Handbook - Choir Rehearsals
Choral Hall
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Regular rehearsals are on Wednesday nights from 6:45 to 8:30pm in the Choral Hall. Additional rehearsals and/or extended rehearsal times may be scheduled as the need arises. See Retreat paragraph at the end of this page.
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Pick up your black rehearsal folder of music from tables just outside Choral Hall. They are in numerical order in crates. (Sopranos and Altos on east side, Tenors and Basses on west side)
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Pick up a “Know the Score” sheet on tables just inside Choral Hall for a complete agenda for the rehearsal.
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Check your name off of the attendance sheets on same tables.
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There should be a calendar in your rehearsal folder. If you know that you will not be singing on a particular Sunday in the upcoming or current month, please circle that Sunday on the calendar and leave it in your folder, so that the librarians will know not to prepare your Sunday folder.
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Take a seat in your section of the Choral Hall. The sections are arranged Soprano, Bass, Tenor, Alto from left to right.
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Refer to the Rehearsal Agenda on the “Know the Score” sheet for the order in which the anthems will be rehearsed.
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Put the anthem(s) that are being sung the following Sunday in the left side pocket of the rehearsal folder. This makes it easier for the librarians to pull those out to put into your Sunday folder.
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After rehearsal, place your black rehearsal folder back in the crate outside the Choral Hall.
Seating
The Sanctuary Choir does not observe an “assigned” seating policy. Our seating coordinator may ask you to change seats on occasion for choral balance and for better visual esthetics regarding height. If you have a special need, please make your request to the seating coordinator and every effort will be made to accommodate that need.
Attendance
Members are urged to be on time and to remain for the entire rehearsal each week. Your consistent attendance is key to the quality of worship leadership this choir provides on Sunday mornings and to building community within our ministry group.
Since we rehearse several weeks of music in advance each week, if you miss a Wednesday rehearsal, please go ahead and come to sing in the following Sunday service, and vice versa.
Be actively engaged in each rehearsal and avoid talking during this time.
Longer Absences
If you know you will be out of choir for longer than 2 weeks, please let your section leaders know. We want to be able to keep up with everyone as much as possible, but it really helps when you volunteer the information.
Robes and Folders
Rehearsal folders and Sunday folders are assigned to each member and are housed in assigned slots in the robe rooms. Folders and slots are assigned by the New Member Coordination Team.
Robes are also assigned by the New Member Coordination Team and will hang under your folder in the robe room.
Regular laundering of assigned robes and stoles is the responsibility of each member.
Folder Preparation
Every week volunteer librarians prepare the rehearsal folders and the Sunday folders with the music that will be needed for that rehearsal or service. This process takes many hours of dedicated work. If you know you are going to miss a Sunday, be sure to circle the appropriate Sunday on the calendar in your rehearsal folder. Every week many folders are prepared for those who do not come and sing. Be a good steward and a courteous choir member and let us know when you will be away. You can also call or e-mail the Worship and Music office or Sarah Tarver.
Child Care
Childcare is provided for all rehearsal, services and some special programs. Vouchers may also be available for some Sanctuary Choir special rehearsals and activities. Contact the Worship and Music Office if you have any questions about the availability of childcare for a specific event.
Special Offerings
From time to time, an offering may be requested for extraordinary needs of choir members, gifts to leadership, and other authorized funding requests. Members are under no obligation to contribute.
Choir Retreats
The Sanctuary Choir has 2 retreats per year for the purpose of focusing on the Christmas and Easter music, one in the fall and one in the early spring. These follow a Friday night and Saturday schedule and are held here at the church. A reasonable fee will be suggested for each member to assist in defraying the costs for the retreat. Finances should NOT be a reason for not attending a full retreat weekend. Simply sign the retreat list and allow God to provide.