Chorus pro Musica Singer Handbook

Updated 9/9/09

1. Membership

   A singing member is anyone who passes an audition with the Chorus, pays a full year of dues, maintains a satisfactory attendance throughout the rehearsals and sings a majority of the concerts during the planned season. All singing members are eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting of Chorus pro Musica, Inc., held at the end of each season.

2. Rehearsals

   1. Chorus pro Musica's season runs from early September to the last concert in May or June. CpM rehearses on Monday evenings and occasional Tuesday evenings at Old South Church from 7:30 to 10:00 pm, with a 15-minute break for modest refreshments (at a suggested charge of 50 cents). The Chorus sometimes schedules rehearsals at other times and on other days of the week due to holidays or as performance dates draw near. When concerts are in heavily booked venues such as Jordan Hall, daytime rehearsals may be scheduled on weekdays.
   2. If you drive to rehearsal, remember that parking space around the area is scarce; please allow ample time to find a space, park, and be on time to sing the first note at 7:30.
   3. Building security is very important. CPM participants are asked to courteously identify themselves to the church's front desk receptionist to insure that only authorized people gain entry.
   4. Choristers should not expect to enter the building after 9:00 pm or once the church doors have closed (8:00 pm). Once the church doors are closed every precaution should be taken when opening a door to the outside. If you arrive past 8:00 pm, please call the front desk of the church, 617-536-1970, to gain entrance.
   5. Always bring a pencil—essential at all rehearsals. Do not use pens or highlighters unless you own, or are prepared to pay for, your score. Write your name on your score—in pencil if it is not yours.
   6. In case of a bad weather forecast that may cancel a rehearsal, the Music Director/Guest Conductor will make a decision by 2:00pm on the rehearsal day and notify the Chorus Manager, who will then promptly send an all-chorus e-mail and record the notice on the chorus line (see 16).

3. Attendance and Music Preparation

   1. The quality of choral performance depends on rehearsal and preparation. As a singing member, you obligate yourself to attend all regularly scheduled rehearsals, and special rehearsals, as announced for each concert that you commit to sing. You also commit yourself to learn and review music between rehearsals, and to prepare for the next rehearsal when the Music Director/Guest Conductor gives advance notice of which sections will be rehearsed. Your Section Leader (see 4) will be available to help you in your music preparation. If the Music Director/Guest Conductor is concerned that you are not suitably prepared at the required standard, you will be asked to sing a performance audition on the repertoire being prepared.
   2. It is your responsibility to notify your Section Leader or the Chorus Manager (see 15) in advance, in cases of unavoidable absence from rehearsal. If you are absent from any part of the rehearsal, it is your responsibility to confer with your Section Leader to get notes and directions given during your absence, and mark these in your score BEFORE the next rehearsal.
   3. In the event that you are unable to sing a concert because of prolonged absence or family emergency, it is your responsibility to inform the Chorus Manager or your Section Leader as soon as possible—ideally one month in advance.
   4. Consistent attendance from all singers is essential for quality performances.
      1. Dress rehearsals, orchestra rehearsals, and conductor's piano rehearsals [CPRs] ARE ALL MANDATORY. [A CPR is the rehearsal with guest/gig conductor and piano. If, for example, we're hired to sing Beethoven's 9th, the CPR is the rehearsal with the gig conductor before we join the orchestra.]
      2. Preparatory Rehearsals [any rehearsal before orchestra rehearsals, dress rehearsals or CPRs]
         If an emergency occurs that keeps you from attending a preparatory rehearsal you may be asked to sing the missed rehearsal repertoire for the Music Director/Guest Conductor. If there are 4 or fewer rehearsals before the dress rehearsal, and you miss one, you will be asked to sing for the Music Director at 7:00 the night of your return. If you miss 2 rehearsals when there are 5 or more preparatory rehearsals, you will be asked to sing for the Music Director at 7:00 the night of your return. At that time you will sing the repertoire covered during the missed rehearsal, complete with markings and correct pronunciation. If rehearsal notes and pronunciation guides have not been posted/sent out in a timely way, this repertoire—audition will be postponed a week.
      3. From time to time the Chorus is hired by another organization to take part in performances. Often the rehearsal time for these events is limited, and the number of permitted absences from general or specific rehearsals will be reduced to one absence.

4. Section Leaders

   Section Leaders will be available to help singers in preparing the music. Each section in the chorus (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) will have a Section Leader, chosen by the Music Director.

   The section leaders have a significant role in monitoring the music-learning in the section and in helping singers who are having difficulties. They are the managers of the section and should be seen as your "bosses". The section leaders' duties include 1) taking rehearsal notes to include marks given by the conductor, pieces and movements rehearsed, and notes regarding challenges to that specific section of the chorus—musical passages that need to be practiced and general rehearsal observances to be highlighted and sending them to the singers in the section by email, 2) being available to singers in the section who may have questions about their music, 3) moving around the section in different rehearsals so that the section leader is aware of who needs help and offering that help either individually or via a mini-sectional rehearsal, 4) taking attendance for the section each week, 5) working with the Concert Production Manager to develop concert seating plans for the section and 6) communicating with the Music Director/Guest Conductor about issues pertaining to the singers' learning of the music, potential candidates for re-auditions, and attendance.

   Section leaders for the current season are listed in the Employees, Trustees, Key Volunteers sheet, which can be found in your member packet.

5. Re-Auditions

   All members will sing a solo re-audition for the 2009–2010 season and again for the 2010–2011 season. After singing solo auditions for 2 successive years, re-auditions may occur either in quartets (on concert repertoire) or as biennial solo auditions.

6. Printed Music

   1. CpM frequently assigns scores to singers. The Chorus owns some of these scores; it borrows or rents others. We ask you to treat them better than you would your own. You should make notes in soft lead pencil only, never in ink or highlighter. Singers who deface or lose their scores must pay for them. Lastly, singers should erase all markings before returning borrowed music.
   2. In cases where the Chorus does not own and cannot borrow scores for a particular work, the Chorus will purchase scores for resale, at cost, to its singing members. Since the Chorus library has no additional capacity left, the permanent acquisition of new scores is no longer an option.

7. Dues and Music Payments

   1. Membership dues are necessary to help meet the expenses of CpM's operation. Annual dues are $85/season for single singers and $125/season per couple in the same household, and are payable at the first rehearsal of the season. Rare exceptions are made for singers who cannot commit to the full season due to extenuating circumstances. These singers will pay $30 per program they perform. (A program comprises any number of performances of the same work or works within a season.) Whenever possible, you will be notified of the music costs in advance, by email and/or through announcements. Please bring a check/cash covering your dues and score purchase to the applicable first rehearsal for each concert. Make checks payable to Chorus pro Musica, and add a memo, i.e. "dues and Duruflé score" or as appropriate.
   2. Singers who have not paid their dues by the third rehearsal for a given program (or made other arrangements with the Chorus Manager) are subject to a late penalty fee of $1 per day. The Executive Committee will be glad to consider dues abatement or staged payments in cases of need.

8. Concert Attire

   1. Men: black dinner jacket and trousers (i.e., tuxedo), white formal shirt (no colored ruffles), black bow tie and black cummerbund (optional), black socks, and black shoes.
   2. Women: black, long-sleeved (no 3/4 sleeves), floor-length dressy outfit; non-distracting necklines and fabrics—no sequins, metallic, sheers, lace, or very shiny fabrics; black hose and black shoes. If wearing pants, the leg lines must be flared and skirt-like. Women's dress should correspond in formality to the men's tuxedoes.
   3. Men and women: jewelry should be appropriate to the outfit worn and not distracting; unscented deodorant is encouraged; no perfumes, colognes, after-shaves, hairsprays, or other scents.
   4. All singers need black music folders at all concerts.

   Please speak to the Chorus Manager if you have questions about concert attire or folders.

9. Singer Development

   Occasionally, members of the chorus arrange for music teachers, vocalists and other musicians to give classes before rehearsal. Classes focus on a variety of topics such as musicianship or vocal training. All singers are encouraged to take part in these free sessions. From time to time, a singer may be required, at the request of the Artistic Director or Section Leader(s), to attend specific classes as a condition of re-acceptance into the Chorus after re-auditions.

10. Social Affairs

    1. CpM enjoys a pleasant tradition of social events, including a New Members Dinner, post-concert receptions with our audiences, and a summer barbecue party for members and their families.
    2. The Annual Meeting of Chorus pro Musica, Inc. takes place in June and consists of reports from the officers and Music Director and the election of trustees and officers for the next season. The meeting is followed by a potluck meal.

11. Extra-musical Volunteer Duties

    1. The Chorus could not exist without the extra-musical efforts of all its members. We expect every singer to become an active participant in one or more aspects of the behind-the-scenes operation of the Chorus. A variety of essential committees need volunteers: fundraising, concert management, audience development, library, social, and ad hoc committees as the need arises. Please fill out the member questionnaire in your Member Packet and indicate how you would like to help; but please don't wait to be asked—volunteer your services to the committee chairs or Chorus Manager.
    2. The Chorus relies upon its members to act as a volunteer stage crew, setting up and striking chairs, risers and equipment used for each of our concerts. The need for volunteers will vary from concert to concert and from venue to venue. There is no standing committee for concert production, but volunteers are always needed and the Concert Manager will announce the production requirements several weeks before each concert.
    3. The nurturing of an artistic organization such as Chorus pro Musica is a never-ending task, yet it is a rewarding one in the light of the Chorus's contributions to the cultural life of Boston and its environs. It's work, but work that usually means fun. Please bear in mind that your singing is but one aspect of your own personal contribution.

12. Fundraising

    1. CpM depends for its continued success upon the fundraising efforts of its members, chiefly through the sale of season subscriptions and single tickets to Chorus concerts, program ads, and through the recruiting of new sponsors. During the season, the Chorus will ask you to contribute your time and energy to these endeavors. Please respond with enthusiasm and diligence.
    2. Singers are strongly encouraged to contribute to the Chorus' Annual Fund appeal—even if you can only give a small amount. When the Chorus applies for external funding, it is a great advantage to be able to state that we have 100% participation of singing members in this campaign.

13. Announcements to Chorus Members

    1. In an effort to maximize rehearsal time, oral announcements are kept to a minimum; weekly email announcements are sent, and print copies will be available at rehearsals. Please be sure to read these carefully. They will contain vital information, such as rehearsal and music updates, that you will not get any other way. The Chorus is not responsible for the consequences of your not reading these announcements.
    2. As the majority of singers have the use of email, CpM frequently uses email to send out important information, press news, requests for help, etc. Since there are members who do not have access to email, or use it infrequently, every effort will be made to communicate the same information to these members.
    3. Some announcements, such as last-minute rehearsal cancellations due to bad weather, will be recorded on the Chorus line; call 617-267-7442 and select "3" when you hear the greeting start. This will take you to "Member Information." Please do not call the Music Director, trustees, officers, or committee members to inquire about last-minute changes.

14. Chorus Roster and Confidentiality

    1. It is essential for effective communication that the Chorus management has information about its members, such as telephone numbers, and email addresses. This information is published in the roster that is given to members. The roster also includes a photograph of each singer who wishes to have his or her picture included. Please treat the roster as confidential and only use it for Chorus purposes. Do not use members' email addresses to send jokes, pictures, announcements of non-chorus events, or other "junk" email, unless you consider the recipient a close personal friend. Do not, under any circumstances, give a copy of any part of the Chorus roster to anyone outside the Chorus. All requests from parties outside the Chorus for information contained in the chorus roster must be referred to the Executive Committee.

       Any singer who wishes to keep his/her contact information private or does not wish to have his/her photograph in the roster should speak to the Chorus Manager. From time to time, CpM swaps mailing list information with other organizations for mutual benefit in marketing. If you do not want your information included in these events, please alert the Chorus Manager. All such requests will be honored.

    2. You may make one copy of the roster if you wish to have one at home and one at work—indeed, this is encouraged so that you can contact people quickly without having to seek information from others. If you lose your roster, you will be charged $2 for a replacement.

15. Chorus Management

    Information about the Board of Trustees, Officers, the Executive Committee and other details of Chorus structure and management can be found in your Member Packet.

16. Leaving Telephone Messages

    The Chorus line has a main mailbox and four subsidiary ones. They are used as follows:

    Mailbox	Recorded Message	Leave Messages about:
    Main	General greeting	General administrative matters
    1	Concert & ticket information	Subscriptions, tickets
    2	Auditions	Auditions and re-auditions
    3	Rehearsal updates	Singer absences
    4	"Floating" mailbox: usage is subject to change	Often used for special events