The Acorn – Oct. 22, 2025 – OCS Weekly News - Holiday Singers, Oak City Sound

Type of post: Chorus news item
Sub-type: The Acorn
Posted By: Evie Snapp
Status: Current
Date Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2025
The Acorn – Oct. 22, 2025 – OCS Weekly News

1. High Notes
  • Oct. 17 (Fri) – Thanks to everyone who attended and made our 50th anniversary celebration a success. It was wonderful to see many old friends and our newest ones.
  • Oct. 20 (Mon) – We had 13 Holiday Chorus singers tonight! It’s not too late for other people to join – feel free to invite them for this coming Monday Oct. 27, 7:30p – 8:15p at Glenaire (4000 Glenaire Circle).
  • Oct. 27 (Mon) – Rehearsal will be ONE NIGHT ONLY at GLENAIRE:
    • 4000 Glenaire Circle – park in the circle or there is a deck just down the street at 5100 Glenhope Ct.
    • At the 4000 address, walk in the main building and it’s the big room on the right.  
  • NOTE: on Nov. 10 (Mon) – The Mixed and Men’s choruses will be performing at The Forest at Duke.
    • Holiday Chorus members are welcome to come and watch, but will not be singing/performing.
    • We will have a SHORT rehearsal afterward as we continue to prepare for our holiday shows.
  • Holiday Quartets – If you’re interested in singing in a quartet for the holidays, but don’t have one… please let Gary know ASAP.
2. Overtures
  • N.C. State Home Game Concessions – This is our KEY fundraiser for the year. Sign up here:  https://tinyurl.com/25OCSconcess
  • New name badges are here! How do you get one?
    • Work a shift at NCSU home game concessions – no cost.
    • Join as a NEW OCS member – no cost.
    • Current members – replace for $20 (reach out to Warren).
  • 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
  • We were sounding GOOD on Monday night with all of our guests! We are going to have some GREAT shows this holiday season!
  • For next rehearsal – please listen to the following and consider which parts you might want to sing:
    • Women – Silent Night
    • Men – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
  • Veteran singers, please look through the songs you have sung in years past and make sure you haven't rewritten anything since last Christmas!
  • For Rehearsal on Oct 27:
    • MIXED
    • National Anthem
    • Battle Hymn
    • You’re a Grand Old Flag
    • Gloucestershire Wassail
    • S’vivon
    • It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
    • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
    • WOMEN’S
    • Silent Night
    • HOLIDAY CHORUS
    • Mele Kalikimaka
    • I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
    • Carol of the Bells
    • Holly Jolly Christmas
    • MEN’S
    • God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
    • What Child is This/We Three Kings Medley
    • Christmastime is Here
    • Winter Wonderland

4. Accelerando
  • LOCATION CHANGE Oct. 27 (Mon) – this rehearsal only, we’ll be at GLENAIRE.
  • Nov. 10 (Mon): The Forest at Duke (Performance – Mixed and Men’s Choruses ONLY) – Veterans’ Day theme, so this will include some patriotic music – and costume.
HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES – where Holiday Chorus members are invited to perform!:
  • Nov 24 (Mon): The Templeton (Performance)
  • December 1 (Mon): Whispering Pines  (Performance)
  • December 8 (Mon): The Cardinal  (Performance)
  • December 15 (Mon), 7pm: Springmoor  (Performance)
  • December 16 (Tuesday): Holiday Show (public concert) – Halle Cultural Arts Center (downtown Apex)
  • December 22 (Mon), 7pm: Waltonwood (Lake Boone Trail)  (Performance)

5. Festivo (Holiday)
  • HOLIDAY CHORUS – Please invite people to this FREE experience!
    • It’s not too late to invite more people!
  • The HC:
    • Offers guests a chance to try barbershop (for free!) for a few weeks – then sing with 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/sweater 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?)
    • HC Songs are:
      • Carol of the Bells
      • Holly Jolly Christmas
      • Mele Kalikimaka
      • I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

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!
  • For those who haven’t heard, we are sad to share that Nic Cols passed away late Friday. His wife Sandy expects to share details about a memorial in another week or so. His Caring Bridge site is at: https://tinyurl.com/CBNic