The Market Harborough Choral Society

The Society about to perform Bruckner Mass in E Minor, accompanied by Bardi Symphonic Winds, on 22nd November 2010.

WELCOME to the Society!

We hope you will enjoy singing with us and find us to be a friendly and happy group of people.
Our aims are:

• To bring choral music of all styles and genres to as wide a public as possible.
• To increase the vocal repertoire of all our members.
• To improve, individually and collectively, our vocal skills.
• To enjoy choral music in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

On this page you will find all you need to know about how we function. If you still have any questions, ask any member of the committee or any member of the Society who will be only too pleased to help. A registration slip must be completed on arrival and before any music can be issued to you.

Rehearsals: We meet on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. in the Methodist Church Hall, Northampton Rd; Market Harborough. This is opposite the Indoor Market car park. (Details of rehearsal dates and concerts are on this website). There is a 15 minute break for tea & coffee, etc.
We like our rehearsals to be relaxed and fun, and hope that individuals will be able to achieve their own vocal ambitions.

Auditions: Members are not required to audition to join the Society – all we ask is that you have a love of music, can sing your part accurately and enjoy working with other like-minded people.

We like to encourage members to sing “solo” at our Christmas and Summer concerts and auditions are held for these. Our Musical Director is responsible for these auditions and they are not frightening!
We also encourage young musicians in the area to perform at Christmas and in the summer and we have a special fund to help local students when they go to College or University to study music.

Finances: Members are required to pay a subscription fee (reviewed annually by the whole Society) and all music will be provided for everyone. There may also be opportunities to purchase personal copies of the music being rehearsed as and when needed.
In addition to the subscription, there are many fund raising activities and you are more than welcome to take part in all or any of them. These typically include coffee mornings, wine evenings and raffles.

A major source of extra funding comes from performing in the wider community by request. Anyone is welcome to participate in any of these concerts if they are interested and the dates are convenient. Rehearsals for these concerts are usually for half an hour after the main rehearsal on a Tuesday with the occasional longer rehearsal (if required) at a convenient time and place. For more details please visit the web page entitled 'Small Choir'.

Gift Aid: This is available for all tax paying members. The Society can claim back tax at NO COST to the member. See the Treasurer for details.

That’s all about us.

As with all organisations, it is necessary to have a few “rules” to ensure the smooth running of the Society.

The day to day administration of the Society is done by an elected committee.
The programme for a concert is decided by a Music Sub-Committee which is ratified by the full committee.
There are always opportunities for members to make suggestions about musical items to be included in a concert.

• Rehearsals start at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Please be prompt. Schedule details as below.
• The Register, which can be found where you come into the hall, must be signed at the beginning of each rehearsal.
• New Music is usually distributed at the first rehearsal for each concert, enabling a prompt start for rehearsals of the next concert. This is done at 7.15 p.m. so please arrive in good time to collect your music at the first rehearsal.
• You will be assigned a choir number which you must put on all your music (in pencil) and all music must be signed out by the Librarian.
• All music must be returned on the night of the concert or as soon as possible before a concert if you are not able to take part. Late returns may incur a financial penalty.
• All music is your personal responsibility and if it is lost, a charge will have to be made.
• Concert folders are issued to all members for a deposit of £4.50 which is refunded if you leave and return the folder.

• Care of Music: Put Choir number (in pencil) on ALL your music.
All instructions from the Musical Director must be marked only in pencil.
All pencil markings (except choir no.) to be erased before being returned.
Music must be returned in the folder with your number / name on it.
No sellotape / staples / marker tabs that you have put in should be left in.
No hole punches to be put in any music ever.
No photocopies that you may have made to be handed in.
Lost or damaged music will have to be paid for by you.

• Concert dress.
Men: Dress Suit. Black bow tie. Black shoes. Occasionally a coloured tie will be used (notice will be given)
Ladies: Turquoise Blouse (colour & style set by the committee). Long black skirt preferred but a “ bottom of the calf” length skirt is acceptable if worn with black tights / stockings. Dress trousers may also be worn. Black shoes. Occasionally evening dresses may be required (notice will be given).

• Concert Etiquette: No bags are to be taken on to the stage unless it is a “clutch” bag, which can be concealed behind a folder. Water bottles must be placed on stage before a performance.

• Subscriptions: These should be paid at the beginning of a new season – new members will be allowed a couple of rehearsals before payment, but it must be before the first concert.

• Rotas: It is hoped that you will help with one activity that ensures pleasant rehearsals. These include refreshments on every Tuesday and help with putting out chairs for rehearsals. Teams will also be needed for ushering, front of house and welcoming audiences for our concerts. Chairs have to put away to prepare the Church for the next day so all members are expected to 'stack' their chair at the end of the session.

Rehearsal Schedule

• A downloadable PDF file is available which shows Performance Dates and Rehearsal Dates up to mid 2014. Click here to download. If you need the software to open the PDF format file you can download this for free on www.adobe.com - just follow instructions. You might also like to deselect the option to download the McAfee scan software as this can conflict with your existing anti-virus protection.

The next AGM is the Tuesday October 2nd 2012 at 7.30pm, before the rehearsal. Committee Members' reports will be available at preceding rehearsals and, in order to save time, it is taken formally that these will have been read by all members before the AGM starts. If you have a question about the meeting or one of the reports, please contact the Hon. Secretary at least a week before the AGM.

Click here to email for more information.

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