October 04, 2025

Important Dates

Note: This section does NOT include rehearsal details; those are located in the Rehearsal Details section below.

• 10.14.25 - Spirit Night at Tumble 22

  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.

• 10.18.25 - Cabaret Video Submission Deadline

  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.

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Member To-Dos

• We have consolidated and streamlined gig sign-ups into one form, so you can access it all in one place! That form will be shared via e-mail and Facebook before Monday’s rehearsal.

• Solo and small group audition submissions for gigs, cabaret, and/or end-of-season show will also be handled through a single form. That form also will be shared via e-mail and Facebook before Monday’s rehearsal. Up to two submissions per member per event.

New Resources (added to Song Matrix, YouTube Playlists, Member Site)

• Accompaniment tracks for all songs have been added to the Song Matrix

• Member Website navigation page added for choreo playlists by ensemble and voice part

• “Born This Way” Feature Choreo Video

• “Home” Mirrored Choreo Videos: Demo and PPDs for Soprano 1, Soprano 2 (Sop2+Sop1, Sop2+Alto), Alto, and Baritone

• “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” Mirrored Choreo Videos: Demo and PPDs for Soprano 1, Soprano 2, and Alto

• “Sweet” Mirrored Choreo Videos: Demo and PPDs for Soprano, Alto, and Baritone

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Member Birthdays

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Rehearsal Details

Monday, October 06

• HTS "At Christmas" (Vocals); TIP a2 “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Choreo)

• HTS a2 "The Christmas Song" (Vocals); TIP a2 “Underneath the Tree” (Vocals)

• HTS "Back Home" (Vocals); TIP “Crowded Table” (Choreo)

• HTS a2 "Sweet" (Choreo); TIP “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (Vocals, if time allows)

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Dream BIG with the Executive Directors!

Hello, Choirmates!

Well, there are gigs and then there are GIGS! First, many thanks to the 20-something singers who made it to the beautiful stage at the University of St. Thomas this past Thursday evening for their annual Faithful Citizenship Dinner. It was held on the lovely Academic Mall facing the striking modern facade of the Chapel of St. Basil. Round tables for 250 guests, adorned with gorgeous live floral arrangements in shades of pink and lavender, golf chargers, and glowing tea lights set the tone for an evening of elegance and festivity. We were graciously accommodated just a few steps away from the stage in the university's spacious board room--a perfect setting. Many conversations over the months plus a site visit with university officials and other vendors had precluded this gala event. And then, just a half hour before call time, with guests arriving for cocktail hour, we were informed that the University's sound board could not support our condenser mics. Despite our own House Manager Joel working with UST's in-house AV crew for more than an hour and a half, amplification of our choir simply was not going to be possible. Fortunately, the handheld wireless mics did work for our soloists.

So what did we do? We took the the news in stride, kept running our numbers, and took the stage when we were introduced. We sang and we danced for the gracious audience. We overcame the faulty equipment (theirs, not ours) and we did the very best we could under the circumstances. We shared our joy and love of music no matter what, and we most definitely earned that check! Some directors would have crumbled, but not ours. Jennifer acknowledged the issue with openness and candor and then she encouraged us to be who we are and just keep singing! Thank you, Jennifer, for your steadfastness, resolve, and resourcefulness always, and especially in the face of less-than-ideal circumstances. "We did the thing!"

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

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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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• Don't Forget the 3 T's of Rehearsal

  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

• Zero Tolerance Policy

  No Drugs

  No Alcohol

  No Gossip/ Bullying

  ***All of these 3 simple rules helps to maintain a JOYFUL ENVIRONMENT

• Attendance Policy

  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.