RESOURCE PAGE FOR CHOIR MATRIX
Tuition for Session I Winter 2024 is $30.
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How to pay tuition:
--bring a check or cash to the first rehearsal
--mail a check to Consonare Choral Community, P.O. Box 338, Mansfield Center, CT 06250
--pay online via the link below
If paying tuition is a hardship for you, please send Sarah an email. If you would like to add a donation to your tuition, you can do so easily and your donation is tax deductible.
REHEARSALS -- SUNDAYS 3:00-4:30pm
Storrs Congregational
January 14
January 21
January 28
February 4
February 11
February 18
February 25
March 3 (We are the Stories Workshop 3:00-5:00pm)
March 10
March 17 - Dress Rehearsal from 3:00-5:00pm
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Concert: Saturday, March 23
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
Please check your email one hour prior to rehearsal as any rehearsal cancellations will be advised by 2pm the day of rehearsal.
CONCERT ATTIRE:
All black with an optional splash of blue (scarf, hair accessory, jewelry, etc.)
We are the Stories Workshop
Sunday, March 3rd from 3:00-5:00pm
Storrs Congregational Church
This workshop is hosted by us for all singers
Special Events:
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MEET OUR MUSIC LEADERSHIP
Sarah Kaufold, Director of Choir Matrix
Sarah is a conductor, soprano, and music educator who advocates for inclusion on the podium, within the choral ensemble, and in the choir folder. With extensive choral conducting and leadership experience, Sarah has directed choirs for singers of all ages, range of abilities, and in a number of settings, which include: church choral programs for children and adults since 2000, teaching middle and high school choral and general music classes; conducting collegiate choirs; directing adult community choral programs and a professional vocal ensemble.Sarah holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from UConn with extensive graduate study in choral conducting from Cal State University, Los Angeles and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cal Poly Pomona where she began her studies as a music educator. Sarah is current and founding Artistic Director of Consonare Choral Community.
Janice Castle is our collaborative pianist. Jan is a music educator and has accompanied adult and youth choirs throughout our area for over 20 years.
Jolie Edwards is our conducting intern for Choir Matrix. Jolie is a freshman at UConn studying Music Education.
GENERAL RESOURCES
SONG RESOURCES
Still I Rise
Rosephanye Powell
Text / Translation:
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Though I have been wounded, aching heart full of pain. Still I rise, yes, still I rise. Jus’ like a budding rose, my bloom is nourished by rain. Haven’t time to wonder why, though fearful I strive. My pray’r and faith uphold me ‘til my courage arrives. Still I rise as an eagle, soaring above ev’ry fear. With each day I succeed, I grow strong an’ believe That it’s all within my reach; I’m reaching for the skies, Bolstered by courage, yes, still I rise. Yes, it’s all within my reach; I’m reaching for the skies,Yes, still I rise. Gentle as a woman; tender sweet are my sighs. Still I rise, yes, still I rise. Strength is in my tears and healing rains in my cries. Plunging depths of anguish, I determine to strive. My pray’r and faith uphold me ‘til my courage arrives. Though you see me slump with heartache; Heart so heavy that it breaks. Be not deceived I fly on bird’s wings, rising sun, its healing rays. Look at me, you see a woman; Gentle as a butterfly. But don’t you think, not for one moment, that I’m not strong because I cry.
Practice Tracks
Although I usually make the resources in small sections, I could not pass up this resource that someone already created that has the score scrolling too for this week. Each voice part is separate:
All Parts together:
Solo, if you are interested in learning it:
Practice Tracks
mm. 6-34
mm. 40-55
mm. 55-end
Koowu
Maryam Khoury
In Arabic, “Koowu” means strength. As a child, Khoury’s father told her stories about the difficulties he experienced growing up in Palestine. Khoury writes that “Koowu” is about how different her life would be if her father had not moved to the United States. The text of “Koowu”, written by Khoury herself, depicts a woman trapped by her surroundings, who seeks freedom and, eventually finds it though strength and resiliency.
Text / Translation:
I have a caged bird who longs to fly away.
Her name is Koowu, Koowu fly!
I have a caged bird who is weeping,
I dare not set her free.
Her song is mine and I’m keeping,
But soon this dove will die if she does not get the chance to fly. Fly! Oh, Koowu fly!
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Oh, Koowu do not cry
If it is freedom that she is seeking,
Then my bird must fly!
She must fly away.
I am Koowu and her keeper
Taste the wind, breathe the air, Koowu, I’ll be waiting for you
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Practice Tracks
beginning - page 1
mm. 17-31
mm. 33-43 (Alto 1's that sing S2 in other songs will sing S2 here):
mm. 50-end (Alto 1's that sing S2 in other songs will sing S2 here):
The Moon Bridge
Florence Price
Text / Translation:
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The moon like a big, round ball of flame
Rose out of the silver bay,
And built a bridge of golden beams,
Where the fairies came to play.
I saw them dancing in jewel’d robes
On the wavelet’s rhythmic flow,
And I long’d to stand on the magic bridge,
In the moonlight’s mystic glow.
But over the sky a veil of mist
Thin, soft as a web of lace,
Was drawn, then parted, then came again,
With easy, coquettish grace.
And the moon put on a somber mask,
And frowned on the rippling wave,
And the beautiful bridge went under the sea,
Nor a beam could the fairies save!
I wonder’d if this would end their play,
And if, as the bridge went down,
They would lose their jewels so frail and fair,
And their queen her diamond crown!
But they glided away in merry mood,
To their home in the rosetree’s bowers,
And there they danced on the dewy grass,
Till the “wee sma” morning hours.
Practice Tracks
mm. 4-20
mm. 22-41
mm. 47-end
Where the light begins
Susan LaBarr
Text / Translation:
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Perhaps it does not begin. Perhaps it is always.
Perhaps it takes a lifetime to open our eyes,
to learn to see what has forever shimmered in front of us; the luminous line of the map in the dark,
the vigil flame in the house of the heart;
the love so searing we cannot keep from singing,
from crying out in testimony and praise.
Perhaps this day will be the mountain over which the dawn breaks.
Perhaps we will turn our face toward it,
toward what has been always.
Perhaps our eyes will finally open in ancient recognition, willingly dazzled, illuminated at last. Perhaps this day the light begins in us.
Practice Tracks
m. 1-13
mm.14-19
mm.26-30
mm31-35
mm.37-46
What a wonderful world
arr. Audrey Snyder
Text / Translation:
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I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Practice Tracks
mm. 1-11
mm. 11-28
mm. 29-end
Caritas Abundat
Michael John Trotta
Text / Translation:
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I am the great and fiery force,
That breathes life into all things:
I am what awakens and supports life
And enkindles all living things
I am the great and fiery force,
That breathes life into all things:
Everything in the cosmos
Is encircles with my wisdom.
I am the beauty in the fields,
The force , that moves like a graceful wind
I shine in the waters, and burn in the sun.
Glimmering in the stars.
Caritas abundat in omnia
(Grace abounds for everyone)
---Hildegard von Bingen