Chorus Policies

Weekly Rehearsals

Every member is expected to:

  1. Attend every rehearsal and to be on time; exceptions, of course, are made for family, work, traffic or unexpected emergencies.
  2. Always bring a pencil for marking music. (Professional hint: use red for mf and louder dynamics; use blue for mp and softer dynamics)
  3. Be kind and respectful at all times to all other chorus members.
  4. Warmly welcome new members and make them feel at ease by introducing them to other members of your section.
  5. Accomplish weekly homework assignments outside of the rehearsal. *
  6. Get all markings missed during an absence, before the next rehearsal, from a section member.
  7. Remember that silence is golden, although the occasional quip is permitted…and sometimes most appropriate.
  8. Wear a name tag at rehearsals to facilitate better camaraderie and to help members longtime and new to know who’s who.

*While we understand that family and work complications are a part of today’s hectic lifestyle, every Bella Musica member is expected to be current with the learning curve for each piece. Our collective inability to do so results in a compromised performance that is not indicative of our full potential.

Attendance Policy

Rehearsals will be held at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday evenings from 7-9:30, with a stretch break and announcements .

  • If you will be late on a consistent basis because of family or work demands, simply let one of the co-presidents or the Director know.
  • An Absence is considered to be in effect if more than half a rehearsal is missed; fatigue, sudden illness or unexpected family matters that require you to leave or be late to a rehearsal will not be counted as an Absence.
  • We request that singers are not absent more than 3 times during the season.

Concert Attire

WOMEN: Formal concert black

  • Full-length pants OR Skirt
  • Top: ¾ length or long sleeves, moderate to high necklines; jackets are okay; no sweaters
  • Fabric: matte true black; no lacy, shiny, sparkly or see-through fabrics;
  • Accessories: black low-heeled or flat dress shoes; very simple jewelry

NOTE: It is a very wise idea to wear your performance shoes to the dress rehearsals so that you don’t have any surprises when/if you must stand for a long time during a concert.

MEN: Formal concert black

  • Black slacks
  • Black shirt

Music Folder

A black folder or 3-ring binder in excellent condition is required for all performances.

There are ways to privately express concerns of any kind:

If you have personal feelings of unhappiness or are having Bella Musica problems of any sort, they may be brought to a co-president and/or Director with the expectation of total confidentiality and respect for you as a person and respect for your feelings.