Our Fall term Winter Concert features:
Dress Code for Performers: Red on top & black on the bottom
(Arrival time to warm-up and rehearse before the concert)
1:30 pm Voices of Hope Select Choir and HAT Co
2:00 pm Musical Theater
2:30 pm Voices of Hope 1 & 2
2:45 pm EL CEO
2:45 pm Voices of Hope Jr.
Voices of Hope Select Choir—Extra Rehearsal
If you can come this Saturday to rehearse with the HAT Co & MTW students (from 10:30 am to 12 noon) it would be extremely beneficial.
Yes, at long last, families and friends can come to watch the PBT dance classes! This Saturday, December 5th is the final class of the Fall term and everyone is invited to come and watch our littlest dancers in action during their regular class time.
1:00 to 1:45 Creative Movement (4 and 5 year olds)
1:45 to 2:45 Ballet (9 to 12 year olds)
2:45 to 3:45 Pre-Ballet (6 to 8 year olds)
Please remember to register for the Winter term to guarantee your space. These classes fill quickly!
Our not-to-be-missed pick of the week is the Romeros Guitar Quartet
Sat., Dec. 5, 2009 – 8:00PM
Mancheste
r Craftsmen’s Guild
1815 Metropolitan Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
Directions and map
Presented by the Guitar Society of Fine Art (Hope Academy teaching artist, Michael Chapman is the Executive Director). All guitar students, especially Michael Chapman’s classical guitar students, should attend this concert. Please see Michael for more information.
A veritable institution in the world of classical music, the quartet has dazzled countless audiences and won the raves of reviewers worldwide. Those who are privileged to hear these world-renowned musicians perform have the delightful opportunity to experience a musical phenomenon:
“One of the enduring mysteries of musical talent is how skills seem to flow genetically from musical parent to musical child. In the Romero family the flow has been swift and unimpeded. The virtuosity of the four Romeros was uniformly solid and finely considered, as if these techniques had derived from a single mold.”
– The New York Times
Click here to purchase tickets online
I love language and discovering the origins of peculiar words and phrases. Thinking about words reminds me of several things, such as Reader’s Digest quizzes, or the maddening, multiple-choice vocabulary questions on standardized tests. I asked myself which are my favorite words, and among the ones that came to mind were “hitherto” (which makes the speaker sound like someone on Masterpiece Theatre) and “pusillanimous” (which is delightful to stumble across in literature, but almost impossible to work into a conversation unless you’re Spiro Agnew.)
One word that always makes me smile is quotidian. According to the venerable Oxford English Dictionary, its first recorded usage dates back to 1340. It’s a Latin word meaning “things occurring on a daily basis” (quotus: things which occur; dies: day). It’s commonly used in medical language, referring to symptoms that occur on a regular basis. Despite its exotic appearance, it’s the basis for the French word daily, as in a “quotidien newspaper.”
I had, perhaps wrongly, assumed that quotidian was synonymous with the word mundane, since things that happen day after day are likely to be less interesting details of our life story. But the aspects of our faith that our quotidian are actually some of the most crucial parts of what we believe; so I fear I have been mis-characterizing this word all these years.
Reflect for a moment on the quotidian elements of your faith. It’s not uncommon to hear someone say, “Thank you, God, for waking me up this morning.” Remembering the daily gift of life is a key part of faith. Saying grace over a meal may seem like a mundane daily ritual, yet it serves as a time to remember that we have blessings of food that so many others lack (and hopefully to pray that God and others will provide for them). Later this month, we’ll celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving, which comes around each year with (what feels like) quotidian frequency. It’s also an opportunity to recall how God’s providential care is showered upon us daily.
November also is our month to emphasis Christian stewardship. In practical terms, this is more of a weekly, monthly, or annual event; but in regards to faith, it’s definitely a quotidian part of our life. Almost every day, we handle money and incur obligations that’re reflected in monetary amounts (e.g., rent, bills, etc.). What do your daily finances look like, and where is the presence of God reflected both in the money you earn and the money you spend? There are things on which we spend money that are purely for momentary pleasure, and things that are for our long-term health and security. The time and treasure we devote to God should not be calculated solely at the end of the day from whatever resources are leftover. Quotidian stewardship starts each day with God and consciously sets apart our “first fruits” and best resources for the Lord. The amount is secondary; the spirit of gratitude and generosity are what’s most important.
Think of your own favorite words and reflect on them in light of your ongoing faith in God revealed in Jesus Christ. Who knows, maybe this can be a daily, quotidian part of your Christian identity during this month’s Stewardship season!
THANKSGIVING BREAK. No private lessons or classes from Sunday, Nov 22 to Monday, Nov 30. Please note: the building will be closed on Thursday, Nov 26; Friday, Nov 27; and Monday, Nov 30.
This Saturday, Nov 21 is picture day for dancers in PBT creative movement, pre-ballet and ballet. You will get a copies of your class pictures during open classes (when families and friends can come to observe) on Saturday, Dec 5, the final day of PBT dance classes for the fall term at Hope Academy.
EL CEO has two rehearsals before the winter concert. This week, Nov 21, and then Dec 5 (Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:30 pm). You will play the Mozart piece and Joy to the World (see the post below for a link to the new music). Your final session for the fall term will be Saturday, Dec 12.
Musical Theater and HAT Co also have two rehearsals before the winter concert.This week, Nov 21, and then Dec 5 during regular class time. See the post below for mp3s of songs you can practice with at home. Your final Saturday classes for the fall term will be Saturday, Dec 12. The winter term Saturday theater classes switch over from Musical Theater to Shakespeare Workshop (Saturday afternoons from 12 noon to 3:00 pm).
Voices of Hope Vocal and Percussion Ensembles have one rehearsal on Wednesday, Dec 3 before the winter concert. (The select choir will be asked to come to an extra rehearsal with HAT Co. on Saturday, Dec 5 — if they are available). Final Wednesday classes for the fall term are on December 9.
Joy to the World, Coventry Carol & Carol of the Bells, My Favorite Things and Don’t Stop Believing
Hope Academy’s Winter Concert will take place in the Sanctuary of East Liberty Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 6 at 3 pm (there will be an earlier rehearsal for some of the performers, but we will update you on this next week).
Coventry Carol & Carol of the Bells
My Favorite Things
Don’t Stop Believing