Committee

Director of Music – Aldis Sils
President – Fran Verrall, president@philharmonia.net
Vice President – Lynne Flavel
Secretary – Elise Wight, secretary@philharmonia.net
Treasurer – Liz Mackenzie
Librarian – Jill Peters
Publicity Officer – Katharine Lahn
Fundraising Co-ordinator – Margie Ripper
Choristers Clerk – Alexis Dean
Concert Manager – Stephen Matthew

Voice reps

Soprano – Nicky Marshall
Alto – Viv Gencarelli
Tenor – David Mackenzie
Bass – Chris Davies

Membership Brochure

Membership and Auditions

Membership of the Chorus is by an audition process.

A person seeking membership of the Chorus must apply to the Secretary or President to arrange an audition with the Musical Director.

The Musical Director will forward the results of the audition to the Secretary, who will then inform the applicant of the results.

A successful applicant will be admitted to the Chorus on payment of the relevant annual membership fee.

Membership will be provisional for the first three months, and if membership is not confirmed after this period, the unused portion of the fee will be refunded.

The process for the audition is:

• A song no more than two pages long, to show the voice quality
• Scales to show the voice range
• A sight reading exercise
• Pitching a note from a chord played on the piano
• Any other request by the Musical Director

If a member is absent for more that 12 months or becomes un-financial, he/she will be required to pass another audition to rejoin the Chorus.

Regular attendance at rehearsals is expected, with Chorus members required to attend at least 75% of rehearsals for each concert. The final three rehearsals prior to a performance are compulsory. The Musical Director retains the right to exclude from a concert performance anyone who does not meet these criteria.

Rehearsals are held every Tuesday from 7.15pm to 9.45pm at Cynthia Poulton Hall, St Peter's Cathedral.

Scores

Scores are provided for the use of financial members of the Chorus. Non-financial choristers may be provided with a score at the discretion of the committee.

All scores (originals or photocopies) from the Chorus Library remain the property of the Chorus and must be returned in good order and condition after prescribed rehearsals or concerts. If choristers make additional copies, for example to make a small score larger for easier reading, these copies must also be returned to the Librarian.

The same applies to scores borrowed from other institutions and issued to choristers by the Librarian.

The making of unauthorised photocopies is prohibited.

Only soft (preferably 2B) pencil markings are to be made on scores. All markings must be erased before scores are returned.

Individual choristers are responsible for taking care of scores allocated to them.

All scores are to be returned by the date announced by the Librarian or other Committee Member, usually at the first or second rehearsal after a performance. Alternative arrangements in exceptional circumstances can be made by negotiation with the Librarian.

Scores are not stored at the rehearsal venue. The Chorus is charged a fee each time the storage facility is accessed so scores will be returned at one time only.

Choristers who return scores after the due date will be charged a Late Return Fee of $5.00.

Fees

Membership of the Chorus incurs an annual fee as follows:

Normal Membership (inc. GST) $220.00
Family Membership (inc. GST) $325.00
Concession Membership (inc. GST) $169.00

Concession Membership is applicable for choristers on production of a valid Centrelink card. Holders of Seniors Cards do not qualify for a concession.

Students seeking a concession must produce a current Student ID Card and make arrangements with the Treasurer.

Any chorister seeking a variation to their fees must apply in writing to the committee. Verbal applications will not be accepted.

All fees must be paid in full by March 31 each year.

If the committee has agreed to allow a chorister to pay in instalments, final payment must be made by June 30 in the year of membership.

Non-financial choristers cannot sing in concerts and will not be issued with scores.

New members who are admitted after September 30 may qualify for a pro rata membership at the discretion of the committee.

Non-financial choristers may be required to re-audition in order to rejoin the choir.

Visiting Choristers

A status of Visiting Chorister may be granted at the Musical Director's discretion, with approval from the President.

The following rules apply:

• A Visitor Donation is paid prior to or at the first rehearsal. The sum of the donation will be decided by the committee for the concert involved and is non-refundable.

• The Visiting Chorister attends all required rehearsals and concert/s as agreed with the Musical Director and President.

• The Visiting Chorister is permitted to be involved with the Chorus only once in any calendar year. Should the Visitor request or be approved for a second time within three years of the first arrangement, the Chorister must then be admitted as a full member of the Chorus and be required to comply with all Chorus Rules. The Visitor is required to audition as a new member, unless the Musical Director determines that this is not necessary.

• The Visiting Chorister is encouraged to become a full member of the Chorus and is eligible for a remission of the Visitor Donation on the annual fee payable.

If the Musical Director invites additional Choristers to improve the balance of the Chorus for a particular concert, no Visitor Donation is expected.

Email

Chorus members, Life Members and Supporters supply their email addresses to the Chorus for information and as a means of communication of Chorus matters.

The Rules of the Association 2.6.1 state "The Committee shall establish and maintain a register of members, showing the contact details of each person who is a member."

The Committee's policy is that this register is confidential, except to Committee members and Voice Representative for the duration of their tenure. Details of the register will not be given to any other person.

Voice Representatives will be given the register of the relevant voice part as a means of checking attendance, for advising of rehearsal changes, and for contacting Members in their voice part.

The Committee maintains the right to refuse a request by any person to email or mail information or material to Chorus members.

Newsletters

2011

November 2011
October 2011
August 2011
June/July 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
January/February 2011

2010

December 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
June/July 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010

2009

October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
April/May 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009