We encourage all interested adult singers to join our organization in August, rehearse with us, and sing with us in concerts. Two of our three ensembles offer membership without an audition, although an informal voice placement (for new members) is held with the Artistic Director during the first two weeks of each fall term.
Three Ensembles
At the present time we have three performing ensembles -- the large Boulder Chorale (BC), the Boulder Women's Chorale, and the Boulder Chamber Chorale -- each with different rules for membership, briefly summarized below. See the respective pages for details.
No audition is required for BC (large choir) membership, although section size limits are applied on a first-come, first-served basis. History tells us that the Soprano and Alto sections fill up very quickly.
No audition is required to join the Women's Chorale. It is possible to be only a BC member, only a Women's Chorale member, or both -- dual membership requires longer Tuesday rehearsal time.
BC (large choir) members, both new and returning, are encouraged to audition for the Chamber Chorale in August. Membership in this ensemble requires longer Tuesday rehearsal time and is restricted to performing BC members.
Please note that it is not possible to be a member, simultaneously, of the Women's Chorale and the Chamber Chorale.
Musical Professionalism
The Chorale gives its members an opportunity to do the best they can do. We provide a vehicle for excellence and we achieve great results. In return, our members have a strong commitment to the success of the organization. They display a high level of musical and artistic commitment in two ways: at rehearsals and at concerts.
Chorale members rehearse every Tuesday evening from Late August to May (with holiday breaks) and practice individually between group rehearsals. They also faithfully attend special rehearsals and dress rehearsals as scheduled. Members come to each rehearsal on time, stay for the entire rehearsal, and sometimes attend special musical training sessions.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Each Chorale season consists of a Fall Term, which ends before Christmas, followed by a Spring Term, which starts after New Year's Day. Registration (including payment of dues) is for the entire season, late August to May. All members, new and continuing, register annually in the summer boundary period between seasons.
EXCEPTION: If additional voices are needed for the Spring Term, the Artistic Director may decide to accept new members at the first rehearsal of the Spring Term (early January). Any such mid-season registration opportunity will be announced on the website and publicized in the community. In the event that mid-season (January) registrations are permitted, they may be limited to specific vocal sections.
Summer Registration takes place in two phases: Renewal Registration (for continuing BC members) and Open Registration.
Renewal Registration
Current members of the large BC can be assured of BC membership for the following Season by submitting a Renewal Registration form, available at April rehearsals. This Renewal Registration must be completed, with payment of BC dues for the upcoming Season, no later than the Renewal Registration Deadline each year in early May.
Open Registration
Open Walk-In Registration for the Women's Chorale will be held on the last Tuesday of August at Atonement Lutheran Church . If BC vacancies still exist on that date, then Walk-In Registration for any section or sections with vacancies will be open at the same place and time.
Open Registration by mail will be available starting August 1, 2006. Watch this website for details. It is also advisable to sign up early in August for Chamber Chorale auditions, if desired.
The soprano and alto sections of the BC are expected to be full before June 1, 2006; the tenor and bass sections are expected to have vacancies in August.
MONEY MATTERS
Our membership costs are kept as low as possible. We strive to be as affordable as possible.
Dues
Annual dues are $80.00 for BC (large choir) membership. Members of the Chamber Chorale pay additional annual dues of $40.00. Annual dues for the Women's Chorale are $40.00. Since no one can simultaneously be a member of both the Chamber Chorale and the Women's Chorale, no one will pay more than $120.00 in dues.
Sheet Music Purchases
Chorale members own their own sheet music. Members may acquire sheet music from any legally permissible source, but most commonly they purchase the music through the Chorale Librarian. All the pieces we perform will be available for timely purchase.
Sheet music charges vary but are always substantially less than dues. Individual members need not re-purchase music that they already own.
Concert Dress
Chorale members own their own concert clothing and concert music folders. All members must use a black music folder when performing in concert. The individual may choose the type of folder to be used, but folders must be entirely black (except that brass corner protectors are allowed), folders must not be shiny, and folders must be large enough to completely conceal the sheet music being used.
Concert clothing for women is a standard black outfit, either top and skirt or top and pants, that must be purchased through the Chorale. Cost is approximately $102. Opaque black stockings and black dress shoes -- purchased independently of the Chorale -- complete the standard Concert Dress for women. See the Membership Handbook Concert Dress Code for more details.
Concert clothing for men is all purchased independently, not through the Chorale. It consists of a black tuxedo (jacket and pants), white tuxedo shirt, black studs, black bow tie, black cummerbund, black socks, and black dress shoes. See the Membership Handbook Concert Dress Code for more details.
Payment Schedule for Dues and Sheet Music
BC (large choir) dues are payable at the time of BC Registration, in no case later than the date of the second BC rehearsal.
Women's Chorale dues are payable at the time of Women's Chorale Registration, in no case later than the date of the first Women's Chorale rehearsal.
Chamber Chorale dues are payable at the first Chamber Chorale rehearsal.
We will tabulate the sheet music purchased by each individual and collect once for the entire season. This payment will complete the collection of Member Fees for the Season. This final collection date will never be earlier than November 15. Approximately one month before the final collection date, we will present an itemized bill to each member.
Individual members can also calculate the remaining balance that they owe (for dues and sheet music, combined) by using the member fee calculation page.
Note that payment for Women's Concert Dress is handled separately, between the individual and the Chorale's designated concert clothing supplier.