Chorus Handbook

Thank you for your interest in the Community Chorus of Detroit. Following is the information you will need to participate in the chorus. Please contact us (info@communitychorusofdetroit.com) if you have any questions.

HANDBOOK CONTENTS

OVERVIEW

The CCD welcomes singers from throughout the Metro Detroit area. Please refer to “Membership/Register” on our website for specific requirements and note that the CCD is a non-auditioned ensemble, but it includes many experienced singers. To register, please read the page entitled “Register.” Although the chorus is an enjoyable social experience for its members, it maintains a serious approach with regard to musical standards and commitment.

REHEARSAL & CONCERT SCHEDULE –  Fall, 2024

All regular rehearsals are at Christ Church Detroit  (info below) on Sunday afternoons with times as noted below.

Regular Sunday rehearsals (1:30-4:00):
September 8, 15, 22 (Break for European tour)
October 13, 20
Whole Chorus rehearsal: 1:30 – 3:45 pm, Chamber Choir rehearsal: 3:50 – 4:15 pm
October 27, Chamber Choir rehearsals begin.
November 3, 10, 17, 24
December 1, 8
Dress rehearsal, Wednesday evening, December 11, 6 – 9:30 pm
Concerts Friday, December 13, 7:30 pm (6 pm call) & Saturday, December 14, 4 pm (3 pm call)

Rehearsals in red, above, are open house rehearsals for prospective members; please contact us for information: info@communitychorusofdetroit.com

REPERTOIRE/CONCERT PROGRAM performed with orchestra – Fall 2024
Carol of the Bells, arr. Wilhousky
A Ceremony of Carols – Britten
Ave Maria –  Bruckner
It’s Christmas Again – Strommen
Intermission
The Colors of Christmas – Rutter
In Effect, it is this: I Love You – Soledad
We Are Lights – Young (a song for Chanukah)
Stars – hunter t. johnson (Chamber Choir)
Silent Night  – sung by audience with chorus
I Wish You Christmas – Rutter
Hallelujah from A Soulfull Celebration, arr. Warren

 

REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE VENUE/PARKING

All rehearsals and performances are at Christ Church Detroit, 960 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, 48207. The church is located on Jefferson Avenue next to the Renaissance Center, where l-375 meets Jefferson Avenue. There is secure parking in the church lot south of the church off Woodbridge St.. Please check directions prior to the first rehearsal.

Rehearsal Room Location: Most rehearsals will take place in Ledyard Hall at the church. Information about any changes will be provided in the chorus’ weekly Wednesday Notes. Enter the building through the back door. Go up the few stairs and take a right turn down the hallway to Ledyard Hall on your right.

HEALTH-SAFETY COVID POLICY

For the chorus – in both rehearsals and concerts – and for the concert audiences, the current CCD masking policy is to have masks optional at each singer’s discretion.  The CCD Board of Directors reserves the right to change to a masks-required policy if there is a change in the spread of the Covid virus as indicated by the CDC and/or if such a policy change is deemed necessary at any time by a majority vote of the board.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

We ask choristers to be conscientious about rehearsal attendance, with a two-absence maximum per semester (fall or spring). In order to participate in the performances with more than two rehearsal absences, please check with our Administrative Director, Patricia Scott.

REHEARSAL GUIDELINES
Choristers are asked to observe the following guidelines at rehearsals. Please:
  • Arrive a few minutes early, so that we may begin on time.
  • Only bring bottled water for a beverage.
  • If you are providing a snack for the chorus, please avoid items that would stain if spilled
  • Bring a pencil each week to put conductor’s notes in your music.
  • Procure a plain black, standard-sized ring binder or professional music folder for your music. A good source for a professional-quality folder is MyMusicFolders.com (888-266-0731); we recommend the “Deluxe” style folder as some of the more elaborate folders are too heavy when loaded with scores. We recommend purchasing extra elastic bands and their ingenious “octavo holders,” which allow for inserting octavos (music books) into a three-ring binder without punching the scores. Another folder source is www.musicfolder.com (604-733-3995) in Vancouver, Canada. Wherever you order, be sure to get a folder with elastic bands and a removable three-ring adapter plus a hand strap.
  • Restrict talking to a minimum during rehearsals.
SECTION COORDINATORS
Section coordinators are responsible for:
  • Welcoming new members and helping them to become acquainted with fellow choristers.
  • Creating a collegial, supportive section environment.
  • Checking their section members’ Chorus Connection profile for completeness and making necessary updates.
  • Creating a riser placement plan on Chorus Connection for concerts.
PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES
Singers are asked to observe the following guidelines at performances. Please:
  • Bring your music in a black folder and hold it in your upstage hand (away from the audience) when entering and exiting the stage.
  • Raise and lower your music folder when our conductor steps onto or down from the podium.
  • Avoid talking on stage.
  • Avoid wearing fragrances – both ladies and gentlemen.
  • Turn the pages of your music as quietly as possible.
  • Do not leave valuables visible in your car; there will be limited space available for singers’ valuables inside the church during the concert. Info will be announced prior to the performance dates. Please plan accordingly.
PERFORMANCE ATTIRE

…is worn for concerts, but not for the dress rehearsal.
Ladies: Long-sleeved black top/blouse and ankle-length black skirt (or pants) OR long-sleeved, ankle-length black dress. One option for attire is this mail-order company, which offers reasonable prices and a wide selection of ladies’ black performance attire: Formal Fashions, Inc. in Arizona; 800-528-7909 or www.formalfashionsinc.com.
Gentlemen: Tux or tux look: white shirt, black or dark suit (or jacket/pants), and solid, dark bow tie (not long tie).
Ladies and gentlemen: Black stockings and black shoes.

SINGERS’ COSTS
Following are the costs of participating in the chorus.
  • Dues are $70 each for the fall and spring seasons, or $125 for both the fall and spring seasons if paid in full with fall registration. In either case, dues are paid upon registration. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact Patricia Scott, who is authorized on behalf of our board to make confidential arrangements for a limited number of fellowships: info@communitychorusofdetroit.com.
  • Dues include each singer’s own scores. However, there may be a limited amount of music to print from emailed PDFs. This is either copyright-free music or we have borrowed scores that we will not use for these works, so that we are covered under copyright law.
  • Each singer will need a black folder and concert attire (above).
  • Miscellaneous optional items, for a nominal fee may include but are not limited to: afterglow dish to pass following the final concert, recording of our concert, etc.
TAX BENEFITS FOR CHORISTERS

Because the CCD is a 501c3 organization, we enjoy special tax benefits. As a CCD chorister, your vehicle mileage to and from rehearsals, performances, and other CCD functions is tax deductible.  Out-of-pocket costs for refreshments provided for break-time treats are tax deductible. Any choristers’ donations or patronages (in excess of the regular cost of tickets) are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

FINANCIAL NUTS & BOLTS
The CCD is an independent, self-sustaining State of Michigan not-for-profit organization with federal 501c3 status. Our costs for each concert semester – fall and spring – are in the tens of thousands of dollars, which we, as chorus members, must generate in order to sustain the chorus. This total includes building rental, professional fees for music personnel (our professional musicians, including orchestra), printing, website maintenance, building and orchestra-score rental, etc. While we work hard to advertise our performances so that outside ticket sales, plus a limited amount of grant funding and our fundraising activities, will assist us in meeting our budget, the primary responsibility for generating revenue rests with chorus members. Because we are an independent chorus without any organizational subsidy, our tickets are comparable in price to other similar, self-supporting ensembles. Our necessary goal in order to be sustainable is to average 15 tickets sold/chorister/semester, minimum. For those who are able, it is helpful to exceed this amount in order to meet our average. If we make any profit, the money is rolled over to our next season to sustain our program. We accomplish our financial goals by asking our choristers to support the chorus in the following ways, as possible:
  • Selling tickets. While we do not have minimum required ticket sales, we ask our choristers to be conscientious about ticket sales and to do their utmost to sell tickets.
  • Purchasing and/or promoting the sale of concert patronages. Choristers are especially encouraged, if they are able, to purchase a patronage, which offers preferred guest seating for their family and friends, and recognition in the program; this is an excellent way to support the chorus.
  • Purchasing and/or selling program ads – either business or personal
  • Supporting any fundraisers; info TBA
TICKET SALES
Concert tickets are sold online and via paper tickets, which may be purchased in the following ways:
  • From chorus members, all of whom receive tickets to sell at a discount.
  • Through our website, online.
  • By mail.
  • At the door, by check or cash.

Tickets ordered online or by mail will be held at the door; there will be no mailed tickets. We have open seating except for patrons, who have reserved, front-section seating. Further information about ticket sales will be provided closer to the time of our concerts.

WEDNESDAY NOTES

Our Administrative Director will send the CCD Wednesday Notes to all chorus members each Wednesday during our fall and spring seasons with information for the next rehearsal.

RECRUITING

We welcome all new chorus members, if you have friends who would like to join the chorus, and we especially encourage recruitment of experienced singers. Please refer prospective choristers to our website, in particular to Join Us and to our mission statement under About Us. Note our registration deadlines.

AD CARDS

We offer 4″ x 6″ ad cards to our singers to assist with concert ticket sales. Details about availability of the cards will be sent in our Wednesday Notes to chorus members.

PAYMENT & REGISTRATION DEADLINES

To register and pay: Please see the registration form under Join Us on our site for instructions. Please pay dues (see Singers’ Costs, above) anytime between now and our deadline for registration, at the conclusion of the second rehearsal. Singers who would like to register after this date should contact info@communitychorusofdetroit.com to inquire about late registration and ordering music individually. Please register and pay dues in advance to be assured of having your scores by the first rehearsal; however, we will a limited number of extra scores at the first and second rehearsals, available on a first-come, first-served basis upon payment of dues.

Refunds: If you need to drop out of the chorus, we will work out a fair refund with the fullest amount possible, depending upon the timing.

LEGAL NUTS & BOLTS: LIABILITY WAIVER & DISCLAIMER
Neither Christ Church Detroit (CCD), nor any church personnel or representative, the Community Chorus of Detroit (CCD), the CCD Board of Directors’ members, CCD conductor, CCD accompanist or assistant conductor, CCD administrator, chorus or concert participant, leadership/support/guest-artist personnel, sponsoring person or organization, or any person involved in any and all outreach efforts in any capacity, is responsible for personal injury or loss of or damage to personal property. Parents and/or guardians are solely responsible for their minor children (under age 18), whether or not the parent or guardian is on site at chorus rehearsals, concerts, or any other chorus event, or for driving the minor child; the CCD, and all aforementioned parties are not responsible for minors. Audio recordings and/or photographic and/or video/DVD images and/or recordings of members may be used on the CCD website, for any and all types of media publicity, and/or for sale. By registering, participants acknowledge their understanding of and agreement to these conditions and this waiver of liability and disclaimer, and that they have read the complete Chorus Handbook before registering for the CCD.