Masterworks Chorus Member Guidelines 2010-2011 Concert Season
www.masterworkschorus.com and www.masterworkschorusblog.blogspot.com
1. Auditions
Auditions are held annually. Membership is open to singers 14 years and older who enjoy singing in harmony, have some choral experience, and who have the time to commit to Masterworks’ rehearsal and performance schedule.
2. Rehearsal Attendance
a. Regular attendance is expected of all singers. Individual absences affect the preparedness of your section and, in turn, the effectiveness of the entire chorus.
b. If a singer knows he/she will be absent or arriving late, please call Clare Ellis (540-459-4279) or cellis@shentel.net prior to rehearsal. If you have a communicable illness (fever, coughing, sneezing, dripping!), please do not attend rehearsal.
c. Make-up rehearsals will be held throughout the year. Notification of make-up rehearsal dates will be given at regular rehearsals, at www.masterworkschorus.com, or at www.masterworkschorusblog.blogspot.com. A make-up rehearsal may be scheduled privately with the conductor, (540-740-8841) dependent on her time. Anyone may attend a group make-up rehearsal, even if attendance is perfect. They are usually scheduled twice per concert series.
d. If a singer misses 3 rehearsals, without attending private or group make-up rehearsals, the singer should excuse themselves from participation in the related concert series.
e. Cancellation of rehearsals due to inclement weather, or other unforeseen conditions, will be determined by the President, Artistic Director, and accompanists. Notification will be sent as early as practical to all members via email and/or phone calls.
f. Attendance at Dress Rehearsal is mandatory. Often there are last-minute changes that are only discussed at dress rehearsal. To be fair to singers around you, attendance is absolutely required.
g. If you know of a conflict in a concert series due to business or family issues, please advise the conductor either at auditions or no later than one week prior to the concert. Early disclosure of potential conflicts makes resolution and solutions easier.
h. If you must miss a concert time due to illness or other sudden cause, please call Clare Ellis and/or Dr. Wilson.
i. Please keep Clare Ellis informed of any changes in your address, phone number, or email. This ensures that any important last-minute information will be sure to reach every member promptly.
3. Rehearsal Etiquette
a. Rehearsals begin and end on time. The conductor values your time and does not wish to abuse it by adding extra rehearsals or by extending regular rehearsal time to make up for late beginnings. If you have important information that needs to be communicated during rehearsal, please call or email Kathy Ackerson to make sure it gets distributed, or announced at the appropriate time.
b. Singers are encouraged to mark their music with comments made by the conductor. Choral singing requires precision and precision is based on everyone knowing what to do, where, and when. Marking your music as instructed by the conductor saves rehearsal time by not having to review this information for the entire choir each week. Please bring pencils to rehearsal. If you have missed a rehearsal, check with a fellow section member to obtain any markings you may have missed (after rehearsal, please!).
c. Remember to check the “members” page of the website for any pertinent information about past or upcoming rehearsals. Also make a habit of checking the chorus blog, www.masterworkschorusblog.blogspot.com. Rehearsal hints, tips, upcoming rehearsal notes, and recordings of works being performed will be listed there for your additional instruction. This is a very important part of helping you become familiar with the music. We strongly urge you to check these sites every week. Important information necessary to a productive rehearsal will be posted here. If you do not have access to a computer or the Internet, please let Dr. Wilson know as soon as possible and we will try to accommodate you with reproduced hard copies of the materials. You can also explore the Internet on your own for information on the music we are singing.
d. It is permissible to bring a tape recorder to weekly rehearsal. You should be aware, however, that the conductor cannot guarantee a complete run through of the music every week.
f. Be considerate of your fellow singers. Please do not wear perfume, scented hairspray, or scented hand, facial, or aftershave lotion to any rehearsals. Please do not attend rehearsals intoxicated.
4. Concerts and Concert Locations
Masterworks Chorus generally gives three concert performances for each concert series. We attempt to sing in a wide variety of venues within the Northern Shenandoah Valley. This means that not only will we perform in Shenandoah County, but also in other locations such as Harrisonburg, Winchester, and the like. When you sign up for a concert series, you will be expected to sing in all our scheduled locations, unless you cannot for a significant personal reason or due to illness. Cancellation of concerts due to inclement weather or other unforeseen conditions will be determined by the President, Artistic Director, and accompanists. Notification will be sent as early as practical to all members via email and/or phone call.
5. Dues
Dues are $50 per full concert season (September through June). If you choose to sing for only one or two of the concert season sessions (December, March, or May) the dues are $25 for each session. Dues DO NOT include the cost of music. If dues are a financial hardship, please contact the Treasurer, Mary Sue Snarr, for payment arrangements. Need-based or student scholarships are available.
6. Music
a. Chorus members are responsible for purchasing their own music for each season. The music becomes the property of the singer.
b. Please purchase your own black folder for your music. Check with Else Carter, 540-459-4518, Music Librarian, to see if we have folders available for purchase if you need one.
c. Please contact Else if you are missing music or need to have music replaced.
7. Concert Attire and Etiquette
a. Men wear black suit/sport/tuxedo jackets, black pants, shoes, and socks, a white dress shirt with black bow tie, and cummerbunds. If you have questions, please contact Bruce Dillon, 540-740-4007, or bruce.a.dillon@yahoo.com.
b. Women’s concert attire consists of a black skirt, black shell, and black jacket, which must be purchased through the Chorus. Gina Cypher (540-459-4239 or ginadcypher@hotmail.com) is our costume mistress. Accessories are closed-toe black dress shoes, and black hose. Please contact Gina for additional information, or to make arrangements for purchase. There are a limited number of concert outfits available in inventory; check with Gina Cypher for availability for purchase, or rental if purchase poses a financial hardship.
c. Be considerate of your fellow singers. Just as at rehearsals, do not wear perfume, scented hairspray, scented hand, facial, or aftershave lotion to any performance. Do not attend performances intoxicated. Please ensure that you do not indulge in heavily spiced or scented foods right before a concert (garlic and onions, for example), which can affect your chorus companions. Adhering to these suggestions will make the overall concert experience more pleasant for everyone.
8. Tickets
Ticket sales constitute almost 50% of our total revenues each year. Each chorus member is expected to sell tickets to help promote our concerts. Prior to each concert, members may receive a number of tickets for each concert, or may request specific tickets for various locations.. Times when money or unsold tickets are to be returned will be communicated at rehearsal and through emails. Margaret Figgins (540-459-4433, carcat@shentel.net) is in charge of ticket distribution and handling. For your information and for your friends and family, ticket sales are also available for purchase through our website (www.masterworkschorus.com) and we take PayPal payments.
9. Donations and Fund-Raising
a. Masterworks Chorus is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. While singing is an enjoyable and important experience for each of us, the Chorus has financial obligations that include rehearsal and concert hall rental fees, ASCAP fees, publicity, postage, accompanist and director stipends, printing of programs and paid musicians and soloists’ fees. We encourage every member to actively participate in the fund-raising efforts of Masterworks Chorus. In addition to marketing your concert tickets to friends and family, please consider one or more of the following activities:
(1) Make an annual donation to the chorus, over and above dues.
(2) Solicit individual donors and businesses for sponsorships and recognition in our concert programs
(3) Agree to serve on a Board committee for publicity, fundraising, finance, ticket sales, and the like. Think about volunteering to be a Board member or an officer in the future.
(3) Attend and/or sell tickets for special fundraising events.
(4) Donate items and/or work at our bi-annual yard sale
(5) Participate in other choral events that may be held throughout the year, in addition to our regularly scheduled concert series.
If you can volunteer your services in any way, please call Kathy Ackerson, President, at 540-477-9514 or kackerso@shentel.net.
From our Artistic Director:
I look forward to conducting my fourth "Season of Singing" with the Masterworks Chorus of the Shenandoah Valley. I appreciate the dedication to the art of choral singing shown by the members of the Chorus. I value the mission of organization to keep the performance of community choral music a vital part of community life in Shenandoah County. I also support the board's mission to collaborate and support other artistic endeavors in our community. The power of music, expressed by the beauty of emotion-filled human voices, blending in harmony, is a mighty witness to our both our current times and our past. Music in our mountains has echoed throughout the generations and will continue to inspire many singers and audience members alike. Let us strive for excellence in our art and in our lives. Let us claim our cultural heritage and pass it on.
Dr. Betty Karol Wilson, Artistic Director and Conductor
From Our President
Welcome to Masterworks Chorus as we begin our 2010-2011 concert season. We have an exciting line-up of concerts and music to master as we begin our rehearsals. Our Pipes Spectacular II in Harrisonburg will give us a chance to “tune up” our vocal skills and acknowledge the talents of our wonderful accompanist, Elizabeth McBride. Our Christmas season includes an additional day-time concert to accommodate our audiences in Woodstock. The planned February spirituals concert should warm up the coldest winter night, and our April collaboration with the Arts Academy Chorale of Winchester, including not one, but two world-premiere choral works by talented Virginia composers has already garnered grant recognition from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Marian Park Lewis Foundation.
Of course, all of these incredible events could not take place without the talented ministrations of our Artistic Conductor, Dr. Betty Karol Wilson, nor without the hard work of the Board of Directors, and committee members. You are invited to participate in the excitement—come to rehearsals, and come to our Board meetings, on the second Tuesday of each month. Feel free to contact me, or any Board member, with your concerns or your kudos………Let’s go make music together!
Kathy Ackerson
President
