Parent-Singer Handbook 2019 – 2020 (Children’S Chorus, Treble Choir, Chorale & Concert Choirs)
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Parent-Singer Handbook 2019 – 2020 (Children’s Chorus, Treble Choir, Chorale & Concert Choirs) Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota Assisi Heights, Suite 920 1001 14th Street NW Rochester, MN 55901 Office Phone: (507) 252-0505 Office E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.HonorsChoirs.org Office Hours Monday-Thursday: 10:00am - 4:00pm (closed Fridays) Updated: 5/22/19 HONORS CHOIRS ORGANIZATION Mission Statement The mission of the Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota is to promote the highest standard of excellence in the preparation and performance of choral music, seeking to provide artistic challenge and growth opportunities for youth throughout the region and enjoyment for the community at large. Conductors & Music Staff Rick Kvam, Artistic Director Rick Kvam, conductor-Concert Choir men & women, gr. 10 – 12 [email protected] Aaron Schumacher, conductor-Chorale boys & girls, gr. 7 – 9 [email protected] Bill Nelson, conductor-Treble Choir boys & girls, gr. 5-6 [email protected] Amy Nelson, conductor-Children’s Chorus boys & girls, gr. 3-5 [email protected] Korrie Johnson, instructor-Half Notes boys & girls, gr. 1-2 [email protected] Jan Kvam, pianist Concert Choir & Treble Choir Jon Davis, pianist Chorale & Half Notes Cindy Breederland, pianist Children’s Chorus Administrative Staff Jayne Rothschild Executive Director [email protected] Mary Wille Lead Administrator [email protected] Karri Campbell Finance Administrator [email protected] 2019-20 Board of Directors Melissa Saunders– President Bruce Bonnicksen Dotti Loutfi Anjanette Bandel – Vice President Amy Crockett Jeff Pieters Anna Sanchez – Secretary Jolene Hansen Valerie Presa Chuck Johnson – Treasurer Amelia Harthan Chris Rowen Heidi Dieter– Past-President Rafael Jimenez Dan Tschumperlin Bradley Nuss Mary Vogel Janine Yanisch The Board of Directors generally meets every third Monday of each month except December and July. 2 2019-2020 SEASON Fall-LA-Palooza Spring Finale Sunday, October 13, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, April 26, 2020 All four choirs (no Half Notes) TWO performances: 3:00 & 5:00 p.m. All five choirs ~ Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester Glad Tidings! Sunday, December 8, 2019 Ovation TWO performances: 3:00 & 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 17, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. All five choirs ~ Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester Concert Choir Only ~ Lourdes Chapel, Assisi Heights Christmas at Assisi (with Choral Arts Ensemble) SUMMER MUSICAL Friday, December 13, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. June 2020 Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Our 13th fully-staged musical featuring area adults and Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. youth of all ages. Watch for audition announcements. Concert Choir Only~ Lourdes Chapel, Assisi Heights VOICES Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. All four choirs (no Half Notes) ~ Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester CHOIR CALENDAR Important dates for the 2019-20 season are listed below. A calendar will be posted for each choir in the SINGER ACCESS area of the HC website (www.HonorsChoirs.org). Any changes will be announced in the Weekly Notes, announced at rehearsals, and appear as updates on the online Choir Calendar. After Sept 8, 2019, do not rely on this document for correct dates as it will not be updated once the season begins Regular Rehearsals All four Honors Choirs ensembles rehearse on Sundays beginning September 8, 2019. Rehearsals are held at ASSISI HEIGHTS, Rochester. Rehearsal times: Children’s Chorus 3:00-4:15 p.m. Treble Choir 3:00-4:45 p.m. Chorale 6:00–8:00 p.m. plus voice part sectional rehearsals from 5:10 to 5:50 on a rotating basis) Concert Choir 6:00-8:30 p.m. plus voice part sectional rehearsals from 5:00 to 5:50 on a rotating basis) No Rehearsals will be held on these Sundays: Dec. 15, 22, 29; Mar. 29; Apr. 12 (except for Concert Choir) Additional Rehearsals for Concert Choir only: Mon., September 30 Thur., December 12 Mon., January 27 Mon., April 6 Sun., April 12 Sun., May 10 3 One Hour Dress Rehearsals for Children’s Chorus (9AM), Treble Choir (10AM) and Chorale (11AM) Saturdays, Dec. 7 & Feb. 22 & Apr. 25 (Bethel Lutheran Church) Dress rehearsals for Concert Choir take place the same day as concerts. Performances (see online calendar and Weekly Notes for call times which are earlier than concert times) Sun., October 13 Fall-LA-Palooza (4:00 & 6:30 p.m. concerts) All four choirs Sun., December 8 Glad Tidings! (3:00 & 5:00 p.m. concerts) All four choirs, plus Half Notes Fri., December 13 Christmas at Assisi (with Choral Arts Ensemble) (7:30 p.m.) Concert Choir Sat., December 14 Christmas at Assisi (with Choral Arts Ensemble) (7:30 p.m.) Concert Choir Sun., December 15 Christmas at Assisi (with Choral Arts Ensemble) (4:00 p.m.) Concert Choir Sun., February 23 Voices (4:00 p.m. concert) All four choirs Sun., April 26 Spring Finale (3:00 & 5:00 p.m. concerts) All four choirs, plus Half Notes Sun., May 17 Ovation (4:00 p.m. concert) Concert Choir Other Important Dates Sun., Sept. 8 (vary by choir) First Rehearsal All four choirs Sun., Sept. 8 (vary by choir) Parent Meetings Parents of all four choirs Sun., Sept. 15, 1:00 – 7:30 p.m. Retreat at Assisi Heights Concert Choir Sun., Sept. 15, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. Retreat at Assisi Heights Chorale Mon., Dec. 2, 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. School Tour & Harmony For Mayo Concert Choir Wed., Mar 11-Sun., Mar 15 Chorale Tour (optional): Indianapolis Chorale Mon., Apr. 13 (early evening) Make Up Rehearsals (Easter) Children’s Chorus, Treble Choir, Chorale Mon., Apr 20, 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. School Tour & Harmony For Mayo Treble Choir & Chorale Fri., May 1 – Sat., May 2 Music in the Parks (optional): Chicago Treble Choir Sun., May 10, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Ovation rehearsal Concert Choir Special Calendar Notes Children’s Chorus & Treble Choir: First rehearsal: 9/8 Children’s Chorus 2:00 – 4:15; Treble Choir 2:00- 4:45 Mass Piece Rehearsal: Late end time on 12/1, 2/16 and 4/19 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Chorale: Mass Piece Rehearsal: Earlier start/end on 12/1, 2/16 and 4/19 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. Concert Choir: Mass Piece Rehearsal: Earlier start/end on 12/1, 2/16 and 4/19 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. ATTENDANCE POLICY Honors Choirs requires excellent attendance to develop the blend, balance, and general preparedness that will assure excellent performances. Families should put all rehearsal and performance dates on their calendars and avoid scheduling conflicting activities. Honors Choirs singers are expected to be at all rehearsals and performances and adhere to the attendance policy, which states: 4 ● Singers are expected to participate with their ensemble in ALL concerts and performances. Failure to do so is grounds for dismissal. Please mark performance dates on your family calendar. When signing up for other activities, singers should consider the Honors Choirs dates to which they are already committed. ● A singer may miss up to two rehearsals between September and the holiday concert and two rehearsals between January and the spring concert. This includes concert rehearsals and pre-concert warm-ups. (For Concert Choir, this includes all concerts and rehearsals in the months of December and May.) More than two absences in either of these time periods may be grounds for dismissal from the choir. In extenuating circumstances when there is a third absence, the conductor may allow the singer an opportunity to demonstrate his/her mastery of the repertoire in order to continue participation. After a fourth absence, a singer cannot continue in the choir. Decisions regarding absence consequences are reviewed by the staff, and the decision of the conductors is final. ● Notify the HC office in advance of any anticipated absences. If a singer becomes ill, call or email the HC office and conductor with notification of the absence. ● If a singer decides not to attend a rehearsal due to weather, it is recorded as an absence. If, however, choir rehearsal is cancelled due to weather, it is not considered an absence. ● Because all absences “count” (even those due to illness and weather issues), singers should be careful to use them only when absolutely necessary. ● For singers in Chorale and Concert Choir, missing a sectional counts as one-half absence. Missing rehearsal on the same date results in a total of 1 absence. ● Singers with perfect attendance are announced at the Spring Finale concert. Tardiness Punctuality is a primary ethic of the Honors Choirs. Because rehearsal time is precious, we expect singers to be in their seats and prepared to sing at the start time. Tardiness is also unacceptable because it is discourteous to the conductor and the other singers. This means each week singers should arrive about five minutes before the start time so that they can check their singer folders, remove coats, and be ready to sing when the rehearsal begins. Please make punctuality a high priority. The following rules are observed with regard to tardiness: ● 1-15 minutes late = tardy (4 tardies = 1 absence) ● More than 15 minutes late: each time = 1/2 absence ● Leaving rehearsal early: each time = 1/2 absence COMMUNICATION WITH SINGERS & PARENTS Honors Choirs makes every effort to keep singers and parents informed. We use the following tools to do this: Website: www.HonorsChoirs.org Look here for general information about the choirs, the concert season, ticket purchasing, etc. For specific information for each choir, go to the bottom of any page on the website and click on SINGER ACCESS. The passcode is SINGERS.