For Members

Chorale Member Handbook
updated 11/15/11

Following is the on-line version of the Chorale Handbook (which is available to download here in PDF format). If you have additional questions, please ask your Section Leader, any member of the Board, or you can send your inquiries to board@everettchoralenull.org.

Everett Chorale Handbook

The Everett Chorale Association   
P.O. Box 485 
Everett, WA 98206-0485
Lee Mathews, Music Director 425-789-1162 
Steve Torrence, Assistant Director
Kim Croft, Accompanist  

Welcome to the Everett Chorale’s 2011-2012 season.  

Following is the Chorale Handbook which contains a wealth of information concerning the operation of the Chorale and your participation in this outstanding organization. If you have additional questions, please ask your Section Leader or any member of the Chorale Board.

 CHORALE MEMBERSHIP:
Membership in the Everett Chorale is open to all interested singers with previous choral experience and further guided by a simple audition at the discretion of the director. Enrollment is limited to 100 voices based on balance between the sections and individual voices. The audition is a non-threatening 10-minute procedure to give the director some idea of the vocal quality and capability of individual singers. The audition and enrollment routine is as follows:

1. If you are new and pre-registered, call the director, Lee Mathews, at 425-789-1162 to make an appointment. In many cases, auditions are held on the first evening of each quarter.  Normally, auditions are also announced after the first rehearsal of each quarter for those who have not yet auditioned.
2. Please appear on time for your audition. Do not bring any prepared music. You will be asked to sing a familiar song chosen by the director, to sing a harmony part while the director plays the melody, and to vocalize through your entire range. Having any difficulty with this does not necessarily mean you are disqualified but does give the director important information about the singer’s ability to be successful as a Chorale member.

CHORALE MEMBERSHIP COSTS:
The Everett Chorale is affiliated with Everett Community College as a part of their Corporate and Continuing Education Program and a special activity fee of $50.00 is paid to the college. This special fee includes a $5.00 administrative fee for EVCC and the balance helps to cover the costs of music, postage, printing and supplies. A college registration form must be completed and the activity fee paid no later than the second rehearsal of each quarter. If this presents a financial hardship, please discuss the availability of financial assistance with your section leader or a member of the Chorale board.

REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals for the 2011-2012 Fall Quarter will take place at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at 215 Mukilteo Blvd. in Everett on Monday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, interspersed with a 10 minute break. Please be seated and ready to sing promptly at 7:00 PM.  Again this season, sectional rehearsals will be incorporated into the regular Monday evening rehearsal instead of being held prior to the evening rehearsal as has been the practice in past seasons. Individual and sectional seating are governed by the wishes of the director. Members are asked to comply with the director’s seating arrangement and to return to the same seats on subsequent rehearsals.

ATTENDANCE:
Attendance at rehearsals is of the utmost importance for quality performances. Please notify your section leader in advance if you will be absent. If more than three rehearsals are missed in the quarter, the singer may be excused from the performance, dependent on circumstances and at the discretion of the director.

SECTION LEADERS:

Kristen Coon	Soprano Section Leader
Rachel Wood	Alto Section Leader
Eldon Bond	Tenor Section Leader
Art Krull	Bass Section Leader

SECTION LEADER RESPOSIBILITIES:

1. Maintain attendance records for each section singer for rehearsal sand performances.
2. Attend to dress code concerns.
3. Give musical suggestions to section singers under guidance of the director.
4. Provide accurate, legible list of section members for the performance program.
5. Insure that section is performance-ready to enter the performance stage.
6. Introduce, welcome and integrate new singers into the section.
7. Assist librarian to collect music from section members at the completion of a concert.
8. Serve on a telephone/email tree for emergency communications.
9. Be willing to address rehearsal etoquette with section members.
10. Serve as liaison between the singer, the board section liaison and the director.

REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE:
Maximum enjoyment of Chorale participation can be realized by all if members give their full attention to the director, refrain from chit-chat with neighbors or humming along while other sections are being rehearsed, and listening carefully to all instructions. Members all want to have fun singing together and wish to experience a smooth flow during the rehearsal and steady progress in mastering their music.

MUSIC:
The music selected by the director is the property of the Everett Chorale Association and must be returned at the conclusion of the performance. As music is an extremely valuable and costly item, members will be billed for failure to return any music. A procedure for returning music will be designated at the performance site. If a singer must drop out of the Chorale and is unable to attend the performance, the singer must return all music to their Chorale Section Leader or to another Chorale member or by mailing it to the Chorale mailing address mentioned above.
A pencil may be used to mark the music but all marks should be erased before returning the music. Please do not punch holes in the music. A black folder is required to hold music during performance which should be in program order. You can find them on-line from many vendors - here are a few to check out: Chandler Music On-Line, Musician's Friend, MusicFolder.com

EVERETT CHORALE ASSOCIATION BOARD:
The Board is composed of volunteers who are vitally interested in the success of the association which is an official 501(c)(3 )non-profit organization under the laws of the State of Washington. Their task is to ensure the smooth operation of the business and structural aspects of the Chorale, including scheduling, budgeting and financial support, publicity, correspondence, policies, registration, music handling and providing as much assistance as possible to the director.
The following people have been elected to serve on the Board for the 2011-2012 Season:

• Susan Lind, President
• Peggie Thompson, Vice President & Section Leader Liaison
• Jim Fry, Secretary
• Mary Lamb, Treasurer
• Patty Chatterton, Librarian & Mailing List Coordinator
• Diane O'Neill, Corresponding Secretary
• Andrea Miner, Stage Manager
• 
  Jean Cole
  Debra Draper
  
• Patricia Goodsell
• Delain Grohn
  Marilyn Krause
  Art Krull
  Rebecca Unger
  Rachel Wood

SOLOISTS AND INSTRUMENTALISTS:
The director determines the nature and composition of the programs. Soloists may be selected from within or outside the Chorale membership, and auditions for solo parts will be announced by the director. Many of the major works sung by the Chorale are accompanied by the Choral Arts Orchestra made up of prominent local instrumentalists. Other soloists and music groups may be invited by the director to participate in our programs.

DRESS CODE:
Sopranos/Altos:  A black Georgette Dress with Amadeus Jacket, black pantyhose and black closed toe shoes are required. The cost of the dress and jacket is approximately $107. A complete order from is attached for use in acquiring the proper dress. Knee highs are not appropriate because of the slit in the back of the dress. Dresses are to be hemmed at 2 inches off the floor with performance shoes on. A single strand pearl necklace and pearl earrings with no sparkle and no longer than I inch may be worn.
If singers are unable to afford the full amount of the dress right away, please speak with the dress coordinator concerning this issue. She will be happy to assist with payment arrangements through the Association that will work for each individual, depending on specific circumstances.
Dress Order Form.PDF

Tenors/Basses: Black tuxedoes with white shirt, black bow tie, black socks and shoes are required. All men will be required to purchase a special set of matching bow tie and cummerbund at the approximate cost of $15.00. If unable to afford the required performance attire, please speak to your section leader concerning your situation. He can also assist in locating very affordable places to purchase formal wear.
Matching bow tie and cummerbund purchase information:
The Tux Shop
1405 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite D
Everett, WA  
(425) 355-4676

Both men and women should refrain from wearing scented perfume, after-shave lotion, or hair sprays which can trigger serious breathing problems in susceptible members

Members may be asked not to perform if the above dress codes standards are not met.

STAGE ETOQUETTE:
When entering or leaving the stage, performers should carry their music in a black folder in their left hand. Music should remain at the left side until the director cues it is to be raised. When the orchestra or soloists are performing alone, do not follow along in the score unless directed to do otherwise. Turn pages to the nest choral entrance and be prepared to sing on cue from the director. Skipping to the next vocal section is greatly assisted by paper clipping pages together. Singers should maintain eye contact with the conductor during performance and avoid letting their attention wander into the audience while performing. Singers should never chew gum on stage and food and drink are not allowed on stage. Singers should refrain from going into the EPAC lobby before and during intermission on performance night/days. On the day of final rehearsals and performances at EPAC, singers should come through the rear loading dock door when entering the theater backstage to get to the warm-up room not through the main lobby entrance.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Please refer to the Ticket Link for order forms for our season. For concerts outside the regular season check the Special Performances page.An Order form is also available for the Benaroya concert.