2013-14 COYC handbook final

Lisa Wong, Director
Daniel J. Singer, Assistant Director

John Simmons, Accompanist

Handbook and Calendar
2013-2014 Season

TICKETS
Complimentary or discounted tickets are usually not available for concerts at
Severance Hall in which the Youth Chorus participates. On occasion, MAA is able to
offer discounted tickets for these performances which will not be announced until the
week of the concert.
To purchase tickets for concerts held at Severance Hall, please call the Severance
Hall ticket office at (216) 231-1111. Ticket information for other COYC concerts
will be announced closer to the performance date.
PARKING
Parking at rehearsal venues is free of charge. When the Youth Chorus is rehearsing
or performing at Severance Hall, dated parking tickets may be issued to each Chorus
member for entry into the Severance Hall garage free of charge.
EMERGENCY PHONE AND E-MAIL MESSAGING
At the beginning of each season, an emergency phone and e-mail messaging system
is established for use in the event of last-minute communications. In the event of a
last-minute rehearsal change or cancellation, you will receive an email and a pre-
recorded message from the Chorus Office. If for some reason you are not able to
hear the complete automated message, please call the Youth Chorus Hotline at 216-
231-7384 to confirm the change. It is your responsibility to maintain current contact
information with the Chorus Manager.

13

CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA YOUTH CHORUS • Talking is not permitted once tuning begins.
Lisa Wong, Director
• Dress rehearsals do not require concert attire, unless specifically noted.
Daniel J. Singer, Assistant Director • Guest attendance at Chorus-only stage rehearsals is allowed only with the
John Simmons, Accompanist
permission of the Director. All Orchestra rehearsals are closed to the public.
Cory Isler (216) 231-7374
Asst. to the Manager of Choruses [email protected] • In the event that you are ill and cannot sing during a stage rehearsal, please
Manager of Youth and Children’s Choruses inform the Director and the Chorus Manager. You will be asked to sit in the
front section of the hall, house right and take notes.

Jill Harbaugh (216) 231-7372 CONCERT DEPORTMENT
Manager of Choruses [email protected]
Avoid doing anything that can detract from the audience’s perception of a concert or
Youth Chorus Hotline (216) 231-7384 your fellow Chorus members’ performance. On-stage conversation is not only
distracting and unprofessional; it is extremely rude to the Conductor, Chorus
Chorus Office Fax (216) 231-4029 members and Orchestra members. Talking is not permitted once the concertmaster
enters the stage.

Youth Chorus Website www.coyc.cochorus.com • While entering and exiting the stage, carry your folder in your upstage hand.
• Stand and sit as quietly as possible and in unison.
Musical Arts Association/The Cleveland Orchestra (216) 231-7300 • If for any reason you miss the filing-on process, you must sit out that portion of

Severance Hall (SH) www.clevelandorchestra.com the concert.

11001 Euclid Ave. • Please do not applaud after a concert.
• Remember: do not take cell phones onto the stage. Please turn off wristwatch
Cleveland, OH 44106
alarms.

Severance Hall Ticket Office (216) 231-1111 or (800) 686-1141

CONCERT ATTIRE

Fairmount Temple (FT) (216) 881-6350 All:
23737 Fairmount Blvd. •
Beachwood, OH 44122 • Sneakers, sandals or open-toe shoes are not permitted.
• The only permissible jewelry is stud earrings and wristwatches.
First Baptist Church (FB) (216) 932-7480 Perfumes, colognes, and highly scented shaving lotions, deodorants and hair
3630 Fairmount Blvd. products are not permitted.
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44118
Women:
Rocky River Presbyterian Church (RR) (440) 333-4888 • Black chorus dress (purchased through the Chorus Office). Dresses must
21750 Detroit Rd. be hemmed 2 inches from the floor in dress shoes. You are responsible
Rocky River, OH 44116 for hemming your dress accordingly.*
• Black hose
Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) (216) 421-7350 • Black closed-toe dress shoes (modest heel, please)
11150 East Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44130 *The Chorus Office has a relationship with Stitch Cleveland, located in Lakewood,
where you can have your dress hemmed for around $15. If you are interested in
utilizing their services, contact Heidi at 216-220-4808 or [email protected]
to set up an appointment. For more information visit their website at
www.stitchcleveland.com.

2 11

Men: Black tuxedo* CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA YOUTH CHORUS
• Tuxedo shirt MEMBER HANDBOOK
• Studs, cufflinks, black bow tie and black cummerbund
• Black socks
• Black dress shoes
•

*Men are expected to obtain a tuxedo from their school or other extracurricular Chorus Contact Information 2
choral groups. If you do not have access to a tuxedo, contact the Chorus Office to 2013-2014 Season Information 3
discuss options for obtaining a tux. Rehearsal and Performance Schedule 4
Policies, Procedures & Expectations 5-13
SEVERANCE HALL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

In the event of an evacuation at Severance Hall, please follow the exit signs to
evacuate the building. Once outside the building, it is important that we meet at the
corner of East Blvd. and Euclid Avenue (also known as “the point”) so that we can
take attendance and determine whether everyone has made it out of the building. If
you are not able to walk down the stairs, find the nearest stairwell and remain there.
Stairwells are designated safe zones. When the Fire Department arrives, they will
check these designated areas first.

To report a medical, fire, hazardous material or police emergency while at
Severance Hall, immediately call 7777, the Severance Hall in-house extension. This
number dials into the Severance Hall Security Office, which is staffed and prepared
to activate the appropriate emergency response personnel and get them to the exact
location of the emergency in the building. Do not call 911. By calling 911, critical
support for a victim of an accident or medical emergency may be seriously delayed
because the community response team (EMS) does not know the fastest way into the
building or how to get to the victim once inside. The trained Severance Hall Medical
Emergency Response Team, which could be providing assessment information to the
community response team en route and give care to the victim, would be unaware of
the emergency in progress.

All building occupants are urged to become aware of each building exit and stairwell
as a means of egress to safely exit the building. You may be asked to participate in
emergency drills to test the integrity of procedures, building systems and outside
emergency services.

12

If illness or an emergency causes you to miss a concert, please return your music in CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA YOUTH CHORUS
person to the Chorus Manager or send it to the attention of the Chorus Office, 2013-2014 SEASON
Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106.
As of August 1, 2013.
REHEARSAL DECORUM Note that programs and artists are subject to change.

Please be respectful of the people around you and they will treat you with the same HOLIDAY CONCERT Saturday, December 7, 2013
respect. With this in mind, please adhere to the following rehearsal guidelines: Lisa Wong, conductor 7:30pm
Rocky River Presbyterian Church
• Do not wear perfume, cologne, aftershave, scented deodorant or scented hair
products to rehearsals or performances. Many of your fellow choristers are HOLIDAY CONCERT Saturday, December 14, 2013
sensitive or allergic to such aromas. Take care with personal hygiene. with Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus 2:00pm
Lisa Wong, conductor
• Always have a pencil at rehearsals. Ann Usher, conductor
• Allow enough time to find your place on the seating chart and your chair before Cleveland Museum of Art

the start of a rehearsal. Be in your seat before a rehearsal resumes following a THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS CONCERTS**
break.
• Do not bring food or drink into any rehearsal space before, during or after Robert Porco, conductor Friday, December 20, 2013 at 7:30pm
rehearsals. Sports-top water bottles are permitted. Severance Hall Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 7:30pm
• Do not tap beats with your feet, whistle or make other distracting sounds.
• Leave your coat in the coat room or the designated space on the perimeter of the Sunday, December 22, 2013 at 7:30pm
rehearsal room.
• Turn off and put away all cell phones. Text messaging is not allowed during **Only select COYC members who audition in the fall will participate in these
rehearsals. The Chorus Manager or Director reserves the right to performances, not the entire chorus**
confiscate a cell phone if it becomes a distraction during the rehearsal. The
cell phone may be picked up at the conclusion of the rehearsal. MLK COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE Monday, January 20, 2014
• Do not bring homework or books to rehearsal. Lisa Wong, conductor Time TBD
Severance Hall
The Director may give the Youth Chorus a break at the mid-point of rehearsals.
Please remain in your seat until this break. Use the restroom before rehearsal starts. JOINT CONCERT WITH COYO Sunday, March 9, 2014
In the event of an extreme emergency that forces you to leave the rehearsal before a Brett Mitchell, conductor 7:00pm
scheduled break, please be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. Severance Hall

Visitors are allowed in rehearsals only with the permission of the Director. Visitor 3
attendance must be cleared in advance through the Chorus Manager.

STAGE REHEARSAL DECORUM

In addition to all of the guidelines outlined above, please note the following for
rehearsals held on stage at Severance Hall:

• Only music, folders and sports-top water bottles are allowed on stage. Please
leave other items (coats and personal belongings) either in the main hall or in the
Chorus warm-up space.

• Please arrive early in order to make necessary changes on stage rehearsal
evenings.

• If you arrive late for an on-stage Orchestra rehearsal, you must sit in the front
section of the hall, house right, until break.
10

2013-2014 REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE For last minute conflicts on the day of the rehearsal, please leave a message on the
*as of August 1, 2013. Subject to change. Youth Chorus hotline. All other absence notifications should be communicated via
an absence request form. Absence request forms can be found on the Youth
DATE EVENT TIME VENUE Chorus website under the “Forms” tab.
Sunday, September 8 COYC First Rehearsal 1:30 – 7:30pm FB
Sunday, September 15 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA YOUTH CHORUS WEBSITE
Activity Center
Sunday, September 22 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus website (coyc.cochorus.com) is accessible
Sunday, September 29 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT only to current COYC members and is maintained by the Chorus Manager. Chorus
Sunday, October 6 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT members should check the website regularly for the Chorus rehearsal and
Sunday, October 13 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT performance schedules, updates, announcements, rehearsal notes, rehearsal study
Sunday, October 20 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT materials, recommended recordings of current repertoire, messages from the
Activity Center Director, text translations and other materials. The following username and
Sunday, October 27 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT password are required to sign in to the website (please note that all letters must be
Sunday, November 3 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT lowercase):
Sunday, November 10 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT
Activity Center USERNAME: coyc
Sunday, November 17 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT PASSWORD: mozart
Sunday, November 24 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT
Sunday, December 1 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT MUSIC
Saturday, December 7 Holiday Performance Call TBD, RR
7:30pm Performance You are encouraged to make notes in your music to assist you in remembering
Saturday, December 14 Holiday Performance Call TBD, CMA musical instructions. However, under no circumstances should you mark your scores
2pm Performance with anything other than a No. 2 pencil unless you are planning to purchase your
Sunday, January 5 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT score. Pencils are always provided at rehearsals. If a returned score is marked with
Sunday, January 12 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT colored pencils, highlighters, ink or the like, you are financially responsible for the
Sunday, January 19 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT replacement cost of the score.
Monday, January 20 MLK Community Open TBD SH
House The scores you receive are part of a greater choral music library, which is an
Sunday, January 26 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT important part of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus archives. Please take care of your
Activity Center music: do not fold corners, throw away loose covers or write miscellaneous notes in
Sunday, February 2 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT the scores. If you are asked to paperclip long passages of music where you do not
Sunday, February 9 Rehearsal 1:45 – 4:30pm FT sing, please remove these paperclips before you return the music. Scores are on loan
Activity Center to you from MAA and must be returned promptly at the end of the season. Scores
Sunday, February 23 Rehearsal 6:30 – 9:00pm FT that are not returned within one week of the final concert will be considered
Tuesday, February 25 Rehearsal w/ COYO 5:30 – 9:00pm* SH lost, and you will be billed for their current replacement costs, regardless of
Sunday, March 2 Rehearsal w/ COYO 12:30 – 5:30pm* SH their age or condition.
Saturday, March 8 Rehearsal w/ COYO 12:30 – 5:30pm* SH
Sunday, March 9 COYC/ COYO Concert 2:30 Call, A black folder is provided free of charge; please use this folder to protect your
7pm Performance SH music. This folder will also be used for performances. You may purchase a sturdier
black chorus folder through the Chorus Office for $20.00.
*The chorus will be released early from these rehearsals, time TBD.

4
9

Under extraordinary circumstances, the Director may make an exception to the CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA YOUTH CHORUS
above policies on a case-by-case basis.
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus was founded in 1991 to raise awareness of
Please take the time to review your family and school schedule. If there is a foreseen choral music-making in the schools of northeast Ohio and to encourage more
conflict with any of these rehearsals or performances, it is important to notify the students to continue their choral activities through college and into adulthood. The
Chorus Manager as soon as possible. When making decisions about schedule members of the Youth Chorus are in grades 9 to 12 and represent some 40 schools
conflicts you may have with your school music program we ask that you follow and communities. Like their colleagues in the Youth Orchestra, they are chosen
these guidelines: school music program performances take precedence over Youth through competitive auditions.
Chorus rehearsals, but Youth Chorus performances take precedence over school
music program rehearsals or other school-related activities. All COYC members are The Youth Chorus presents an average of four concerts each season and has
expected to participate in their school music programs. collaborated with such outstanding musical ensembles as The Cleveland Orchestra,
the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and Cleveland State University and
REHEARSAL PREPARATION Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music choral ensembles. In addition to
performances at Severance Hall, their activities include concerts and other outreach
As a member of COYC you are expected to be prepared for each rehearsal. Study programs in the greater Cleveland area. The Youth Chorus participates in workshops
materials will be made available on the Youth Chorus website. The study and master classes with highly regarded choral directors and clinicians. The
materials may include audio tracks of the vocal parts, audio tracks of foreign- ensemble has performed at the Ohio Choral Directors Association Convention, the
language pronunciation and annotations from the Director. After receiving 2010 Ohio Music Education Association in Cincinnati, Ohio, and on subscription
notification that the materials are available online, and prior to the first rehearsal concerts at the Cathedral of St. John and Church of the Saviour in Cleveland. Many
on the music, you should: members receive the opportunity to sing side-by-side with the Cleveland Orchestra
Chorus during holiday concerts and at Blossom Music Center. The ensemble has
• Mark your score with all annotations from the Director. received great acclaim and has grown into one of the top high-school-aged choral
• Learn the pitches, rhythms and text. performing ensembles in the state of Ohio.
• Incorporate dynamics, tempo and stylistic directions.
Initial funding for the Youth Chorus was provided by the W.O. Frohring Foundation,
Consistent, careful rehearsal preparation is necessary to our goal of making music the Edward and Ruth Wilkof Foundation, and the Sears Family Foundation. Ongoing
at the highest level. If you are consistently unprepared you will be asked to leave support is provided by the Edward and Ruth Wilkof Foundation.
the Chorus.
ATTENDANCE
It is your responsibility to bring all music to every rehearsal. Extra copies of the
music are not always available. Attendance is required at all scheduled rehearsals and is mandatory from warm-up
and downbeat to dismissal. Please read below for specific attendance policies:
COMMUNICATION AND REHEARSAL INFORMATION
1. An absence is defined as missing an entire rehearsal, or any two
If you wish to contact the Chorus Office, please address all Youth Chorus instances of arriving late to or leaving early from a rehearsal.
questions or concerns to Cory Isler, Youth and Children’s Chorus Manager at
[email protected] or 216-231-7374. The Chorus Office 2. The number of absences is calculated per semester. The fall semester
communicates ALL rehearsal information such as scheduling and rehearsal runs from September 8th- December 31st and the spring semester runs from
changes via email, so please make sure to check your email regularly. January 1st – March 9th.

If you are unsure about the status of a rehearsal (the time, location or date) please 3. Attendance at all concerts is mandatory. Missing a concert will result in
call the Youth Chorus hotline at 216-231-7384 and a recorded message will dismissal from the chorus.
confirm the rehearsal information for the coming week.
5
8

4. You are expected to attend all scheduled rehearsals and to be in your • Too much homework
assigned seat prior to warm-up. Please plan on arriving 10 minutes prior • Work
to the scheduled rehearsal start time. Late arrivals are disruptive to the • Any last minute absence that does not fall under the category
rehearsal process and may contribute to your number of accrued absences.
If you are not in your seat you will be marked late or absent when warm-up of an excused absence
begins. If you are late for a rehearsal, please wait along the side of the
rehearsal room until the Director indicates the appropriate time to take c. Last minute absences: Last minute absences on the day of the
your seat. rehearsal must be communicated via the Youth Chorus hotline by
calling 216-231-7384. Depending on the nature of the absence,
5. There are three types of absences: this may be counted as an excused or unexcused absence at the
Director’s discretion.
a. Excused: Members are allowed 2 excused absences per semester.
Examples of excused absences include: 6. Probationary status: If a member is placed on probation, a parent or
guardian will be notified of the member’s status and the probation must be
• School performance cleared the following week in a testing session (also see “Testing Sessions”
• Religious holidays below). A member may be placed on probationary status for one of the
• Funerals following reasons:
• Family emergency: must be explained to be considered • One unexcused absence
• More than two excused absences
excused • One unsatisfactory testing session
• Extreme illness: If you are seriously ill or contagious, please
7. Dismissal from the chorus: The following reasons will result in dismissal
refrain from attending rehearsal. If you are slightly ill with a from the chorus without reimbursement of expenses paid:
mild cough or sore throat, we expect you to come and take • Any absence while on probationary status
notes during rehearsal, even if you are not singing. • Two consecutive unsatisfactory testing sessions
• Missing a testing session without prior notice
If the nature of the excused absence allows you to inform the • Absence from a performance
Chorus Office ahead of time, you must submit an absence request
through the following procedure: 8. Testing Sessions: If you miss a rehearsal due to an absence, please plan to
arrive 30 minutes early to the following rehearsal for a testing session. It is
• Absence request forms may be requested via email from the your responsibility to attend testing sessions if you miss a rehearsal and to
Chorus Manager and signed by a parent or guardian. This get rehearsal notes from one of your colleagues in order to be sure you are
form can also be found on the COYC website under the prepared for the next rehearsal. Note that testing sessions are not considered
“Forms” tab from the homepage. “make up” rehearsals, but a way to make sure that each chorus member is
keeping up with his/her colleagues. You will be asked to sing excerpts from
• Absence request forms must be signed by the Chorus Director. the most difficult passages covered in your absence. If the results of the
• Absence request forms must be submitted to the Chorus testing session are not satisfactory, you will be asked to sing the same
material the next week and will be placed on probation. A second
Manager at least two weeks prior to the requested absence unsatisfactory performance will result in dismissal from the Chorus. If
date. there are unique circumstances that prevent you from arriving early
• The Chorus Manager will contact you to inform you of for your testing session, you must communicate that information to the
approval of your absence request. Chorus Manager via email 48 hours prior to rehearsal or via the Youth
• Failure to follow the above absence request procedure will Chorus Hotline on the day of the rehearsal.
automatically incur an unexcused absence and will result
in probation. 7

b. Unexcused: Members who earn one unexcused absence will be
placed on probationary status. Examples of unexcused absences
include:
6