SINGER terms and conditions

Overview

Panoramic Voices welcomes singers from throughout the Austin area. Although the majority  of our projects are open to any singer without audition, our ranks include many experienced  singers. While Panoramic Voices seeks to provide an enjoyable social experience for its  members, we also maintain a serious approach with regard to musical standards,  commitment, and positivity in interactions with one another.

Please periodically refer to our Singer Resource Page on our website for updates on specific project requirements. (The singer resource page is password protected; you will receive this password when you register for a project.)

Rehearsal and Concert Schedule

Panoramic Voices holds its regular rehearsals at a central Austin location. The rehearsal  location may change to the actual concert venue as we get closer to performances. Please  note that all rehearsal and performance dates are subject to change. Members will be  notified of these changes whenever they arise. Please check the Singer Resource Page for  more information about schedules and locations.

covid-19 protocols

Singing is a communal experience that requires existing, breathing, and vocalizing in close  proximity to others. It is imperative that all singers monitor their health status and personal  hygiene so that their fellow singers are not exposed to any illnesses or other harmful  conditions. All singers must assess their health status prior to each rehearsal and  performance, and must stay home if they are not feeling well.  

For the safety of all Panoramic Voices members, singers who appear visibly sick, or are exhibiting symptoms of illness, may be asked to leave a rehearsal or performance at any  time. Symptoms of illness include (but are not limited to): 

  • fever (100.4°F or greater) 

  • cough 

  • shortness of breath 

  • flushed/red appearance 

  • dizziness and/or unsteadiness 

Members who have concerns with the health of other Panoramic Voices members are asked to bring those concerns to the attention of the Music Director, a Section Leader, or a member of the Panoramic Members Board, rather than take it upon themselves to raise the issue  directly.

Members are also asked to maintain appropriate bodily hygiene and refrain from using of  scented products such as lotions, perfumes, oils, and hair products when attending  rehearsals and performances. Members who cause smells, scents, or odors may be asked  to take action to reduce those odors. 

Panoramic Voices follows CDC COVID-19 recommendations, as well as any applicable local  or venue requirements. We strongly encourage singers to be vaccinated, including boosters. Due to the potential risks to Panoramic Voices from an outbreak of COVID, flu, or other  sickness in the choir, the board of directors may enact a mask mandate at its discretion.  We also require anyone that has been exposed to COVID follow CDC exposure guidelines.  Per these guidelines, if you have been exposed but do not have symptoms and have tested  negative, you may attend rehearsals but must wear a mask. 

By attending Panoramic Voices rehearsals and performances, you agree to follow all health  and safety protocols as required by the event venue, Panoramic Voices, and other  organizations that Panoramic Voices is performing with. There may also be mandates from  government agencies that must be followed. 

You acknowledge that there is an inherent risk of exposure to illnesses and other health  conditions, bodily injuries, and other harms, at all Panoramic rehearsals, performances, and  other events. By attending such events, you voluntarily assume all risks related to these and  all other conditions, and you agree to release and hold harmless Panoramic Voices, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, and contractors (including its rehearsal and  performance venues), from and against any claims whatsoever related to injuries or harms suffered by you in connection with attendance at and/or participation in Panoramic Voices events. 

ATTENDANCE & COMMUNICATIONS

All singers must check their emails from Panoramic Voices and the Singer Resource Page frequently during a project, and take responsibility for knowing all the information stated in  those communication channels. Rehearsal time is precious and should not be used for  asking questions already answered in the materials that can be found on the Singer  Resource Page or in emails. 

Singers are allowed two planned absences, and should report them on their registration. If you are sick and will be missing rehearsal, we request that you notify chorus_manager@panoramicvoices.org so that we know you are still committed to the project.

As always, it is up to the discretion of the Music Director, in consultation with the Section Leaders, as to whether a singer who has accumulated multiple rehearsal absences is performance ready, considering knowledge of the concert repertoire and experience. Panoramic Voices reserves the right to remove any singer who is unprepared from any performance.

REHEARSAL GUIDELINES

Singers are asked to observe the following guidelines at rehearsals. Please: 

Arrive to rehearsals or performance call times a few minutes early, so that we may begin on time. In case of unplanned absences or lateness, please send an email to  chorus_manager@PanoramicVoices.org. If you miss a rehearsal, please get the Music Director’s notes from the Singer Resource Page, your Section Leader or an experienced  singer in your section before the next rehearsal. Please also check the Singer Resource Page  regularly for additional notes and updates. 

Pay attention to what is happening during the rehearsal, whether it’s the Music  Director, the Section Leaders, or a fellow chorister leading it. Although Panoramic  Voices rehearsals are conducted in a relaxed and fun manner, respect for the music and each others’ time is of utmost importance; therefore, time for chatting with friends and fellow choristers, or using your cell phone for texting or making calls, should only be done during the break or before and after rehearsals, not during.

  • Come prepared and practiced. Practice lists and suggestions for home practice will  be provided on the Singer Resource Page. 

  • Bring your own closed water container and stay hydrated. 

  • Bring a pencil to rehearsal so you can transcribe the Music Director’s notes onto  your music. Tablet users are free to use whatever will allow them to do this on their  devices. 

  • Procure a plain black, standard-sized binder/folder for your music. If using a  tablet for your music, please be sure it has a black case/cover. 

We expect all singers to be helpful in maintaining our inclusive model by remaining open to alternative voicing based on the musical needs of the project. This is why we ask that you  indicate your preferred (as opposed to your known) voice part. For instance: a singer who is  used to singing Soprano 1 in another ensemble may be asked to sing Soprano 2, a number  of Alto 2’s may be asked to help out a smaller Tenor 1 section, etc. Your openness to the Music Director’s request for alternative voicing is appreciated and will help balance voices  across all sections. 

We expect all singers to be helpful in maintaining our inclusive model by remaining open to alternative voicing based on the musical needs of the project. This is why we ask that you indicate your preferred (as opposed to your known) voice part. For instance: a singer who is used to singing Soprano 1 in another ensemble may be asked to sing Soprano 2, a number of Alto 2’s may be asked to help out a smaller Tenor 1 section, etc. Your openness to the Conductor’s request for alternative voicing is appreciated and will help balance voices across all sections.

Voicing

PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES

Please observe the following guidelines at performances: 

  • Hold your black folder/tablet with black cover in your upstage hand (away from the  audience) when entering and exiting the stage. 

  • Refrain from talking on stage, even if it’s to give “instructions” to a fellow chorister.

  • Raise and lower your black folder/tablet when the conductor steps onto or down from  the podium.

Performance attire

Formal version

  • Solid black dress or any combination of a solid black top plus solid black skirt or dress pants

  • All: black shoes (with black socks, when necessary)

Casual version

  • Panoramic Voices t-shirt plus solid black pants or skirt or jeans

  • All: black shoes (with black socks, when necessary)

Note: The attire described above applies only to performances, and not for Dress Rehearsals.

Singers are welcome to wear clothing that makes them feel the most comfortable, and the most fabulous (within the above guidelines). There are no gender-related expectations.

Panoramic Voices is a singer-driven collective. In its first twenty years of existence, Panoramic Voices charged an annual participation fee ranging from $150 to $480 per singer/per season. In our desire to be as hyper-inclusive as possible, we’ve worked out a method by which singers can simply pay for their sheet music (with exceptions for those for  whom this would pose a hardship) and for those who can to make a tax-deductible donation  to help with the organization’s expenses such as hiring musicians; remunerating composers  for new commissions; paying for top-notch musical staff; renting concert venues; advertising our concerts; supporting other non-profits via benefit concerts, and other expenses. 

To help sustain all of Panoramic Voices’ good works in the community, we ask that each singer bear in mind the cost of our organization’s year-round work (an annual budget of roughly $175,000), and to be as generous in their support as is possible!

Singers’ Costs

Panoramic Voices engages in as much professional marketing for concerts as allowed by its modest marketing budget. To ensure that we sing to full audiences and heighten awareness of our own events within the ever-active Austin arts community, we expect our singers to actively promote the organization through social media, email, direct invites to family/friends, etc. 

While there is no minimum ticket sale requirement for our members, we request that singers do their utmost to help sell tickets to help ensure their hard work is rewarded by singing to the fullest house possible.

As an ambassador of Panoramic Voices, recruitment of other positively-minded singers throughout the season is always encouraged!

Singers’ Ambassadorship

Panoramic Voices aims to create a safe and positive environment for its people—leadership, staff, and members alike. In order to do this, we must safeguard acceptable standards of  behavior from those associated with our organization. 

  • Be respectful of the leadership (Music Director, Section Leaders, Board Members,  etc), staff, and other members of the organization.

  • For everyone’s safety, please avoid attending rehearsals and performances if you are  intoxicated, severely ill or contagious, or under heavy medication. 

  • It is the goal of Panoramic Voices to be a hyper-inclusive organization. We welcome  all people of good will, and expect our folks to be similarly welcoming of all others in  our organization, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran  status, military discharge status, citizenship status or source of income or any other  protected status. 

    • Choose your words carefully. Pay special attention to the use of people's  preferred names and pronouns. Make sure you are not using oppressive  language (dis/ableist, racist, sexist, ageist, sizeist, etc.) 

    • Check yourself, especially when it comes to microaggressions and implicit  bias. Be mindful of what you say and how you act. Impact is very different from  and more important than intent. 

    • Respect the personal space of others, and be sensitive to verbal and  nonverbal cues. 

  • We maintain a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to negative, untoward, abusive,  or unacceptable behavior towards anyone in Panoramic Voices or any of its guests  and collaborators. All members of the Panoramic Voices community are required to  follow all policies enacted by the Board of Panoramic Voices regarding harassment, abuse, or any other unacceptable behavior. Any act of misconduct will be investigated in accordance with such policies.

SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT

NO REFUNDS 

Panoramic Voices is a community-driven organization with limited financial resources. As  such, Panoramic Voices cannot provide refunds of any fees, amounts, or donations paid by  members for any reason, including, without limitation: 

  • If a singer cannot complete a project for any reason 

  • If a singer cannot participate in a performance for any reason 

  • If a singer violates these Terms & Conditions, or any other Panoramic Voices policy,  and is not permitted to continue participation

UPDATES 

These Panoramic Voices Singer Terms & Conditions may be updated by Panoramic Voices from time to time. The current version of the Terms & Conditions will be publicly available at all times on the Panoramic Voices website.