Welcome to the Bismarck-Mandan Civic Chorus!

Members are selected by audition, and invited to perform with the chorus based on the audition results and the current
balance of voices in the ensemble. The chorus is an eighty-voice volunteer ensemble committed to the rehearsal and
performance of high quality music in a variety of genres. The mission of the chorus is to foster and develop the art of
choral music for its members and the communities it serves.

We rehearse Monday evenings from the first week of September through the first week of May. Unless otherwise noted,
rehearsals are in the Tom and Frances Leach Music Building at Bismarck State College. We perform a four-concert series
each year. The schedule for 2009-10 is included on page two.

Chorus members are strongly encouraged to attend all rehearsals. Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. and last until
9:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Be sure to check your name on the attendance roster at the beginning of each rehearsal.
Music is available at the first rehearsal each semester; your assigned folder will have all of your music in it.

Members may miss up to four rehearsals (dress rehearsals count as two rehearsals) and still perform/maintain continuous
membership. After two years of continuous membership, members may request a semester leave of absence without loss
of membership. You are not required to perform solos or small ensembles for An Evening at the Opera or An Evening on
Broadway; you are encouraged to participate in the full chorus numbers at those concerts. Participation in the Christmas
and Spring concerts is required to maintain membership (see attached by-laws, page 3).

You are responsible for purchasing the chorus uniform. For women it is a specific choir gown, black hose, black shoes,
and standard jewelry (necklace and earrings). Men wear a standard black tuxedo, black socks and shoes, white pleated
wing collar tuxedo shirt, and a specific vest and tie. Uniform information will be provided during the first weeks of
rehearsal.

Chorus members do not pay annual dues. Music and folders are provided but must be returned in good condition. You
are responsible for selling two general admission tickets to each BMCC concert, whether or not you are singing in that
performance, or two season tickets. The requirement for ticket sales is waived during the first year of membership due to
the cost of uniforms.

In October you will have the opportunity to sign up for solos/ensembles for An Evening on Broadway. Small groups and
solos are assigned by mid-November and groups meet on their own to rehearse music and choreography for the show.
Contact Debi Rogers or Karen McBride if you have questions.

There are many opportunities to be involved in the chorus, from ticket sales to concert set-up, membership on the Board
of Directors to distributing posters. This is our organization, and each of us plays a part in its success.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Tom Porter at 471-0067 or tjporter@umary.edu or Board
President Brenda Quale at brq66@hotmail.com.
 2009-10 Bismarck-Mandan Civic Chorus Schedule

Items in italics are not full chorus events. Items in bold are dress rehearsals and performances.

Monday, Sept 7 First rehearsal (yes, this is Labor Day) Evening at the Opera
Monday rehearsals continue at BSC unless otherwise noted
Monday, Sept 21 Rehearsal at Belle Mehus
Wednesday, Sept 23 Small ensemble (not full chorus) and soloist rehearsal at Belle
Thursday, Sept 24 Small ensemble (not full chorus) and soloist rehearsal at Belle
Friday, Sept 25 Opera education program at Belle (small ensemble/soloists only)
5:30 Dress rehearsal—full chorus
Saturday, Sept 26 11:00 a.m. Small ensemble (not full chorus) rehearsal at Belle
7:30 p.m. EVENING AT THE OPERA
Monday, Sept 28 No rehearsal
Monday, Oct 5 Rehearsals resume, Christmas/Carmina Burana
Monday, Dec 7 Dress Rehearsal at Cathedral, 6:30-10:00 p.m.
Saturday, Dec 12 A CHRISTMAS KALAEIDESCOPE, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec 13 A CHRISTMAS KALAEIDESCOPE, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, Dec 14 Full Chorus rehearsal, Evening on Broadway music and Carmina (Final rehearsal for fall)

Monday, Jan 4 Rehearsals resume at BSC

Sunday, Jan 17 Small groups rehearse on stage with lights/sound, schedule TBA
Monday, Jan 18 Act I Dress Rehearsal, plus full chorus
Tuesday, Jan 19 Act II Dress Rehearsal (no full chorus)
Thursday, Jan 21 Full Dress Rehearsal, plus full chorus
Friday, Jan 22 EVENING ON BROADWAY, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan 23 EVENING ON BROADWAY, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan 25 No rehearsal
Monday, Feb 1 Rehearsals resume, Spring/Carmina
Tuesday, Mar 16 Rehearse with BMSO
Wednesday, Mar 17 Rehearse with BMSO
Friday, Mar 19 Rehearse with BMSO
Saturday, Mar 20 CARMINA BURANA, 7:30 p.m., Mandan Auditorium
Sunday, Mar 21 CARMINA BURANA, afternoon, Mandan Auditorium
Monday, May 3 Dress Rehearsal, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Belle Mehus
Saturday, May 8 PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, 7:30, Belle Mehus
Note: This concert date is a week later than usual due to the availability of the Belle
ARTICLE II: MEMBERS
Section 1: A performing member of the Chorus is a singer selected by audition by the Musical Director. New
members are considered performing members (with voting rights) in their second consecutive semester.
Members maintain membership according to the provisions of Article VII.
Section 2: Voting members of the Chorus include performing members, the Musical Director, and the Accompanist.
Section 3: Voting members shall be entitled to vote for officers and members of the Board of Directors, amendments
to the by-laws, and other relevant business of the membership.

ARTICLE VII: DUTIES OF PERFORMING MEMBERS

Section 1: It is the responsibility of all performing members to:
a. arrive promptly for the start of each rehearsal and participate in the entire rehearsal;
b. maintain attendance records with honesty and integrity;
c. listen attentively to instructions and incorporate directions into their scores;
d. spend whatever time necessary between rehearsals to secure their parts and contribute positively to the ensemble
e. promote the Civic Chorus within the community through activities such as board membership, distribution of
posters, ticket sales, recruitment, financial contributions, etc.

Section 2: Performing members shall endeavor to attend all rehearsals. It shall be the responsibility of members to
accurately record their attendance at each rehearsal on sheets provided for that purpose.
a. Attendance for less than half (1/2) of any scheduled rehearsal shall equal a full absence.
b. Members missing more than four (4) scheduled rehearsals during the fall semester shall not be eligible to sing in
the Christmas concert, unless approved by the Musical director.
c. Members missing more than four (4) scheduled rehearsals during the spring semester shall not be eligible to sing
in the run-out and/or spring concerts unless approved by the Musical director.
d. Absence from a scheduled dress rehearsal for the Christmas or spring concerts, without a Board of Director’s
excuse, shall equal two (2) full absences.
e. Participation in Evening on Broadway and Evening at the Opera shall be voluntary. No member shall be
eliminated from the Chorus because s/he chooses not to participate in Evening on Broadway or Evening at the
Opera. Membership in small ensembles or participation as a soloist is at the discretion of the Evening on
Broadway director.

Section 3: A performing member is expected to participate in all scheduled performances of the concert season,
which will be determined prior to the first rehearsal of each season. A performing member is required to participate in the
Christmas concert, one run-out concert, and the spring concert events.
a. A performing member maintains membership through continued participation in required concerts.
b. A performing member may request permission from the Board of Directors to take an entire semester off. If such
request is granted, the member’s absence from all concerts that semester shall count as one missed concert event.
Membership shall be forfeited should an unexcused absence from another required concert occur in the applicable
two-year period starting at the beginning of the semester missed.
c. A performing member with less than two (2) years of continuous membership having one unexcused absence
from an individual Christmas, run-out, or Spring concert event shall forfeit membership. The member may be
reinstated by the director following a re-audition.
d. A performing member with at least two (2) years of continuous participation may miss one concert event and
maintain membership without having to re-audition.
e. A performing member absent from more than one concert event every two years, including denial of participation
due to absence from rehearsal, will forfeit membership privileges and must re-audition for membership. Missing
one performance of a multi-performance concert event shall be considered as missing the entire event and will
count as a missed concert.
f. A request for absence shall be made by petitioning the Board of Directors, in writing, at least two (2) weeks prior
to the relevant concert event. In cases of illness or unforeseen circumstances, performing members may petition
the board, either verbally or in writing, less than two weeks prior to a concert event or no more than three days
following the missed concert event. The board may grant the request or make a determination that the absence
was unexcused. The decision of the Board is final.

Full by-laws posted at www.bismanchorus.org under “Members”