Welcome to the Tower Chorale
P.O. Box 223 • Western Springs, IL 60558 • towerchorale.org
Patrick Godon • Music Director
WELCOME TO THE TOWER CHORALE
Welcome to the Tower Chorale! Patrick Godon and the Board of Directors would like to express our thanks to you for your interest in our organization. The following information should help you to become aware of important facts that you will need to know. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Patrick Godon, our music director, or any member of the Tower Chorale (we're a very friendly group!)
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
In order to join the Tower Chorale, you must audition with our music director during one of the two open rehearsals. Your acceptance will be based on your vocal skills and background and the need to maintain a reasonable balance between sections. The audition is a very low-key, low-pressure process, and you should feel comfortable if you have successfully participated in musical groups in the past. Continued retention in the chorale will be based on the music director’s periodic vocal check-ups and observations of the singer, and will be at the music director’s discretion. It is a basic requirement for the singer to hold his/her music up and maintain reasonable eye contact with the music director during rehearsals and concerts.
DUES
All Tower Chorale members are required to pay membership dues of $100 for each season. We request that you please pay your dues during the month of October. For those who join us for the second or third concert, dues are $100 per season. Please make your checks payable to “The Tower Chorale”. Your dues should be turned in to the Dues Taker. If you are financially unable to pay the dues, you may talk with the Dues Taker to have your dues reduced or waived. That information will be kept strictly confidential.
Because we offer refreshments during our break at rehearsals, we ask all members who enjoy these refreshments to contribute $1.00 at the first rehearsal of each month.
REHEARSALS
Regular season rehearsals are generally held on Monday evenings from 7:15 until 9:15 p.m. at the Grand Avenue Community Center in Western Springs. At the director’s option, rehearsals may be extended 15 – 20 minutes during any number of weeks prior to a concert. These times and/or date changes will be announced in advance. Refer to the rehearsal schedule and rehearsal order listed on the director’s Tower Chorale website: https://towerchorale.weebly.com. Attendance at all rehearsals is extremely important as we have limited time to learn all of the music for our concerts. If you expect to have to miss more than one rehearsal a month, or more than three rehearsals for any concert, please check with Patrick Godon in advance. Please give him a written summary of your situation when you speak to him.
Be sure to check in with the attendance taker each week when you arrive for rehearsal. If you are late, check your name off on the attendance list or be certain that you let the attendance taker know (during the break) that you are present, and wait to take your seat until the music director is at a stopping point and waves you in. If you should be unable to attend a rehearsal for any reason, please complete an absence form, in advance if possible. These can be found on the attendance taker’s table outside of the rehearsal room.
Immediately prior to a scheduled concert date, we usually will have a dress rehearsal the day (or evening) prior to a concert, and a warm up of about 60 minutes prior to the concert at the concert site. These extra rehearsals are in addition to our regularly scheduled Monday evening rehearsals. The times and locations for all of these dates are announced at the beginning of each concert set of rehearsals. Dates and times are subject to change due to scheduling conflicts with certain venues. Note that the dress rehearsal is a full run through of the concert, but you do not need to dress in your concert performance clothes. Missing the dress rehearsal is strongly discouraged and a written request to the music director is required in order to have the music director’s approval to miss the dress rehearsal.
Often soloists are needed from the membership. Tryout times and extended rehearsal schedules (if needed) will be announced near the beginning of a set of rehearsals. These are usually held immediately after our regular Monday rehearsals.
REHEARSAL PROCEDURES
During rehearsals, sitting with good alignment will make your singing better, stronger, and you will be less fatigued. Hold your music up to keep a visual contact with the conductor. Talking is to be restricted to break time and before or after a rehearsal. If it is absolutely necessary to communicate something to a nearby person during the rehearsal, it should be done in a whisper. ALWAYS BRING A PENCIL, AND USE IT! When the director gives instructions, immediately mark the directions in your music. Do not use a highlighter, colored pencil or pen, unless you have or intend to purchase your own music. If you miss a rehearsal, check in with your section leader at the next rehearsal for music markings that you missed.
If you have something to tell the director on a rehearsal night, put it in writing or talk to him after the rehearsal, or for best response you may email him. The director is intensely focused on the rehearsal at hand, and, in spite of his best intentions, may not remember a verbal comment or question. His cell phone is 773-354-4533, and to email him, click here.
CONCERT DRESS
It is extremely important that our concert dress is uniform. The following regulations are in effect:
Women
· Black, long sleeved blouse
· Black, full-length skirt (no front slits)
· Black stockings
· Black dress shoes, very comfortable (remember that we sometimes stand for a long time!)
· NO PERFUME or other heavy scents during rehearsals or concerts. These scents are very distracting to those Tower Chorale members sitting near you, and some members may have serious respiratory reactions.
· Please remember to keep your jewelry moderate, unless we request “Glitz & Glam” for the spring concert.
Men
· Tuxedoes or black or very dark suit (tuxedoes are preferred)
· Black bow tie and accessories; Colored bow tie and accessories may be requested for the spring concert.
· White shirt
· Black socks and shoes
· Men, please also remember, no heavily scented after shave lotions! These scents are very distracting to those Tower Chorale members sitting near you, and some members may have serious respiratory reactions.
MUSIC
Prior to each concert our Librarian will distribute the music that we will be singing. Each piece of music will have a number penciled on the cover. Please be aware that you are responsible for your music. Take great care with your music and use only black pencil (no markers or highlighters) when making any notations and do not 3-hole punch your music (unless you have purchased your own copy of the music). Often some of our music is on loan from other organizations and must be returned in excellent condition. The cost of any missing or damaged music will be assumed by the person to whom it has been assigned.
All music must be turned in immediately following a concert unless you have purchased it. Boxes are provided at the concert site for this purpose.
HELP WANTED
Since we are an organization of volunteers, it is important that you volunteer some of your time to assist in additional activities. By volunteering your time and talents, you make the Tower Chorale a better organization, and enrich your own life as well.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Our annual budget is approximately $60,000. Selling concert tickets is our single largest source of income and a sizable audience helps make our concerts rewarding. We stress very strongly the importance of each member selling their tickets prior to each concert. We also ask that you help promote the concerts by distributing flyers and selling program book ads. Participation in our various fundraising efforts is a fun way to support the chorus and is encouraged. As many voices make a finer chorus, many workers make a stronger organization.
* * *
Thanks for your interest in the Tower Chorale. We are sure that your time spent with our group will be rewarding and enriching. So get your music ready, let’s sing and have a good time!
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Patrick Godon • Music Director
WELCOME TO THE TOWER CHORALE
Welcome to the Tower Chorale! Patrick Godon and the Board of Directors would like to express our thanks to you for your interest in our organization. The following information should help you to become aware of important facts that you will need to know. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Patrick Godon, our music director, or any member of the Tower Chorale (we're a very friendly group!)
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
In order to join the Tower Chorale, you must audition with our music director during one of the two open rehearsals. Your acceptance will be based on your vocal skills and background and the need to maintain a reasonable balance between sections. The audition is a very low-key, low-pressure process, and you should feel comfortable if you have successfully participated in musical groups in the past. Continued retention in the chorale will be based on the music director’s periodic vocal check-ups and observations of the singer, and will be at the music director’s discretion. It is a basic requirement for the singer to hold his/her music up and maintain reasonable eye contact with the music director during rehearsals and concerts.
DUES
All Tower Chorale members are required to pay membership dues of $100 for each season. We request that you please pay your dues during the month of October. For those who join us for the second or third concert, dues are $100 per season. Please make your checks payable to “The Tower Chorale”. Your dues should be turned in to the Dues Taker. If you are financially unable to pay the dues, you may talk with the Dues Taker to have your dues reduced or waived. That information will be kept strictly confidential.
Because we offer refreshments during our break at rehearsals, we ask all members who enjoy these refreshments to contribute $1.00 at the first rehearsal of each month.
REHEARSALS
Regular season rehearsals are generally held on Monday evenings from 7:15 until 9:15 p.m. at the Grand Avenue Community Center in Western Springs. At the director’s option, rehearsals may be extended 15 – 20 minutes during any number of weeks prior to a concert. These times and/or date changes will be announced in advance. Refer to the rehearsal schedule and rehearsal order listed on the director’s Tower Chorale website: https://towerchorale.weebly.com. Attendance at all rehearsals is extremely important as we have limited time to learn all of the music for our concerts. If you expect to have to miss more than one rehearsal a month, or more than three rehearsals for any concert, please check with Patrick Godon in advance. Please give him a written summary of your situation when you speak to him.
Be sure to check in with the attendance taker each week when you arrive for rehearsal. If you are late, check your name off on the attendance list or be certain that you let the attendance taker know (during the break) that you are present, and wait to take your seat until the music director is at a stopping point and waves you in. If you should be unable to attend a rehearsal for any reason, please complete an absence form, in advance if possible. These can be found on the attendance taker’s table outside of the rehearsal room.
Immediately prior to a scheduled concert date, we usually will have a dress rehearsal the day (or evening) prior to a concert, and a warm up of about 60 minutes prior to the concert at the concert site. These extra rehearsals are in addition to our regularly scheduled Monday evening rehearsals. The times and locations for all of these dates are announced at the beginning of each concert set of rehearsals. Dates and times are subject to change due to scheduling conflicts with certain venues. Note that the dress rehearsal is a full run through of the concert, but you do not need to dress in your concert performance clothes. Missing the dress rehearsal is strongly discouraged and a written request to the music director is required in order to have the music director’s approval to miss the dress rehearsal.
Often soloists are needed from the membership. Tryout times and extended rehearsal schedules (if needed) will be announced near the beginning of a set of rehearsals. These are usually held immediately after our regular Monday rehearsals.
REHEARSAL PROCEDURES
During rehearsals, sitting with good alignment will make your singing better, stronger, and you will be less fatigued. Hold your music up to keep a visual contact with the conductor. Talking is to be restricted to break time and before or after a rehearsal. If it is absolutely necessary to communicate something to a nearby person during the rehearsal, it should be done in a whisper. ALWAYS BRING A PENCIL, AND USE IT! When the director gives instructions, immediately mark the directions in your music. Do not use a highlighter, colored pencil or pen, unless you have or intend to purchase your own music. If you miss a rehearsal, check in with your section leader at the next rehearsal for music markings that you missed.
If you have something to tell the director on a rehearsal night, put it in writing or talk to him after the rehearsal, or for best response you may email him. The director is intensely focused on the rehearsal at hand, and, in spite of his best intentions, may not remember a verbal comment or question. His cell phone is 773-354-4533, and to email him, click here.
CONCERT DRESS
It is extremely important that our concert dress is uniform. The following regulations are in effect:
Women
· Black, long sleeved blouse
· Black, full-length skirt (no front slits)
· Black stockings
· Black dress shoes, very comfortable (remember that we sometimes stand for a long time!)
· NO PERFUME or other heavy scents during rehearsals or concerts. These scents are very distracting to those Tower Chorale members sitting near you, and some members may have serious respiratory reactions.
· Please remember to keep your jewelry moderate, unless we request “Glitz & Glam” for the spring concert.
Men
· Tuxedoes or black or very dark suit (tuxedoes are preferred)
· Black bow tie and accessories; Colored bow tie and accessories may be requested for the spring concert.
· White shirt
· Black socks and shoes
· Men, please also remember, no heavily scented after shave lotions! These scents are very distracting to those Tower Chorale members sitting near you, and some members may have serious respiratory reactions.
MUSIC
Prior to each concert our Librarian will distribute the music that we will be singing. Each piece of music will have a number penciled on the cover. Please be aware that you are responsible for your music. Take great care with your music and use only black pencil (no markers or highlighters) when making any notations and do not 3-hole punch your music (unless you have purchased your own copy of the music). Often some of our music is on loan from other organizations and must be returned in excellent condition. The cost of any missing or damaged music will be assumed by the person to whom it has been assigned.
All music must be turned in immediately following a concert unless you have purchased it. Boxes are provided at the concert site for this purpose.
HELP WANTED
Since we are an organization of volunteers, it is important that you volunteer some of your time to assist in additional activities. By volunteering your time and talents, you make the Tower Chorale a better organization, and enrich your own life as well.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Our annual budget is approximately $60,000. Selling concert tickets is our single largest source of income and a sizable audience helps make our concerts rewarding. We stress very strongly the importance of each member selling their tickets prior to each concert. We also ask that you help promote the concerts by distributing flyers and selling program book ads. Participation in our various fundraising efforts is a fun way to support the chorus and is encouraged. As many voices make a finer chorus, many workers make a stronger organization.
* * *
Thanks for your interest in the Tower Chorale. We are sure that your time spent with our group will be rewarding and enriching. So get your music ready, let’s sing and have a good time!
Back to top