The Acorn - Oak City Sound's Weekly Newsletter - Apr 27, 2023

Type of post: Chorus news item
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Nic Cols
Status: Current
Date Posted: Wed, Apr 26 2023

1. High Notes

  • Apr 23: 9 of our members represented Oak City Sound as they performed the National Anthem at a UNC Baseball game in Chapel Hill. The performance was stunning! A lot of appreciation was received from the UNC fans, the UNC Baseball team, and from stadium staff.
  • Apr 24:  Regular rehearsal last Monday evening at our regular location.
    • We had 18 singers "on the risers", including returning recent guests Mike Carney, Michael McQueen, David Kraay and Patrick O'Hannigan.
  • Apr 29 (Saturday): Cary Spring Daze Booth AND concert. Booth will need to be manned all day.
    • Call time for concert is 10:30, behind the Sertoma Amphitheatre. Allow yourself an hour at least for parking etc. 
    • Or show up at Searstone at 9:00 and carpool together.
    • Or park at the Cary Municipal parking garage and ride the free shuttle.
    • On stage from 11:30 to 12:15. We will have no one to man the booth during the hour. Spouses and friendsor are asked to attend the performance rather than be at the booth. 
    • We will be at the booth for the remainder of the day. Don't forget the timeslot you signed up for!
  • May 1: Regular rehearsal at our regular time (7pm) at our regular location.
    • Song List to prepare: 
      • You've Got a Friend in Me
      • Desperado
      • Here Comes the Sun
      • Honesty
      • Two Less Lonely People in the World
      • Good Night -- yes, that's our closing song. Lots of weird dynamic re-arranging going on in this song!
      • It Came Upon a Midnight Clear/Silent Night 
    • ALERT: We are trying out a new Afterglow location, closer to Searstone: The Parkway Tavern at 982 High House Rd, Cary, NC 27513. It's at the corner of High House Rd and Cary Parkway
  • May 8 (Monday): Oak City Sound in concert at Templeton Retirement Village. Call time is 6:15pm. Vern Pike lives there now and is our contact. The Templeton is located at 215 Brightmore Dr, Cary, NC 27518, across Kildaire Farm Rd from WakeMed Cary.

2. Carol's Korner

  • Incorporate the lip buzz/lip trill/bubble into your daily routines. Make some noise in the shower, as you are driving to work or the grocery store, while you're folding laundry, etc. so that you can sustain that buzz with those puckered lips. 
    Then open your lips, but keep them rounded and protruded so that all of the sounds you sing are forward and resonant.
  • Smile with your eyes instead of a toothy grin.

3. Ben's Buzz`

It’s GREAT to be a BARBERSHOPPER!!!

How often do we shout that with gusto? How often do we think that with pride? I have, many times.

In 2019, I had the honor of participating with the one chorus selected to represent the United States for the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. Yes, we went to France. We provided heartfelt music during deep remembrances, jumped in with an impromptu few songs on Omaha Beach, and participated in a celebration parade in the town of Ste. Mère Eglise - the town famous for where a paratrooper was hung up on the church steeple.

It was amazing. It led to much joy and many tears.

Of the entire experience, what stuck with me the most, was the people of France, particularly of Ste. Mère Eglise. Apparently they go all out every year to celebrate their freedom, and that "we" made the way for them to be free. They talked to me in tears of thankfulness, as if it all happened just yesterday - as if I had something to do with it. They have not forgotten, nor do I think they will ever forget.

It was amazing to remember with them, to help them celebrate. It was very humbling. Indeed, I have tears writing this.

BHS provided music in support of the remembrance - and of the celebration.

Perhaps sometimes instead of shouting it, we could remember so much that we do, and just whisper to ourselves, “It’s great to be a barbershopper”.

You've seen 21 buzzes from me, and this will be my last, at least for awhile. I'm going to take a hiatus from OCS and help HCA compete in the Louisville International. Wish us well.
It's great to be a barbershopper.

Ten Steps to a Note

1. Hear a Pitch. See Nov 25 detail.
2. Find Your Note. See Nov 30 Detail
3. Check Your Posture

4. Drop the Jaw!  See Feb 8 Detail.
5. Form a Vowel. See Feb 15 Detail. 
6. Open Your Throat. See Feb 22 Detail. 
7. Open the Vocal Folds. See Mar 30 Detail. 
8. Take a Singer's Breath - See the April 7 Detail. 
9. Do Nothing!! - See the April 13 Detail. 
10. Support and Add Air - - See the April 13 Detail. 

Why Bubble? -- See the April 20 Detail. 

4. Future Notes

  • May 29: Is Memorial Day. Chapter Cookout at Warren Fuson's house! 8801 Lakewood Dr, Raleigh NC, 27613. Spouses are certainly invited.

5. Long Range

  • June 5: 7:15pm: Concert at Searstone! Please show up at 6:30. 
  • Oct 22, a Sunday afternoon. Oak City Sound in concert at Preston Pointe in Morrisville.
6. Champagne Room
  • A toast to Paul Martin and his dance partner, Priscilla Smith, for winning the Top Amateur Couple trophy at the River City Dance Competition, in Richmond, Virginia, this past Saturday.  High on adrenaline, Paul not only was able to celebrate but also get to Chapel Hill in time to sing the national anthem at the UNC ball game. Congratulations Paul!
  • A big thank you to Mike Muha for getting a new Oak City Sound banner made in just a couple of days, in time for our booth at Cary Spring Daze.
  • A great read: "Joining a barbershop quartet helped me find my voice"  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/first-person-barbershop-quartet-1.6823150