Membership
Membership is open to any adult or high school student having gone through the initial audition process. It is important to remember the artistic excellence we strive to achieve, thus allowing us to choose quality singers with an eagerness and ability to learn and grow in their singing.
You remain a member of the Chorale until you either ask to be removed or miss an entire season of concerts. In the latter case, membership is easily reinstated by another short audition.
Auditions
Auditions include singing a song of your choosing, sight reading a small portion of a piece of choral music and pitch exercises to determine singing ability, pitch retention and sectional placement.
Auditions typically take place before regularly scheduled rehearsal. In some cases, special audition times may be arranged. The auditions are private, meaning other current or potential singers will not hear you audition. The Conductor and Executive Director are currently the only people in the audition.
Dues and Purchasing Music
Dues for each concert session are $20, or $80 a season. In the event of an additional concert, repeat concert, special performance or church service participation, there will not be additional dues. A typical concert consists of 14-16 pieces of music, making the cost of music around $26 for a new member and around $15 for a returning member. There are no dues for high school singers.
Sheet music remains the property of the Collinsville Chorale. If you would like to purchase your own music, you would need to do that in addition to your dues. If paying for dues or music creates a hardship of any kind, please contact the Executive Director or Conductor. The focus of our organization is to make music, and if you're willing to sing, we are able to make it happen regardless of financial obligation.
Rehearsals
A typical concert session for the Chorale is five weeks long and consists of six rehearsals. Since there is not an abundance of rehearsal time, good attendance is vital to the success of our ensemble. Each member is allowed to miss one rehearsal. If you need to miss another rehearsal, please notify the Conductor so that a determination can be made on the eligibility of performing in the concert. It is important to keep the leadership aware of any absences.
Expect rehearsals to be fun, uplifting and fact-paced. We will always do our best to have a well-organized rehearsal. Rehearsals are from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at St. John United Church of Christ in Collinsville, Illinois.
Leadership
The Board of Directors, made up of Chorale members, Chorale staff, a clergy representative and a secretary, makes the important decisions in the life of the Chorale including season planning, financial planning and marketing. The officers, chosen from within the Chorale, make the day-to-day decisions regarding concert operations, special events and logistics.
The Executive Director serves as the overall administrator for the Chorale. This person handles ordering music, concert details and all business operations. The Artistic Director and Conductor serves as music director for the Chorale. This includes planning concerts, choosing repertoire, conducting rehearsals, and securing soloists and instrumentalists as needed.
Attire
The current attire for the Chorale women is all black blouses, dress, skirt or slacks. Skirt and dress lengths are to be below the knee. No sparkles, designs or other colors in blouses. Try to keep a uniform look with the rest of the Chorale. Please be mindful of large jewelry and perfume.
Men wear black pants with a white, long-sleeved button up shirt. Short sleeved white shirts are worn ocassionally. The Director will announce any attire changes towards the beginning of the concert session. The Chorale provides bow ties for men, and a $10 stipend toward ladies' uniforms.
Educational Experience
Our goal is to make you a better singer. By choosing quality literature that challenges our singers, we hope that you learn more than the notes on the page. We desire to see you grow as a musician. Music for the Chorale should be chosen not only to fit into the theme for an upcoming concert, but to teach a singer about his or her voice, its capabilities and how to use it correctly.
If you desire to further your musical education, the Artistic Director can offer suggestions for vocal teachers.
Social Events
The success of any organization is based on the relationships built within them, it is our desire to provide social activities promoting fellowship and camaraderie. We believe that the closer the relationships between our members, the better music we create. If you have a desire to host an event, please see the Executive Director so that the officers can plan it with you.
The Chorale may from time to time sponsor a tour or concert trip. A trip planning team, made up of Chorale members, may be developed when the Executive Director, Artistic Director and Board of Directors approves a trip or tour.
Soloists and Guests instrumentalists
If solos are needed, we will always do our best to provide Chorale members with these opportunities within our concerts. However, in some cases, guest soloists may be asked to join us. Selection of soloists is by discretion of the Executive Director and Artistic Director.
It is important to remember that the primary focus of the Chorale is to provide quality choral music with artistic excellence. Solos, small groups, etc, are not the focus of our organization, however, are occasionally used to enhance the theme of the concert and to give the Chorale a short intermission off-stage.
Chorale members interested in performing solos or in small groups should express an interest to both the Executive Director and Artistic Director. Concert programs are chosen based on interested members, time allotment, quality and concert theme.