Sippican Choral Society Membership Guide
The object and purpose of this Choral Society shall be to provide an opportunity for musically qualified persons to receive instruction in and to engage in the singing of choral music under skilled professional direction and to stimulate interest in and appreciation of choral music in Southeastern Massachusetts.
By-Laws of the Sippican Choral Society, Article 1.2
The Board of Directors of the Sippican Choral Society would like to welcome both new and returning members for another season of choral singing! We hope that whether this is your first semester or your 50th (or more!) you find this brief guide helpful.
TWO CONCERT SEASONS
Christmas Concerts
Rehearsals begin the first Monday after Labor Day from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and continue weekly without interruption until the weekend of the Christmas concerts. The Christmas concerts generally take place the first weekend of December on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.
Spring Concerts
Rehearsals begin the first or second Monday after New Year’s Day from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and continue weekly without interruption until the weekend of the Spring concerts. The Spring concerts take place the last weekend of April on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.
REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE
Singers may join up until the third rehearsal of each semester. Constant attendance is expected. More than three absences during the season, including the first three weeks, must be cleared with the Director. The Board of Directors will rely on the discretion of the Director to determine if a chorus member may perform in a concert when there have been more than three absences. When possible, please notify the Music Director in the event you will miss a rehearsal.
DUES
Dues will be paid by the fourth week of the semester. Dues may be returned, upon request, if a paid member resigns in the first three weeks. Dues are collected each semester to help defray the cost of purchasing new music. The dues amount is set by the Board of Directors. Scholarships are available on a case-by-case basis. Please see a Board member to make a confidential request to have dues waived.
TICKETS and PROGRAM ADS: FUNDRAISING
Ticket sales and program advertising enable the Choral Society to cover operating expenses, including salaries, liability insurance, concert venue rental fees, rehearsal hall rental fees, soloists, instrumentalists, piano tuning, music storage, program and ticket printing, sheet music and other miscellaneous expenses. The Choral Society also provides a scholarship for a graduating high school senior planning to major in music or music education. Your participation in selling tickets and program ads is anticipated in the fall semester only and are included in both the Christmas AND Spring concert programs. It is recognized that occasionally someone may have difficulty soliciting ads and/or selling tickets. When this is the case, please consider making a contribution within your means to assist the Choral Society to meet its financial obligations.
COMMUNICATION
The most efficient way to communicate with the membership is by email. If you do not have email, please find a “buddy” who will agree to call you whenever an email blast is sent out to the membership. The Board Secretary will also keep a snail mail list of those without email for important notices.
REHEARSAL CANCELLATIONS
The Board of Directors implements a telephone tree to call the membership should a rehearsal be cancelled due to inclement weather. The membership will also be notified by email.
FRAGRANCES
Perfumes, colognes and aftershave can cause breathing difficulties, discomfort and allergic reactions. Please refrain from wearing them during rehearsals and concerts.
MUSIC BINDERS
Please obtain a BLACK binder (either a choral music binder or a standard three-ring binder) at your first opportunity. After concert order is announced, you should organize your music in the binder in concert order. Choral binders with hand straps are available at many places on the internet.
CONCERT DRESS CODE
Women: Long sleeved WHITE blouse or sweater
Floor-length BLACK skirt or trousers
BLACK shoes and stockings
Subdued jewelry
Gentlemen BLACK tuxedo/BLACK cummerbund or BLACK suit
WHITE shirt and BLACK bowtie
BLACK shoes and socks
(Winter white, off-white, cream, etc., are not considered WHITE and distract from the appearance of the group as a whole. Many long-time members are willing to loan concert attire. Please see a Board member for assistance.)
WEBSITE
WWW.SIPPICANCHORALSOCIETY.ORG
By-Laws of the Sippican Choral Society, Article 1.2
The Board of Directors of the Sippican Choral Society would like to welcome both new and returning members for another season of choral singing! We hope that whether this is your first semester or your 50th (or more!) you find this brief guide helpful.
TWO CONCERT SEASONS
Christmas Concerts
Rehearsals begin the first Monday after Labor Day from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and continue weekly without interruption until the weekend of the Christmas concerts. The Christmas concerts generally take place the first weekend of December on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.
Spring Concerts
Rehearsals begin the first or second Monday after New Year’s Day from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and continue weekly without interruption until the weekend of the Spring concerts. The Spring concerts take place the last weekend of April on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.
REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE
Singers may join up until the third rehearsal of each semester. Constant attendance is expected. More than three absences during the season, including the first three weeks, must be cleared with the Director. The Board of Directors will rely on the discretion of the Director to determine if a chorus member may perform in a concert when there have been more than three absences. When possible, please notify the Music Director in the event you will miss a rehearsal.
DUES
Dues will be paid by the fourth week of the semester. Dues may be returned, upon request, if a paid member resigns in the first three weeks. Dues are collected each semester to help defray the cost of purchasing new music. The dues amount is set by the Board of Directors. Scholarships are available on a case-by-case basis. Please see a Board member to make a confidential request to have dues waived.
TICKETS and PROGRAM ADS: FUNDRAISING
Ticket sales and program advertising enable the Choral Society to cover operating expenses, including salaries, liability insurance, concert venue rental fees, rehearsal hall rental fees, soloists, instrumentalists, piano tuning, music storage, program and ticket printing, sheet music and other miscellaneous expenses. The Choral Society also provides a scholarship for a graduating high school senior planning to major in music or music education. Your participation in selling tickets and program ads is anticipated in the fall semester only and are included in both the Christmas AND Spring concert programs. It is recognized that occasionally someone may have difficulty soliciting ads and/or selling tickets. When this is the case, please consider making a contribution within your means to assist the Choral Society to meet its financial obligations.
COMMUNICATION
The most efficient way to communicate with the membership is by email. If you do not have email, please find a “buddy” who will agree to call you whenever an email blast is sent out to the membership. The Board Secretary will also keep a snail mail list of those without email for important notices.
REHEARSAL CANCELLATIONS
The Board of Directors implements a telephone tree to call the membership should a rehearsal be cancelled due to inclement weather. The membership will also be notified by email.
FRAGRANCES
Perfumes, colognes and aftershave can cause breathing difficulties, discomfort and allergic reactions. Please refrain from wearing them during rehearsals and concerts.
MUSIC BINDERS
Please obtain a BLACK binder (either a choral music binder or a standard three-ring binder) at your first opportunity. After concert order is announced, you should organize your music in the binder in concert order. Choral binders with hand straps are available at many places on the internet.
CONCERT DRESS CODE
Women: Long sleeved WHITE blouse or sweater
Floor-length BLACK skirt or trousers
BLACK shoes and stockings
Subdued jewelry
Gentlemen BLACK tuxedo/BLACK cummerbund or BLACK suit
WHITE shirt and BLACK bowtie
BLACK shoes and socks
(Winter white, off-white, cream, etc., are not considered WHITE and distract from the appearance of the group as a whole. Many long-time members are willing to loan concert attire. Please see a Board member for assistance.)
WEBSITE
WWW.SIPPICANCHORALSOCIETY.ORG