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Choir Notes for November 10, 2025
Choir Notes for November 3, 2025
Choir Notes for October 27, 2025
Choir Notes for October 20, 2025
Choir Notes for October 13, 2025
Choir Notes for October 6, 2025
Choir Notes for September 29, 2025
Choir Notes for September 22, 2025
Choir Notes for September 15, 2025
Choir Notes for September 8, 2025
Choir Notes for new 2025-2026 season
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Choir Notes for November 10, 2025
Note from Sean
Hi Choir,
Thank you for your participation in the Remembrance Day ceremony on Tuesday. I think the new piece went well and I received very positive comments about it from the MC Chris and Padre Gates after the ceremony.
On Monday we’ll rehearse the following pieces. You will observe that we’re well into the season where we aim to spend less time on each piece rather than digging in deep to learn notes or rhythms. In the coming weeks, please make sure to practice all the pieces that give you trouble and feel free to tell me which sections are giving you the most trouble so I can prioritize rehearsing them. musicdirector@vamc.ca
Additionally, attending rehearsals is important, all the more as the concert approaches. Please make every effort to attend, and if you can’t, make sure your section leader knows. Perhaps most importantly, you may need to plan to make extra time for individual practice on a week when you’re unable to attend rehearsal. I can see the viewership numbers on our rehearsal recordings and know that they are not being used by singers who have to miss a rehearsal. That’s totally fine and I’ll continue recording rehearsals as a tool for myself, but I trust that you are putting in the time with the learning tracks, or with Youtube videos of performances of our pieces, or with a piano, or whatever tools you have available to you to prepare the music.
Rehearsal pieces:
o Sing Out the News!
o Llanfair Xmas Lyrics
o Cold and Fugue Season
o The Light Returns
o Chanukah in Santa Monica
o The Nutcracker…In About 3 Minutes
o Ding Dong Joy
o Little Saint Nick
o Night of Silence
o Christmas Angel
o Star of Glory
Memorial Service for Alan Mawdsley
As announced, Alan Mawdsley, a long time member of the Arion Male Voice Choir and the Victoria Arion Male Choir passed away two weeks ago. There will be a service on Saturday, November 22nd, at 2 PM at McCall Gardens on Falaise Drive.
The choir has been requested to sing at his service. We will be performing The Blessing of Aaron and possibly We Shall Remember. Both pieces are a cappella. The Blessing of Aaron is one of the Standard “Back Pocket” pieces and files are on the Google drive. We will have short run-throughs of the song in the next two Mondays for those who will be attending the service.
Attendance at Singouts and at the December Concert
If you still haven’t already confirmed your availability to your Section Leader for the two singouts as well as for the concert, please do so. It helps with our planning of our programme to know how many voices are available.
Purdy Chocolate Christmas Fundraiser
This is the last weekend for ordering chocolates. If you haven’t done so, please consider ordering some nice Christmas treats and help with the choir’s finances!
Possible Spring Concert in Powell River
Some more information to help with your deciding about participating in a joint concert in Powell River in April –
o Dates are Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26, 2026
o Possibility of renting a bus so people won’t have to worry about driving
o Possible availability of billets in either Courtenay/Comox or Powell River
We will canvas people’s interest again this coming Monday.
Concert Emails
Email notices of our concert were sent to everyone including people on our Mailchimp distribution list. If you think anyone you know may not have received the email and might be interested, please forward the note to them.
Practice Files
Click this line to link to the practice files.
Information for Choir Members
Members Guide
Choir Year Schedule
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Choir Notes for November 3, 2025
Songs to be looked at this coming Monday:
o We Shall Remember
o Sing Out the News!
o Cold and Fugue Season
o Song for a Winter’s Night
o The Boar’s Head
o Carol of the Bells
o O Holy Night
o Little Saint Nick
o Star of Glory
Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Cenotaph
Try and memorize “We Shall Remember”. If you need the music, please don’t bring your binder. Place the music in a plastic sleeve in case it may rain.
Call time is 10:00 AM. Remember to dress warmly.
Singouts
We have two one-hour singouts scheduled:
Date: Sunday, November 30th, at 1:30 PM (Call time is 1:00)
Location: Amica on the Gorge, 994 Gorge Rd West at Admirals (Parking limited but parking also available at the Craigflower School)
Date: Sunday, December 14th, at 1:30 PM (Call time is 1:00)
Location: Legion Manor, 7601 East Saanich Rd. Saanichton ( Parking also limited. Parking available at Centennial Park Baptist Church off Prosser Rd.)
If you haven’t already confirmed your availability to your Section Leader for these two dates, please do so. It helps with our planning of our programme to know how many voices are available.
Possible Spring Concert in Powell River
The VAMC along with Men of Notes (Comox Valley) have been invited by Walter Martella to Powell River in the Spring to continue the partnership between our choirs in the form of a joint concert and social activities.
A day trip is very tricky due to driving and ferry times, so in all likelihood this event would mean one or two nights in Powell River. There was sufficient interest among the choir in October to look into this possibility, and now we have some potential dates: April 10-12, 2026.
Please check your calendar and be prepared on Monday to let your Section Leader know whether you are likely able to attend this trip.
If there is continued interest and sufficient numbers, we can explore necessary details like shared travel and accommodation options.
Concert Notice
One of the generous donors to our forthcoming Silent Auction at our May concert is Moon Water Lodge on the Malahat. The owner, Lori Strandlund, is also a choir member singing with Pacific Edge Chorus. The choir is having a concert on November 29th. See the attached flyer.
Practice Files
Click this line to link to the practice files.
Information for Choir Members
Members Guide
Choir Year Schedule
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Choir Notes for October 27, 2025
October 27 Rehearsal
A big “Thank you!” to Ryan Qon for stepping in at the last moment for Sean.
We managed to get through most of the repertoire. Now everyone should know what he needs to take a look at and work on!! Practice, practice, practice!
Be prepared to go through the whole repertoire again this coming Monday.
Members’ Availability for Singouts
If they haven’t done so already, Section Leaders will be checking everyone to confirm their availability for the afternoons of Saturday, November 30th and Sunday, December 14th for singouts. Please check your social calendars so we will have an idea of how many people we will have for each section.
Practice Files
More updated practice files have been uploaded to the Google drive so please check them out – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MG5I_4Wl7B9FBEsmeeijeOiXVYNvohcH?usp=drive_link
Concert Posters and Email Invites
Posters are now available for printing and are in the choir Google drive. Only a few printed ones will be available so please print extras yourself.
A general invitation will be sent out this week to our mailing list and to choir members. You can forward your copy to any friends, family, and neighbours who you think might not be on our Mailchimp distribution list.
Purdy Chocolate Christmas Fundraiser
Please send an invitation to our Christmas fundraiser to anyone you think might be interest in buying chocolates.
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Choir Notes for October 20, 2025
For Monday, October 27 Rehearsal
We will try and run through the complete repertoire. Definitely try and look over the music beforehand and listen to the practice files.
If you missed our first practice with “Little Saint Nick” or want to review what you are to sing, check the rehearsal recording from October 13th, Part 1 from 1:05 on.
NOTE that two pieces in the package of songs handed out, “Carol of Winter Peace” and “When Christ Was Born of Mary Free”, will NOT be in the concert. You can hand in your copies on Monday.
Members’ Availability for Singouts
As part of our community outreach, VAMC does singouts (short concerts) at seniors’ residences in the fall and in the spring.
We have two potential dates for singouts this fall – the afternoons of Sunday, November 30 and Sunday, December 14. Times and locations to be confirmed.
Please let your Section Leader know of your availability for these two days.
Practice Files
Updated practice files are on the Google drive. You can check under each song to ensure you have the most current version of your part.
Once again, many thanks to Alex Andersen (B2), Ron Skelton (B2), and Tom Zimmerman (B1) for their hard work!
Concert Tickets
Five tickets were given to each member on Monday. Please try and sell (or give!) as many as you can. There’s nothing like singing to a packed house! Unsold tickets should be returned to David Buckman, our Treasurer on the Monday rehearsal, December 1st, before the concert.
Purdy Chocolate Christmas Fundraiser
A reminder that orders must be received by November 16th. The chocolates will be available on Monday, December 1st at rehearsal.
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Choir Notes for October 13, 2025
For Monday, October 20 Rehearsal
We will have guests John McVie and Elizabeth MacIsaac to speak about Podium 2026 and how we might be able to participate.
We will rehearse:
We Shall Remember You
Cold and Fugue Season
Song for a Winter’s Night
The Boar’s Head
Chanukah in Santa Monica
Carol of the Bells
Little Saint Nick
Christmas Angel
Please look over the music beforehand and listen to the practice files.
Thank you to those who attended on Monday. If you are able, please review the rehearsal recording.
Pronunciation Guide for “Boar’s Head Carol”
Ron Skelton has put together a guide to the Latin lyrics in “Boar’s Head Carol”. A copy is attached at the end of this Choir Note.
Christmas Fundraiser
Here is the link for the choir fundraiser
Choir members are encouraged to send this link to all their friends, neighbors and relatives. Sell it as our choir’s annual major fundraiser. Last year we sold over $4,000.00 in chocolates through the Purdy Chocolate Christmas Fundraiser and netted about $1450 for the choir.
Our goal this year is $5,000.00 in sales. If we have 30 choir members, that works out to $166.00 each. Some members will sell much more some less. As long as we all give it a good effort, we can achieve this goal.
For what is available, here is the catalogue of Christmas products.
For people who would rather not register and order online, this is a printable form which members can distribute and then collect and enter online for them.
If you would like more information, please talk to Bob Comerford (T2) who is coordinating this effort.
Practice Files
Updated practice files with voices singing the parts for:
o Carol of the Bells
o Carol of Winter Peace
o Chanukah in Santa Monica
o Christmas Angel
o Cold and Fugue Season
o Ding Dong Joy!
o I’ll Be Home for Christmas
o Nutcracker in About 3 Minutes
o Song for a Winter’s Night
o We Shall Remember You
Once again, many thanks to Alex Andersen (B2), Ron Skelton (B2), and Tom Zimmerman (B1) for their hard work!
Help Needed!
If you have experience in the investment field, we are looking for a couple of people who will help manage our Choral Scholar Endowment Fund. The fund provides income which helps pay our Choral Scholars and is governed by a Charter approved by the VAMC Board in July 2023;
A small Committee (of 3 including the Treasurer) shall be responsible for overseeing the operations of the Fund, making decisions regarding fund allocation, and ensuring long-term sustainability;
If you think you can help, please contact David Buckman, our Treasurer at treasurer@vamc.ca or 250-858-3533.
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Choir Notes for October 6, 2025
Rehearsal on Monday, October 13
· Yes, there is a rehearsal on Thanksgiving Monday. If you are unable to attend, please have a look at the rehearsal video after.
We will rehearse:
o We Shall Remember
o Sing Out the News!
o Llanfair (Xmas lyrics)
o Ding Dong Joy!
o Night of Silence
o Star of Glory
Please look over the music beforehand and listen to the practice files.
Christmas Fundraiser
Last year we sold over $4,000.00 in chocolates through the Purdy Chocolate Christmas Fundraiser. Our goal this year is $5,000.00.
Once we have this year’s link on the Purdy website, choir members are encouraged to send this link to all their friends, neighbors and relatives. Sell it as our choir’s annual major fundraiser. If we have 30 choir members, that works out to $166.00 each. Some members will sell much more some less. As long as we all give it a good effort, we can achieve this goal.
If you would like more information, please talk to Bob Comerford (T2) who is coordinating this effort.
Practice Files
Many thanks to Alex Andersen (B2) and Ron Skelton (B2) for following up on last week’s comments about how useful were the files done last year by John Myers. These files with actual sung lyrics went a long way in helping members learn the songs. To that end, Alex and Ron have taken on the hard work of converting the current non-sung practice files to ones with voices. Also, a big thank you to Tom Zimmerman (B1) for volunteering to help on this.
Once the new files are done, they will be uploaded to the Choir Google directory replacing the previous files. Songs that have been revised will be listed in the week’s Choral Notes.
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Choir Notes for September 29, 2025
Next Monday’s Rehearsal
Christmas Angel
Cold and Fugue Season
Light Returns, The
Nutcracker in 3 Minutes
Song for a Winter’s Night
We Shall Remember
and more…
To help prepare yourself, please look over the music beforehand and listen to the practice files.
Attendance
Your Section Leader has an attendance sheet each week. Please let him know if you will be away for any rehearsal.
Changes to Practice Files
Some songs’ practice files for the individual parts were changed from organ to acoustic guitar so that the individual parts stand out more. The songs that were modified are:
Cold and Fugue Season
Ding Dong Joy!
O Holy Night
Sing Out the News (just the SLOW versions)
We Shall Remember
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Choir Notes for September 22, 2025
Next Monday’s Rehearsal
Boar’s Head
Chanukah in Santa Monica
Light Returns, The
Song for a Winter’s Night
Cold and Fugue Season
Star of Glory
and more…
To help prepare yourself, please look over the music beforehand and listen to the practice files.
Choir Name Tags
Please wear your VAMC name tags. If you don’t have one or can’t find your tag, please let me know and I will make one for you
Recordings of Rehearsals
Here is the link to the playlist where Sean will be adding the weekly rehearsal videos:
Change of Date for December Concert
We have changed the date of our December concert from the 13th to December the 6th because of a conflict with another church booking. The choir calendar has been updated to reflect this.
New Members
Please welcome our new members!
Kristians Persevics (T1) Choral Scholar
Jim Upright (B1)
Brian Pollick (B2)
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Choir Notes for September 15, 2025
A big “Thank you” to Ryan Qu, our guest conductor. He continued going through the fall repertoire, looking at the last eight pieces, a couple in detail.
Choir Reference Files
Rather than accessing files through the choir’s website, all pertinent choir information will be on this Google directory. Members should have sharing access now. If you don’t or are having trouble getting into the drive, please talk to Ion Buicliu (T1), our website administrator and tech support person. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MG5I_4Wl7B9FBEsmeeijeOiXVYNvohcH
New Music
We have two new pieces, one for Christmas – “Ding Dong Joy!” and one for Remembrance Day – “We Shall Remember”.
Practice files and sample performances for both are now available.
Recordings of Rehearsals
Apologies but due to technical difficulties (my ineptness with Smartphones!), there are only partial recordings of our two past rehearsals. They are also available for viewing for absentee members and for reviewing for everyone.
Change of Date for December Concert
We have changed the date of our December concert from the 13th to the 6th because of a conflict with another church booking. Apologies to anyone who may be inconvenienced!
Fundraising
This is a reminder that these are three easy ways for members, their family and friends to contribute to our finances. Every little bit helps! Last year we received the following amounts –
Country Grocer receipts – $ 200
Fairway Market Community card – $ 825.60
Bottle Depot returns – $ 589.20
For more details, please see our Treasurer David Buckman (B1).
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Choir Notes for September 8, 2025
A Good Start
In Sean’s absence, Ryan Qu, our guest conductor, led us through a quick run-through of eight of the songs we will be singing this fall, to give us a feel of what the pieces are like. Next week he will go through the rest of the pieces.
Copies of all the songs were distributed to all members present. Songs are in alphabetical sequence and a list of the titles was provided in the package.
Also included was a registration sheet which everyone should fill out and hand in to Ron Wedman (B1), our Secretary. This is to keep our records up to date and the information will be used only for choir purposes and will not be shared outside.
Choir Reference Files
There are some issues with our Members page on the choir’s website. For the time being, relevant files are accessible here.
Practice Files
· Parts for each of the Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Bass 1 (Baritone), and Bass 2 voices for each song are listed under Practice Files.
· Where available, there are also sample performances of the songs to give people a feel of what the song could sound like. However, it is up to Sean to determine final tempo and dynamics.
· There is a mix of midi files (computer generated notes) and simulated singing (computer generated voices) for songs. Unfortunately, John Myers who produced the latter files is unable to ssist us this season due to ongoing health issues. The midi files are still useful for note bashing.
· It is highly recommended that members utilize these files, especially before rehearsals. Sean will be giving us a list of the songs that we would be working on each week.
Recordings of Rehearsals
These will be available for anyone who missed a rehearsal to view to catch up on any special instructions or changes to a song.
New Members Are Still Welcome
If you know of anyone who may be interested in joining us, please invite them. We will still have two more Open Houses this month.
Choir business cards are available for members to hand out to any interested parties.
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Choir Notes for new 2025-2026 season
Welcome Back!
The 2025 2026 season will be starting up on Monday, September 8, 2025.
Once again we will hold an Open House for prospective new members on the first three Mondays – the 8th, the 15th and the 22nd. Feel free to invite interested friends, relatives, and neighbours!
Charity Fundraiser
Ieuan Edwards (B1) will be participating in the Multiple Myeloma March on Sunday, September 7th in Nanaimo to raise money for research into treatment for Multiple Myeloma. He is with the Taffy’s Team. To contribute to this worthwhile endeavour and to support Ieuan check this link.
Choir Fundraising
A reminder of the ongoing fundraising efforts for our own choir
Country Grocer tapes/receipts – bring to rehearsals
Beverage returns to Return-It depots – credit Victoria Arion Male Choir account
Fairway Market Community Card
Sponsors and Donors
We have been fortunate in having businesses and individuals contribute money and goods to help support the choir. This helps to sustain the choir and keep our fees low. If you know of any businesses or people who may be interested in contributing to the choir, please see Jim Johnson for more information.
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