A Year in the Life of the Chapel Choir
September, 2007 to June, 2008
From the Senior Pastor:
I have been listening to CD's, looking at photographs and reading all about the Chapel Choir. I have met directors and leaders and had my appetite whetted for a taste of a live performance and I can't wait. I am so excited to be part of a church that has given such an incredible opportunity for our youth to develop their gifts and skills. I know the Holy Spirit is at work growing the faith filled future of our church. We are blessed in so many ways at First UMC and our music ministry is a powerful statement of how we are blessed. Worship is meant to take us heavenward and on Sundays at 9:30 we are blessed, refreshed and energized through the witness of the Chapel Choir. We have been showered with talent that needs to be embraced, shared and celebrated.
Under the leadership of Belford Hernandez and his wife Vielza, our youth are influenced by excellence. Under the banner of their commitment our youth are discovering the gifts that God has given them. The leadership team includes so many caring people, but in addition to those who give so diligently to the program we have Andi Kinsella, our Music Coordinator, and Pastor Nick Nicholas, our Minister of Youth, giving their time, talent, resources and faith to all who are part of the Chapel Choir experience.
Witness, praise, dedication, hard work and committed prayer are the essential elements in this faith experience that touches our worship and all those who listen to their message which is bound in music. The Chapel Choir tour allows their witness of God's loving presence to heard in distant places, and though a lot of work for all involved, it is the message that matters most, and as they touch their world they change it.
The ministry of music soothes, heals, brings peace and refreshes. May the music of our Chapel Choir bring peace and joy to all who hear. "Thank you" Chapel Choir for your songs and witness as we do our work together in a celebration of God's love for us all.
We welcome new voices to the choir this year, and the families that we will meet, as the new harmonizes withy the old. We are glad you are here! We look forward to a wonderful year of being together.
Tom Ostrander
Senior Pastor
Goals of the Chapel Choir
What is Chapel Choir all about? There are several things we want to accomplish this year.
- Share our faith in Jesus Christ through our music and witness to our faith by our music and our actions.
- Learn to participate in the leading of a Worship Service.
- Grow in our music skills through our rehearsal and performance schedule.
- Develop new relationships within our own group.
- Deepen our fellowship and spirit and develop a faith that grows daily.
- Learn to participate in and contribute to the group goals of a large, diversified group.
The Chapel Choir of First United Methodist Church is open to any high school youth who wishes to participate and agrees to follow the policies in this handbook. Signing of the Covenant form by both the youth and a parent is required for registration in the Chapel Choir.
Chapel Choir Covenant
A Covenant is a two-way promise in which each party has responsibility toward the other party. In the Bible, God makes a Covenant with the Israelites in which God agrees to be their God and to love and care for them. In return, the people agree to honor God in their words and actions.
We ask choir members and parents to Covenant with each other, the Adult Leaders of the Choir, and the Church, in order to build relationships that will benefit everyone involved.
Choir members are expected to accept responsibility for their own actions, to act responsibly, to think about consequences, to represent the group in a positive light, to respect fellow choir members and the adult leaders, to endeavor to treat fellow choir members and adult leaders as they would like to be treated. They also agree they have an obligation to their family and the church not to engage in any harmful or negative activity.
They promise not to use and or have in their possession any tobacco materials of any kind, alcoholic beverages, or illegal non-prescription drugs.
Violation of the Covenant may result in expulsion from Chapel Choir.
Communications
We want to provide current and ongoing communications about choir activities to youth and parents. This will be done both electronically by e-mail and postings on the web site and through the mail. Youth and parents are asked to keep Adult Leaders aware of any e-mail, phone and address changes.
In addition, two special Chapel Choir phone extensions will be available through the regular church phone number 968-7120.
- Call 968-7120, ext. 2017 to hear updated Information about choir events and activities. This will be extremely important in regard to the Christmas Concert and Tour.
- Call the Attendance Line 968-7120 ext. 2027 to leave a Message for the Adult Leaders, especially if you are going to be late or absent from rehearsal or Sunday worship.
The church web site is also an important source of information.
Rehearsal
- A. Days and Time
- Each Wednesday evening rehearsal begins and attendance is taken at 7:00p.m. in Chapel Hall. Rehearsal will usually be dismissed no later than 8:45 p.m. (depending on time required for joys and concerns) but may run later the few weeks prior to the Christmas Concerts and Tour. Youth and parents will be notified of schedule changes.
- B. Schedule Conflicts
- All choir members and/or their parents are asked to communicate any conflicts they have with arriving on time by using the Chapel Choir message line (968-7120, ext. 2027), as soon as they are aware of the conflict.
- C. Signing In/Out
- If a youth needs to arrive late, it is his/her responsibility to check-in with the adults taking roll, so that he/she can be counted present. If, on occasion, a youth needs to leave early, we require him/her to sign-out and personally notify an adult leader. Parent(s) will be contacted if a youth is habitually arriving late or leaving early.
- D. Behavior
- Because our group is so large and rehearsal time is so limited, we ask for cooperation and respect from all youth during rehearsals. This will allow the choir director to maximize the use of time and help ensure rehearsals ends on time. We ask several things of all choir members while in rehearsal:
- Everyone is to sit within their voice section's part. The Director may move people as needed.
- Everyone is expected to stay in rehearsal once he/she arrives.
- Show respect to the director and adult leaders by paying attention and keeping unnecessary talking to a minimum.
- There should be no gum or food during rehearsal. It is okay to bring a water bottle.
- Turn cell phones off.
- E. Rehearsal Discipline
- We expect all youth to cooperate and hope that no dismissal or disciplinary action will be necessary. After two disciplinary dismissals, any further action will be handled on an individual basis. Parents will be contacted by the Choir Director or Adult Leaders if any chronic discipline problems arise. Any parent concerns should be brought to one of the Adult Leaders.
- F. Music Assignments
- Each Chapel Choir member is assigned a folder and music slot and responsible for keeping music up to date and his/her folder neat.
- G. To Parents
- Please contact either Belford Hernandez or any of the Adult Leaders listed in this book if you have any concerns about your son/daughter's Chapel Choir experience.
Sunday Morning Worship
- A. Arrival Time
- With a few exceptions, the Chapel Choir sings at the 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Choir members are expected to be ready to warm-up no later than 9:00 a.m.
- B. Dress
- Ladies and gentlemen should wear dress shoes. Jeans or gym shoes, or flip flops are not acceptable. The dress code is as follows:
Ladies: skirts, sweaters, dresses or dress pants. Blouses or dresses that are backless, strapless, off-the-shoulder, or reveal navels, are not appropriate. Remember that this is a worship service. Be conscious of your skirt length and tight fitting slacks, blouses and sweaters.
Gentlemen: dress shirt, slacks and tie. Jackets are optional and sweaters are acceptable.
- C Special Services
- The Chapel Choir has a cooperative relationship with the Chancel Choir and will occasionally sing at both the 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Worship Services, or switch services, singing at the 11:00 a.m. Worship Service. These dates are chosen early in the year, but are subject to change. Choir members will be notified of changes either verbally, by mail, on the web site, or on the choir information line (968-7120, ext. 2017).
Christmas Concerts
The Christmas Concerts and Tour Home Concerts are the two major Chapel Choir musical events held annually. The sale of admission tickets to the Christmas Concerts helps offset costs of the Tour. Participation in this concert is expected for all Chapel Choir members. This year, the concerts will be presented on Sunday, December 9 at 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Special Sunday rehearsals for the concerts begin September 23 from 10:45 a.m.—12:30 p.m. in Chapel Hall. Food will be provided and youth are requested not to leave the church following the 9:30 service. Two additional final rehearsals are scheduled for Friday, December 7 from 7:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 8 from 9:00 a.m.—12 noon.
Appropriate dress for the concerts will be announced later this fall.
Spring Break Tour Preview
- A. General Attendance Rules
- The Chapel Choir tour is designed to build fellowship, motivate and encourage commitment and "reward" those who have faithfully served our congregation during the year. Therefore, regular attendance at all rehearsals and Sunday worship services is expected for those planning to participate on the tour. Attendance is recorded and repeated absences may disqualify a youth from participating. If you are going to be late or absent, call 968-7120, ext. 2027 and leave a message prior to a rehearsal or worship service. If you have a regular activity that presents an ongoing conflict, please talk to an Adult Leader.
Attendance will be a factor in determining eligibility for tour and special singing and speaking parts.
- B. Dates and Destination
- The 2008 tour will take place from Saturday, March 22 to Saturday, March 29, with New York City as the featured destination. Tour details will be discussed at informational meetings that be held in early January.
- C. Tour Kick-Off Event
- A Tour Kick-off Event will be held on Sunday, January 20 following the 9:30 a.m. Worship Service.
- D. Tour Concerts
- Before and after the tour, there are three (3) concerts: 1) a pre-tour concert and 2) two home concerts. All Choir members are urged to sing in these concerts, even those who may not be going on tour.
The 2008 pre-tour concert will be held Sunday, March 16. The home concerts will be at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.
- E. Cost of Tour
- The cost of tour will be approximately $400, but the exact amount will be finalized after the Tour Kick-off Party in January when the number of youth planning to participate is determined.
The cost of tour will be reduced by credits earned by youth through fundraising events.
- F. Financial Support
- It is our desire that NO ONE be excluded from the tour for financial reasons. Every year there are youth who go on tour with a "partial scholarship." An Application Form is available at the Church (obtain from Tour Director) for those needing financial assistance. Applications are confidential.
- G. Fee Schedule
- All tour fees will be due no later than Wednesday, March 5.
- H. Commitment Deadline for Non-Refundable Deposit
- Before the final cost of tour is set, we need a firm commitment from youth who intend to participate. The deadline for commitment will be the Tour Kick-off Event on January 20. A $100 non-refundable tour deposit is due at that time. This deposit will be refunded to any youth who is unable to participate in the tour for medical reasons or a family emergency.
- J. Tour Booklet
- Prior to leaving on tour, a booklet containing information on tour stops, emergency information, behavior guidelines and free day activities will be mailed to all parents and given to all youth.
- K. Crews
- Student groups play an important role in our tour travel and performance: the luggage, tech, sound and furniture, search and rescue, hospitality, and information technology crews. Each group has size limitations, but every choir member will be on a crew.
- L. Auditions
- Auditions for special speaking and singing parts in the tour program will be held by the Choir Director with assistance from the adult leaders.
- M. Housing
- Youth will sign-up for tour roommates beginning at the tour kick-off event on January 20.
Fundraising
The Olduna Cow Works Party and Holiday Concerts are the two major annual events for tour fundraising during the school year. Participation in both events is required for all youth going on tour.
- A. Olduna Cow Works
- This party provides adults in the church an opportunity to enjoy great food and special entertainment and get to know other members and friends in a social setting. It will be held Saturday, September 22 at the home of Don & Caryl Safford. Over $30,000 has been raised in the previous ten years this event has been held. Chapel Choir youth are expected to help with set-up, clean-up, babysitting, and the writing of thank you notes. Parents are encouraged to attend and bring friends.
- B. Holiday Concerts
- Participation in the Christmas Concerts and their preparation are expected of all Chapel Choir members, whether or not they participate on Tour. All youth are required to sell tickets for the concerts, or donate to the Tour Fund the cost of the tickets. The total value of each $5 ticket a choir member sells goes directly into their account.
Choir Banquet
An end-of-the-year Chapel Choir Banquet will be held on Wednesday, May 7. It will celebrate the activities and accomplishments of the year and recognize seniors. The cost of the banquet is included in the tour fee.
