honored I am to be part of an organization that invites parents to sing with their children, that supports singers who dance and dancers who sing, that embraces the compositional gifts of our own staff, that fosters relationships between our newest and most experienced singers, and that longs to make music as important a part of our lives as breathing, for music does bring us a richly blessed life.

There are no small tasks associated with these efforts. Thanks to ALL who believe in the power of music in these young people's lives and contribute anything that supports that belief!

My heart will be blessed with the sound of music, and I'll sing once more.

Ann L. Schrooten

Thank you!

2008-05-05T12:41:00.002-05:00

Sincere and heartfelt THANKS to everyone for their help with yesterday's concert!! I loved hearing everyone sing....and they all sang so well!!

What a lovely ending to a very busy year!!

Concerts are always a time of "double blessing" for me - the music is beautiful and inspiring, but it is also a joy to watch our singers grow!!

It seems like it was not very long ago that Kevin Murphy and Andy Ohrt were tiny little 2nd graders!!

Happy Monday and THANK YOU!

Rita

WOW! What a Day!

2008-05-02T18:18:00.004-05:00

Kids were AWESOME! I am so proud. Sorry no time to write, headed off for dinner.

Do you ever wonder how and why the Directors choose the music?

2008-05-02T13:34:00.005-05:00

All Angelica concerts feature what I call “SONGS of the HEART” - Great music by composers like Handel, Mozart, Rene Clausen, Randall Thompson. New exciting music by our own Nancy Grundahl, Jeanie Brindley-Barnett, Jorna Panula, David Moore, Dan Kallmann, Malcolm Dalglish and others. Very different sounding music like the Concert Choir piece about water by R. Murray Shaeffer or There are Hundreds of Ways to Kneel and Kiss the Ground, by J. David Moore sung by the Cantanti Singers in our February Musical Adventures Concert.

As our singers get older and more experienced, their music gets longer, more difficult to sing, often more introspective. Long arching phrases, sometimes sung slowly with great intensity, sung in foreign languages, some with lots of difficult rhythms and notes, become an exciting part of learning some of the world's best music. Some of these pieces may perhaps seem “boring” to those who are new to choral music and have not heard much of it, but over the years our singers and our parents have come to love and appreciate this wonderful variety of music.

Sometimes these pieces correlate with our yearly themes.
Sometimes they are great pieces which we as directors want our singers to KNOW!
We use them to teach many different concepts of singing and music education as well as concepts and ideas about people of the world, now and long ago.

We hope these pieces will inspire our singers and will come to hold a place in their hearts forever.

Classical music, including classical vocal music, is much more than just music. It is a record of the way people have thought and are thinking about their lives. And in ths music we can learn such powerful lessons about humanity and inspiration.

We hope you will love our Spring Concert, and the music which we have learned this year and in the years past, as much as we directors have loved teaching and sharing it with our singers....and with you!!

Rita Docter

Spring Concert preview

2008-05-02T13:30:00.002-05:00

This year's Angelica theme has been Songs of the Heart. Our Spring Concert will feature STORIES of the HEART.

The Concert Choir and Ensemble will both sing songs based on poems of hope from the Holocaust, showing us that hope, held firm, will eventually win out over the greatest of odds. The Varsity Choir's Farvel, meaning farewell in Norwegian, comes from words inscribed on a barn by a young boy just before he leaves for America with his family.

Weddings are always special times of the heart. May You Be Blessed, Angelica's new signature piece, was written, last May, by Nancy Grundahl for the wedding of her daughter Randi and son-in-law Rick. The Prep Choir's Mairi's Wedding will tell us about a lovely Irish wedding, with many interesting and special gifts given to the bride by the guests. Collaborating with the Prep Singers will be three dancers from the Continental Ballet of B loomington. The Johnson Boys , who went “a courtin'” were not nearly as lucky in their attempts to find a bride and will have to remain single all their lives because “there ain't no woman that'll be their wife!” Could the fact that "they're too scared to pop the question'" have anything to do with their bachelorhood?

Many special times of the heart are shared in the song “I Love it When” - so many special times that I thought this song needed to be shared with parents and children resulting in the first ever Prep Parent Choir!! Thanks parents for being willing to help us.

Of course we all love the songs from The Sound of Music, but is there anything more wonderful than hearing these beautiful songs sung by 175 children and young people!!

-Rita Docter

Wicked Performance

2008-05-01T22:54:00.003-05:00

We had a great time at Wicked. All safe back at the hotel...ready for bed. We have an exciting day of performances. Having fun! Jim

C. Singers at the "Bean"

2008-05-01T15:54:00.002-05:00

Cantanti's Arrive in Chicago

2008-05-01T13:46:00.002-05:00

We arrived on time. After obtaining our 3 day transit passes, we made our we to the loop. We are headed out for a bit to eat then we are off to see the hit musical Wicked. I'll post pics later, the kids are GREAT travelers. Jim

Cantanti's prepare for Chicago

2008-04-29T20:52:00.003-05:00

Members of the Cantanti singers are headed to Chicago on tour, May 1-3. We fly out Thursday morning and return late Saturday night. We have some exciting venues, including a clinic with our friend, Rollo Dilworth. Stay tuned for updates and pics...Jim

Parent Flight Information

AMERICAN AIRLINES 1359 MSP-ORD May 01, 2008 9:25 AM

AMERICAN AIRLINES 1411 ORD-MSP May 03, 2008 9:25 PM arrives
Minneapolis-St Paul May 03, 2008 10:50 PM

A note to Ensemble Choir from Rita

2008-04-28T11:21:00.001-05:00

Thank you to all of you for your commitment to Angelica and to our Ensemble this year. This has been an exceptional group of very special people and singers.

Their energetic spirits, their love for life, their caring, their willingness to give , their creative questions, their radiant faces and smiles and their beautiful music has filled my life and my soul with great joy.

They are a blessing that no words can describe. What a great privilege it is to be able to sing with your children every week.

THANK YOU!!

Sincerely,
Rita

Varsity Choir sings at Normandale Hills Elementary

2008-04-28T09:02:00.001-05:00

On Friday, April 25, Angelica Cantanti's Varsity Choir sang for nearly two hundred school children at Normandale Hills Elementary School in Bloomington. The program began with our audience singing to us, which told us immediately that they were going to be great listeners!

And despite the cold rain outside, the warm energy of our audience inside must have infiltrated our own singing because we sounded more like 60 singers rather than 30! Each song we sang was met with enthusiastic applause, especially Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena.....the whole gymnasium began to clap in rhythm almost from the start.

It was a great afternoon for us and now we can hardly wait for our May 4 Spring Concert!

Ann S.

Angelica member to sing the National Anthem

2008-04-28T00:08:00.004-05:00

We are excited to share the news that Cantanti Singer Andy Ohrt is going to be singing the National Anthem at the Bloomington Sister City Kite Day on Saturday, May 10 at 1:oo p.m.

This event is part of the Bloomington Sesquicentennial Celebration.

For more information on the event, click here: http://www.bloomington-izumi.org/en/

Andy is a Senior at Jefferson High School.

Beautiful concert at Mount Olive Church today!

2008-04-27T20:01:00.001-05:00

Hi Choir and Parents,

I wanted to write and tell you what a tremendous job you did this afternoon.....even being down NINE singers. I was quite worried that missing that large number would not allow us to sing at our best....BUT, you 23 singers were amazing. And when Miriam came in just in time for Mi'cmaq, I rejoiced. I heard many wonderful comments....mostly about the fact that they were astounded by your sound and the repertoire. This audience was very knowledgeable, so when they were blown away, I take that as a huge compliment. Several said they had never heard young people sing with such beauty and complexity. Some loved the revolving processionals, being surrounded by the singing. Others commented about what polite and fun young people you were. THey enjoyed talking with you very much. Most commented about the "water" song and how much they loved it!!!

I hope you feel very proud of yourself, and also happy that we have this great opportunity to sing wonderful music every week. You have all worked so hard this year....you've been focused and fun.....you've given me great joy. We only have two concerts left, but they will be wonderful ones! Stay healthy......and I'll see you tomorrow. I have to find the scores to Happy Days!!!!

Nancy

4/17 Mass Rehearsal Notes

2008-04-18T10:32:00.001-05:00

Dear Angelica Singers,

A very special THANKS to everyone for your work at our Thursday mass rehearsal. The singing was beautiful, and the spirit, as we sang, felt happy.

Thanks for your focus !!

THANK YOU to our "older singers" for kindly helping our younger singers!! Just finding one's "place on the page" can be difficult at times. Thanks for leading and helping all of us "learn the notes!"

Even though mass rehearsals are a lot of work and can get long.....(and dare I even say, "boring!" at times) they are:

A very special time of group music making and bonding with each other as singers, and as people.

They are exciting times for our directors as we hear the music that has been in our imaginations and our hearts begin to TAKE LIFE!! Plus, we LOVE being with all of you wonderful people!!

Think about how our "music making "sounded at this Thursday rehearsal when we are singing at our Spring Concert. I know you will be thrilled to hear how much better everything has become......even though it sounded beautiful yesterday!

As we now are hearing more and more about Olympic athletes, we are reminded that excellence does not just happen. It takes a LOT of hard work - THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK!! YOU ARE AWESOME!!

Rita Docter

Why Are Mass Rehearsals So Important?

2008-04-15T12:50:00.004-05:00

There are MANY reasons why Mass Rehearsals are important.

At most mass rehearsals:
We reinforce and polish music we have learned in our individual choirs
We learn where "our pieces" fit into the whole
We learn to blend the sounds of each choir into an even more beautiful combination of many colors
Our younger singers learn from the example of our older singers
Our older singers are captured by the refreshing energy and enthusiasm of our younger singers
We learn where to stand, when to move, etc. This is extremely important for the youngest singers and insures that concerts will run smoothly.

But, the upcoming series of mass rehearsals (4 - 6 PM)
Thursday April 17
Tuesday April 22
Tuesday April 29 (NOTE CHANGE from Thursday May 1)

are important because during these three rehearsals we are actually going to be LEARNING our mass pieces. For many reasons, several of our choirs have not had a chance to work much on these pieces during our regular rehearsals. We will have the FUN of learning together, and the process will be MUCH FASTER!!

We will be learning a Sound of Music medley and what we hope will become a signature piece of Angelica, May You Be Blessed. Both of these pieces have been arranged or written by Nancy Grundahl and promise to be LOTS of FUN!!

PARENTS of YOUNGER SINGERS: If you have a Sound of Music recording at home - please listen to it every day. If you don't have one, you might like to get one, and/or rent the video/DVD. This is such a fun musical, I know your family will love it.

- Mrs. Docter

Welcome!

2008-04-02T22:27:00.000-06:00

This is the blog of Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs.