8 February 2012
#201202

Dear Parents and Choristers,

We trust that everyone is settled at school (especially our grade 8’s and those who changed to new schools) and that the daily routines are getting easier. The intense heat has exhausted us all and the children need to be commended for their hard work at rehearsals, when the swimming pool must seem like a much better option.

Please remember to also let your child read this newsletter.

CHOIR CALENDAR
The updated choir calendar is attached. Please note that ALL performances are compulsory and that ONLY Mr Van Zyl can excuse a chorister from a performance.

CLOTHING
Clothing and backpack orders are now overdue. Please comply in order for us to place orders timeously. Touring choristers need to ensure that their jackets still fit properly. We have a few second hand jackets in good order. Please contact Petro du Toit (083 207 3865) for details.

It is an honour to wear the ECCC clothing and accessories and our choristers work hard to deserve it. Please do not give our branded items away to non-members. Rather return them to the choir where there is always someone in need.

TOUR
Deposits were due by 31 January. Thank you for the good response. There are only a few places still available. Placement from here on will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Please also remember that any money paid in will FIRST be allocated to annual choir fees, and then only towards tour fees.

We will have a meeting for tour parents before the end of the first term.

VOX AUREA CHILDREN’s CHOIR (Finland)
Thank you to everyone who will be opening their homes to our special visitors. One of their older members has already arrived in Port Elizabeth for a six-month exchange study at the NMMU, and she reports that they are out of their skins with excitement. Hosts will receive full details in due course.

OTHER HOSTING
Port Elizabeth is a popular destination for outstanding international choirs this year, with Vox Aurea (Finland) in March, Los Angeles Children’s Choir (US) in July and (added this week) the Prague Philharmonic Children’s Choir from the Czech Republic in October! This, in itself, is a compliment to our choir, as all these choirs visit us based on the recommendations of other choirs and conductors.

The adults (conductors and management) of the Halle Children’s Choir, whom we will be visiting in September, will also be visiting Port Elizabeth in August. We are looking for accommodation for the nights of 10 and 11 August for this group of 16. They will be occupied during the day, so we are literally looking for beds and breakfast. Please complete the reply slip below if you can help out.


Yours in music,
Henriette    

Attached:        Choir Calendar as at 8 February 2012 (Click on link. You need an Internet connection for this.)
                         Reply slip for group from Halle (below)

HOSTING REPLY FOR GROUP FROM HALLE (GERMANY), 10 and 11 AUGUST 2012

DUE DATE: Friday, 10 February 2012
(Please return, even if not able to host. You may copy and paste this into a new e-mail)

Chorister Name:        ______________________________
Contact Parent:            ______________________________  
Contact Number:        ______________________________
Contact e-mail:        ______________________________

We are able / unable (delete which is not applicable) to host.

We are able to host 2 / 3 / 4 people.

We have / do not have pets.
We mind / do not mind hosting vegetarians or guests with special dietary requirements.