The Acorn – Jan. 1, 2026 – OCS Weekly News

The Acorn – Jan. 1, 2026 – OCS Weekly News

Prelude: Holiday Chorus Singers

Thanks to ALL Holiday Chorus singers for making the Holiday performances so enjoyable by adding your voices to the chorus.
We’re extending each of you a special invitation to attend either, or both, of our next two rehearsals (see details in the main newsletter):
- Monday, January 5th - our first rehearsal of the New Year
- Monday, January 12th - a special rehearsal where we will celebrate, and thank, the Holiday Chorus singers, as well as install Chorus officers. We'll have cake and refreshments immediately following the Mixed Chorus rehearsal.

1. High Notes

Jan. 5 (Mon) – regular rehearsal resumes at Glenaire, 4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary. (Parking is available in the circle OR in the Glenaire parking deck at 5100 Glenhope Ct.)
- We will return to our regular schedule:
  - 6:45p for Mixed
  - 8:00p for Business meeting / break
  - 8:15p for Men’s
- Plan to rehearse our existing repertoire:
  - In the Harmony app, see the 2026 songs, which are first on the list.
  - This will allow us to help get everyone back into the flow of the regular part of the year, and to let the new folks see what they will be looking forward to.
- Bring your music so we make sure we are actually “remembering” the right notes!
  - The app has a bug where songs are not alphabetized – sorry.
  - Don’t worry so much about “Battle Hymn,” “Star-Spangled Banner,” & You’re a Grand Old Flag.”
- Start working on our new songs – though we won’t rehearse them this week.
  - Mixed: “I Can See Clearly Now”
  - Men’s: “If”

Jan. 12 (Mon) – Optional Pre-Dinner & Modified Rehearsal & Awards & Install Party at Glenaire.
- 5:30p – OPTIONAL: Join us at Chicken Salad Chick in Waverly Place (Cary). Dinner purchase is on your own, but members, friends, and significant others are all invited to attend. This is a great chance to get to know each other!
- 6:30p – Meet at Glenaire for our regular Mixed rehearsal, followed by a board installation / awards ceremony / social:
- 6:45p for Mixed Chorus rehearsal
- 7:45p – Break and cake served!
- 8:00p – Installation and Awards Reception begins
- 8:45p – Reception ends (approx.)
- 9:00p – Afterglow (location TBD) – If you’re unfamiliar, an “Afterglow” is like an after-party in Barbershop-land. Join us to chat and sing! And maybe eat an appetizer or have a beverage if you want.

2. Overtures

New Performance Outfits - 2026:
- For those who haven’t heard, we have updated our performance outfits for 2026. (The short backstory is that our previous shirts/colors were discontinued.) The Board approved a new “black and white” standard (plus occasional festive bling).
- PLEASE REVIEW NEW GUIDELINES HERE: https://www.oakcitysound.org/the-chorus-uniform
- From the HarmonySite app, click the “Chorus Life” button on the bottom row, then see “Chorus Uniform.”
Do You Like Your Part?? Does it like or fit you?
- If the part you’ve been singing doesn't feel like the best place for you, January will be a good time to possibly change to a new voice part.
- We have some new music coming in 2026 and the spring convention and chorus contest in April.
- If you would like to do some vocalizing one-on-one with Carol, send her a quick email at carolstep@gmail.com with the subject line “PART CHECK” – and we'll set up a time and location early in the new year.
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 (by Mike, in Carol’s absence)

Thanks to the 20+ singers who joined us to sing at Rex Hospital on Monday! Apologies to Percy and Sean for the early start (our handler expressed some concern about possibly not getting to everyone), so I'm glad you two managed to find us! And we did sing for every station they had planned!
A good time seemed to be had by all – singers AND audience members. It sounded great to me, and thanks for making me look like I knew what I was doing!
Thanks for following me when you should (like when I threw in an unplanned early end to the song), and for NOT following me when I clearly messed up!
We will definitely try to do this again next year.
Rehearsal songs for Jan. 5 (and 12th?)
- All existing regular repertoire songs, including:
- Mixed Chorus:
  - What a Wonderful World
  - Hey Good Lookin
  - You’ve Got a Friend in Me
  - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
- Men’s Chorus:
  - Lazy Day
  - Over the Rainbow
  - Yesterday
  - Where Everybody Knows Your Name
  - Two Less Lonely People
  - Almost Like Being in Love
  - Etc etc

4. Accelerando

NEW LOCATION for this quarter starts now! Rehearsals are now at Glenaire, 4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary.
Jan. 12 – 5:30p – Optional pre-dinner at Chicken Salad Chick – friends and spouses invited!
Jan. 12 – 8pm – Board Installation and Awards ceremony (plus cake)
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. In Harmony (Around the BHS World)

Jan 13 – 18, 2026: BHS Midwinter, Pasadena, California.
April 17 – 18, 2026: Carolinas District Convention & Contest (2026)
- Hendersonville, N.C.
- Cost, venue, and hotel info TBD; https://www.carolinasdistrict.org/event/nsc-2026-convention-2/
June 28 – July 5, 2026: BHS International (2026) – St. Louis, Missouri.
Future International locations: 2027 – Minneapolis, MN; 2028 – Chicago, Ill.; 2029 – San Antonio, Texas

6. Major & Minor Moods
Please send our friends your prayers & best wishes!

Happy New Year! We’re looking forward to more new chorus experiences with all of you!
Carol and Gary are traveling (a cruise, I believe), so Carol is getting some much-needed rest away from chorus stuff. We wish them the best, and I hope all of us will be ready to go when they return.