Chorus Roles

Various roles exist within the organisation, from singing members to company directors; they're set out below.

Here's the formal structure of our organisation:

• Chair committee and singers' meetings
• Represent the singing members at meetings and contests
• Make a report at the Annual Singers Meeting
• Be the first suggestion for a Bristol A Cappella Friends trustee

• Make annual returns to Companies House and HMRC
• Ensure appropriate insurance is in-place
• Oversee the work of the committee

• Take care of copyright clearance for new songs
• Receive copyright agreements from new members and set up their web site account

• Be prepared to deputise for the MD at any event
• Arrange for someone to take musical notes from each rehearsal and add them to a weekly email
• Supervise any personal vocal improvement programmes

• Act as a contact point for external bookings
• Develop leads for gigs that would further the aims of the chorus and any subgroups
• Find a coordinator to take over the organisation for each individual event booked
• Keep an overview of the progress of each gig's planning

  • This might be at Operations subcommittee meetings, or via informal conversations with individual event coordinators and Logistics.
• Chair any Operations subcommittee meetings

• Make sure that the gig checklist is followed if their event is a gig
• Make sure that contest entries are correctly registered
• Work with Logistics, Publicity, etc. to make their event happen

• Arrange for the printing of new and replacement sheet music
• Keep the music library organised and inventoried
• Make sure there are complete sets of music available for visitors

• Arrange any transport and accommodation needed by the chorus
• Take care of registrations or tickets needed by the chorus
• Help an individual event coordinator:

  • Arrange for external musical services like coaching or retreats
  • Prepare a detailed schedule of who needs to be where and when for events
  • Make sure risers and keys, etc., for event venues will be handled by someone

• Maintain a list of singing members and their details
• Ensure that the Data Protection Act is followed for singers' information
• Record when people have passed voice checks
• Ensure a register is taken at all chorus (non-social) events

  • This might involve negotiation with the Section Leaders or nominating people who will do this in each section, at Membership's discretion.
• Respond to membership enquiries

• Rehearse new and current repertoire to a high standard for gigs and contests
• Direct the chorus for gigs and contests
• Oversee voice checks for prospective singers to check satisfactory progress or skill
• Choose appropriate new music that will further the aims of the chorus
• Make a report at the Annual Singers Meeting
• Lead music planning for one year and longer terms
• Oversee production of teach tracks
• Supervise the production of a performance plan for each song
• Select section leaders and performance director
• Chair the Music Team

• Create a performance plan for each song in collaboration with the MD
• Develop singers' performance
• Teach singers any movement from performance plans

• Create events and stories on social media
• Design (or arrange to have designed) chorus publicity for gigs, recruitment, etc.
• Reach out to external media organisations (such as newspapers, radio) to promote the chorus and its events
• Chair any Communications subcommittee meetings

• Provide squash (blackcurrant and orange), tea and coffee (caffeinated and decaffeinated), and biscuits for members to use at rehearsals
• Present receipts for the refreshments to the Treasurer to be reimbursed

• Update the attendance spreadsheet for each rehearsal and gig to record who was present, gave apologies or was absent without notice

• Write minutes of committee and singers' meetings
• Prepare weekly notices to be emailed to singers

• Check with the other voice part SL that at least one of you will be at each rehearsal (or deputise someone)
• Know and teach the notes for each song
• Know what sound the chorus is working towards and help to train singers in achieving it
• By rota (1 upper, 1 lower) take non-voice-checked singers to work on the voice check song
• Check expected attendance from your section for chorus events and update the event web page
• Make sure voice checks happen by the required time and inform Membership
• Carry out voice checks where possible and sign off
• Meet with other SLs at least once per month for rehearsal and discussion
• Work towards chorus training targets

• Come to or send apologies regular rehearsals
• Arrive promptly for chorus events
• Learn notes at home so that rehearsals can focus on musicality and the joy of singing
• Follow the riser etiquette
• Bring sheet music, a pencil and water bottle to rehearsals

• Organise at least one large group social each quarter
• Encourage members to come to the pub after rehearsal
• Act as a secondary contact for welfare issues

• Record in the training spreadsheet who has started and completed training levels
• Manage a stock of training materials (to be kept in the rehearsal venue cupboard)

• Keep the company accounts up-to-date
• Prepare annual statements
• Make a report at the Annual Singers Meeting
• Settle bills
• Pay in money received
• Pay reasonable expenses on production of receipts

• Maintain a list of singers' measurements, in accordance with the Data Protection Act
• Keep an inventory of chorus-owned wardrobe and its location
• Order new items of wardrobe
• Chair wardrobe subcommittee meetings

• Ensure that our safeguarding policy is followed at all times
• Act as the primary contact for welfare issues
• Stay in occasional contact with members who are absent for extended periods through ill health