Arizona Opera Chorus General Meeting
September 23, 2006
Introduction & Welcome (John Cleveland)
Artistic Workshop Presentations
Sir Thomas Allen Master Class (Rachel Velarde)
- Sponsors: U of A and AOC
- Instructor: Sir Thomas Allen
- Date: November 1, 2006 at 3:30pm
- Location: Holsclaw Hall, University of Arizona, Tucson
- Limited Invitation:
- U of A Students
- Arizona Opera Chorus Members
- AOC donors
- Singers will be pre-selected by Joel Revzen
- Two singers from U of A
- Four singers from Arizona Opera Chorus
"Era Blitz" Stage Movement and Dance (Rachel Velarde)
- Instructor: Jo Ann Yeoman (ASU)
- Timing: March 2007
- Location: Conducted in each City on two consecutive Saturdays
- Content and Schedule:
- Morning:
- Relaxation
- Connecting the physical to the emotional
- Exercises that open up physical character choices
- Exercises that offer ideas to physically complement your ensemble character
- Use of "body language" in the theater etc.
-
- Afternoon:
- Manners, etiquette, props, and costumes of each era.
- Specialized dance movements required of choristers, such as the Pavane in Eugene Onegin, or the Waltz in Fledermaus.
- Exercises
- Resource material
- How to use the research on an individual basis
Backstage at the Opera (John Cleveland and Ray Funk)
- Objective: Raise funds and provide publicity for Arizona Opera, and showcase the
artistry of the Arizona Opera Chorus as an artistic resource that is
invaluable to the contributions of Arizona Opera to the communities of
Phoenix and Tucson. Provide individual choristers with performance opportunities.
- Background: AGMA-AZ sponsored the first ever
chorus fundraiser in April 2004. The event, "Backstage at the Opera", was held in Tucson at the staging hall where
Arizona Opera conducts all of the staging rehearsals. Last season, two concerts were held in the
cities of Phoenix and Tucson. Combined audiences totaled 160 people. Patrons
were treated to an Italian buffet and operatic and Broadway favorites sung
only by Arizona Opera Choristers. The
event raised $3,200 after expenses. A check was presented to Joel Revzen at the Phoenix AOC offices in July 2006.
- Format: This season, AGMA-AZ will again sponsor two concerts in each City. The program will be the same for both
cities.
- Timing: May 2007
- Location: Our objective is to again use Ashby Lohse Rehearsal Studio (our staging rehearsal
location) in Tucson and the Phoenix Boys Choir facility in Phoenix. These concert locations have not been
finalized.
- Singers: All Arizona Opera Choristers will be invited to perform. This opportunity is for all choristers,
not just AGMA members.
- Artistic Team: Dan Kurek has agreed to again be
our Artistic Director. We hope to have Ann Nagell as our accompanist.
- Material: Standard operatic repertoire and possibly some Broadway selections. All
program options to include opera scenes, ensemble duets, trios, and
individual arias will be considered.
- Finances and Support: These concerts will be
funded by AGMA-AZ. Arizona Opera will support with publicity and raffle prizes in the form of opera tickets,
posters etc. Costs will be covered through event proceeds, contributions and AGMA-AZ member annual activity
dues.
- Planning Committee: Our planning committee
is reviewing all options for these concerts to build on and increase the
level of success experienced during the past two seasons. More volunteers are needed.
Mandatory Chorus Biennial Auditions (John Cleveland)
- The AGMA - Arizona Opera Agreement requires all
incumbent choristers to be auditioned every two years to evaluate choristers
individual performance.
- Auditions are planned for mid to late March 2007.
- Auditions will be held during weekdays.
- Locations in each City have not been determined.
- Choristers will be required to prepare and perform
operatic arias. Two years ago choristers prepared one aria.
- Audition panel will be comprised of Joel Revzen and Julian Reed.
AGMA-AZ Audition Preparation Workshop(Barry Stein)
- Objective: Conduct a workshop to assist all choristers (not just AGMA
members) in preparing for their required biennial auditions, now planned for
March 2007.
- Format: Choristers will present their required aria selection before a mock
audition panel. Arias will be
evaluated by the panel of instructors and feedback/analysis provided to the
choristers at the end of their audition.
- Possible Instructors: Dan Kurek has agreed to be on the
panel. We hope to also have Ann Nagell (accompanist) and Julian Reed.
- Location: Phoenix and Tucson
- Timing: February 10th and 17th - two consecutive Saturdays
- Funding: AGMA-AZ will fund all costs and independently sponsor this
workshop.
Chorus Newsletter (John Cleveland)
- AGMA-AZ would like to publish a Chorus Newsletter electronically three times a
season.
- We have the software and the expert (Kathleen Cleveland) to publish our
first newsletter in early December 2006.
- This newsletter will contain plenty of information that you can use. Stories will range from AGMA-AZ activities, to company news, to news
regarding your fellow choristers (e.g. recital and performance
events).
- Each issue will feature articles by
and about choristers, helping you to better know your colleagues and
your chorus family.
- We need a volunteer to be the editor of the newsletter.
- We will be conducting a contest to give a name to the newsletter.
- Deadlines:
Ideas for a newsletter name to John by November 1st.
Article submissions to John or our new editor by November 15th.
Chorus Website (John Cleveland)
- The chorus website is being renovated and reactivated.
- The website will include:
- Access to chorus contact information.
- Important announcements.
- Chorus Handbook and Chorister Absence Request Form
- AGMA-AOC Agreement
- Handouts from Chorus meetings.
- Minutes from annual AGMA-AZ membership meetings.
- Target for website activation is January 2007. Watch for details in our upcoming December edition of the Chorus Newsletter.
AGMA Commercial (John, Rachel and Jaime)
- Testimonial: Jaime Flora
- AGMA-AZ By-Laws: The AGMA-AZ By-Laws are twelve years old
and in bad need of update and revision. We need AGMA chorus members to volunteer to serve on a committee that
will produce By-Laws that are more comprehensive and useful as a guide to the
conduct of AGMA-AZ business.
- Overcoming the financial hurdles of Joining AGMA: The $500 initial membership fee to
join AGMA is difficult for many choristers. AGMA National has agreed to tailor the payment of this fee to each
Arizona Opera chorister?s financial needs. Choristers can pay down the $500 fee establishing their own payment
amount and schedule with no deadline to complete payments. This is a special
program for Arizona Opera choristers arranged by AGMA-AZ. See John Cleveland
for details.
- Annual AGMA-AZ Activity Fee ($25)
Chorus Survey (Renee Summers)
- Last chorus survey was conducted during the 2003-2004 season.
- A new survey will be sent to all choristers in early 2007.
- We need feedback and ideas to improve the working and
artistic environment for all choristers.
- Survey responses will be presented at the Susannah Chorus Dinner Meeting.
- Results will be used to prepare for the AGMA-AOC
Agreement negotiation preparations during the 2007-2008 season.
Questions and Discussion