The Acorn – Aug. 15, 2025 – OCS Weekly News

Type of post: Chorus news item
Sub-type: The Acorn
Posted By: Evie Snapp
Status: Current
Date Posted: Fri, Aug 15 2025
The Acorn – Aug. 15, 2025 – OCS Weekly News

1. High Notes
  • Aug 11:  Great rehearsal in our new space! Good to see many returning guests.
  • Aug 18 (Mon): REMINDER - NEW LOCATION: Searstone, 19001 Searstone Drive, Cary, 27513.
    • Building 19001, in the Auditorium. We will be there through December.
  • Aug 21 (Thursday) – Panda Express Fundraiser #4! 
    • Fundraiser Code 9003972
    • Please share with your friends across the country to help us meet the $150 minimum to activate the 28% rebate to the chorus.
  • Aug 25 (Mon): Performance @ The Cardinal
    • Guest singers are welcome to attend! We may rehearse a little after the performance.
  • Sept 1 (Mon) – NO REHEARSAL – Happy Labor Day!
2. Overtures
  • New name badges are here! Current members who would like to replace their old badge with the new style can contact Warren ($20 cost). Reminder: NEW members (who are joining now) receive a name badge at no cost.
  • N.C. State Home Game Concessions – Thanks to those already signed up to work – we have a few spots open and need backup workers as well! Remember this is our KEY fundraiser for the year.
    • Aug. 28 (Thurs), 7pm game time
    • Sept. 6 (Sat), 12 pm noon game time
    • Sept. 27 (Sat), time TBD
    • Oct. 4 (Sat), time TBD
    • Nov. 1 (Sat), time TBD
    • Nov. 21 (Fri), 8pm game time
    • Nov. 29 (Sat), time TBD
  • Meetup Group – Remember to RSVP for each rehearsal and afterward, RATE us on Meetup. We are listed under Oak City Sound or “Raleigh Area A Cappella Singing Meetup Group.”
  • Fundraiser or Concert Suggestions? – Contact a member of the board and let us know.

3. Carol's Cadence
  • It was pretty fun hearing all of those overtones on Monday night! That is a sign that we are getting better at singing freely and matching our vowel shapes. Hooray!
  • You will be in good hands with Mike as he prepares you for our next performance. Gary and I will see you at The Cardinal on the 25th!
  • For Rehearsal on Aug 18:
    • From Mike: Be ready to sing any of the Performance songs listed for the 25th. We may also do some first attempts at holiday songs if we have time.
  • Performance Order for The Cardinal on Aug 25:
    • Mixed:
    • You've Got a Friend in Me     Mixed
    • Hey, Good Lookin'                 Mixed
    • I Only Have Eyes for You      Mixed
    • Quartet #1      
    • Lazy Day                                Men’s
    • 59th Street Bridge Song         Men’s
    • Yesterday                                Men’s
    • Two Less Lonely People        Men’s
    • Happy Together                      Men’s
    • Quartet #2
    • The Lion Sleeps Tonight        Mixed
    • I Didn't Want to Fall               Mixed
    • What a Wonderful World       Mixed

4. Accelerando
  • Aug 21 (Thursday): Panda Express Fundraiser #4
  • Aug 25 (Mon), 7pm: The Cardinal
  • Sept 1 (Mon) – NO REHEARSAL (Labor Day)
  • Sept. 15 (Mon), 7pm: The Oaks at Whitaker Glen
  • NEW Sept 22 (Mon): Our Rehearsal session will be with performance coach Gary Plaag.
  • Oct. 13 (Mon): First rehearsal for Holiday Chorus! Invite people to join!
  • Oct. 17 (Friday) – Oak City Sound’s 50th Anniversary Celebration: Crabtree Park
  • Nov. 10 (Mon): The Forest at Duke
  • NEW Nov 24 (Mon): The Templeton
  • December 1 (Mon): Whispering Pines
  • December 8 (Mon): The Cardinal
  • December 15 (Mon), 7pm: Springmoor
  • December 16 (Tuesday): Holiday Show (public concert) – Halle Cultural Arts Center (downtown Apex)
  • December 22 (Mon), 7pm: Waltonwood (Lake Boone Trail)

5. Festivo (Holiday)
  • HOLIDAY CHORUS – We will again have the Holiday Chorus this year. Please invite your friends! The HC:
    • Offers guests a chance to try barbershop (for free!) for a few weeks – then join us in a concert(s).
    • Guests attend 3 to 6 rehearsals (starting Oct. 13, 7:30 – 8:15p)
    • Practice the HC songs (below) – no need to memorize.
    • No fee, no special costume – we will again do a holiday top and black bottoms.
    • HC singers are invited to sing at our holiday concert (Dec. 16, Tuesday) and/or at any of our holiday shows at retiree centers (Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 – possibly Nov date?)
    • Physical and digital flyer is forthcoming.
  • Our Holiday Songs have been selected!
  • See the list below. Some learning tracks are already available – feel free to start learning if you want. Additional learning tracks will be uploaded soon.
    • HOLIDAY CHORUS (remember, we will all be allowed to use sheet music for these; no memorization required)
      • Carol of the Bells
      • Holly Jolly Christmas
      • Mele Kalikimaka
      • I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
    • MIXED
      • Gloucester Wassail
      • Merry Little Christmas (swing version)
      • Most Wonderful Time of the Year
      • S’vivon (aka The Dreidel)
    • MEN’S
      • Christmastime is Here
      • Jingle Bell Rock
      • What Child is This
      • Winter Wonderland
    • God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – arranged by our own Mike Muha!
    • Silent Night (SSAA arrangement) – arranged by our own Ashley Vernon!

6. In Harmony  (Around the BHS World)
  • Jan 13 – 18, 2026:  BHS Midwinter, Pasadena, California.
  • March 20 – 21, 2026:  Carolinas District Convention & Contest (2026), Location TBD (Asheville?)
  • June 28 – July 5, 2026: BHS International (2026) – St. Louis, Missouri.
  • Future International locations: 2027 – Minneapolis, MN; 2028 – Chicago, Ill.; 2029 – San Antonio, Texas

7. Major & Minor Moods
Please send our friends your prayers & best wishes!
  • Shirley’s husband recently had a heart procedure and has been recovering. Please send them your best wishes!