Do You Love To Sing?
Consider becoming part of a truly extraordinary and talented group of openly gay & straight men who reflect the very best of our entire community. We are always looking for a dedicated few to join us in our message of affirmation and pride.
Schedule
Phoenix Metropolitan Men's Chorus will be holding auditions for new members to join us for our Spring 2012 semester. Interested singers may sign up for an audition via our online audition registration (www.gcpaphx.org) or by calling 602-228-5587.
Dates
Auditions:
January 3rd, 10th , or 17th , 2012
You will need to plan on 20 minutes for your scheduled audition appt. This includes a 10 min brief orientation and application process followed by a 10 min audition. Location of Audition is 7321 N. 10th St., Phoenix, Arizona, 85020. Located on the campus of Orangewood Presbyterian Church.
New Member Orientation:
TBD
Retreat:
TBD
Preparing for the Audition
The first thing to do to prepare for the audition is to do your research about the group. Find out everything you can about the way the chorus operates: especially the time commitment, expenses, expectations of a singer, etc. This will help you know exactly what you are getting into. Find current singers to visit with about what it means to them. Attend a performance if you have not already done so. You will not need to prepare a song for the audition. The audition consists of a warm up using scales to determine voice type. A listening exercise is used to determine your ability to match pitch and your ability to sing back series of notes as reading music is not a requirement. We know auditions are never actually "fun," but we promise to be welcoming and encouraging because we know it is always uncomfortable. We want you to do your best and will make it as painless as humanly possible.
About Singing with the Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus
Rehearsals
Regular rehearsals are held weekly on Tuesday evenings from 7-9:30 pm at 7321N. 10th St., Phoenix AZ 85020. Each section holds rehearsals in addition to the Tuesday rehearsals. These are called sectional rehearsals and occur on 3 Thursday evenings for the fall semester. Although they are not mandatory, they are highly recommended and valuable, particularly if you do not read music or if you miss any regular rehearsals.
We have an all day Saturday rehearsal the Saturday prior to our Holiday or Spring Concert. The week leading up to main concert has Tuesday rehearsal, Wednesday Tech rehearsal, Thursday Dress rehearsal followed by the 3 weekend performances.
Each major subscription series concert has a rehearsal period consisting of approximately 20 rehearsals. Members are allowed 1 excused absence per month and may make up absences by attending retreats and sectional rehearsals.
Expenses
All chorus members pay dues of $30 per month and a $10 dollar music/association fee each semester (fall & spring). Members may pay the fall dues for 5 months upfront in August and get a $25 discount. Members will need to purchase their own wardrobe items (tux and accessories). We have special arrangements with local tux shops to keep costs low. There are other occasional costume and or prop expenses but these tend to be very small.
Twice a year we hold an out-of-town weekend retreat, currently costing approximately $90 which covers room and board. Winter retreats are typically held in January or February; Fall retreats in September. The retreat is not mandatory, but is fun.
Members may also pay for other items such as sweatshirts, T-shirts, recordings and other merchandise, as well as certain travel expenses for large trips including tours and festivals.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available to chorus members in the form of loans and volunteering. We have an organization within the Chorus called Scholarship Program (Financial Assistance Network). This is run by the Chorus President to help our members who are students, unemployed, or have limited or fixed incomes. If you need financial assistance, the Chorus President will discuss your needs with you. All financial discussions are confidential.
Resources
The chorus uses Groupsite online disseminate information. This Groupsite distributes official e-mail communications from the staff and provides access to the online membership roster, seasonal calendar, file repositories, retreat sign-up, wardrobe purchase, polls, and much more.
All chorus members are provided access to the Virtual Music Library, on the group site, an online repository of the music we perform. Members download and print their own music (new members are provided with printed music for their first semester only). If you are without Internet access or prefer not to print your own music, printed music can be provided for a nominal fee.
A monthly newsletter, Ovation, provides important information about upcoming rehearsals, performances, and other announcements. This along with our Groupsite is the primary information resource for the chorus. All members are expected to read this information as their first point of reference.
The chorus membership roster is updated each semester so members can contact each other as needed. The information in the roster is to be used for chorus-related purposes only and is not to be distributed.
Solos
Solo opportunities are available for some of the music we perform. Auditions for solos are announced periodically as needed. The Artistic Director selects the soloists.
Other singing opportunities include several small ensembles that rehearse and perform in tandem with the main chorus. You may audition for a small ensemble once you have been accepted into the main chorus.
About Us
The Chorus comprises approximately 60 to 100 singing members and a volunteer administrative staff of 10. If you are not accepted to sing at this time you are encouraged to join our staff. We include the staff in all activities except singing. Also, if you are not accepted at this time, you are encouraged to audition at the next round of auditions. The balance and size of the Chorus change with each concert season, so our needs and ability to accommodate you will change as well.
PMMC is a great place to meet people while doing something enjoyable and worthwhile. In addition to our regular concert series, we have appeared with celebrities, on television, for benefits, parades and fund raisers, and we have toured other states and countries. There is always a lot going on, and you are encouraged to become as involved in as many additional activities and performances as you are able.
Fall Schedule
PMMC Rehearsal schedule for the Spring begins every Tuesday, January 10, 2012 through May 6, 2012 at 7321 N 10th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85020. Over this period you will have 3 sectional rehearsals that will be on a Thursday. April 28, 2012 will be an all day Saturday rehearsal from 10 am to 4 pm at 7321 N 10th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85020. May 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2012 will be rehearsals in our performance venue for Tech and Dress rehearsal from 6 to 10 pm at 1202 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85013 at the John Paul Theatre/Phoenix College.
PMMC’s main Spring Concert 2012 Concert performance dates are May 4th 8pm – 5th 7pm & 6th 2pm.
Other Performance opportunities for the 2012 Spring semester are February 11, 2012 (Blush & Bashful) a workshop and concert performing our own Trevor Project “It Gets Better” Video. June 24, 2012 will be a joint concert with Arizona Women In Tune, Voices of the Desert & Desert Ovations. Then finally the GALA Choral Festival in Denver, Colorado in July 2012.
Join Us! We are looking for more singers and instrumentalists. We hope you will think about joining our exciting groups. Please fill out the following contact form and member of our staff will contact you shortly to schedule an audition.
