We’ve had so much fun getting the season off to a great start these past few weeks!
As we head into September, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Sign up on the Band app and make sure your push notifications are on! Each week, reminders are posted here for all choirs, so it’s important that parents and singers download and join CoroRio on the app.
DeSoto County Youth Choirs: https://band.us/n/aaa395Yd50m0Z
Oxford Choirs: https://band.us/n/a8acAbBfgepev
Mississippi River Chorale: https://band.us/n/a8a69bY753Q4U
Attention Parents! You are needed. Each week at rehearsals and throughout the performance season, there are multiple opportunities to support your singer(s) by volunteering. Some immediate needs: Merchandise sales, rehearsal space set up and tear down, performance/concert event support, and many more. If you are interested in volunteering in any of the areas listed above, please submit this form so we can contact you!
September 14th
Fall Retreat – Postponed
This event is still on the calendar, but it has been postponed to January 14th due to conflicts with ACT testing. This is one of the best events of the year for our middle and high school choirs. Updated details coming before we depart for the holidays!
September 15th
Ireland Tour 2025!
We are so excited for our Ireland tour coming up Summer 2025! This tour is open to singers in grade 7 and up. You can find more information on our website here. First deposits are due Sunday, September 15th, so be sure to register for the trip and submit your deposit by this date.
September 17th
We are pleased to bring back our FREE Sight Reading class for students. Classes start September 17th and will be held each Tuesday from 7:30 to 8:00 PM, taught by our own Kathrine Gaines. Let us know you or your student will be attending by completing this form so that we can prepare enough materials for all who wish to participate. While many of you know Mrs. Kathrine from CoroNino, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this class offering. From her time with her own middle and high school singers at Horn Lake to her experiences taking this same class when she was a student in CoroRio, she will be able to meet each student where they are and bring them to a new level of confidence in their personal reading ability. While open to all of our students, this class is designed for middle and high school students seeking to build their confidence with music literacy, as well as their speed and accuracy in sight singing. Whether preparing for college scholarship auditions, honor choir auditions, or auditions within CoroRio to move between ensembles, this class will focus on building a musical and aural vocabulary that students can take into any musical situation and thrive.
Coming Up in October:
Auditions and registration for all youth choirs and Mississippi River Chorale are open until October 1st, so keep inviting friends that you know need to be singing with us! Share the registration link with them or simply point them to the interest form on our website.
Also during a rehearsal in October – group pictures and headshots! Once we confirm a date with our photographer, we will update you with specifics! Please be preparing now to have concert attire ready for your singer. We know that students grow, often at unexpected times, and so we want to be as flexible, yet uniform as possible. The goal is to be covered in black from shoulder to toe, but some specifics for your checklist could include:
- Black dress shoes
- Black dress socks/hose
- Solid black dress pants that meet the shoe
- Solid black 3/4 or long sleeve dress shirt
- Solid black skirt that meets the same requirements as listed for pants or a solid black skirt paired with black hose
- Solid black dress that meets the same requirements as listed for pants/dress shirt, or a solid black dress paired with blazer and hose as needed to meet the same requirements
November 1st
Deadline for Program Ad Sales
We are organizing our season’s programs and want to give all of us plenty of time to ask our favorite businesses and organizations to support CoroRio’s mission of “Making the world a better place through the gift of music.” Share this link with your insurance agent, your hairdresser, your best friend’s dog groomer’s cousin. No, just kidding, but really, all you have to do is ask. The rest of the work is done for you. These contributions help to fund scholarships, support quality programs, and make singing with CoroRio even more affordable. Make sure that they reference you when they send in their ad artwork – The following referral credits will be applied to a singer’s Active Network account for any businesses that purchases an ad and lists the singer as their referral contact: ¼ page: $25, ½ page: $50, Full Page: $75
Do you have loved ones who simply want to contribute without purchasing an ad? Please share this donation link with them.
Have a great day – and see you at rehearsal!
MidSouth Music Institute, Inc. Staff Directory
Amy Touchstone, Executive Director, Corriente & Arroyo Conductor
[email protected] / 601-209-7669
Terrell Hall, Artistic Director, Rio Conductor, Pop a Capella Conductor, MRC Assistant
[email protected]
Dr. Libby Hearn, Mississippi River Chorale Conductor
[email protected]
Allen Sanders, Interim Fuente Conductor
[email protected]
Kathrine Gaines, Nino Conductor and Sight Reading Class Instructor
[email protected]
Dr. Saundra Bishop, Oxford Youth Choir Conductor
Keely Kelso, Oxford Children’s Choir Conductor
Emily Nichols, Operations Assistant
my name is rodney, and i am in the 8th grade. i sing bass. i would like to sign up for the sight reading class.