Dear Friends and Family,
Happy November! It seems like just yesterday we were planning beach vacations and reveling in the excitement of swimsuits and sea spray—summer always feels so short! I hope you had time to relax and recharge.
This past June, the officers of Ensemble Companio gathered in New York City to reflect on last season and plan for those ahead; we set some near-term goals and dreamed up some lofty long-term objectives. Your generosity during our 2014 Drive to Sing campaign has already allowed us to achieve many of our short-term initiatives, including:
- The hiring of an assistant conductor
- An improved salary for our director
- Increasing the number of our performances per season
- Establishment of the Member Experience Fund (MEF) to offset singers’ travel costs
We’re about to kick off our 2015 Drive to Sing, so keep an eye out for communication from Development Chair Megan Lemley!
In addition to new initiatives, Ensemble Companio welcomed several new singers this season.
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On the steps of Our Lady of the Snow parish in Bayport-Blue Point, New York, at our first rehearsal of the season (left to right, from rear): Olivia Gustafson (soprano), Michael Weinberg (bass and assistant conductor), Julian Petri (tenor), Kimberly Rice (alto), Peter Park (tenor), Kendra Anderson (soprano), Jessie Chan (soprano-turned-enthusiastic fan), Kat Petzold (returning alto), Sarah Zegree (soprano), and Alex Cesare (soprano). Not pictured: Michael Kassatly (returning bass) and Elise Croteau-Chonka (alto).
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Each year, our new singers have surprised me with their warmth, enthusiasm, and dedication to the group, no matter how long they plan to sing with us. We are so very lucky to have them!
Both our new and seasoned singers bring unique perspectives to the group, which gives us a rich trove of wisdom from which to grow and learn. With this in mind, we asked them to share their goals for Ensemble Companio at our most recent rehearsal in Brooklyn (note our stylish new hoodies!) and are excited to work toward these over the coming seasons.
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Singers gather to sort their written goals into categories (music, service, publicity, finance, and tour, to name a few!) before presenting them to the group.
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In the same spirit, I hope you will share your own wisdom with us by filling out our first-ever audience survey below:
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In addition, we'd love for you to drop by rehearsal to chat — dates and locations are now listed on our website, www.ensemblecompanio.org — or simply send along your thoughts as this season unfolds. I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and as always, I look forward to hearing from you at president@ensemblecompanio.org.
All my best,
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