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Dickinson County
Community Chorus 
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Archives
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August
11, 2021
Dear Members and Friends of DCCC,
Hope this letter finds you and your
loved ones well. Although we promised to write earlier, the
COVID-19 situation has been changing dramatically over the past
two months, and we delayed this communication until we had enough
current information to share with you. Uncertainty and caution are
driving the decisions we are making.
We are not making these decisions
lightly. Much thought has gone into researching the risks of
singing together. We have looked at current state and national
music organization guidelines and recommendations for safe
rehearsal and performance. We are fully realizing that we are not
able to guarantee the safety of our members in rehearsal and our
audiences in performance. Here is some of the information we have
considered in coming to this decision.
- Few activities spread COVID-19 as
effectively as singing and playing wind instruments. They are
considered to be higher-risk for COVID-19 spread due to the
aggressive expelling of respiratory droplets. From the very
young to the senior members in our group, we cross the full
spectrum of ‘at risk’ individuals.
- The delta variant has complicated
the timeline for when we can return to normal activities. The
increasing number of cases among both vaccinated and
unvaccinated people is concerning.
- While the vaccination rate is
increasing, the recommended vaccination percentage for members
is 80 percent for return to normal rehearsing and performance.
The averages in our communities currently stands at 55.5% fully
vaccinated and 58.1% have received one dose (Dickinson County).
We are currently designated as a “high-risk” county. On
Thursday, August 5, 2021, the delta variant has been confirmed
to be in Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Houghton and Gogebic
counties.
- Our rehearsal space does not
accommodate the recommended social distancing for the size of
our group. We cannot rehearse or perform outdoors in the UP
colder months.
- We have no control over the
ventilation or air handling in the rehearsal space.
- Recommended length of rehearsal
time is much shorter than we would need to prepare for a
concert.
Therefore, we have determined that the
risks are still too great for us to safely rehearse together and
invite an audience to participate in a performance.
Other opportunities for singing:
- DCCT is putting “A Christmas
Carol” and is auditioning for small caroling groups who will
be appropriately spaced on stage. Precautions will be taken to
lower the risks on stage and in the audience. Contact Dawn Kranz
if you are interested.
- The Christmas Walk in downtown
Iron Mountain is always looking for singers to carol outdoors.
- Be creative. Consider organizing
your own caroling groups! Sing door to door in your neighborhood
during the Christmas season.
As you can only imagine, this was a
very difficult decision to make. We look forward to meeting again
when it is safe to do so. Thanks for your understanding and
patience as we navigate through these difficult times.
Musically Yours,
Crystal Hogan
Gail Vornkahl
Dawn Kranz
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Saturday, March 27, 2021
Dear Dickinson County Community Chorus
Family,
We hope and pray you and your loved ones
made it through the winter with many blessings, few disappointments
and thankful that it was a mild winter. As spring arrives, we can see
hope as the perennial flowers break through the soil to assure us that
Easter is just around the corner and summer will be here soon.
As Holy Week approaches, we reflected on
the many years we helped provide our community with an ecumenical
spiritual and meditative experience through scripture and song. We are
sad that this year we will not be together, but hopeful that we will
be back together again as soon as it is recommended to be safe
for gathering and singing.
After John Calo’s passing, Mary gave us
old programs, recordings, and newspaper articles John had collected
over the years. Combined with what we had at home and what Rosemary
VanPeymbrock had collected through the years, we had enough material
to start an archive file. We wanted to find a way to share it with the
membership but knew the hard copy wouldn’t be very accessible. We
spoke with Joe McKindles to see if he had any thoughts on how we could
share it online - and he did!
During the past several months, we
have had time to work on the 50+ years of DCCC history. The reason you
have not heard from us in a while is that we have spent that
time quietly and diligently working to provide you with access
to the DCCC archives that have now been posted ONLINE! The
good news is you can access our Holy Week archives to have a personal Holy
Week Program at home.
So far, Joe has scanned and uploaded
pictures, recordings and programs for the Christmas and Holy Week
seasons for the membership to peruse. The Holy Week recordings in the
archives from 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019 include the scripture
readings. Click on this link DCCC
Archives to access the archives. We hope this will give you a
virtual experience that will be meaningful during the Lenten season.
The archives are not complete,
especially in the early years, so if you have anything you can add to
the archives where information is missing, please send to Crystal at
her new email address caph@charter.net
or send it through the postal service.
Later this spring we will send another
email with archive updates as well as the summer archives. At that
time we hope to have more information as to when we will be able to
gather again. Unfortunately we will not be having a summer concert and
Christmas is still questionable. We will stay in touch as we will know
more and gain confidence through the advice of the medical experts.
Please be patient and stay safe. When we do reunite, it will be a
long-awaited musical celebration for sure!
Wishing a happy heavenly birthday to John
R. Calo. He would have been 88 yesterday.
Sincerely, Musically and Virtually Yours,
Crystal Hogan & Gail Vornkahl
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Crystal Hogan
250 Campbell St.
Iron Mountain, MI 49802-5006
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HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are optimistic that
2021 will be a year of hope and renewal.Blessing for all as we
continue to navigate our future on so many levels.
This email will address two issues
that are of interest to our membership:
iMovie updates AND continuing
direction for our future as a group.
IMOVIE UPDATES
Thanks to all who viewed the iMovies.
We received a wonderful sponse from so many of you. Thank you!
Below you will find revised/updated
versions of the iMovie YouTube links. So much was coming at
us as we were putting them together that we inadvertently left
off a couple of names in the virtual choir. (For those who might
have wondered, we didn’t use the pictures of the performers in
virtual choir because less than half of you sent pictures.)
Also, a special tribute from Rosemary VanPeymbrock got lost in
the many, many emails shuffled back and forth. We felt it was
important to include this tribute because we believe it speaks
for all of us.
As we compiled pictures for the
tribute we discovered that we didn’t have many pictures (candids
or performance pics) from the years that John was principal
conductor so we did the best we could with what we had. We dug
deep and got creative and found a few more pictures of John that
we were able to add to the end of the tribute.
We thought it would only be right to
update the movies in order to make these projects complete and as
accurate as possible in order for DCCC to a positive virtual
experience during this unprecedented time.
If you would like to see the updates
but don’t have time to watch the movies in their entirety look
for the updates in the beginning of the virtual choir movie and
the end of the tribute movie.
Virtual Choir (revised)
https://youtu.be/5UCOZEVv7PI
Tribute (revised)
https://youtu.be/59V58IMk8Fs
HOLY WEEK SERVICE
We are confident that you understand,
but sad to confirm, that we will not be meeting in preparations
for the Holy Week Service. We are taking one step at a time in
this uncertain path we are traveling on and will continue to
contact you on any and all plans and updates. Right now we need a
break to catch our breath before we entertain ideas for future
virtual experiences.
To keep you informed we will post any updates via email, on our
our facebook page, website - http://www.communitychorus.org,
The Daily News, and The Advertiser.
Sincerely, Musically and Virtually
Yours,
Crystal Hogan & Gail Vornkahl
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Lights! Camera! Action!
Hello
to all --
Thanks for waiting patiently for the iMovies!!
The
saying goes….”You can’t teach an old dog new tricks!”
I say “Bah humbug! You CAN…but no-one said it would be a fast
process.”
Anyway,
we have finally made it to the finish line. These Christmas iMovies
were more technologically challenging than we anticipated and
definitely a labor of love. But…we are done! The iMovies are
actually early if you consider its only the 2nd day of Christmas.
Instead of two turtle doves we have two iMovies for you!
Enjoy
the attached iMovies ——
DCCC
Sounds of Christmas Tribute to John R. Calo
Full length concert (1 1/2 hours) 20 years of musical
memories.
Tribute link: https://youtu.be/vwgL3aDN9oI
DCCC
Virtual Christmas Chorus 2020
(7 minutes) Performance by the brave souls who took on the
challenge. No worries if you missed out - we invite you to
sing-a-long with the virtual chorus as the iMovie is complete with
lyrics.
Virtual Choir link: https://youtu.be/OHtCfMzKEDc
Happy
Boxing Day!
Crystal,
Gail, and Jeremiah
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Attention, please!
Friday, 27 November
2020
Regarding Christmas
2020
Greetings! Chorus
members should have received from the directors a letter in the mail
this week, as well as an email from Crystal today. If you didn't
receive the email, please check your junkmail folder and spam folder
to see it's there. Also, make Crystal one of your contacts so that
you will receive any and all future communications. If you haven't
received any correspondence please contact Crystal via Facebook
Messenger to give her your contact information.
Please follow this link
to see the letter, the guides, and the sheet music for what DCCC
will do for Christmas 2020.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Yc8n7_87q6YdD8TMhVPXLuVMKjNsgXmV?fbclid=IwAR0ay2PMxRMOWrgoY6zJBcp7EE1REYwBtF39i3ct-wxPtGfvYkVd3kjbwZs
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Announcement regarding
the DCCC summer rehearsals and concert in light of the COVID-19 Novel
Coronavirus pandemic:
After much thought, consulting with the
staff, and listening to the recommendations of the scientific and
professional-healthcare experts about the summer months, I've decided to
cancel the DCCC summer concert.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Please use this time to enjoy your family
and maybe take in a choral performance or musical production online.
We'll aim to reconvene in the fall, if
possible, for the Christmas concert.
Watch
for updates and other announcements here, on our webpage, or on DCCC's
Facebook.
Crystal
Thursday, 30 April 2020
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Announcement regarding
the DCCC summer rehearsals and concert in light of the COVID-19 Novel
Coronavirus pandemic:
"Things are up in the
air regarding our summer concert. I'm not writing it off yet, but we
won't start rehearsals until we know it's wise, recommended, and safe.
If we have the concert, it'll have to be later than usual in the summer,
but I can't make any predictions or promises at this point. Watch the
Facebook page, this DCCC webpage, and the Daily News, and we'll
keep you posted with detailed information as the situation unfolds.
Meanwhile, take care of yourselves and stay healthy."
Crystal
Wednesday, 15 April 2020
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Archives
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Please
remember . . .
. . . Assistant
Conductor and Principal Conductor Emeritus John R. Calo,
who died of natural causes on February 6, 2020, at the age
of 86 during a trip to Green Bay. Also, please keep John's
family in your thoughts.
Visitation
and funeral-service details are at this website.
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Next Musical Performance:
Dickinson County Community Chorus (DCCC)
and
Iron Mountain Area Clergy Association (IMACA)
present
The Ecumenical Holy Week Service
Gail Vornkahl, Associate Conductor
7:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, 7 April 2020
Saint Mary Catholic Church, Norway, Michigan
Rehearsal for Holy Week Service
begins
7:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, 14 January 2020
at
First Presbyterian Church, Kingsford, Michigan
Remaining rehearsals weekly at the same
time and place and by announcement.
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Special
Announcement
Thursday,
12|19|19
From the
desk of Crystal Hogan about recordings:
The
CDs of the 2019 Christmas concert have arrived and the DVDs
will be done soon. You can pick them up at John
Calo’s House at 812 Hamilton Avenue in Kingsford. Please
call first: 906-774-6631.
There
is no charge for choristers and instrumentalists, but we are
limiting the complimentary CD to one (1) per
person. After all of the musicians have had a chance to pick
up their copy, then persons may have additional copies. We
will bring any recordings that are left to the next
rehearsal on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. Donations
toward the cost will be accepted but not required.
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Information regarding
DCCC's upcoming 2020 concerts will be listed here soon.
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Effective 2015: Principally
because of limited space and our inability to host the
performances adequately, we'll no longer attempt to
archive DCCC audio-video files here at the site. On
special occasions, we or others will post DCCC
performances to YouTube and at an appropriate place on the
website we'll provide at least temporary links to them for
strictly non-commercial purposes.
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