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We are an adult, non-auditioned chorus of people in Central Florida who love to
sing and are passionate about making exciting, beautiful music together. The
Garden Community Choir, Inc, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit choir meeting once a
week from August through May. We welcome new members throughout the
Central Florida community.
The group's purpose is "Building Community Through Song." The choir has been
an astounding success in its first several years, giving a number of enthusiastically
received community performances.
The choir performs music of all styles, including classic, patriotic, jazz, folk,
spirituals and Broadway. The choir was founded under the direction of Dr. Jeffery
Redding, internationally known conductor.
This handbook will help to acquaint you with the choir. You’ll find contact
information, policies and websites for questions or additional information.
gardenchoir.com [email protected]
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Garden Community ChoirM E M B E R H A N D B O O K
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building community through song
ardenCommunity Choir
Director DR. JEFFERY REDDING
Director of Choral Activities at West Orange High School, Winter Garden,
Florida, Dr. Redding was named Teacher of the Year 2003 and led his choirs
in performances at State, Regional, and National conventions of the American
Choral Directors’ Association. West Orange choirs earned first place honors at the
Heritage Festivals of Gold in New York and California as well as at the Festival of Spirituals in Washington
D.C. At the International Music Festival in Verona, Italy, West Orange received the Gold Award for best
choir and Dr. Redding was honored as top choral director. Previously, as Director of Choral Activities at
West Virginia University, conducted the University Singers, Women’s Chorale, Male Chorus and the West
Virginia Community Choir. Along with his conducting duties, Dr. Redding teaches undergraduate and
graduate choral conducting classes, choral literature and score study at WVU. In 2013-14, The WVU
University Singers performed at the Florida American Choral Directors Association Fall Convention and
Alice Tully Hall, New York City.
Nationally, Dr. Redding is in demand as a guest conductor. He has conducted the ACDA National High School
Honor Choir and the Central Division ACDA Honor Choir as well as All-State and Honor choirs in Alabama,
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Dr. Redding directed the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for their 2005 spring broadcast. He has been featured as
guest conductor at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Kennedy Center, and Orchestra Hall on numerous occasions. He
has been sought as an adjudicator and lecturer for festival competitions and workshops throughout the United
States, including Heritage Festivals and various state educational conventions. He has been honored to give the
prestigious TED Talk.
Dr. Redding is founder and Artistic Director of the Garden Community Choir in Winter Garden, Florida. He is a
member of ACDA, NAfME, FVA, NATS, and Chorus America. In the Florida Vocal Association he has served as
District 8 Chairperson. In ACDA he was State R & S Chair for Ethnic Music and Multicultural Affairs, Mixed Honor
Choir Co-chair, and Youth/Student Activities Chair for Florida. He has been a member of the Moses Hogan
Singers. Currently, Dr. Redding is singing with the professional male vocal ensemble, Brethren.
The Jeffery Redding Passion and Purpose Choral Series is a recent compilation of new choral music by various
composers being published by Cola Voce Music, Inc. Dr. Redding holds a Ph.D. in Choral Conducting/Music
Education and an M.M.E., both from Florida State University, and a B.S. in Music Education from Florida A&M
University.
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Assistant Director DON SOWERS
Don Sowers has taught choral music in Missouri and Florida. Before moving to Florida, Mr.
Sowers taught music in Missouri for 27 years as well as serving as chancel choir director at
several churches. As a high school choral director, he also conducted festival choirs in both Missouri and Iowa.
Mr. Sowers has several published choral compositions. In addition, five of his compositions have been used for
sight-reading at Missouri’s District Music Contests. While in Missouri, Mr. Sowers served as District Chairman and
Repertoire and Standards Chair for Community Choir for Missouri ACDA (American Choral Directors Association).
He has also served on several state committees and presented at several state conferences for the Missouri
National Education Association. In addition, in 1996, Mr. Sowers was one of 24 teachers selected by the Missouri
Department of Education as a STARR Teacher (Select Teachers as Regional Resources). During that year he
presented numerous workshops to school districts on the latest teaching techniques and Missouri's new
educational initiatives. Mr. Sowers holds a Bachelor and Master of Music Education from Southeast Missouri
State University.
Accompanist GEORGE ATTWELL
George Atwell spent over 20 years in the recording industry as writer/arranger, producer, and
keyboard artist, working with Atlantic Records, Michael Jackson, Petra, Greg X. Volz, Walt Disney
World, and many others. George Atwell currently serves as Director of Music, Orlando Presbyterian Church;
Organist at First United Methodist Church, Winter Park, Florida and Adjunct Professor of Organ at Rollins College,
Florida. In January, 2000 he conducted the world premier of “Mass for a New Millennium” a composition unique
for it’s blending of traditional Mass elements with references to science, technology, and the future. In 2007, this
work received its New York premier at Carnegie Hall.
Board of Directors CHAIR Quinn Roberts, [email protected] .......................
VICE CHAIR Chad McClellan, [email protected] .............
SECRETARY Gayle Fitzpatrick, [email protected] ............
TREASURER Vicki Hardy, [email protected] ...........
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Committee Chairs MEMBERSHIP Karen Nice, [email protected] ........
FUNDRAISING Donald Polk, [email protected] .......
MUSIC Mary Kobilka, [email protected] ......................
PUBLICITY Matt Heim, [email protected] ..............
PRODUCTION Jeff Davenport, [email protected] ........
VOLUNTEER Katrina Ileka, [email protected] ...........
Section Leaders SOPRANOS Marlene Greil, [email protected] ............
ALTOS Karen Nice, [email protected] .......................
TENORS Sam Wagster, [email protected] ...................
BASSES Troy Soos, [email protected] ....................
Rehearsal Procedures Rehearsals begin on time, 7:00 PM. Please come early enough to check in with your section leader, take care of
any music or uniform details and be in your assigned section/seat ready to sing on time. Warm-ups are
accompanied by hand or body movements. If you’re not familiar with these, simply follow the visual lead of the
other members and do them with us. We occasionally have sectional rehearsals in smaller groups so that we can
“pound the notes.”
Feel free to ask questions or address any problems with your section leaders; they are there to help you! Email or
call them during the week if you have any questions or concerns.
Dr. Redding requests that every member have a pencil in hand at rehearsal. Please do NOT make marks in the
music in ink, or marks that cannot be erased - we often borrow music from other choirs. All music is the property
of the choir and must be returned at performance time.
We are fortunate to have an amazingly talented director and accompanist! Please show them respect by not
talking between numbers so that we don’t waste our rehearsal time, but by all means feel free to ask a question
of your section leader or Dr. Redding if there’s anything you don’t understand in the music ...and again, welcome!
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Attendance Policy Members are expected to attend all scheduled rehearsals...every voice is important! Members are expected to
contact their section leader in advance if an emergency occurs and they must miss a rehearsal. The last five rehearsals before a concert are mandatory. (Necessary exception may be made in advance with
Director approval). Members with excessive absences sing in a concert only with Director approval.
Volunteering The Garden Community Choir is a registered non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. Our Board Members and
committee chairs are not paid, and there is a LOT of work to do! Members are required to help with at least
one major fundraising or public relations event per year.
Please let a board member know if you have contacts with people who might be able to help the choir
(advertising, traveling, printing, production equipment, or good instrumentalists). If you play an instrument or
have access to good performance venues, we’d welcome your input throughout the year.
If you are interested in being a board member or committee chair or helping in a specific way, please let us
know! Elections are held in the spring each year.
Membership Dues The yearly membership fee is $90.00, or $50.00 per semester. Checks should be made to Garden Community Choir, Inc. and we also accept cash and all major debit and credit cards.
Dues need to be paid within 5 weeks of joining; you may choose a payment plan or pay all at once. Music cannot
be assigned until dues are complete. For additional payment plans, please contact the Choir Treasurer.
Garden Chamber Choir You may be interested in also being part of our smaller performance ensemble available only to Garden
Community Choir members, led by Assistant Director, Don Sowers. This is an auditioned group of up to 24
singers, with auditions held in August and again in January. Ensemble music can be classical, folk or secular
arrangements, and rehearsals begin one hour before regular choir rehearsals.
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Uniforms FORMAL UNIFORMS
The choir requires a professional uniform. The uniform remains the same from year to year so this is a one-
time purchase. The Uniform committee chair can assist both men and women with a form to fill out for fitting
purposes, and will help you with fitting and ordering. Uniform must be paid before ordering, and needs to be
ordered a minimum of 8 weeks before first performance.
The uniform remains the same from year to year so this is a one-time purchase.
Uniform guidelines and purchase instructions available on gardenchoir.com/members (password: sing).
INFORMAL UNIFORM
An “informal” dress code to be used on occasion (for fundraising or public relations events, or informal
performances) with a minimal cost to members. We want to look as professional as possible whenever we are
representing the Garden Choir.
Black skirt or pants (pants preferred for unity, no jeans)Official Garden Choir polo ($15)
• No t-shirts
• Black shoes and socks, or stockings (no tennis/athletic shoes)
• No necklace, no ties
• Black jacket, coat or sweater added with your choir polo if weather is cold.
Communication Our website (http://gardenchoir.com) is the place to go for information, including concert and rehearsal
schedules, prior concert recordings, and ticket sales.
• MEMBERS PAGE: Click on the Members Login link at the bottom to access news, rehearsals, recordings and
more. The password is sing.
• NEWSLETTER: A newsletter will be sent to your email, announcing any new events, time or rehearsal changes,
etc. Visit http://gardenchoir.com/email to sign up for the weekly newsletter.
• CALENDAR: A full rehearsal and concert schedule can be found online at http://gardenchoir.com/events.
If you have any trouble accessing the website or newsletter, please email [email protected].
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