COUNTDOWN TO FESTIVAL COMMENCETH

Yes, mein Choir-Posse, countdown to our two concerts has commenced.
Beginning Tuesday 11/8/16 and ending Thursday 12/1/16 ("Dark Day"), there are

23 days until Concert #1.
TWENTY THREE DAYS

Not counting the dress rehearsals, we have:
Bella Voce - 3 rehearsals
Cantemus - 3 rehearsals
Chorale -  7 rehearsals
Chamber - 4 rehearsals

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Having done many, MANY concert/recital countdowns in my career, I offer the following:

One - proper self-care (Eat well and regularly, sleep enough. stay away from excessive white powders - salt and sugar - and DO NOT SMOKE "HERB" OR DRINK ALCOHOL THE WEEK OF THE CONCERTS. Two - incessant obsession with the music (mental, studying, reviewing, chewing chewing digesting digesting). Three - vigilance against viruses. If people are hacking and eructating in your vicinity, GET AWAY FROM THEM AT ONCE. Don't touch public surfaces with bare hands. Wear a face shield if you spend a lot of time in public places or unventilated spaces.

Four - Attitude Adjustment.
Yes, we all have our days when things just seem to hover round the drain from wake-up to put-down, but those are transient phenomena that must NOT affect our resolve. Human nature being what it is, you will likely not 'have time' to study your music, listen to the choral recordings, etc. repeatedly REPEATEDLY REPEATEDLY. You must make time.
YOU MUST MAKE TIME.
MAKE TIME.
MAKE TIME.
FORCE YOURSELF IF NECESSARY. Overcome inertia. Be the master of your fate, the captain of your soul. DO. IT.
See yourself in your concert garb, triumphantly and enthusiastically singing from your very soul. HEAR the immense power of the mighty and puissant Choir Posse shaking the very walls of that cavernous (and bass-devouring!) space. FEEL the satisfaction of a job well done - of having successfully and powerfully communicated the timeless message of glorious music. PUT YOURSELF IN IT. BE IT. LIVE IT.

There will be resistance. There is always resistance. SO WHAT!  Comfort yourself with the knowledge that great potential for good is always (ALWAYS!) confronted by great resistance and pull from the opposite direction. Nothing great is EVER achieved without a fight.
Fight for your might! Move from "We can" to "WE WILL."

You have a marvelous opportunity to bring the transcendent and soul-uplifting power of music to yourselves and to many people who may be starving for reassurance that there IS still good in this world. You are ambassadors of hope, life, light, liberty, love, and celebration!

Set your mind for success. Set your body for full function. Set your voice for glorious sound.

EXPECT VICTORY. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT TRIUMPH. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT MASTERY. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT SUCCESS. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT "OUTSTANDING." Settle for nothing less. "Excellence" is our baseline, our starting point!

AND WORK, WORK, WORK RIGHT UP TO THE LAST SECOND TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

We're positive thinkers, yes - but most importantly, we are POSITIVE DOERS.

End of sermon!