The Acorn – Dec. 3, 2025 – OCS Weekly News - Holiday Singers, Oak City Sound, Oak City Sound - (mixed)

Type of post: Chorus news item
Sub-type: The Acorn
Posted By: Evie Snapp
Status: Current
Date Posted: Wed, Dec 3 2025
The Acorn – Dec. 3, 2025 – OCS Weekly News

1. High Notes
  • Dec. 8 (Mon) – CONCERT / short rehearsal after:   The Cardinal
    • 6:30p Call for Mixed & Men’s.
    • Call time 6:45p for Women singing Silent Night this week!
    • 7:00p Call for Holiday Chorus.
    • Performance starts at 7pm
    • Holiday Chorus, Mixed Chorus and Men’s Chorus will sing. Don’t forget to bring your music binder!
    • Wear your HOLIDAY outfit – festive, solid-color shirt, black everything else.
    • Location is The Cardinal at North Hills: 4030 Cardinal at N Hills St, Raleigh, NC 27609
  • Can you help setup on TUESDAY, Dec. 16? 
    • Before our Halle Cultural Arts Center show on Dec 16th, we will need a few singers to come early (4pm) to help set up the risers and decorate the stage.
    • If you want to help, please let Larry Hill know at larryphill@yahoo.com. 
    • There have already been several volunteers step forward to help with decorating the stage so we will only need a few more, especially those that can be there at 4:00 to help unload the risers and move them through the facility to the stage.
  • Dec. 16 (Tues) – Afterglow party at Dawne & Tom’s! See info & RSVP below.
  • Dec. 29 (Mon) – If you didn’t see below, we’ve confirmed that we will be Caroling at Rex Hospital on Dec. 29. Come sing with us!
    • EVERYONE is invited to join us as we are escorted around nurses’ stations, etc.
    • 6:30p Call time. Singing from 7p – 8p.
    • Singers must sign an NDA form on-site – a standard thing we’ve been required to do in years past.
    • There will be NO rehearsal that night.
2. Overtures
  • Afterglow Dec. 16 – RSVP please – post-Holiday Concert until “who knows?”
    • Hosts Dawne and Tom Galdi invite everyone to their home for this Afterglow!
    • 2400 Fordcrest Dr. Apex, NC;   919-235-7884
    • They will have beer, wine, soda and water on hand. Planning on barbecue sliders, charcuterie, etc etc. 
    • “Feel free to bring snacks, but it's definitely optional.”
    • RSVP here:  https://forms.gle/JQXGBssuzkRuVAbz7
  • 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.”
  • 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).
  • Fundraiser or Concert Suggestions? – Contact a member of the board and let us know.

3. Carol's Cadence
  • We had a small audience this week, but they had a great time. It looked like you were all having fun, too!
  • Stay healthy and hydrated. It’s dry now that the temps have dropped!
  • Performance order for Dec. 8 at The Cardinal
    1. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year     (Mixed)
    2. Gloucestershire Wassail         (Mixed)
    3. Quartet: Never Home Four – Grandma’s Killer Fruitcake + 1
    4. What Child is This                  (Men’s)
    5. Audience Singalong:  Jingle Bells
    6. Winter Wonderland    (Men’s)
    7. Jingle Bell Rock         (Men’s)
    8. Silent Night    (Women’s)
    9. Audience Singalong:  Deck the Halls
    10. S’vivon           (Mixed)
    11. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas       (Mixed)
    12. Quartet: Holiday Cheer &   ?VLQ:  Mary Did You Know??
    13. Carol of the Bells       (Holiday Chorus)
    14. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas          (Holiday Chorus)
    15. Holly Jolly Christmas            (Holiday Chorus)
    16. Mele Kalikimaka        (Holiday Chorus)

4. Accelerando
HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES – where Holiday Chorus members are invited to perform!: Times listed below are PERFORMANCE start times. CALL times will be earlier!
  • December 8 (Mon), 7pm: The Cardinal  (Performance)
  • December 15 (Mon), 7pm: Springmoor  (Performance)
  • December 16 (Tuesday – 7:30pm): Holiday Show (public concert) – Halle Cultural Arts Center (downtown Apex)    (Performance)
    • Regular Chorus call time TENTATIVE: 5:30p
    • Holiday Chorus call time TENTATIVE: 5:45pm
  • December 22 (Mon), 7pm: Waltonwood (Lake Boone Trail)  (Performance)
  • December 29 (Mon): 7pm: Caroling at UNC Rex Hospital. Call is 6:30pm. Holiday Chorus members are invited to join us!
2026 Dates:
  • January will mark the beginning of rehearsals at Glenaire, 4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary.
  • TBD - Jan. 12 or 16 will be our awards/installation celebration
  • April 17-18:  District Convention & Contest (Hendersonville, N.C.) – optional, but most members try to go. Our chorus usually sings for evaluation scores. Any of our quartets plan to compete?!

5. Festivo (Holiday)
  • Holiday Chorus reminders:
    • Practice the HC songs (below) – no need to memorize.
    • No fee, no special costume – we will again do a solid-color 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 various locations (Nov. 24 & Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22)
    • 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.
  • April 17 – 18, 2026:  Carolinas District Convention & Contest (2026)
  • 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!
  • Best wishes for Ray following his bike accident – crossing our fingers for a good report from the doctor!
  • Take care of yourself and check in on friends during this season – while it brings joy, it can also bring stress or sad memories.