I realize we don't have the Disney connection this time like we did for last summer's convention in Anaheim, but you guys have been nice enough in following me and VM's activities and reading my trip report from last year, I wanted to let you in on what's happening this year in case you're interested. And of course, if any of you are close enough to Philadelphia to come see the contest ($$) or hear us rehearse (free!) and meet me, I'd love for you to do that. My schedule's pretty tight, but with it being Philly, I'm hoping I can free up a few minutes for, you know, chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool and all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school.
The Good: The VM is currently in great spirits and singing better than ever. We have a great Spring lined up with one local show series and lots of individual gigs around N. Texas, and we're pumped up and having fun. We already have our contest ballad and expect our new uptune soon -- both arranged, ironically, by an amazingly talented guy named David Wright, who happens to be the Associate Director of the chorus that beat us last year, The Ambassadors of Harmony.
Also good -- the VM has just modified their definition of "rookie." You used to have to have won a gold medal in the chorus to become a veteran member. Well, apparently because the 37 of us rookies who competed last year in Anaheim helped set an all-time high score record for VM, and also in recognition that there are enough choruses at our level now that every year will be a dogfight with the ultimate results in the hands of the judges, the chorus now calls you a rookie if you have never competed with the VM on the International stage. Since I have done so, I am (after three years with the chorus) no longer a rookie!
The Bad: Well, just having to compete again in a consecutive year is new territory for most of us in the VM, since until last July we had a 31-year undefeated streak. And it doesn't help that our primary competition this year is So. California's Westminster Chorus, who not only came within 17 points (out of 3000 possible) of beating the VM when we last went head to head in 2006, but who have since gone on to win the Pavarotti "Choir of the World" Trophy.
Also, our longtime director Jim Clancy has announced that, whatever the outcome, this will be his last International competition. Considering his first as director of the VM was in 1975, that's a pretty good run!
The Ugly: Order of performance of these contests is set by random draw, and generally the later you are in the day, the better, for several reasons: the judges find it hard to compare directly the good early choruses with the good late ones; the audiences are larger and their response greater the longer the day goes on; and some judges may be reluctant (even subconsciously) to hand out really high scores early on, fearing they'll hear a better performance later.
Last year, VM sang 7th out of 32 choruses, and the winning chorus sang a few from the last. In Philly, VM will sing 3rd -- and Westminster and a few other really good choruses sing at the end of the day. It's not determinative by any means, but it just means we have to be that much better so there's no doubt.
Should be a really interesting contest -- and even if I'm no longer a rookie, I still want my own gold medal!
The convention runs from June 28 through July 3. VM is staying at the Loew's hotelon Market Street, and our first rehearsal will be 6/30, Wednesday evening, at 7:00 p.m. We'll rehearse during the day Thursday, and then the chorus contest is Friday 7/2. Details here, if you might be in the area.
