Weekly Update
Final call for member information forms, please bring the attached form (click here) to our next rehearsal on Tuesday, Oct. 7. If you can't print it, we will have copies available at rehearsal.
Click here for a printable download of the calendar.
It's not too late to introduce prospective members (especially tenors & basses) to the joy of singing with the WCS. Have them sit in at our next rehearsal to get to know us. We have a great season ahead of us and with more voices in our ranks it will be even better.
When you are paying at a merchant you regularly patronize, e.g., restaurant, hair salon, dry cleaner, etc., ask if they might take out an ad in our concert program, hand them a form, and show them last year's program. Be low key. The worst that can happen is that they might say no. This is an important source of funding for us.
Information for members
The Westchester Choral Society performs at a professional level. Your audition and acceptance into the WCS imply a commitment on your part to attend rehearsals, learn the repertoire thoroughly, and sing the full complement of concerts for the year. All members will be re-auditioned by the Music Director following the spring concert each year.
Rehearsals
We rehearse Tuesday evenings 7:30–10:00 pm at the Music Conservatory of Westchester (MCW), 216 Central Ave., White Plains. Attendance at weekly rehearsals and dress rehearsals is required. Be sure to sign the attendance sheets at each rehearsal. Members may not be absent from more than 25% of rehearsals for a concert and may not miss a dress rehearsal (except for religious reasons). Section Leaders monitor attendance. Any member not planning to sing a concert must notify the Music Director and Section Leader prior to the first rehearsal for the concert. Please inform your Section Leader in advance if you expect to miss a rehearsal. Obtain score markings announced at missed rehearsals from the master copy prior to rehearsal. For rehearsal cancellations due to weather: call the MCW at 914.761.3900.
Standard WCS Concert Attire
Sopranos & Altos: Black floor-length skirt; black long-sleeve, jewel-neck top; black shoes & stockings; strand of pearls (available from Ann Carroll at $5.00).
Tenors & Basses: Black tuxedo or black/dark gray suit; white dress-shirt & black bow tie; black dress-shoes & socks
All: please, no perfume, cologne, etc.
Dues
$175 ($150 per person for married couples) payable by Sept. 30 by check given to the Treasurer. A $25 penalty applies if not received by Oct. 7. Speak to the President to make alternative arrangements (confidentiality will be respected). Our policy is to not exclude anyone for financial reasons.
Ticket Obligation
Each member is required to sell the equivalent of
4 regular-priced tickets to each of the 2008–09 concerts
(6 tickets for married couples) to be paid for at least
2 weeks prior to the concert by check given to the Treasurer. Ticket sales cover a significant portion of our yearly costs, but more important, singing to a full house enhances the joyful musical connection between us and our audience—the reason we became members of WCS to begin with.
Parking
Use spaces in MCW lot, on Central Ave in front of the building, across Central Avenue in municipal facility, or in front part of Mavis behind MCW. Please don’t park at City Limits Diner.
Committees
As a volunteer organization, we encourage each member to volunteer to lead or work on committees and attend the events that provide outreach to the community and financial sustenance to the WCS. We are able to exist only because of the generous contributions of our members’ time and talent. Please volunteer by contacting the President or the chairs listed at the left.
from the WCS President
Welcome to an outstanding season of singing with the Westchester Choral Society, celebrating our 67th concert season!
Please continue to encourage your friends, neighbors, family and co-workers to attend our performances and consider adding their voices to ours as members. A brief call to me at 914.285.9026 is all it takes to arrange a very "user-friendly" audition. If they are wavering about trying out, invite them to sit in on one of our rehearsals. Keep copies of our flyers on hand to post wherever possible (stores, libraries, etc.) and distribute to any experienced choral singers who show the slightest interest.
All of us, in addition to making exciting music, are representatives of the WCS and major enablers in keeping our group alive. Over the years, you’ve brought in new individual and corporate support because of your keeping WCS close to your hearts and minds, promoting us whenever feasible, and we can look forward to even more fellowship and enjoyment this season from attending the events (such as the Messiah Sing on December 7) that we create to involve our members as well as our guests. Please share any ideas and links about outside support with the Board members so that we can pursue more sponsorship for our group. Connecting personally to donors makes all the difference in obtaining funds similar to the support we have received from Bloomingdale’s and IBM that is crucial to our survival. If you might assist us with this form of Development, please let me know.
Don’t forget to mention to others the significance of our being given the prestigious Arts Organization Award from the Westchester Arts Council in 2000, a substantial honor for us to brag about to all of our social, work-related, and corporate contacts.
It is a fact that the number of WCS members listed as donors to our Annual Fund is not only a great help financially but is also what companies look at when deciding on their gifts to non-profit groups. If you already give regularly (our fiscal year is from September through August), please consider increasing your commitment. To be able to perform at our high quality level is worth celebrating in this manner.
We’re also eager to involve more members in WCS committees and activities, so please give the gift of your time. We need volunteers for administrative tasks and to support events. The mutual benefit resulting from working together even when not singing leads to a natural high.
Our exciting 67th season is here, with our performing glorious music together, thanks to Frank, David, and all of you.
–Numa Rousseve