Singers’ Handbook

Welcome to Masterworks Chorale!  We are one of the Bay Area’s leading choral organizations, performing throughout the region since 1964.  Founded by Galen Marshall and now directed by Bryan Baker, the auditioned chorus of 90-100 singers generally performs four concert sets each year, two with a professional orchestra and two more focusing on works with keyboard accompaniment and a cappella music.

Mission Statement

Masterworks Chorale shares the transformative energy of music - empowering lives, connecting communities, and inspiring joy.

Our Values

Excellence

We are committed to the constant improvement of our musical skills and performance presentation so that we share meaningful, enriching, transcendent musical experiences with our community/audience.

Enjoyment

We are happy to belong to and sing with the Chorale, and find participation rewarding and worthwhile.

Caring Culture

We foster a diverse, friendly, caring, respectful, open, honest, positive, trusting, supportive environment.

Creativity and Innovation

We have the creativity and courage to try original and imaginative approaches to our music and performances, while honoring the great traditions of choral music.

Community Partnership

We encourage community partnerships with those that share similar values, and actively reach out to share our music with the broader community.

Fiscal Responsibility

We use money wisely. Funds are spent in a manner that assures the best use of our resources for our music and to assure long-term viability of the Chorale.

Rehearsals and Concerts

The concert season runs from late August through early June with Monday night rehearsals from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. The Artistic Director begins rehearsal at 7:00pm sharp. Concerts are usually in November, December, March and May or June, with an additional week-night dress rehearsal before each concert weekend.  Singer registration and music sales are conducted online prior to each concert set, or in person before the first two rehearsals of each set. Sectional rehearsals for individual voice parts or small groups are occasionally scheduled, and attendance is strongly encouraged. These are announced in advance and posted on the Masterworks Google calendar. Instructions for accessing the online calendar are described in a subsequent section of this handbook.

Saturday Rehearsals

The chorale gathers on a Saturday once per concert set for a longer rehearsal (9am to 3pm). This rehearsal is very important in preparing for the concerts and is required. As with any rehearsal, please notify your section leader or the Artistic Director if you cannot attend the Saturday rehearsal.

Concert Rehearsals

There are two concert rehearsals the week prior to every concert weekend; these run from 7 to 10pm. Dates for these will be announced well in advance. These rehearsals are crucial and attendance is mandatory. If you miss a dress rehearsal, you may forfeit your opportunity to sing in the concerts (please inform Dr. Baker and your section leader of any unavoidable conflict).  On very rare occasions, an additional rehearsal will be called the Friday night before concert weekend; we ask that you keep your scheduled flexible on those nights. Concert apparel is not required for concert week rehearsals, but please have your music in a performance folder.

Attendance

Please check in with staff when you arrive. If you must miss a rehearsal, please notify your section leader and/or the Artistic Director. Contact information can be found on the choir roster. No more than two absences per concert set are permitted.  If you miss more than two rehearsals, you must see the Artistic Director to schedule a music repertoire check.

Black Music Folders & Concert Attire

You are required to follow all concert attire guidelines for performances, and to use a black folder for your music at all concert rehearsals and concert performances. Please make sure that your music is securely bound, that pages turn quietly, and that passages where the chorus does not sing are clipped together.

Concert Attire & Black Folder information can be found here.

Chorus Communications

Masterworksbayarea.org

Masterworks’ website is the electronic heart of the organization, where you can find information about the organization, our concerts, and links to purchase tickets. The Singers’ Access link is at the bottom right of our web site home page. This page contains practice files, the rehearsal calendar, and other useful information.

Log in information is as follows:

            https://www.authpro.com/auth/MWCSingers/
            Username: chorale
            Password: inspire100 

E-mail Communications

A Masterworks group e-mail is used for official chorus-related announcements including homework assignments and other reminders. New singers are automatically added to this e-mail group, as well as email lists for their specific voice section. If you do not use email, or do not check your email regularly, you may miss important information, though we do try to cover much of it during rehearsal announcements. Email lists are updated annually. Singers whose membership lapses for more than a season will automatically be removed and given the option to subscribe to our alumni email list.

 MWCBuzz

Our Google Groups email, called MWCBuzz, is a recommended Masterworks Chorale group used by member singers to share non-essential but interesting or fun announcements with the chorale, such as other choir performances or videos, etc. You can sign up for MWCBuzz here.

MWC eBlasts

Masterworks Chorale eBlasts are marketing announcements for upcoming concerts sent using Constant Contact.  Many of us forward these emails to friends and family to promote the concert.  Be sure to use the “forward to friends” link at the bottom of the page instead of forwarding the message through your personal email account or your friends may inadvertently delete your Constant Contact account. 

Organizational Structure

The Board of Directors of the Masterworks Chorale Society is the volunteer fiduciary of Masterworks Chorale, responsible for guiding the organization toward a sustainable future and ensuring it has adequate resources to complete its mission.

The Artistic Director and Executive Director serve as the artistic and administrative leaders of Masterworks. Masterworks also employs an Assistant Conductor, an Accompanist, and an Office Manager.  All positions are part-time.

Singers are expected to volunteer to provide support, either through work on a committee/team, or in response to requests from staff for projects and events. Masterworks committees include: Board Governance, Development, Marketing, Operations, Finance and Technology. Information regarding volunteer needs is announced throughout the season. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact the Executive Director.

Masterworks Chorale has no physical office, but our staff is available at rehearsals or via email.

You can find more information regarding leadership and committees here.

Dues and Other Payments

Each singer pays annual dues to participate in Masterworks Chorale.  Full-time students (carrying a minimum of 12 units) are currently exempt.  If you are a full-time student or have financial hardship, please notify the Executive Director. We will happily work with you - we do not want finances to be a barrier to singing.

Dues payments are payable annually, semi-annually, or quarterly. Singer dues cover major operational expenses of the chorale. Member dues are not tax deductible. 

Payment for each concert set’s music is not included in the dues payment. Music generally costs $20 to $30 per concert set. Music is available for purchase through online registration by credit card, and just prior to the beginning of the 1st and 2nd rehearsal sessions. onsite before the 1st and 2nd rehearsals. In-person payments may be cash, check or credit card. We strongly encourage online registration and music purchase when possible.

Fundraising and Annual Appeal

Masterworks relies on personal, community and corporate contributions to augment singer dues and concert income in order to sustain our organization. Donations come primarily from our chorus members and are also solicited from audience members, businesses, foundations and the community.  Masterworks receives corporate donations through employee matching programs and some community foundation grants.

Fundraising is a year-round activity. The Annual Appeal runs from Fall through the New Year, and additional fundraising often happens in the Spring. Additionally, we run several smaller fundraising efforts including See’s Candies, Amazon Smile, Escrip and Giving Tuesday.

Chorus Etiquette

Please participate with commitment, respect, focus and professional decorum. Please do not chat during rehearsal; please do not check your phone. Please be courteous by giving our Artistic Director and Assistant Conductor your full attention. Please do not wear scents of any kind as many singers are very sensitive to fragrance. Your courtesy will help ensure that Masterworks Chorale continues to achieve choral excellence, and ensure each choral member’s enjoyment of the choral experience.

Attendance

■      Please be on time. If you must arrive late, enter quietly and join the rehearsal as quickly as you can. 

■      You are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances.  If you must miss a rehearsal, notify the Artistic Director and your section leader.

■      Missing two more more rehearsals may mean you are required to do a music repertoire check with the Artistic Director.

■      You may be denied participation in a concert if your absences are excessive or if you fail the music repertoire check. 

Rehearsal and Concert Decorum

■      Come prepared with music (in black folder for dress rehearsals and concert) and pencil ready.

■      Wear your name tag.

■      Be attentive. Listen to the Artistic Director and follow all instructions, the first time. Watch for each cue-in and cut-off.

■      If necessary, speak very quietly to your neighbor. Please no excessive chatting.

■      Do not hum or sing along when another section is being rehearsed.

■. Stop singing once you are directed to do so.

■      No food or beverages besides water are allowed in the sanctuary.

■      Be present.  Keep your cell phone in your bag and make sure it is set to silent. physicians n call are excepted.

■      Promote a safe, harassment-free environment as outlined in our Code of Conduct.

■      Maintain a scent-free environment. Many singers are sensitive to perfumes.

Concert Attire

■      Abide by all of the guidelines regarding concert attire. Guidelines can be found on the Concert Dress Code page.

■      To be sure that your concert attire complies, you may bring your entire outfit or a photo of you wearing it, in advance of the first dress rehearsal, for your section leader to review with you.

■      You may be asked to leave the concert venue and change into compliant concert dress in order to perform in the concert.

Exceptions to Mandatory Concert Attire:

On occasion, the Executive Staff may waive certain dress requirements for individuals on a case by case basis - please reach out regarding any issues concert attire requirements may cause you.

Choir Leadership

Staff

Artistic Director - Dr. Bryan Baker

Executive Director - Erin Renfroe

Assistant Conductor - Erin Moore

Accompanist - Margaret Fondbertasse

Office Manager - Steph O’Grady

Voice Section Leaders

Each voice part within the chorus has a designated section leader. Your section leader is available for questions regarding the chorus, repertoire, score markings, etc.

Soprano 1: Cheryl Blalock - cablalock@gmail.com

Soprano 2: Kirra Hyde - kirra.hyde1@gmail.com

Alto 1: Elaine Quan - equan_55@yahoo.com

Alto 2: Jacquelyn Chang - jbchang@alumni.stanford.edu

Tenor 1: Ben Regner - bmregner@gmail.com

Tenor 2: Bill Chiles - bill.chiles@gmail.com and John Harrison - kicked.it@gmail.com

Baritone/Bass: Jim Hawley - jim.hawley@masterworksbayarea.org  and Dave Merrill - davidsmerrill@gmail.com