INFORMATION PAGE         as of 5-3-11                          

TO:      Boston Pops Community Gospel Choir  

FR:       Bro. Dennis L. Slaughter and Norris Welch , Boston Community Choir               

RE:       Boston Pops Gospel Night 2011  

Greetings Choir Members!!!!

This message is to give details about Gospel Night at the Pops 2011—the 19th Annual Gospel Night Concert!  This year’s program will be in Symphony Hall on Saturday, June 18^th at 8:00 p.m. 

The choir’s rehearsals will be held on 3 Sunday afternoons leading up to Maestro Floyd’s arrival for the final week of intensive concert preparation. (NOTE: there is one additional Sunday added as an “if needed” on June 5).  The choir members are asked to attend pre-Floyd rehearsals to learn the music in advance of Maestro Floyd’s arrival the week prior to the program. 

However, ALL of the final days of intensive rehearsals with Maestro Floyd, June 13-18, are mandatory in order to sing on the program.  Space is limited on the Symphony Hall stage, and the choir must be limited to the most appropriate singers. The first chorus slots will be made available to those singers who have sung in the gospel night choir within the past five years.  Once these slots have been filled, new singers will be considered—by audition only! 

In Order To Be Eligible To Sing…

All singers should complete and return the Ability/Availability Form by Thursday, April 13 @ 9P.  For Gospel Night singers who have sung at some point(s) since 2006, this will reserve a space for you.  For all other singers, this form indicates your interest in auditioning.  

Due to a couple of  factors this year, only ONE choir audition will be held on Sunday, April 17 between 4:00pm and 8:00pm, and ONE soloist audition will be held on Sunday April 24 between 3:00pm and 10:00pm. 

IF the actual repertoire list has NOT yet been sent to us by April 17, then that ONE SOLOIST audition will be changed from April 24 to Sunday, May 1 between 3:00pm and 10:00pm as indicated by ‘rain date’ on the calendar.  Only those who have requested a soloist audition will be notified of that date change.

Historical Information On Gospel Night At The Pops

In 1993, the first Gospel Night at the Pops was presented with Maestro Isaiah Jackson and Rev. Alvin Parris at the helm.  For the ten years from 1994 – 2003, Maestro Charles Floyd designed, arranged, and conducted the program. In 2004 Maestro Chelsea Tipton, II conducted arrangements by Dennis Montgomery, III, Renese E. King, and Dennis L. Slaughter.  In 2005, Maestro Floyd returned to the podium, and has conducted each year since. 

Thank You so much for your interest and participation; we look forward to hearing from you!!!

The guest artist for this year has not been finalized.