MISSION STATEMENT OF THE MUSIC COMMITTEE
To provide overall direction for the Wye Parish music program; to assist and support the Director of Music in matters relating to the music program; to support the choir(s); and to help ensure the continuation of a high level of quality in our music program, especially in its role as an integral part of worship, education, evangelism, and outreach work locally, nationally, and globally.
INTRODUCTION
The Wye Choral Scholars is a select, auditioned ensemble of Eastern Shore-area middle and high school singers. Recipients of the Wye Choral Scholarship will study, rehearse, and sing advanced music from diverse historical and cultural traditions in an historic setting and community actively committed to excellence in sacred choral music and liturgy. Responsibilities of the Choral Scholars include a weekly rehearsal, singing music for one Sunday service per week with the Wye Parish Choir, and participating in special services and performances throughout the academic year.
The Wye Choral Scholarship consists of $80 per month to be paid through the academic year from September through May. $20 of the monthly stipend will be paid directly to the Scholarship recipient through Wye Parish; the remaining $60 per month will be invested by the Mid-Shore Foundation of Easton and restricted solely to educational purposes approved by the Director of Music and Music Committee Chairperson.
The Wye Choral Scholars is an outreach program of the Music Department of Wye Parish and is managed by the Director of Music and Music Committee of Wye Parish.
While it is our hope that Wye Choral Scholars will find their personal spiritual journeys enriched by their experience at Wye Parish, there are no expectations placed upon them with respect to the doctrine or discipline of the Episcopal Church. However, the nature of Episcopal worship and Christian community life does require a certain level of decorum both within the services of the Church and in activities associated with them. Wye Choral Scholars are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the aims of the gospel.
Please carefully read this handbook of guidelines and procedures. Members of the Wye
Choral Scholars are expected to comply fully by the terms discussed in this handbook.
CHOIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROCEDURES: AN OUTLINE
Your responsibility as a Wye Choral Scholar is twofold: to make a musical offering on behalf of the congregation and to participate in the service with the congregation through contemplation, praise, and active listening. Since the choir is constantly on view at any time, you are encouraged to look pleasant and involved while not drawing attention to yourself in any way that could distract the congregation during the service.
As a recipient of the Wye Choral Scholarship, you have been given an opportunity to grow musically and consolidate your already considerable musical gifts. Your visible growth as a musician and success in the program is of utmost importance. We want to assist you in being a good steward of this gift; therefore, constructive feedback and evaluations will be given regarding your progress.
1. Expectations of Wye Choral Scholars
a. Sing for a weekly worship service and serve as positive and active leaders for these services from September 2007 through May 2008 (the Sunday after Christmas is off for all).
b. Actively participate in weekly rehearsals.
c. Actively participate in Evensongs (approximately 2 times per year); local outreach (approximately 6 times per year); perform at the Christmas Bazaar and May Fair; Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, and Easter Services; and additional performance opportunities as they arise.
d. Exercise good judgment in maintaining the optimum vocal health required for a demanding rehearsal schedule.
e. Report promptly to all rehearsals, performances, and singing opportunities; be on-time.
f. Exercise intelligent musical and personal judgment in the learning of a large body of sacred choral repertoire, including responsibility taken for the independent study of this music.
g. Serve as community outreach through the presentation of select concerts and functions.
h. Serve as positive musical and personal role models to members of the Wye Parish church community.
i. Intelligently organize and manage a professional-level musical schedule while taking personal responsibility for absences and emergencies as they arise.
j. Make sufficient musical progress throughout the academic year.
k. Meet all appointments – including voice lessons – without fail.
l. Practice at least 3 hours per week in preparation for voice lessons and services.
m. Complete a research project on a relevant topic of choice involving at least 15 hours preparation. This project presentation must involve both performance and research aspects. We will help guide you through this.
2. Appearance and Decorum
a. Please wear formal attire, closed-toe shoes, and socks at all services and performances.
b. Hair should be clean and appropriately styled. Gentlemen are asked to be somewhat clean-shaven.
c. School-appropriate dress is requested during rehearsals.
d. Positive interaction with members of the Wye Parish’s community, including members of the congregation, staff, and other Scholars, is expected all times.
3. Vocal Health
a. The individual health and well-being of each Wye Choral Scholar is vital to the success and growth of the group. Singers are expected to use good judgment when considering their vocal health.
b. Singers should get an adequate amount of rest on Saturday evening and prior to any extra rehearsal or performance and refrain from smoking.
c. Singers should use care when speaking the week prior to a rehearsal or performance; yelling and screaming is discouraged.
d. While rehearsing or performing, singers should use proper technique. The basics of breath support and good vocal tone are expected during all rehearsals and performances.
e. Students are asked to refrain from over-singing during rehearsals or performances.
f. Singers should maintain adequate hydration during rehearsals by drinking water often. Please bring bottled water with you.
g. Singers who are experiencing vocal discomfort due to illness should discuss this fact with the director before a rehearsal. Singers who are unable to sing due to an illness should bring a doctor’s note to the director. If the director deems it necessary, students may be asked to sing lightly, or to take notes.
h. Singers who consistently exhibit signs of vocal fatigue and dysfunction may be released from the group for the vocal well-being of the singer.
4. Rehearsals, Services, and Performances
a. Rehearsals begin promptly in the music room of St. Luke’s Chapel in Queenstown. Please have your music ready at that time.
b. Positive rehearsal behavior is expected. Negative contributions to the rehearsal, including but not limited to excessive talking, rude or disrespectful behavior, and lack of preparedness, may result in the committee and director considering the dismissal of the singer from Wye Choral Scholar responsibilities.
c. Early leave from rehearsals and absences must be discussed with the Director of Music prior to rehearsal. Excuses are granted on an individual basis; please see the policy listed below.
d. Please see the official Wye Choral Scholars calendar for detailed information regarding the season’s activities and responsibilities.
5. Music
a. Please mark in your music with pencil only.
b. Keep your music in a black folder.
c. Bring music to each rehearsal, and take responsibility for the whereabouts of your music.
6. Attendance Policies and Absence Procedures
a. You have been invited to participate in this select ensemble and are a vital link to the success of the group. Attendance at all scheduled rehearsals and performances is required.
b. Students are allowed eight excused absences during the course of the singing year.
c. In order to schedule an excused absence, whether full or partial, students (and their parents) are asked to complete an “Absence Excuse Form.”
d. In addition to submitting this form at least one month in advance, scholars must speak personally with the Director of Music about the absence.
e. The only non-scheduled absences which may be excused are a documented family emergency or documented sudden, serious illness. Notify Wye Parish:
i. E-mail Michael Lodico at director@wyeparishchoir.org.
ii. Call Michael Lodico at (202) 270-6265, and speak with him directly or
leave a message as to the nature of your emergency.
f. At the ninth excused absence request or first unexcused absence, the Director of Music and Music Committee Chairperson will consider the status of the singer, and may recommend that the student be dismissed from the program.
g. If a student misses a voice lesson without giving Bonnie Forgacs 24 hours advance notice by phone, their stipend will be deducted to pay Bonnie’s teaching fee for that lesson.
7. Stipend/Forms
a. $80 is awarded monthly to Wye Choral Scholarship recipients from September through May 2007. $20 of the monthly stipend will be paid directly to the Scholarship recipient through Wye Parish and its use is encouraged to go toward the study of music; the remaining $60 per month will be managed and invested by the Mid-Shore Foundation of Easton and restricted only to educational purposes that have been approved by the Director of Music and Music Committee Chairperson.
b. To request a disbursement of accrued scholarship funds, the recipient must
apply directly to the Director of Music and Music Committee Chairperson by using a Wye Choral Scholars Scholarship Disbursement Form. The Director of Music in consultation with the Music Committee Chairperson will then approve or reject the fund disbursement application on the following basis: relevance to recipient’s educational goals. The scholarship is "earned" and officially set aside for the scholar at the end of the first month of participation and as soon as 1st payment establishes it.
c. Restricted Wye Choral Scholarship Funds held and managed by the Mid-Shore Foundation may be paid directly to the recipient for specified educational use or an approved educational institution or instructor based upon the decision of the Director of Music and Music Committee Chairperson. The funds may be released to the scholar upon his/her request and after their 18th birthday with exceptions considered at an earlier age should the need arise.
d. Recipients will receive quarterly statements from the Mid-Shore Foundation showing the status of their Wye Choral Scholarship funds. It is the scholar's responsibility to keep the committee apprised of any change of address. The scholar must request the money by their 21st birthday or they forfeit the scholarship and it reverts to the corporate fund.
e. Recipients are required to keep an updated W-4 on file at the Wye Parish Office with appropriate documentation and identification.
f. Students dismissed from the Wye Choral Scholars Program for any reason – whether absence, behavior, progress, or vocal health related – will be paid through their last month of singing, and will not be paid for subsequent months of non-participation.
g. All Wye Choral Scholars are required to turn in all attached forms, including the Medical Release Form.
h. In the case of any dispute involving the Wye Choral Scholars Program, the final decision regarding all Program related matter rests upon the Director of Music and Music Committee Chairperson of Wye Parish; all decisions shall be final.
i. This document and any terms involving the Wye Choral Scholarship may be amended by the Director of Music and Music Committee Chairperson at any time.
j. Renewal of a Wye Choral Scholarship is not automatic; previous Scholarship recipients are encouraged to re-audition each academic year.
Non-Discrimination Statement:
It is the policy of the Wye Choral Scholars Program to provide all persons with equal educational opportunities regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or religion.
CHURCH CONTACT INFORMATION
Rev. Charlie Osberger, Rector
Michael Lodico, Director of Music
email: director@wyeparishchoir.org; Phone: (202) 270-6265
Donna Lucia Downs, Music Committee Chairperson
Bonnie Forgacs, Vocal Instructor; Phone: (410) 463-1466
Mailing Address:
Wye Parish
PO Box 98
Wye Mills, MD 21679
Phone number: (410) 827-8484 Fax number: (410) 827-9008
Church website: www.wyeparish.org
Choir/Choral Scholars website: www.wyeparishchoir.org
2007-08 MUSIC COMMITTEE: Donna Lucia-Downs, Chairperson
Sharon Butler
Rick Culotta
Stan Hutchison
Jackie Oren
Pete Simmons
