Honolulu Symphony Chorus Membership Information

Singer Requirements

Acceptance into the Honolulu Symphony Chorus is by audition. Any singer who is at least 18 years of age or who has graduated from high school may audition. Auditions are generally held twice a year at the beginning of the season in the fall, and in mid-season at the beginning of the calendar year. Singers should bring sheet music to the audition for the accompanist, and the piece should be a hymn, aria, or art song. Auditioners will also be voiced for range and quality, and will be assessed for sight-reading ability.

Attendance is required at all rehearsals, except as provided for in the Attendance Policy. Generally, you will be allowed a maximum of three rehearsal absences in order to participate in the performance being rehearsed for. The three absences may be used at your discretion for illness, work, family matters, travel, or for other reasons that you determine on your own. Three instances of being tardy or leaving a rehearsal early will count as one absence. Therefore, please plan your schedules way ahead of time. In any event, the Artistic Director will have the final say as to whether a singer may or may not take part in any performance. The Artistic Director may require a private meeting with a singer to make this determination.

If you are vocally challenged on any particular date due to illness or other reason but can still attend a rehearsal, do so. You will still be able to mark your score, listen to the rehearsal, and absorb information. If you attend a rehearsal with your score on these occasions, it will not be marked as an absence. You should always make sure to advise your section leader and the Artistic Director prior to the start of rehearsal if you will not be singing.

Unless excused beforehand, each singer is expected to participate in all concerts and performances during the season in order to continue singing with the chorus. To sing in any given performance, a singer must attend the dress rehearsal for that performance. The performances are the culmination of all of our rehearsals and work, and we count of each voice being present. Even one voice missing from the ensemble can substantially change the sound of the group as a whole.

You may, and should, mark your scores during rehearsals to reflect what is being sung and directed. Bring a pencil to each rehearsal and use it freely. Have an eraser as well to properly reflect any changes made.

Study your music even when not in rehearsal so that you are able to make the most of rehearsal time.

Even though vocal warm-ups may take place during rehearsals, come to each rehearsal ready to sing. You should be ready vocally and mentally with your complete focus and attention on the pieces being learned.

Concert Decorum

In all performances, remember that you are always on stage and in the limelight, in full view of the audience. Be aware that any movement you make leaps out to watchful eyes. While certainly not completely avoidable, you should resist scratching, neck stretching, shoulder lifting, hair fixing, and brow wiping.

Do not use any perfumes, colognes, hairsprays, lotions, or anything else which has an odor. Please do, however, practice good hygiene and cleanliness.

If you have any telephones, pagers, watches or other objects that emit any beep, alarm or other sound, turn it OFF completely (not even on “vibrate”) or, better yet, do not have it with you during the performance.

When you are not singing during any performance, be attentive to what is happening on stage. You are still on stage and in the limelight and are part of the “set design”. Do not “sing along” with any soloist.

If you must wear jewelry, be sure that it is modest and unobtrusive, and that it will not reflect light. It is best not to wear any jewelry at all.

As you enter and exit the stage, hold your music in the hand away from the audience.

Keep your music/folders angled up so that it does not reflect light into the audience.

In the unlikely event that a singer must leave the stage during the performance due to an emergency, that person should not return to the stage until there is an appropriate and inconspicuous time to do so, if any.

During the performance, there should never be any talking once the conductor has come on stage. Unless otherwise directed to do so prior to the performance, do not sit or stand on your own and do not applaud the conductor, soloists, or orchestra.

Music scores, unless purchased by the singer, must be returned to the chorus librarian immediately following the final performance of any concert.

General Membership Information

Dues for each singer for an entire season are $180 ($90 per half season) which may be paid by cash, check or credit card. Scholarships are available for full-time students and for those with financial hardship. Application should be made to the Treasurer for these scholarships.

Each of the four voice sections has a section leader. If any singer has any chorus-related question that is not addressed in the weekly Choral Connections newsletter, they should first contact his/her section leader. For questions of an artistic nature, the Artistic Director should be contacted.

Any questions or need for information regarding an administrative matter may be addressed to any member of the O'ahu Choral Society's Board of Directors. Board meetings are generally held once each month and every singer is invited to attend those meetings. Notices of board meetings are placed in the weekly Choral Connections newsletter.

Concert Attire

Men: Black tuxedo, white wing collar tuxedo shirt, black bow tie with black cummerbund, black socks, and black dress shoes.

Women: Black dress issued by the O'ahu Choral Society, black stockings, and black closed-toe shoes. The dress should be “trapeze” style; it should not be form-fitting. The hem must go to the ankle bone, and the sleeves must be to the wrist bone. Women must also wear their pearl necklaces issued by the O'ahu Choral Society unless alternative jewelry is announced. No accessories, such as belts, are allowed. Hair “scrunchies” and such are fine but must be black or must otherwise blend in with our “basic black and white” look. No flowers or other hair adornments are appropriate.

Everyone: No one may wear large, sparkling earrings, bracelets, or other jewelry. No pins or brooches are to be worn. Lapel pins are fine for the men as long as they are small and do not detract from our uniform look. As with jewelry, they should not be overly reflective of the many lights that are on the chorus while on stage.

Attire worn by any singer not in conformity with the above (as determined by the Section Leaders) may preclude that singer from participating in the concert.

Honolulu Symphony Chorus • Oahu Choral Society
875 Waimanu Street, # 614 Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel: (808) 524-0815 ext. 257
Fax: (808) 589-2667
e-mail: oahuchoral@gmail.com