The Civic Chorale

MEMBER HANDBOOK

Rev. August, 2006

This handbook provides information for members of the Civic Chorale.  Please read and retain this handbook for future reference.  The Board of Directors reviews and updates the handbook as needed.  Please forward your suggestions for improvement to a member of the board.

CONTENTS

• Contact information
• Mission Statement
• Vision Statement
• Concerts
• Rehearsals
• Membership
• Attendance
• Care of Music
• Singing
• General Guidelines
• Chorale Governance
• Support
• Conductor’s Comment

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mailing address:  PO Box 238, Johnson City, TN 37605

Conductor:                                    David Hendricksen

Conductor’s phone:                            (423)638-0409

Conductor’s email:                         conductordavid@embarqmail.com

MISSION STATEMENT

Founded in 1973, the Civic Chorale is a regional non-profit auditioned group of volunteer singers under professional direction.  We believe that the act of singing together is an affirmation of those dimensions of humanity which transcend the merely material, and are thus dedicated to striving for excellence in repertoire and choral sound.

VISION STATEMENT

The Civic Chorale will be recognized for

• Excellent choral sound
• Dedicated and competent singers
• Constant musical improvement

The Civic Chorale will be known throughout the region

• As a resource for education in choral literature
• As a musical and artistic asset

The Civic Chorale will provide

• An environment for camaraderie and enjoyment among members during rehearsals and performances
• Opportunities to learn and perform musically challenging choral literature

CONCERTS

• The Chorale will normally perform three concerts per season within greater Johnson City and will, on occasion, repeat a performance in a neighboring community.  Concerts are typically scheduled in October (Fall Concert), December (Christmas Concert) and late April or early May (Spring Concert).
• Locations for concerts will be determined by the Chorale Board of Directors.
• The Chorale sings sacred and secular music of the great composers throughout the centuries, arrangements of folksongs and spirituals, and seasonal music on the Christmas program.  World or regional premieres of new compositions have figured frequently in the organization’s programs.
• The Chorale may, from time to time, collaborate in concert with other local or regional orchestras or choirs. 
• Concert dress for men is either a black tuxedo or black suit, white shirt, and black bowtie. Women should wear either floor or tea length black dresses (or top & skirt) with ¾ to full-length sleeves.  Full or flowing pants (not leggings or tapered pants) are acceptable. Jewelry should be very simple (e.g., small, non-dangling earrings and short strands of pearls/gold, if anything).
• A schedule of concert dates and locations will be provided to each member at the beginning of each concert season.
• Avoid after-shave, cologne, perfume, and other scents.  As singers we must breathe deeply—often in tight quarters.  Some singers are medically disturbed by intrusion of various odor-producing chemicals.  Keep the air clean.

REHEARSALS

• The Chorale normally rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:30 in the Choir Room of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church in Johnson City.  Special rehearsals and pre-concert dress rehearsals are scheduled by the music director in conjunction with the Board.
• An extended rehearsal will typically be held on a Saturday early in the rehearsal period preceding each concert. (Fall, Christmas, and Spring). This rehearsal will last approximately six hours (including lunch) and will focus on learning notes and rehearsing sections independently.
• A complete schedule of rehearsals will be provided at the beginning of each concert season.
• Members are expected to be attentive during rehearsal so that directions need only be given once.
• During rehearsal, if you have difficulties yourself with a particular passage or have other questions, feel free to ask the conductor for advice or assistance.  It is likely that others may share similar questions. 
• On the other hand, if during rehearsal, if you perceive difficulties with what is being sung by other members of your section, or by other sections, please refrain from comment, leaving those matters to the determination of the conductor.  If you feel the need, please speak with the conductor during a break or after rehearsal.
• Avoid after-shave, cologne, perfume, and other scents.  As singers we must breathe deeply—often in tight quarters.  Some singers are medically disturbed by intrusion of various odor producing chemicals.  Keep the air clean.

MEMBERSHIP

• All Chorale singers are auditioned for voice quality, control, range, and musical skills.
• Members are not routinely required to re-audition for continued participation in the Chorale.
• However, those who do not participate with the Chorale for a period of 12 months or more do audition for reinstatement to membership.

ATTENDANCE

• Members are expected to attend all rehearsals and concerts.  In the event an absence from a rehearsal is necessary, members are expected to notify either the members’ Section Leader or the Music Director at least one day in advance of the absence.
• Participation in a concert by any member who misses more than 25% of the scheduled rehearsals for that concert is subject to the decision of Music Director.  Typically, two absences are allowable for the October or December concerts, and three for the spring concert.
• Any member who has an expected conflict with a particular concert (or a substantial portion of its rehearsal period) should discuss the circumstances with the Musical Director prior to the first rehearsal in that concert period.
• In the event of inclement weather or other unusual circumstances, a designated board member will determine whether a rehearsal should be cancelled and Chorale members will be contacted in advance to inform them of the change in plans.

CARE OF MUSIC

• Members are expected to be good custodians of the music in their charge.  Each member is assigned a numbered folder with all appropriate music at the first rehearsal for each concert.  Frequently, other organizations are generous in lending music to the Chorale.  Payment for lost or damaged music or folders is the responsibility of each member.
• Members will use black folders for holding their music at public performances.  They may elect to use the rehearsal folder issued by the Chorale, or to obtain a different style folder of their preference.  However, use of 3-hole ring binders is not permitted, since we are not at liberty to punch holes in the music lent to us.
• Members are encouraged to make appropriate markings in the music.  Such markings need not be erased prior to surrendering the music following a concert.  Use only pencil for making markings.
• It is the Chorale’s policy to collect all music immediately following the last performance with that music.  The Chorale Librarian will issue instructions regarding the collection of the music.  Please follow these instructions to ensure that all music is properly collected and accounted for.

SINGING

• Each member should warm up his/her voice before arrival at rehearsals or performances.  Proper vocal warm-up often requires twenty minutes or more of vocalizing.  We cannot take that time as part of our rehearsals.  The exercises which may be used periodically are for purposes of building ensemble and technique rather than warm-up.
• Sing by feel.  We hear ourselves in relation to surrounding sound.  With many singing simultaneously, it becomes more difficult to hear ourselves.  The natural temptation is to sing louder in an honest effort to hear what we are contributing to the group, and ensure that we have the right notes, rhythm, vowels, etc.  If we learn to gauge what good singing feels like in our bodies, we can recreate that sensation and know that we are singing well, even when we cannot hear ourselves clearly.
• Members are strongly encouraged to master the notes for each work after the initial reading plus two focused rehearsals for that work.  This allows a greater portion of rehearsal time to be spent working toward musical and ensemble objectives, rather than merely searching for notes.
• Members should strive to achieve a blend of sound in which no one person is noticeably heard above the others in the group.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Be considerate of the organizations which generously provide rehearsal and concert facilities for the Chorale.
• Learn the names of everybody in your section.  Try to learn the names of all the members of the choir.  Make a point to introduce yourself to people you don't know.
• To the public, you are the Chorale.  Speak well of the organization. Encourage your acquaintances to support the Chorale through concert attendance, financial assistance, and, if appropriate, auditioning for membership.

CHORALE GOVERNANCE

• The Civic Chorale is legally classified as a 501(c)(3) organization.  This means that it is a non-profit corporation chartered in the state of Tennessee.  Contributions to the Chorale are tax deductible, as provided for in federal tax law.
• The Chorale is governed by a Board of Directors, elected by the membership of the Chorale each spring at a meeting convened for that purpose.  Board members are elected for two year terms, and may be re-elected for one additional consecutive term.  Terms are staggered so that approximately half the Board member’s terms expire each year.
• The Board includes the President, President-Elect, Past President, Secretary-Treasurer, Music Director, and 6 at-large members.
• Copies of the official Bylaws are available to any member by making the request to the Secretary-Treasurer.

SUPPORT

• The operations of the Chorale require a budget of approximately $13,000 per season.  To help coordinate our budgeting with our calendar, the organization operates with a fiscal year of July 1 through the following June 30. 
• We have been regular recipients of grant funding through the Arts Build Communities program of the Tennessee Arts Commission, administered through the Johnson City Area Arts Council. 
• In addition, we send an annual appeal letter to a list of over 600 supporters, many of whom respond generously with contributions. 
• Historically, our own membership has been among the most generous of our supporters.  While there is not a required “dues” payment, we appreciate members’ generosity with their money as well as their musical abilities.
• Our performances are publicized with a $10.00 suggested donation.  We desire to remain open to audience members of limited means who cannot afford that amount, especially if whole families are involved.  And some audience members are substantially generous beyond the suggested amount.

CONDUCTOR’S COMMENT

Remember that in singing with the Civic Chorale, you are both giving and receiving a precious gift.  You are giving your time, energy, and ability to the service of the music that we make together.  This means that each of us needs all the others—none can do it alone. 

Our modern, technologically-driven society seldom affords opportunities for groups of people to come together and work creatively, without intervening electronics or other mechanisms.  In so doing, we carve out a sonic and psychic and spiritual space with the aid of composers of the past and present, reminding ourselves and our listeners of what it means to be human beings capable of responding to That Which Transcends each of us and all of us.