September 27, 2025
Important Dates
Note: This section does NOT include rehearsal details; those are located in the Rehearsal Details section below.
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Our performance at the University of St. Thomas for their annual fundraising dinner is coming up on Thursday, October 2.
Tentative Set List
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Somebody to Love
We Are Family
Why We Sing (if time allows)
Holding Out for a Hero
Love Changes Everything (if time allows)
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Fight Song
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Join us at Tumble22 (Houston Ave Location) on Tuesday, October 14, for Spirit Night, where 22% of the WHOLE restaurant sales from 4:30-8:30pm will go back to the choir! Last time we raised more than $700!
We will sing at 6:45pm for the patrons and eat dinner together as a choir. If you cannot come at that time, do not worry! Order and eat anytime between 4:30-8:30pm.
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The theme for this year’s holiday cabaret is “Miscast: Broadway Recast!“
Think of it as Broadway gone rogue. Roles, genders, and voice types don’t matter here. If you love it, you sing it.
Submit a video of your full song by Saturday, October 18. More details on how to submit your video will be provided soon. See the graphic below for a list of important dates for the cabaret.
Member Birthdays
None this week!
Rehearsal Details
Monday, September 27
[6:00pm - 7:00pm] St. Thomas Gig Rehearsal
[7:00pm - 7:15pm] HSC "One More Sleep" (Vocals)
[7:15pm - 7:45pm] HSC "Home" (Sing-through, Staging)
[7:45pm - 8:00pm] HSC "We Are Family" (Sing-through, Choreo)
[8:00pm - 8:15pm] HSC a1 "Born This Way" (Choreo Run-through)
[8:30pm - 8:40pm] HTS "Back Home" (Sing-through) ; TIP a2 “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Choreo)
[8:40pm - 9:10pm] HTS a2 "The Christmas Song" (Vocals) ; TIP a2 “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Choreo)
[9:10pm - 9:30pm] HTS a2 "Sweet" (Choreo, review) ; TIP "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (Vocals)
Artistic Director Digest
Hello Choir Fam,
Thank you for a productive rehearsal this past week! If you were out, we missed you and look forward to having you back with us Monday. Please read through the important notes below.
St. Thomas Gig - Oct. 2
Call time: 7:00pm
Please be sure you’ve read my email with full details about this event.
HSC Full Choir Rehearsal
Start time: 7:00pm beginning this week
You’re welcome to arrive at 6:30 to review choreography. The Foyer will be available for small-group practice.
Downbeat is 7:00 sharp—please arrive on time!
Cabaret 2025: Miscast – Broadway Recast!
Roles, genders, and voice types don’t matter—if you love it, sing it!
Ideas to consider:
Gender-swaps (e.g. guys singing Defying Gravity, girls singing If I Were a Rich Man)
Age/character flips (e.g. teen singing I’m Still Here)
Vocal type flips (e.g. soprano belting Stars)
End-of-Season Stand-Alones: Home for the Holidays
Due at the same time as Cabaret auditions
Theme explored through:
Home Is Where Your People Are (family, community, belonging)
Home Is Where You Come From (nostalgia, return, origins)
Home Is Who You Are (identity, belonging to yourself)
Longing & Anticipation (memories, wanting to be home)
Journey & Togetherness (travel, celebrating with loved ones)
Celebration & Joy (uplifting, homecoming)
Submission details:
Up to 2 songs per event (Cabaret + Stand-Alones)
Choose songs that showcase you best and fit the theme
Want to perform with a group? Post on the Facebook page to find collaborators!
Holiday Gig Submissions
We may need soloists/small groups for gigs.
To be considered: submit a holiday song with a video recording through the form that will be available in next week’s newsletter
Rehearsal Plan – This Week
Songs to have memorized:
Born This Way (verse 2)
Home
See you soon and thank you for the music!
Jennifer
Dream BIG with the Executive Directors!
Greetings, Choirmates!
On the cusp of a new month, this week sees about a third of us performing in a first-ever gig at the University of St. Thomas. We were invited several months ago to serve as the entertainment for their annual Faithful Citizenship Dinner, which we accepted, and for which we are being compensated handsomely.
Gigs such as this one, held on the campus of an esteemed institution of higher learning in honor of their top donors, is very good for HSC. It speaks to our vision, mission, and values, and it puts our name, our quality, and our professionalism in front of an audience who might not otherwise know us. If you were able to say yes to this gig, thank you for your participation! If you were not able to say yes, please support your choirmates with all your good thoughts this coming Thursday evening as we perform under the stars on the beautiful campus of the University of St. Thomas. We will feel your energy with us!
And now, please add these reminders or action items to your calendar as appropriate, along with other important dates mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter:
November 22: Holiday Cabaret at Ovations! (Optional participation.)
December 8, 10, and 12: MANDATORY Tech Week Rehearsals
December 13: SHOW DAY! Two performances, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM @ Resurrection!
Our June 2026 trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida is in full swing. We are still accepting registrations, no upfront payment required. Remember that we need 40 singers on stage at Universal in order to perform on the mainstage, so please sign up! Here is the link to register:
Visit our website at: https://www.etadventures.com/
Click the green text in the top section of the screen that says: "Customer Login"
Next you will be prompted to enter your trip code which is: houston26
On the next screen you should choose the option to "Access Account" and then you will be prompted to create an account using your email address or your personal Google account.
If you have previously created an account with ETA, you may sign into your existing account to make a reservation and you will not need to create a new account.
Once you are into your account, select Add a New Trip, and then enter houston26.
You should see your trip details at that point, and then select Make a New Reservation and complete ALL fields.
We are still accepting registrations! You can pay your deposit later; however, if you know you are planning to go on this trip, please register as soon as possible. Remember: We need 40 singers in order to perform on stage at Universal!
That’s all for now, so enjoy the rest of your weekend and we will see you Monday night at 6:30!
Sharing the joy,
Mark & Van
Tech Tips and Tricks
Need help finding things on the HSC member site? Text or email Leah Perez with requests for tutorials to be featured in a future newsletter and added to this YouTube playlist.
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NO Talking
Keep the personal/ non rehearsal related talking to a minimum
NO Texting
Please no Texting or Answering your Phone during rehearsals.
Step out if there is a need to use your phone.
Timeliness
Be on time to rehearsals and coming back from rehearsal breaks
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No Drugs
No Alcohol
No Gossip/ Bullying
***All of these 3 simple rules helps to maintain a JOYFUL ENVIRONMENT
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You must attend 70% of rehearsals before you risk being asked to step down from the show.
This equates to 6 total absences during this season.
If you already know of any pre-planned absences after reviewing the calendar, please notify your Section Leader ASAP so that they can take note of the future absence.
When you are going to be absent, you need to notify your Section Leader and Artistic Director.
Also note that you are marked Tardy if you join rehearsal after 6:45PM, regardless of the reason.
After your 3rd Absence you may be asked to test your knowledge of the music and/or choreography.