Enrollment for the Durham Children's Choir is for the season, which begins in late August and concludes in late April or May, depending on choir performances. Each member will be expected to remain active and committed for the entire season. We hope that each singer will feel a sense of pride at being in this very special choir program and not take their membership lightly.
The Durham Children's Choir is a special learning environment designed to provide a rich and rewarding musical experience for each child. The choir will study and perform a variety of music from all styles and periods of music history, including sacred and secular, folk, popular, gospels, spirituals and patriotic music. The music chosen is from many religious and secular traditions, and since the repertoire is not selected to intrude upon anyone's personal or family beliefs, it is essential that all singers be willing to sing all repetoire.
Concepts about music (melody, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, form and style) and musical skills (vocal, theory, sight-reading, etc.) are taught throughout the rehearsals.
Choir members will be taught the use of their vocal instrument through exercises, posture, breathing and tone production. We hope this experience will form the foundation of a life-long relationship with music for the singers and their families.
Open auditions for the Durham Children's Choir will be held in May for singers entering grades 3-8. Special auditions may be arranged by contacting the director, Mrs. Hill.
The non-refundable tuition for the year will be $75, payable at the first rehearsal. You may also pay $37.50 each semester. Payment must be made with exact cash OR checks may be written to Durham Children's Choir, Inc. There will be additional minor expenses for polo shirts or other outfits. Scholarship funds will be available for those who need assistance. Please contact Mrs. Hill if assistance is needed.
Membership in the Durham Children's Choir is a commitment to faithful, consistent and punctual attendance. A choir member is expected to be at all rehearsals. Each singer may have 2 excused absences; any absence beyond that may result in the singer being excluded from the next performance. If a singer is absent for any reason, one of the directors MUST be contacted in writing or by e-mail as soon as possible.
If there is a planned absence (family trip, school function, etc.) notice as far in advance is appreciated.
An absence, for any reason, from a final rehearsal before a concert may result in the singer being excluded from that performance.
Performance Attendance
Attendance is required at all scheduled mandatory performances. Acceptable reasons for an excused absence from a performance are illness, death in the family or a school music concert. Please notify one of the directors as soon as possible prior to or after the concert.
Commitment to School Music Programs
The success of the Durham Children's Choir will be dependent in large part on the support of music teachers in the Durham area. DCC members should be leaders in their school music ensembles. It is important that DCC singers be an active participant in their school choir if one is available.
All members of the DCC will be expected to have the formal outfit by mid-October and the informal outfit by October 7. Parents will order the formal outfit using a form provided by Mrs. Hill. It is also possible to purchase a used outfit from a former or older singer. This may be done at the Parent Meeting.
The informal outfit includes a red DCC polo shirt and black pants and shoes. Singers will be measured for the polo shirts during the first rehearsal. Parents are responsible for purchasing the black pants and black shoes. The cost of the shirt is $16, which you may pay at the same time as the tuition.
