Madrigal Choir “General”Year Long Overview

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS, but instead, it is a General Overview of things that are planned for this year. It is very likely that other events will be added, so please keep an eye open when you receive emails with updates! Also, please plan to attend the monthly meetings – which will also help to keep you up to date with the Choir and the Parent Group activities! We are looking forward to a great year with each of you!

Monday, Sept. 1:Back to School Potluck and Parent Meeting: This is a family event that we hope everyone will attend. Everyone please bring something to share (Finger Food, Salad, Casserole, Bread/Rolls, Dessert, etc.). Our pool will be open for the kids if they want to swim while the parents are meeting, so please bring towels and swim gear along for anyone who wants to swim. Please bring any forms that still need to be turned in to Teresa McIsaac! Timing for the event is:

4:30pm: New parents are invited to attend starting at 4:30 for an overview.

5:00pm: Returning parents will join and we will have the Parent Meeting from 5:00 to 6:00pm.

6:00pm: The Potluck Dinner will begin at 6:00pm, or after we finish with the Parent Meeting.

If you have any questions, please contact: Sally Albertson at

Saturday to Monday, Sept. 20-22: Madrigal Retreat at Granlibakken, Lake Tahoe: The Retreat is scheduled early in the school year so that the students in the Choir can get better acquainted and spend some time learning music for upcoming performances. Attendance for all Madrigal Singers is required, unless excused by Dr. Gardias. If you have any questions, please contact: Teresa McIsaac at

October 11 at 7:00pm: Davis Community Idol – Brunelle Theater: This event is new for the Madrigal Group to host. We are now in the process of recruiting solo and duet performers for this event. This will be a one night event and will be held at the Brunelle Theater. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Tina Traxler at or Cindi Parente at

October 19: Madrigal Wine Pour: This is an annual event put on by the Madrigal Families to raise funds for the students in the Madrigal Choir. On the afternoon of Sunday, October 19 the Madrigal Families will host a Wine Tasting (Wineries are contacted and invited to come serve their wines), along with Appetizers and Finger Foods that are provided by our Madrigal Families, for our guests. If you have any questions about this event, or if you are willing to help with putting it on, please contact Gary Albertson at

Tuesday, November 11: Veteran’s Day Ceremony followed by Holiday Choral Workshop: The Madrigal Choir will sing in the morning for the people who attend the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Davis Cemetery. During the afternoon the Madrigal Choir, and parents, will put on a Holiday Choral Workshop - which is an annual event put on by the Madrigal Singers and their families to raise funds for the students in the Madrigal Choir.

Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6: Madrigal Dinners: The Madrigal Dinners have been held consecutively for over 45 years! These dinners are held annually, and are put on by the Madrigal Families to raise funds for the students in the Madrigal Choir. These dinners are not just an opportunity to raise money, but also a wonderful opportunity for our Madrigal Singers to perform and share the joy of music with the guests from our community who attend. The students from the Davis Junior High School choirs are also invited to audition and perform at both dinners. These dinners are a significant part of our “YEAR”. Putting on the dinners is a very big undertaking and it takes many hours of volunteer work, from all of our parents, as the kids in the choir practice to perform at these dinners. We also include a silent auction at both dinners to raise money for the Madrigal Choir, and the expectation is that each family will find items to donate for the silent auction. Contacts for the Madrigal Dinner are as follows:

  • Karen Block – (Dinner Coordinator)
  • Katherine Unger - (Dinner Coordinator)
  • Holly Kim – (Reservations)
  • Cindi Parente – (Reservations)
  • Tracia Barbieri – (Decorations)
  • Julie Cross – (Stage Manager)
  • Lisa Fischer – (Silent Auction)

March 9-11: Auditions for 2015-16 Madrigal Choir.

March 19 or 20 to about March 25: Annual Madrigal Trip!!! The Madrigal Choir typically rotates through a series of places to go perform, learn from others, explore and experience places away from Davis, often outside of California, or even outside the USA! Details for the 2015 trip are being planned, and the trip announcement will be made soon. Our Trip Coordinator this year is Tracy Basso. Tracy may be reached at

Spring Choral Workshop, Date to be determined: This is another annual event put on by the Madrigal Families to raise funds for the students in the Madrigal Choir. Details are not finalized just yet, but this will likely take place after the Easter weekend.

Thursday, June 4: Pops Concert at Brunelle Theater: This is an annual concert that highlights the Madrigal, ATC, and Concert Choirs of Davis High School.

Other things to keep in mind:

  • Madrigal Parent Meetings will typically be held the first Tuesday of each month, starting at 7:00pm in the DHS Madrigal Classroom. Please note that we WILL meet on Tuesday, September 30 and NOT on Tuesday October 7. It is very helpful if at least one parent from each family can attend these monthly meetings to keep up to date on what is going on with the Madrigal Choir. This is also the best time for parents to hear first-hand updates from Choir Director, Karen Gardias. As the Madrigal Parent Group is a 501c3, and we hold tax exempt status, it is important that we do have a quorum at each meeting and conduct business according to the rules of our bylaws. So, please make every effort to have at least one parent attend these monthly meetings. Thank you!
  • Volunteers Make it ALL happen! Bottom Line: The Madrigal Parent Group is run solely by volunteers. We all volunteer our time in an effort to support the Madrigal Choir whether we are raising funds for the Choir, or providing transportation, or assisting with events where the Choir performs. It takes many helping hands to keep everything moving along in an organized way, and hopefully we can all have some FUN along the way as we work side by side. Please lend a helping hand when you see there is a need to be filled. It is true that each of us have varying amounts of time to contribute, but everyone should be prepared to carve out some time to help the Choir this year.
  • Octets: The students in the Madrigal Choir will be asked to perform at various events, and when they perform at these events the Choir actually gets paid, and the money is added to the account that helps pay for the things the Madrigals participate in, such as Master Classes, the Retreat, and travel costs for the trip. Many of the performances are “Octets” which include 2 singers from each section. It is important that all of the singers take turns performing at the various events. This year Bill Hunter will be in charge of coordinating Octet transportation, and confirming/making arrangements for the Octets. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Hunterat
  • Communication Channels for the Madrigal Parent Group:
  • Emails sent from: Sally Albertson or Karen Gardias, or other Madrigal parents
  • Website: is: dhsmads2011)
  • Facebook Page:
  • The Madrigal Parent Group is overseen by the Executive Board, which is voted into office at the May Parent Meeting. This year the Executive Board consists of:
  • Choir Director, Karen Gardiasemail:
  • Parent Coordinator, Sally Albertsonemail:
  • Treasurer, Ladson Hintonemail:
  • Secretary, Cannie Hertzemail:

Other things you will hear more about:

  • Community Service: Our Madrigals go and make dinner for the homeless community at 4th and Hope in Woodland once a month through the school year. The Madrigals also perform for the guests that are there for dinner. Typically 8 Madrigals (2 students from each section) go to Woodland once a month to make dinner and sing. I have heard over and over that the kids that get involved in this community service often feel like they get more out of it than they feel the people who are there for dinner get out of it,
  • Scrip:
  • Nugget cards are distributed, and our group receives a portion back from each transaction you make.
  • Order forms for Gift Cards are also available throughout the year. Our group gets a portion back from each gift card you purchase through this system.
  • Sweatshirt/Polo Shirt Order: Each incoming Madrigal will receive 1 complimentary Polo Shirt to wear to informal Madrigal events, and incoming students should be placing their orders with Cannie and Gabor Hertz by Sept. 5. This year we are committed to offering a “Madrigal Sweatshirt” for purchase. The sweatshirt order will be completely different, and these sweatshirts will be “just for fun”, and anyone (students, parents, siblings…) may purchase one once they are designed! More information coming soon!
  • Other Fundraisers:
  • See’s Candy
  • Mary Kay & Partylite Party
  • Texas Hold Em
  • Bingo at Odd Fellows Hall
  • If you have ideas for new ways to help raise funds, please contact Sally!

I would suggest that everyone find a binder that they can keep Madrigal information in, such as the Roster and Calendar that I mailed out earlier this summer. As the calendar is updated you can replace the old one with the updated version.

I hope that this information has been helpful. If you have any questions about any of the information, please let me know, and I will try to clarify.

Sincerely,

Sally Albertson, Parent Coordinator