My name is Mr. Ramsey Kurdi and I am the new Director of the East Bay Summer Chorus. Inactive for a number of years, the EBSC (then called The East Bay Chorus) was begun in the late 1970’s as part of the East Bay Association for the Arts, under the direction of Mr. Charles Mello. I am honored to be asked by The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble Director, Mr. David M. Marshall to continue the development of singers in the greater East Bay area over the summer.

I hope you find it helpful if I quickly elaborate on my background in choral music. I earned my Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and my Master of Music Degree in Music Education from the New England Conservatory of Music.  I have previously worked in the Worcester and Hopkinton Public School Systems. Over the past nine years, I have directed choral groups of every size and grade level. Choral groups under my direction have been recognized for their performing excellence at state festivals, including invitations to perform for the Honors Concert as part of the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors' Association Honors Concert to conclude the Solo and Ensemble Festival and for U.S. Senator John Kerry. I was also the director for the MMEA Western District Junior Boy's Choir in 2006. Many of my students have successfully auditioned for the MMEA Central & Southeastern District, All-State Honors Ensembles and have gone on to top music schools in the country to major as performers and music educators. As a performer, I have been a member in a wide variety of choral, other performing ensembles and as a soloist throughout New England. I am currently enjoying my first year as Director of Choral Music at Somerset High School.

The East Bay Summer Chorus will hold its first rehearsal of the season on the stage at Somerset High School located at 625 County Street in Somerset, MA on Thursday, May 29th, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Rehearsals are held every Thursday until mid-August. Our mission is to provide musicians entering grades 9 through adult with a quality summer music experience. We hope to have the same diversity in the chorus that we boast with EBSWE in that its membership will consist of vocalists of all ages and backgrounds! You can expect 2-3 performances in this, our re-inaugural season.

The registration fee is $35.00 for the entire season and is due at the first rehearsal (checks payable to EBSWE), but will be reduced to $20 for active EBSWE members that are interested in performing with both groups! For updated information on the ensemble and directions to Somerset High School, please visit our link on The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble’s web-site located at WWW.EBSWE.ORG. Thank you in advanced for your support and considered participation of this valuable and exciting, new summer program! We hope to add to the fine musical tradition that the EBSWE has celebrated for over 30 years!

Ramsey Kurdi, Director

The East Bay Summer Chorus

17 Naomi Street

Bristol, RI 02809

(401) 253-7794

Weekly Announcements

May 29, 2008

Announcements

1.   Greetings, and welcome to the first rehearsal of the Easy Bay Summer Chorus in this, our re-inaugural season. I am proud to be a part of the tradition of choral singing excellence in this area and am very happy to help guide you through our process together this summer.

2.   Here is our repertoire for the summer:

• "The Storm is Passing Over", by Charles Tindley - arr. Barbara Baker. This is an up-tempo gospel style tune that has a strong rhythmic feel. There are sections that will be repeated and can include some improvisation!

• "Shenandoah" - arr. Linda Spevacek. This is a classic, American folk song. This arrangement has some wonderful harmonies that are easily accessible to anyone and make for wonderful tone painting.

• "My Funny Valentine", by Richard Rogers - arr. Kirby Shaw. This wonderful ballad comes to us in an a cappella arrangement. Although there are some intense chords, this will be a very satisfying piece.

• "Corner Of The Sky" (from, Pippin), by Stephen Schwartz - arr. John Cacavas. Yes, Schwartz wrote things before Wicked. This is an up-tempo ballad with a duple feel, despite the 4/4 marking.

• "America The Beautiful", by Samuel Ward - arr. Joseph Joubert. There are some challenging harmonies, particularly in the introductions to each verse. Although the original poem has 8 verses, this (as do most) arrangement uses only two.

As we come to this group with different levels of musicianship, we all have the same level of caring about the music we make. In order for this season to be the success we all want, I have made some audio files of each of the pieces. When you visit www.ebswe.org and click the “chorus” link, there will be a file for each of the vocal parts and a file with all parts heard simultaneously. If any of you would like a CD, please let me know.

Here's to a season filled with communication at our highest level and performances at our best! Thank you in advance for your joyous work.

3.   Please sign-in to each rehearsal on the sign-in sheet.

4.   Please visit our web-site (www.ebswe.org) for current news, updated information, concert performance calendars, driving directions, pictures and our question forum.

5.   This season we will be printing out a program booklet to be distributed at all East Bay (Wind Ensembles too) concerts. This worked out very well last year for the organization and did make us a profit for which to buy more music and supplies with. We will be selling business and patron advertisements in the program as a fundraiser. Information regarding that fundraiser will be distributed this evening!

6.   We will also be presenting the second annual “Night at the Pops” Concert in late August at The Our Lady of Light Band Club to close our season. This was a huge success last year and plans are in the works for another outstanding event. This concert will feature the EBSWE, EBSYE and EBSC. More info will come in the following weeks!

Performances (Call time is 45 minutes prior to each performance time)

Saturday, July 19^th ............................................... Our Lady of Light Festival.............................. TBA

TBA ...................................................................... R.I Veterans Home............................................ TBA

TBA ...................................................................... “Night at the Pops” Concert........................... TBA

Rehearsal Files

Are you a vocalist in your high school or college music program looking to continue singing choral music during the summer months? Well here’s your solution…

The East Bay Summer Chorus

This summer the fine tradition of choral excellence started in 1977 is returning to Bristol County RI/MA, once again in collaboration with The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble!

The EBSC is a Summer Concert Choir comprised of 8th – 12th Grade Vocalists that practice and perform a wide variety of fun, exciting and challenging, concert literature!

Membership Requirements:

·        Acceptance into the ensemble is based on your director’s recommendation!

·        It is recommended that members should have at least 1 year of singing experience in a chorus.

·        ONLY SERIOUS MUSICIANS looking to improve their skills over the summer with a large chorus should apply! Music literacy, while a great plus, is not required!

Come and meet new people that share your interest for singing!!!

Rehearsals take place on Wednesday Evenings during the summer from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. beginning May 29^th, 2008 at

Somerset High School

625 County Street

Somerset, MA 02726

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, SEE YOUR CHORUS DIRECTOR AND LET HIM/HER KNOW THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED!!!

INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO YOU PRIOR TO THE FIRST REHEARSAL!

• EBSC 2008 Repertoire:

   

  • "America The Beautiful" by Samuel Ward / arr. by Joseph Joubert

  • "Corner Of The Sky" (from, Pippin)  by Stephen Schwartz / arr. by John Cacavas

  • "My Funny Valentine" by Richard Rogers / arr. by Kirby Shaw

  • "Shenandoah" arr. by Linda Spevacek

  • "The Storm is Passing Over" by Charles Tindley / arr. by Barbara Baker

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