Dear singers,

Sorry we missed last week's rehearsal, but we had a full weekend of music and I thought it better to stay home on the snowy and icy Monday night.

Thanks to the wonderful singing of the Present Music Singers - it was an excellent concert and you performed very well! We also had fun watching the parade and having lunch!

We'll be back at Pius IX HS tomorrow night, 12/1/14 to prepare for our next Cathedral concert, Lessons and Carols and to refresh our other music needed for January.

I need to urge you to be PRESENT the next two weeks. We do not have a large choir and each of you is important to our success. Lessons and Carols will be a very high profile event and we want to give a good performance.

Here is the schedule:

Monday, Dec. 1 - Regular rehearsal at Pius
Monday, Dec. 8 - Regular rehearsal at Pius
Friday, Dec. 12 - Lessons and Carols concert at St. John's Cathedral
Call time: 5:30* pm
Concert time: 7:00 pm
*I know it is hard to get downtown by 5:30 pm, but since we are not attending the dress rehearsal, which takes place during the school day on Thursday, we need to get our position and rehearse the movement into the performance area.

Monday, Dec. 15 - Regular rehearsal at Pius
Dec. 22, Dec. 29 - No rehearsals, winter break
Jan. 5 - rehearsals resume

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Emily Crocker

So proud of the nine Vocal Arts singers performing with Present Music at their Thanksgiving concert today! Despite the early start to Saturday's rehearsal, we had fun watching the Milwaukee Holiday Parade after rehearsal and eating lunch at Real Chili. Don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoyed my afternoon nap!

We'll be back to normal at Pius IX High School on Monday night, Nov. 24 from 7:00-8:30 to practice Christmas and other music!

Enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this week with family and friends and a little time off from school!

Emily Crocker

Midweek update!

We missed a few Present Music singers on Monday. We worked through the whole piece. It is not difficult, but requires counting and attention. If you have time before this weekend, listen to the recording with your music at: Hammers & Whistlers

Here is the schedule for this weekend:

Friday, Nov. 21, 7:15 PM (Call time 7:00) - St. John's Cathedral; end time 9:15 PM. Enter through the Jackson Street doors. Here's the map link: St. John Cathedral

Saturday, Nov. 22, 8:45 AM (Sorry!) (Door open at 8:30) - St. John's Cathedral; end time approx. 10:45 AM. Special note: There is a Christmas parade starting at 9:30 AM on Saturday morning and the streets may be closed. Please allow time. All singers are invited for lunch after rehearsal - courtesy Vocal Arts Academy. We'll walk across the Cathedral Square to Real Chili for lunch. Pickup approximately 12:15 PM.

Sunday, Nov. 23, 4:00 PM Concert (Call time 3:30) - St. John's Cathedral; end time approx. 6:15 PM. Enter through the atrium entrance.
Concert dress - all black with an accent of color (scarf, hair ornament, necklace, tie, vest, etc.)

Tickets, please visit Present Music and use the code FRIEND to purchase tickets.

We'll be back on schedule for regular rehearsal at Pius on Monday, Nov. 24.


Any problems, call or text me at (414) 852-7297.

Emily Crocker

Dear Singers & Parents,

I'm happy to report that on Tuesday I visited the ER to have follow-up tests about my fainting spell on Monday night. All checks out fine, EKG, bloodwork, blood pressure, pulse, etc. They told me to be sure to eat something before choir and stay hydrated, especially when the room sometimes gets hot. This is good advice for us all! :)

I appreciate everyone's concern and sorry if I frightened you! I especially appreciate Mrs. Stosur who looks out for me all the time and for Molly who was calm and collected while calling the paramedics!

I also appreciate that you were able to carry on with your "Hammers and Whistlers" practice even with all the distractions. You did a great job.

I have decided to change tomorrow night's rehearsal a little bit. The entire evening will be devoted to "Hammers and Whistlers," so if you are not singing the Present Music concert, you can stay home Monday night.

Here is the schedule for the rest of the week:

Monday, Nov. 17, 7:00 PM - Pius HS, "Hammers and Whistlers" (Kevin comes at 8:00)

Friday, Nov. 21, 7:15 PM (Call time 7:00) - St. John's Cathedral; end time 9:15 PM

Saturday, Nov. 22, 8:45 AM (Sorry!) (Door open at 8:30) - St. John's Cathedral; end time approx. 10:45 AM

Sunday, Nov. 23, 4:00 PM Concert (Call time 3:30) - St. John's Cathedral; end time approx. 6:15 PM
Concert dress - all black with an accent of color (scarf, hair ornament, necklace, tie, vest, etc.)

I promised you a lunch or dinner for this event - stay tuned and I'll let you know when and where. It will be within walking distance of the Cathedral.

We'll be back on schedule for regular rehearsal at Pius on Monday, Nov. 24.

Thanks for being so awesome!

Emily Crocker

Hello everyone,

Were you all busy last week? I'm wondering because we had lots of folks absent from rehearsal. The singers who were present did a great job, but we do SO much better when we are all present.

Please arrange your Monday nights to give a priority to Vocal Arts Academy!

On a related note, I am going to make a slight change in our schedule for the next two weeks, Nov. 10 & Nov. 17. We will rehearse regular music from 7:00-8:00 with all singers. Then from 8:00-8:30, we will practice the Present Music "Hammers & Whistlers." I was concerned that two solid hours of rehearsal after a long school day was too much. Your Christmas music is sounding good, so I think we can handle this slight change.

See you tomorrow!

Emily Crocker

Hi singers & parents,

Hope you are keeping up with the falling leaves!

Tomorrow night, I'll see you at Pius IX High School at 7:00.

Don't forget that after rehearsal, from 8:30-9:00, we'll be practicing the music for the Present Music Thanksgiving Concert "Hammers and Whistlers." Bring your music and I'll bring black 3-ring binders.

I have also posted Part-Learning tracks for Adiemus and Can You Hear. You can listen or download them here:

Adiemus Sop. 1
Adiemus Sop 2
Adiemus Alto 1
Adiemus Alto 2

And if you want to start practicing for the Virtual Choir, here is the instrumental track: Adiemus Track

Can you Hear Soprano
Can you Hear Alto
Can you Hear Baritone

And here is the instrumental track: Can You Hear Track

See you tomorrow night!

Emily Crocker