Westminster Choir College

The Westminster Womens Choir

Constitution

Sam Brukhman, Director John Milas, Accompanist Dr Amanda Quist, Advisor

THE CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE
The Westminster Womens Choir is a collegiate ensemble comprised of members within Westminster Choir College of Rider University. The choir is focused on creating better musicians through application of choral concepts learned in curricular choirs and classes. This includes an emphasis on healthy singing and vocal technique; sectional unity and choral sound; theoretical concepts of form, phrase structure, and analysis; solfege; music history and historiography of female musicians (composers, singers, instrumentalists); and a diverse repertoire. This group seeks to cultivate an interest and awareness of the importance of single sex choirs, give opportunities for leadership to future educators, and provide a safe environment where singers can explore their vocal technique.

ARTICLE I: NAME
The organization shall be known as The Westminster Womens Choir

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section A: Womens Choir Membership A.Membership is open to all students of Westminster Choir College of Rider University. B. The minimum cumulative GPA required for membership is 2.5. C. If there are more people interested than there are spots available, there will be an audition process. Members will be chosen based on desired vocal color. D. All members must sign a contract holding them accountable for attending all required rehearsals, performances, and meetings.

ARTICLE III: STRUCTURE

Section A: Advisor A. The Advisor for the Westminster Womens Choir will be Dr. Amanda Quist. B. The responsibilities of the choir advisor may be found in the Westminster Choir College SGA Bylaws. Section B: Officers A. Elected Officers. The elected officers of the choir shall be: Director, Assistant Director, Treasurer, Public Relations, Accompanist, and Section Leader(s) Section C: Duties of Officers Duties of the officers are as follows: A. Director 1. Lead the choir and be its representative between all campus RSOs, governing bodies, and outside community. 2. Makes final decisions on repertoire 3. Oversees weekly choir rehearsals, sectionals, and meetings 4. Responsible for the general direction of the choir and maintaining an empowering learning environment. 5. A directors term is until his/her graduation, unless the choir decides to impeach with a 2/3 vote based on failure to complete written duties and responsibilities B. Assistant Director 1. Serve as another representative and liaison for the choir. 2. Responsible for continuing choral activities and maintaining the choir in the Directors absence. 3. Book Rehearsal and Performance Spaces 4. Accompanies sectionals in monthly rotation C. Public Relations 1. Responsible for choirs publicity 2. Takes pictures 3. Creates posters for events. 4. Responsible for the upkeep of the Social Networking pages. This includes invitations to events, posting photos from those events, and whatever else they deem fit to further the goals of the choir. 5. Be available for contact with outside sources, to field invitations for activities. ANY PERSON is encouraged to talk to others about new activities. No one person is to make commitments regarding the whole group. Any invites will be sent to the director for perusal and a decision will be the result of a vote with the entire group.

D. Treasurer 1. Responsible for all dealings with cash flow within the choir. 2. Responsible for collecting money from members for events, keeping detailed records of the transactions done by each member, and handling fundraising money. 3. Write budgets and other financial requests to submit to the Student Government Association. E. Accompanist 1. Responsible for learning and playing selected repertoire during rehearsals 2. Will accompany during concerts 3. Will accompany during sectionals by rotation F. Section Leaders 1. Responsible for leading sectional rehearsals once a week 2. Responsible for keeping the director updated on the progress of sectional sound 3. Responsible for making lesson plans/rehearsal strategies for sectionals 4. Will be able to be proficient at playing the necessary parts of the repertoire on the piano Section E: Term Length The term of office begins with the installation of new officers at the beginning of each semester and ends when new officers are installed at the beginning of the following semester, with the exception of the director. When changing Directors, the new Director must have a two-thirds majority vote from choir members and the approval of the advisor and previous director. Section F: Vacancies in Office. If there is a vacancy in the office of director or assistant director then a special election must be held within two weeks of the vacancy. The officers shall appoint someone in the interim. If there is a vacancy in any other office all responsibilities should be assumed by the director and assistant director until a new officer is elected unless they appoint someone in the interim.

ARTICLE IV: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section A: Qualifications for Election Requirements for nominees being considered for election are: A. All nominees are only eligible after one semester of membership. Section B: Nominations The Director, Assistant Director, and accompanist will nominate officers for the Treasurer, Public Relations, and section leader positions and a 3/4 vote by the choir will elect them into office. If the choir does not agree with the choices that the director, assistant director, and accompanist present, it can nominate one additional person per office and one additional section leader per section (SSAA) by a 3/4 vote. It is then up to the assistant director, director, and accompanist to accept the additional nomination(s) and elect the nominees into office. If the assistant director, director, and accompanist do not accept these nominations, it will be up to the advisor to nominate a member(s) and the whole organization will do a combined vote to determine who is elected into office.

Section C: Elections 1. Nominees, with the exception of the Director and those up for reelection, may be elected by a 2/3 vote. Section D: Removal from Office Procedures for removal from office: resignation, expulsion, and inactive organization procedures will be dealt with in accordance with the Westminster Choir College SGA Bylaws.

ARTICLE V: REHEARSALS
Section A: Choir Rehearsals A. Rehearsals will be held on a weekly basis. B. Additional rehearsals can be added with the consent of 2/3 of the choir. C. The time of the rehearsal will be determined by the availability of the members. D. Rehearsals are designed to work on repertoire as a whole ensemble. E. Rehearsals will be 1.5 hours Section B: Sectional Rehearsals A. Sectional rehearsals will be held on a weekly basis. B. Each section (Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto 1, and Alto 2) must meet under leadership of the Section Leader.

B. The time of the rehearsal will be determined by the availability of the members. C. Rehearsals are designed to work on sectional unity. D. Sectional rehearsals will be .5 hours

ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION

Section A: Amendments. A. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed at any regular meeting or choir rehearsal. B. The SGA Senate must approve all Amendments.