30 November 2015
An open letter to the Sippican Choral Society
Dear Friends,
As some of you know, I am moving out of the Marion area next week and will not be singing with you for our 50th Anniversary Christmas concerts next weekend. I have missed rehearsing with you and Tian, our new Music Director this Autumn, and am sad that I can’t sing in the concerts. However, I will get to hear you on Friday night at Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford, and am looking forward to that immensely.
I’m writing to thank all of you – for so many things. I’ve been singing with the Chorus since 1974, with a long break for seminary and work in other parts of the country, but recently realized that altogether I’ve sung for 28 years with all of you, having come back to Marion in 1993. I’ve served on the Board three times and taken care of publicity for the chorus during those stints. It’s been fun! And oh such joy we have created together for so many years!
So first, thank you for the joy of your singing. As I am sure you all know well, what we do together lifts hearts, heals wounded souls, glorifies the best in us and in the world, and adds to the collective love that fills and surrounds our little planet floating in space. Together we have made this Earth, Marion, and the South Coast a better place to live and work and play. Thank you for all of that. It is such a privilege to have sung with you.
Secondly, thanks to all those who’ve taken my mediocre voice and made decent noises issue forth! Peter West, Thelma Ostenfeld, Corinne Peck, Brian Roderick, Michelle Gordon, and now Tianxu Zhou – all of them have taught me so much and tried their best to mold me into a choral singer. They asked me to sing in the chamber choir too, which felt like a huge honor. I will always be grateful for that especially.
I like the direction the Chorus is going. I love the fact that we invite Leslie Piper and her amazing kids in the South Coast Children’s Chorus to sing with us at Christmas, and that we are beginning to encourage other young singers as well, opening our ranks to college students and even high school students with potentially good voices. I hope that will continue.
Lastly, the Board has not yet found a replacement for me, so you have no one doing the chorus’s publicity as of January 1st. Any volunteers? It’s good work, fun, and not very strenuous. The Board and I have put together a detailed job description, and I’ve created templates for press releases, etc. to make the job easier. Over the years, I’ve built wonderful relationships with people like Chris Reagle at The Sentinel and other members of the press. She and the others have been a huge help, and will help my replacement as well to spread the good news to our communities.
If you’re interested in the position, talk to Bruce, Ellen, or any member of the Board.
So…here I go. I wish you all well. Sing beautifully! Thank you. And remember why…
It’s just for the joy if singing.
Blessings and Peace to each of you,
Peter
Peter Converse McDonald
508-748-0286 (cell)
An open letter to the Sippican Choral Society
Dear Friends,
As some of you know, I am moving out of the Marion area next week and will not be singing with you for our 50th Anniversary Christmas concerts next weekend. I have missed rehearsing with you and Tian, our new Music Director this Autumn, and am sad that I can’t sing in the concerts. However, I will get to hear you on Friday night at Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford, and am looking forward to that immensely.
I’m writing to thank all of you – for so many things. I’ve been singing with the Chorus since 1974, with a long break for seminary and work in other parts of the country, but recently realized that altogether I’ve sung for 28 years with all of you, having come back to Marion in 1993. I’ve served on the Board three times and taken care of publicity for the chorus during those stints. It’s been fun! And oh such joy we have created together for so many years!
So first, thank you for the joy of your singing. As I am sure you all know well, what we do together lifts hearts, heals wounded souls, glorifies the best in us and in the world, and adds to the collective love that fills and surrounds our little planet floating in space. Together we have made this Earth, Marion, and the South Coast a better place to live and work and play. Thank you for all of that. It is such a privilege to have sung with you.
Secondly, thanks to all those who’ve taken my mediocre voice and made decent noises issue forth! Peter West, Thelma Ostenfeld, Corinne Peck, Brian Roderick, Michelle Gordon, and now Tianxu Zhou – all of them have taught me so much and tried their best to mold me into a choral singer. They asked me to sing in the chamber choir too, which felt like a huge honor. I will always be grateful for that especially.
I like the direction the Chorus is going. I love the fact that we invite Leslie Piper and her amazing kids in the South Coast Children’s Chorus to sing with us at Christmas, and that we are beginning to encourage other young singers as well, opening our ranks to college students and even high school students with potentially good voices. I hope that will continue.
Lastly, the Board has not yet found a replacement for me, so you have no one doing the chorus’s publicity as of January 1st. Any volunteers? It’s good work, fun, and not very strenuous. The Board and I have put together a detailed job description, and I’ve created templates for press releases, etc. to make the job easier. Over the years, I’ve built wonderful relationships with people like Chris Reagle at The Sentinel and other members of the press. She and the others have been a huge help, and will help my replacement as well to spread the good news to our communities.
If you’re interested in the position, talk to Bruce, Ellen, or any member of the Board.
So…here I go. I wish you all well. Sing beautifully! Thank you. And remember why…
It’s just for the joy if singing.
Blessings and Peace to each of you,
Peter
Peter Converse McDonald
508-748-0286 (cell)
RSS Feed