reston chorale | Vienna Choral Society

Masterclass: Tell Me More

June 13, 2013

“What exactly happens at Masterclass?”

We got that question from quite a few of you about the vocal workshops this summer. So we went back to singers who took last summer’s vocal workshop, and asked the Masterclass attendees to tell us what they thought of the experience. First up, Joel Cline, VCS’ resident meteorologist, and a frequent soloist. In fact, if you came to Music Of The Storms, our concert for a cause in March 2013, Joel was the one who painted the picture for us about Hurricane Katrina and led us into Requiem. Joel was one of the first people to sign up for last summer’s Masterclass spots, and here is what he has to say.

VCS: What’s the difference between the Masterclass and the general class for you?

Joel: Masterclass was a bit more individual technique and instruction for my voice and things I was doing. [Read more…]

T-Minus-4 to “Opera For The People”

May 14, 2013

Show week breakfast of champions. Hey, don’t judge. (image by V31S70)

And that quickly, we are in show week!

Tickets are still available online for Vienna and Reston. (We always have them at the door, but we encourage you to get your tickets ahead of time. Online = less waiting at the door!) But we digress….back to show week. Which means: [Read more…]

Top Ten Reasons To Come And See “Opera For The People”

May 9, 2013

The Reston Chorale’s David Brian Lang, in full arm wavery!

VCS’ Jennifer Rodgers Beach, about to make the choir flip castanets – sorta.

You get to see not just one but TWO directors wave arms! And stomp feet – in a good way. [Read more…]

Opera: 18th Century Metallica

May 3, 2013

In which Karen Akers, Alto, President of the VCS Board, and person of acute and hilarious wit, holds forth on opera as we head into the last two weeks of intensive rehearsal for Opera For The People. (Early bird tickets still on sale, available until Monday, May 6, 2013.)

Swallow all food and drink before reading this on your electronic device of choice, you have been warned.

What we think when we think of opera…..(image courtesy The Worm-Stung God)

Here’s the deal – a lot of people think they don’t like opera because it’s stuffy. An audience of over-dressed people, withstanding the assault of large men and women singing at them, at decibel levels that can induce deafness. The language is incomprehensible, the choruses never seem to end, and singers wander up and down the stage like a rather unfocused staff meeting. If staff meetings featured singing. And maybe hats with horns on them. And what’s up with the horns?

Nope. We won’t be wearing horns. (image courtesy Operagasm)

[Read more…]

Our Opera(tic) Fundraiser

April 29, 2013

Note-pounding includes lots of written notes. And why yes, we are doing Bridal Chorus. (image by John Attebury)

Don’t know if you noticed but we kinda went quiet last week. No, we didn’t go off to enjoy the outdoors (although if you hear warbling in your backyard, that’s probably one of us note-pounding).

Instead, we’ve been very busy rehearsing our hearts out for what we affectionately refer to as the seasonal BHAG – “big hairy goal.” And we do mean that in the most affectionate way possible, because we couldn’t be more excited about “Opera for the People,” our big upcoming season ender and joint collaboration with The Reston Chorale! Two choirs, 150 voices, and a huge wall of rich sound. This is going to be fabulous, so get your tickets now! Early Bird Tickets are on sale for one more week.

But we have to be honest with you. We need your help to make “Opera” a success. Which is why we’re running our opera(tic) fundraiser on Razoo. [Read more…]

First Joint Rehearsal With “The Reston Chorale”

April 15, 2013

We’re five weeks out from our joint performance of “Opera For The People” with The Reston Chorale – do you have your tickets yet? They’re available online, and early bird prices end in three weeks!

But here’s the thing – there will be two choirs, and we don’t usually rehearse at the same time. Huh?! Let us explain.

TRC also rehearses Tuesdays. But they began rehearsing for this performance two weeks before us because their calendar’s slightly different. And they rehearse in Reston. We, meanwhile, began rehearsing after “Music of the Storms” and we rehearse in Vienna. And we’ve all practiced the same pieces of music.

So how do we bring it all together? [Read more…]

Early Bird Tickets Now On Sale for “Opera For The People”

April 8, 2013

Now that we’re done with open rehearsals, it’s time for us to really dig in to the music. And in fact, we’re excited about a joint rehearsal – our first so far – with The Reston Chorale, coming up this week.

In case you’re wondering, we have done joint choir performances before – like The Requiem in May 2011 when Jen’s choir from UUCR and Mark’s UUCF Chorale joined with VCS for a huge sound of 175 voices. But everyone knew Mark and Jen, while that’s not the case this time. Jen and David Brian Lang, who directs The Reston Chorale, know each other. The choirs? Not so much! So we’re looking forward to rehearsing with them this week over breakfast and (very strong) coffee.

It’s going to be fun to sing with another group of people who’ve all rehearsed the same music, just not in the same room, for the last few weeks. Uncertain? Yes. A lot of “you zig while I zag?” Probably. Some version of “wait, what?!” as we sing? Definitely. A great deal of “Hey I didn’t know you sing here!” and “Don’t I know you from…..?” Most definitely. But hey, we’re adventurous like that….isn’t that why you come to see us? Because we take these huge creative chances?

We are very excited about this concert. It’s simultaneously fun, exciting, and nervy to have a whole other choir, with its own dynamics and back-bench kibbitzers add another layer of interestingness to your weekly wall of sound. And truly, the music is so great – you’ll recognize some of it, be alternatively amused (oh yes) and swept away (hey, it’s opera). We can’t wait to bring it to you.

Early bird (aka, lower priced) tickets are online, and available until May 6, after which they go up to full price. Don’t wait, get your tickets now!

Third And Last “Open Rehearsal” For 2012-13 Season

April 2, 2013

Just a quick reminder that tonight is our third and final open rehearsal for the season. We are back to normal, and sing at 7:15 pm at Church of the Holy Comforter in Vienna.

If you’ve wanted to shake off the vocal cobwebs and see what it’s like to be part of that big wall of sound, this is your last opportunity for the season. We don’t hold open rehearsals again until the next season kicks off in the fall.

If you already know you’d like to sing with us, please check out the membership information on our website to find registration forms. If you’d like to just come by and visit, that’s fine too.

And we’re not kidding about the “wall of sound” – that’s what it feels like when you’re singing with 150 voices! Which is what’ll happen in May when we join forces with The Reston Chorale to present Opera for the People. Early bird tickets are now on sale.

Open Rehearsal Details for “Opera for the People”

March 19, 2013

Opera for the People (artwork by Steven Keen of Keen Method LLC)

Did you love what you saw last weekend? Come sing with us! We are a non-audition, welcoming, and diverse choir of 80 voices and we’re always happy to add voices.

Our next concert will be Opera For The People. And our next three rehearsals are open. Join us, come check us out, or just visit if you’d like – you are most welcome.

7:15 pm, Tuesdays
March 19 and April 2 at Church of the Holy Comforter
March 26 at UUCF

If you already know you want to join, please go here to get a start on registration and membership forms. Don’t worry if you can’t, we’ll figure it out when you get to us.

Come on down! The opera awaits.

From Storms To Opera!

March 18, 2013

Thank you SO much for coming out to see us last weekend! It was a great show and we so enjoyed singing for you – because you know what? Hearing warm applause from a nearly standing-room-only audience is a fabulous thing. And our partners and participants could not have been a cooler bunch of folks!

If you missed the show, please take a look at photo album on Facebook – we’re updating it as we can. And we’ll be adding video as we get it. In the meantime we jump right into open rehearsals for the next concert, yes we do!

Please save the date for Opera for the People 150+ voices as we join forces with The Reston Chorale to put on a show that Jen calls “Wagner Worthy.

7:30 pm, Saturday, May 18, 2013 at the Reston Community Center

4:30 pm, Sunday, May 19, 2013 at DeSales Hall, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna

Early Bird Tickets are already available online.