(from Charles Hausmann)

Dear Colleagues,

Beginning of summertime greetings to you with best wishes for a happy and healthy one! I wanted you to know that many of our members just returned from a performance of Schicksalslied and Nanie which I conducted at Carnegie
Hall. The concert was a great success and all involved had a very memorable experience in that wonderful hallowed venue!

Our Video Games Live preparation began last Tuesday and (since July 4th falls on Tuesday next week) our next rehearsal will be Thursday, July 6. I have included a link with this email which takes you to a web page specifically designed for choral singers performing this concert. The site allows you to download and play the numbers we will be singing. This page also gives useful background about what to expect in the performance (but disregard the note about singers wearing earpieces during the performance: that doesn't apply to us).

Link to Video Games Live Choral Page:
http://www.videogameslive.com/index.php?s=choir

Would you please take time between now and our next rehearsal to listen to this music with score in hand. I recommend that you select the link titled - Choir Loud Mix. This brings out the choral parts very clearly. I think you will enjoy hearing the music while having a chance to review your part. You can even select pronunciation guides if needed.

Our 2007 European Tour plans are continuing to finalize! This is going to be one of the most exciting performance tours imaginable! The opportunity to perform Brahms' German Requiem and Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem at major venues in three of the world's most respected musical capitals - Vienna, Budapest and Prague is a once in a lifetime experience!

Since it is not possible for the Houston Symphony to collect the tour funds through its finance department it has been a little difficult finding the best way to handle this part of the project. The money orders are an attempt to facilitate this second payment while we attempt to finalize how the remainder of the payments will be made. I am very sorry for any inconvenience this causes you! Please be assured that every attempt is being made to make this process easier for the remaining payments. The tour is going to be worth any small immediate problem. I so appreciate your understanding and enthusiasm for this project! Remember, the deadline for the next payment is July 1. Payment vouchers can be found on the Chorus Web Site: http://www.choral.org/grou/hsc/gen/

For your information, I am about to send a letter to our many alumni inviting them to participate in the events of our 60th Anniversary Celebration, including the tour. If you know former singers please let them know that they will be eligible to participate in the tour which is the culminating event of the season.

With my best regards,

Charles Hausmann

Dr. Charles S. Hausmann

Director of Choral Studies

Moores School of Music, University of Houston

Director, The Houston Symphony Chorus