Policies and Guidelines:
Everything a Singer Needs to Know about Kol Zimrah
Our mission is to sustain and interpret the great tradition of Jewish choral music, to serve as a musical resource for the region, and to encourage the composition of new Judaic choral works. Kol Zimrah provides a common forum for Jewish singers from many backgrounds in the pursuit of musical excellence.
Overall Structure
Kol Zimrah is a 501c3 organization. It is led by the Music Director and the Administrator. The members elect a board made up of two section leaders representing each vocal section plus two at-large members. The board elects the officers. The officers are a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer.
Membership
There are certain expectations of singers in Kol Zimrah:
Attendance at Rehearsals
Rehearsals
Communication
Music
Donations
Concerts
Concert Attire
Good and Welfare
Public Relations and Marketing
Chamber Choir
LMB 11/4/2013
Schaffner 12/3/2020
Overall Structure
Kol Zimrah is a 501c3 organization. It is led by the Music Director and the Administrator. The members elect a board made up of two section leaders representing each vocal section plus two at-large members. The board elects the officers. The officers are a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer.
Membership
- Membership in Kol Zimrah is determined by auditions conducted by our Director, based on the need for singers in each vocal section.
- Qualifications for membership include: musicality, ability to sight read, vocal quality, ability to blend with other singers, tonality and rhythmic ability.
- The Director will assign singers to specific vocal parts.
There are certain expectations of singers in Kol Zimrah:
Attendance at Rehearsals
- Regular attendance at rehearsals is expected.
- Members who will be absent from rehearsal must inform their section leaders.
- If absent, it is the member’s responsibility to contact a member in their section to find out what was missed: phrasing, score markings, dynamics, tempi, watching the conductor at specific parts, etc.
- The Director will determine by the number of absences who will or will not be able to sing in a specific concert.
- It is expected that members be on time for rehearsals and performances.
Rehearsals
- Singers should use their own music at rehearsals.
- Singers are expected to practice the music at home either alone or with other members in his or her section.
- Rehearsals are open by invitation and can be attended by prospective members, organizations looking for the group to sing, etc., as determined by the Director.
- There may be times when the Director asks certain members to sing other vocal parts. This is for the betterment of the choir.
- There should be no extraneous talking during rehearsal.
- Lozenges and water are allowed.
- Recording rehearsals is highly encouraged. Such recordings can assist practice at home.
- Cell phones should be off or on silent during rehearsals.
Communication
- Email communication from the Director, the Administrator, section leaders or the president will be sent to choir members on a regular basis. These emails will contain important information regarding rehearsals, performances, and preparation of music.
- Members need to ensure that section leaders and the Administrator have correct email addresses, street address, and phone numbers.
- The Kol Zimrah roster will be for internal use only. The roster will not be sold or shared by Kol Zimrah or by any singers.
- The roster may not be used by choir members for reasons not related to Kol Zimrah.
Music
- It is the responsibility of each member to download and print the music we sing.
- Music will be found on the Members Only section of the Kol Zimrah website: kolzimrah.org
- Section leaders will provide instruction on how to access the Members Only section of the website.
- From time to time there may be sources of music other than the website. In those cases, members will be advised when and how music can be obtained.
Donations
- An annual minimum donation of $180.00 is requested of each member to defray expenses, such as salaries, music and transportation to concerts.
- Kol Zimrah will strive to make membership accessible to all who wish to participate. If the suggested donation is not doable, members should reach out to the president. These conversations will be confidential.
Concerts
- When arriving for a concert, members should have their music in concert order in a black binder.
- There will be a mandatory call time several hours before each concert.
- Kol Zimrah may provide optional bus transportation to certain local concerts. Though the cost of the bus will be subsidized by Kol Zimrah, there may be a cost to the members.
- Singers may be responsible for arranging their own transportation to out of town concerts.
Concert Attire
- A Kol Zimrah kippah (provided to members) may be required for certain concerts.
- Formal attire for Men: black tuxedo or black suit, long-sleeved white shirt, black bowtie, black socks and shoes. No cologne or after-shave.
- Informal attire for men: black shirt (no tie), and black pants, shoes and socks. No cologne or after-shave.
- Formal attire for women: long black skirts or long black dresses, nice black pants, black long-sleeve shirt and/or long black jacket, black hose, and black closed-toed shoes. No perfumes, scented hairspray, or scented lotions. Leather attire is not acceptable.
- Informal attire for women: Black long-sleeved top, below-the-knees black skirt or pants, black hose, and black shoes. No perfumes, scented hairspray, or scented lotions. Leather attire is not acceptable.
Good and Welfare
- Kol Zimrah is a family and we celebrate special events and share in our members’ simchas as well as trying times.
Public Relations and Marketing
- Members may be asked to sell tickets and promote our concerts when the need arises.
- Members may be asked to distribute posters and flyers in advance of concerts.
- Members may be asked to use social media to promote our concerts.
Chamber Choir
- Kol Zimrah has contained within it a smaller group – the Chamber Choir.
- The Chamber Choir will occasionally perform music as part of concerts of the larger group. They may also have concerts of their own.
- Membership in the Chamber Choir is by audition with the Director.
LMB 11/4/2013
Schaffner 12/3/2020