<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Consolas;
panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="2050" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=WordSection1>
<p class=MsoNormal>Dear Choir,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I am writing to let you know of a project that will involve The
Concert Singers of Cary and provide some background regarding how it came to be
and how singers were selected for the project.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>On August 16<sup>th</sup>, I was contacted by a
representative from New York who was calling on behalf of the British based
Producers of the show <i>Stomp</i> who were celebrating their 20<sup>th</sup>
anniversary. A new 12 city tour was being planned with the second stop being at
Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh. Stomp was introducing a new concept called <i>Stomp
Pandemonium: The Lost and Found Orchestra</i> which featured string and wind instruments
using the same junk yard materials that they have made into percussion
instruments over the years. In addition, they wanted the last 15 minutes of the
show to include a small chorus. Because of our past involvement in some unusual
programming, were recommended by the organizers of the Broadway South.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>While this sounds like and IS a wonderful opportunity, there
were some serious challenges in making it happen. The production involves eight
performances from September 28<sup>th</sup> – October 3<sup>rd</sup> and
a two rehearsal schedule that begins on September 25<sup>th</sup>. We
didn’t receive final confirmation for the project until August 23<sup>rd</sup>.
I have learned that these kinds of events often happen last minute as the
logistics of something this large are monumental. Adding a chorus that
essentially serves as a cameo is one of the last pieces to be put in place.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>As a group for hire, whoever does the hiring also sets most
of the criteria. There were numerous criteria involved in putting the group
together, most of which were dictated by <i>Stomp</i> to insure that we
would deliver what they were requesting and needing for the project to be
successful. The criteria in this case had to do with the specific numbers
requested (S-10, A-8, T-6, B-4), physical mobility, type and size of voice,
ability to learn and memorize on short rehearsal and availability for all
rehearsals and performances. We hope to field more of these professional level
projects from touring organizations such as Stomp and last year's Video Game
Symphony and to do so we need to become more used to the idea that the criteria
will be on a project by project basis, varying greatly as a result. I
completely understand if some of you are disappointed that you were not
included this time. I found it personally stressful to find myself in the
position of having to make those choices.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The Stomp project is a <strong><span style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif"'>wonderful </span></strong>marketing opportunity for us.
It exposes CSC to a wide range of people who are not regular choral or
symphony audiences. The producers are also giving us the opportunity to promote
discount tickets sales through an online source that will provide CSC with a
$2.50 profit for each ticket sold. I will send you more information about that
in a separate e-mail. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Larry<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#984806'>Lawrence Speakman<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#984806'>Artistic Director and Conductor</span></b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#984806'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:#984806'><img width=121 height=122 id="Picture_x0020_1"
src="cid:image001.jpg@01CB5842.CEEBB230" alt="CSC_final_logo"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#984806'>The Concert Singers of Cary<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#984806'>919-249-6421<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Consolas;
color:#984806'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:#984806'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>