Chorus Handbook

Who are the Section Leaders?

A Section Leader is designated for each of the four sections in chorus. Section Leaders help Cheryl by tracking attendance, conducting sectionals, helping people with musical problems, letting Cheryl know about absences and problems within their sections, and generally providing support to the singers in their sections. If you must miss a rehearsal or must be late, you must contact your Section Leader (preferably beforehand). Don't miss rehearsal unless it is absolutely necessary! Section Leaders are also called (with GREAT AFFECTION) by the nickname of Meanies, and it is an old tradition for members of the chorus to hiss and boo whenever a Meanie is mentioned.

What can I do to get the most out of rehearsal time?

1. Get to rehearsal early enough that you can be in your seat ready to sing by 7:00. Be sure to allow enough time to pick up new music.
2. Bring your tools of the trade; three pencils, a highlighter, your tuning fork (on a leash), a tape recorder if you like, and don't forget your MUSIC!
3. Rehearsal starts with the warm-ups. Please treat this time with respect by being in your seat ready to work promptly at 7:00.
4. Please don't talk during rehearsal, and please do not interrupt Cheryl during rehearsal with questions. It impedes the flow of the rehearsal. Check with your section leader at break if you have a question.
5. Please watch the conductor. It's amazing how helpful she can be!

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Where can I get some help with my music?

Your Section Leader is your friend! Your Section Leader can help you with problems and can let Cheryl know where people are having difficulties. Section Leaders also set up sectional rehearsals to go over difficult parts. You can talk to the people around you (please wait until the break or before or after rehearsal). All of us get lost from time to time, and everyone will be glad to help you. Sometimes a recording of the music we are singing is on file in the Cabrillo music lab. You can go into the lab and listen to the music and, if you like, make a tape of the recording for your own home study. Sometimes, for major pieces, a member of chorus will donate personal time to make rehearsal tapes available for the cost of the tape. Commercial practice tapes are available for major works.

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How many concerts do we have each year?

The Cabrillo Chorus has three primary concerts each year. Our first concert each school year is the Choral Festival. This concert features all nine of the choirs at Cabrillo and choirs from local high schools. Each choir performs individually and as a magnificent massed choir. It is a great way to start the year! Our fall semester concert, Music for the Feast, for many years was cosponsored by the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. As of December 2000, we are producing the concerts ourselves. This concert often starts with hand bells, and usually includes some Christmas carols, some Hanukkah songs, a variety of smaller pieces, and a major choral work. Interspersed between our pieces are audience sing-alongs of traditional Christmas carols. We are accompanied by an orchestra or brass choir. We offer three performances; Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday evening. We sell out every year, so be sure you get tickets for your friends and family early! In the spring, we collaborate with the Santa Cruz Symphony. These performances include major choral works such as Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, Brahms' Ein Deutches Requiem, Walton's Belshazzar's Feast, Mozart's Mass in C minor, the Verdi Requiem, and the Poulenc Gloria.

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What do we wear for concerts?

We want to look as great as we sound at all of our concerts and to have a consistent, professional looking appearance that enhances our performances. Concert dress for men consists of a black tux, white tux wing collar shirt, black bow tie, black socks, and black shoes. Dress shoes are best, but all black leather athletic shoes are acceptable as long as lighter colored soles have been blackened. The complete tux package can be purchased through your section's costume representative or you may purchase it on your own. Various parts of the package can also be purchased. Concert dress for women consists of a black, long-sleeved top, black palazzo pants, and a blue vest. These must be purchased through the chorus or from women who have left the chorus. Women must also wear black hose and closed black shoes. The top and pants can be purchased through your section's costume representative, who will also have the pattern and materials for the making of the vests (very simple). Some used outfits may be available. Informal concert dress for women consists of a jewel toned long-sleeved blouse over the same palazzo pants.

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What else do I need to know about concerts?

Please do not wear any perfume, cologne, after-shave, or perfumed hairspray before a concert (please do wear unscented deodorant!). Also, do not smoke or indulge in aromatic food or drink before we sing. We are in very close quarters during concerts, breathing deeply, and we need all the clear oxygen we can get! Do not drink alcohol before a performance for a myriad of obvious reasons. Leave celebration till after a brilliant concert.

Who produces the concerts?

The Cabrillo Choral Department produces the Choral Festival, the Symphony produces the Symphony concert, and the Chorus produces the Music for the Feast. A tremendous amount of work goes into producing concerts. Some of the responsibilities include arranging performance and rehearsal facilities, contracting with instrumentalists, hiring and working with the stage managers, arranging for payment for materials and labor, coordinating publicity, arranging for the program to be recorded, and preparing the printed programs. Much of this work is done by volunteers from the chorus, including members of the Steering Committee. A concert costs several thousand dollars to produce, and our goal is to break even or better. To help cover our costs, we sell advertising in the programs, ask our friends and family members to usher, and get as much material donated as possible. We can't afford to give complimentary tickets to friends and family members of the chorus members, but we do try to keep ticket prices reasonable.

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Why do I have to buy my own music?

The College provides a minimal amount of funding to purchase music for the choral program. In order to have enough music to go around and to provide new and exciting pieces, it is necessary for each singer to buy their own music. We try to keep the prices as low as possible. Think of it as your textbooks!

Ten Things You Can Do to Keep Your Librarian Happy

1. Come to my table only to get music or ask questions. I do not take roll. Please refrain from socializing in front of the librarian's table and holding up the line.
2. Please form a single line and allow me to help one person at a time. Five people talking to me at once makes my brain jam.
3. Sometimes I remember your name, sometimes I don't. Be kind to my disappearing brain cells, and tell me who you are.
4. Be patient. There are so many of us that sometimes I run out of music. I try very hard to have more the next week, but sometimes the demand is more than I anticipate.
5. Please do not go through my box and take out music on your own. This destroys my record keeping.
6. Collecting music is your responsibility. If you are absent, check the next week to see if you missed any new music. Please allow yourself enough time to get your music before rehearsal starts.
7. Write your full name, legibly, in pencil only, at the top of each piece of music. Erase all other names.
8. Only make marks on your music in pencil. Highlighting your part is OK, too.
9. Treat music gently; do not fold, spindle, or mutilate. If you have borrowed music, do not rip off covers, tear pages, punch more holes than necessary, or spill food and drink on it.
10. Turn in your music on time (usually directly after a concert).

Thanks a bunch!

Kathy Hatfield Librarian

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What is the Steering Committee and how can I get in on the fun?

The Steering Committee is an informal group of people who have volunteered to help with the behind the scenes work for chorus. Meetings are held as needed, and ANY member of chorus, especially YOU, is welcome to attend. The Steering Committee does a lot of the work producing concerts, tracking chorus funds, setting up the snack bar, thinking things through, and planning ahead. Steering Committee meetings are usually announced or mentioned in Communique, so feel free to attend a meeting if you want to try it out. There's lots of work to do, we have a great time together, and we would love to have you join us.

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How can I find out what's going on?

Rehearsal time is precious, and we try to eliminate as many verbal announcements as possible. Important information will be announced in the Communiqué, the newsletter which is on the table down front. Look here every week for vital information like concert dates and times, information on upcoming events, helpful hints on memorizing music, and other helpful things you need to know. Ask your Meanie. Join the Steering Committee. Minutes from the Steering Committee are kept in a notebook at the front of the rehearsal room as well. This is a good place to look if you wonder what activities are being planned for the future, how much money we made (or lost) on the last concert, or who is in charge of a committee or an chorus event. Part of the job of each member of the Steering Committee is to act as a communications conduit between members of the choir and the director and the other members of the Steering Committee. We want to know what your hopes and dreams are for the chorus, so that we can make them a reality. Please feel free to talk to anyone on the Steering Committee with any ideas, concerns, fears, or dreams you may have. Ask anyone to point you towards a Steering Committee member.

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How does the snack bar work?

The snack bar is a voluntary, fun way of raising money for the chorus. It is also a way for chorus members to socialize and get to know each other. Each year some wonderful chorus members (angels, actually) volunteer to be the coordinators. They get here early and set up the coffee and hot water pots, then they organize and put the pots and supplies away after rehearsal. Please help clean up and take care of your own leftovers. Snacks are donated by chorus member Stephanie of Whale City Bakery in Davenport, and can range from wonderful homemade brownies to croissants, juice, tea, coffee, etc. YOU can support the chorus and bring fame, honor, and glory to your name by contributing to the snack bar. Payment is by the honor system. Please pay for what you take. The suggested donation is 50 cents for a cookie or brownie and another 50 cents for a drink. Please take money with you when you go on break and make a contribution each time.

Thank you (and thank Steffie!)

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What are Post-Practicum activities and who can go?

Often after rehearsal, chorus members go out to share a bite to eat, a glass of mineral water, wine, or beer with their fellow singers. Everyone from chorus is welcome; the more the merrier. Some folks stay for a few minutes, and others close the place down. Often Cheryl joins us, and it is a chance to get to know her personally. It is a fun time to talk about chorus without boring all your other friends who have yet to be infected with Chorus mania. Ask your section leader where the current "hang out" is located and come join the crowd!

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