THE WEDNESDAY REPORT : May 11, 2022

Dear Partners in Ministry,

It’s been a very busy but very productive few days here, and there’s lots to share, including some important questions for all of you. Here we go!

WE REMEMBER: CAROLE WIDING

We will celebrate the funeral of Carole Anne Widing, who I discovered this morning was a longtime Music Ministry member, on Friday at 11:00 am. All are welcome to come join the Resurrection Choir in ministry as we remember and celebrate her life.

MUSIC SELECTIONS FOR ASCENSION AND PENTECOST

Thanks to everyone who gave me your input on songs for these last two Sundays of the Easter Season. Final selections are now included in the Music Selections page online.

THE CONCERT SERIES IS BACK! WANT IN?

I’m so happy to announce that our Concert Series will finally emerge from its COVID hibernation this Fall! We already have four really exciting events confirmed (more on those later this month) and things are coming together beautifully.

I can tell you about one artist I hope to feature this year: YOU! I would like to revive the tradition of an interactive Music Ministry concert, and shape it into an annual tradition called Gaudete! on the Third Sunday of Advent, December 11. I’d like to include the Adult Choir as leaders for hymn singing with the audience and on perhaps three SATB pieces; I’ve also spoken with Elke about featuring the Bell Choir prominently in this event. I’d like to give our parish instrumentalists a space in this concert, and hopefully involve our kids as well. I do not intend to reinstate the Concert Choir, but I would love to maybe form a vocal quartet for a piece or two… I’m in the mulling-it-over stage on that one.

Before I commit us all to this event, I want to know how you feel about doing it in the first place. I know we’re in a rebuilding phase as a choir, and I don’t want to over-stress us, but I assure you that I would choose rep we can do confidently and that what we do for Gaudete! can be sung again at Christmas.

This means it’s survey time, and I really want to hear from each of you! Please take a minute to share your thoughts here: I’ll be collecting your responses from now until next Tuesday, May 17.

The survey can be found at https://stnoel.breezechms.com/form/547010.

The Business End…

I am working to structure the Series more along the organizational lines of a community arts organization, particularly in how these concerts are funded. We will hold a freewill donation at each event, and the plan is to split it 50/50 between artists and parish. There are some artists, however, whose terms include a set fee, or who need financial assistance with items like travel expenses. We also have the costs of promoting the Series, from mailers to programs, and we want to invest in its future, growing the Series in its scope and availability of artists.

To that end, we’re creating a system of sponsorship and offering advertising in our programs.

Anyone who donates any amount to the Series will be listed as a Patron in our season programs, as a public facing thank you for helping us make this possible.

From there, we’ll have three tiers of sponsorships for businesses and individuals who wish to provide higher levels of support:

Concert Sponsors are those who donate $500 or more toward a specific performance. These sponsors will be listed separately in that concert’s program, and will be given significant discounts and placement of advertising if applicable.

Season Sponsors are those who donate $1000 or more to the Series. These sponsors will be listed separately in programs throughout the season, and will also be given significant discounts and placement of advertising if applicable.

Series Sponsors are those who donate $2500 or more to the Series. (I promise we are stopping short of naming rights or anything; this will not become the Axe Body Spray Concert Series, I assure you). These sponsors will be listed on all promotional materials, listed separately in programs throughout the season, and will also be given significant discounts and placement of advertising if applicable.

If you or your business are interested in sponsorships or advertising for the Series, let’s talk.