MIT Concert Choir Member Information

About

Auditions

Contacts

Concerts

Lausanne 2006

Mailing Lists

Member Info

Music and History

 NOTE: Information about the Spring 2006 trip to Lausanne can be found here.

Rehearsal Schedules

Regular Rehearsals

  • Rehearsals are Monday and Thursday 6:00-8:30 pm in 4-270.
  • Watch your email for details on sectional locations and changes in rehearsal time.
  • Sectional rehearsals comprise the first hour of most rehearsals (6:00-7:00).
  • Sectional locations:
Sopranos
 4-152
Altos
 4-270
Tenors
 4-160
Basses
 4-156

Dress Rehearsal Schedule for Fall 2008

Dress Rehearsals will be held in Kresge. This is when the chorus will combine with the orchestra or other hired musicians and soloists. Do not dress up for the dress rehearsals.
  • Thursday, December 4, 2008 - 4:00-7:00pm
  • Saturday, December 6, 2008 - 11:00am-1:00pm

Concert

  • Sunday, December 7, 2008 - 2:00pm in Kresge

Juries Schedule

  • Juries are quick evaluations of your knowledge of the choral music in octets.
  • Juries will take place near the end of the term. A schedule will be sent out by email.
  • Juries are for those who are taking Concert Choir for credit (21M.401)

You need only be present for the five minutes of each octet in which you are singing for Bill for juries.

Concert Music Repertoire

Repertoire for Fall 2008
  • George Frideric Handel: Alexander's Feast
  • Randall Thompson: The Peaceable Kingdom

    • Listen to recordings of these works. (Concert Choir only)

    Special Events

    MIT Community Sing
    The whole MIT Community is invited to join the Concert Choir for a BIG EXCITING SING-ALONG!

    Thursday, November 6, 2008 5:00 pm
    Lobby 10

    Sheet music will be provided, and we will have piano accompaniment. Last semester's Community Sing was a fantastic success. Everyone who came had a blast, so tell all your friends to come! A short Concert Choir rehearsal will follow the Community Sing.

    Socials

    There are four socials during each term, one hosted by each section.

    Sopranos 9/25/08
    Altos 10/16/08
    Tenors 11/6/08
    Basses
    		 11/20/08

    Grading and Member Policies (syllabus.pdf)

    Grading Policies

    Students can register for 21M.401 to receive 6 units (0-4-2) of music performance credit for their participation in Concert Choir. This credit may be used to fulfill a HASS concentration, minor, or major in Music (21M). There are no prerequisites. Your grade in Concert Choir will be determined by Bill Cutter (our director) using the following criteria:

    • Juries: 50%
      • A = pitches and rhythms accurate, expressive markings observed, accurate diction
      • B = pitches and rhythms accurate
      • C = mistakes in pitches and/or rhythms
      • D = did you come to rehearsals??
    • Attendance (rehearsals and sectionals): 40%
      • Regardless of taking the class for credit, three missed rehearsals or sectionals will warrant a re-audition with Bill (to make sure you are learning the material).
      • For those taking the course for credit, each unexcused absence after the three will result in the lowering of your grade a letter name. Absences can be excused by Bill (preferably before the fact).
      • Excused absences include: health (doctor's note required), family emergency, job interview.
      • Attendance at dress rehearsals is mandatory. Missing a dress rehearsal will result in the drop of a letter in your grade.
    • Service requirement: 10%
      • Please see the description below.

    General Member Policies

    To maintain the musical standards of the Concert Choir, there are a number of policies for all our members. Those taking choir for credit can also expect these policies to be a factor in the grading of the class, as stated above.

    Service requirement
    Each choir member must complete two hours of service for the successful operation of the choir. Typical ways choir members fulfill the requirement are:
    • being an officer or section leader during the term
    • regularly accompanying sectionals on piano
    • putting up posters to advertise concerts
    • helping to make and put up the drop poster for concerts
    • manning the Lobby 10 ticket booth before concerts
    • baking, buying, setting up, or cleaning up to help with the reception
    • helping with other special tasks that come up during the term
    Attendance policy
    If you know you will miss a rehearsal, notify your section leader and Bill in advance. Bill, our director, is the only person who can excuse your absence for legitimate reasons (which can be taken into account for grading purposes).
    If you decide to leave the choir, please notify your section leader and then return your music (scores) as soon as you are able.
    If you miss three or more rehearsals (whether or not they are excused), you will need to re-audition with Bill so he can make sure you're learning the music to continue in choir. We will keep track of attendance and try to remind you if you have missed three or more rehearsals, but it is ultimately your responsibility to make sure you are re-auditioned so that you are fairly graded later.
    Sectionals are mandatory, so that we can learn the notes before coming to rehearsal where we want to focus on making music, so talk with Bill to work something out if you have a conflict.

    Concert Dress

    For those of you new to the choir (and as a reminder to the rest), concert dress is formal. In other words, start looking for something to wear. Information on what both women and men are expected to wear is below. If you have questions that are not answered by the information below, please ask our president or conductor.

    Do NOT wear:
    • perfume
    • cologne
    • aftershave
    • any scented personal care item
    as some people are allergic to such items. Do, however, wear deodorant and anti-perspirant.
    Women

    Women are expected to wear:

    • black shoes
    • black nylons
    • floor-length black skirt or black slacks
    • black blouse with some sleeve (short or long, but not sleeveless) and without frills
    • no jewelry please!
    Some places close to MIT to buy dress skirts:
    Urban Outfitters
    Across Newbury Street from former Tower Records (now Virgin Megastore) at the corner of Mass. Ave. and Newbury St.
    The Gap, 201 Newbury Street, 267-4055
    The Gap, 100 Cambridgeside Plaza, 864-2255
    J. Crew, 100 Cambridgeside Plaza, 225-2739
    Ann Taylor, 100 Cambridgeside Plaza, 225-2779
    In Boston (in roughly increasing order of price):
    Filene's Basement, 426 Washington St., 542-2011
    Marianne, 25 Winter St., 426-9407
    Contempo Casuals, 11 Winter St., 695-3590
    Images, 417 Washington St., 482-0058
    In the Corner Mall, second floor.
    The Limited Express, 333 Washington St., 227-8264
    Filene's, 426 Washington St., 357-2100
    Jordan Marsh, 450 Washington St., 357-3000
    The Gap, Market Place Center, 951-9300
    In the Corner Mall.
    Saks Fifth Avenue, Prudential Plaza, 262-8500
    Ann Taylor, 800 Boylston St., 421-9097
    Men

    Men are expected to wear:

    • black dress shoes (not sneakers)
    • black socks
    • black tuxedo (pants and jacket without tails)
    • black cummerbund
    • black bowtie
    • white tuxedo shirt

    One convenient place you can go to purchase or rent a tuxedo is Keezer's, 140 River St., Cambridge (map).


    Directions to Keezer's:
    • Walk North up Massachusetts Avenue to the Central Square T Stop. Magazine St., River St., and Western Ave. will be on your left at the traffic light; Prospect St. will be on your right.
    • Turn left onto River Street by walking past the bus-waiting area toward the red-brick church. You should keep the church just to your left as you walk past it.
    • Keezer's will be on your left about 5 blocks past the church (just past a triangular patch of grass). If you pass a traffic light, you've gone too far.
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