So . . . What's expected of me now that I've become a member of
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Rehearsals:
We meet virtually every Thursday evening at Roosevelt High School.
Members are encouraged to be at every rehearsal possible.
Rehearsal meetings start at 7:00 pm, and sing until 10:00 pm., with early choreography and sectionals, frequently at 6:30
pm
Before contests and shows, there will be mandatory extra rehearsals.
Check out the calendar by clicking here.
Music:
You will be issued copies of all current music that are specifically numbered for each member.
This music should be placed in a loose leaf notebook and brought to every rehearsal.
You do not necessarily need to ‘read’ music. The Chapter frequently produces “practice CDs’ to help members learn
their music by listening. These feature your part dominant on one side against the others.
Recording at rehearsals with a tape cassette or digital recorder greatly helps in learning the songs, as well.
Discover the “Barber Polecat Songs.” Every member of every chapter is encouraged to learn these few songs, so that
they can sing with other guys outside the chapter meetings.
Check with Music Vice President, Wes Jackson.
Administration:
Each member is expected to become an active member of a chapter administrative committee.
Select, volunteer and become active in one of these committees.
Check with Chapter President, Bill Holden, for committee selection.
Contests:
The GNC is a competition oriented chorus, and as such, competes every Spring in the Northeast Divisional competition,
where we have consistently placed at or near the top of the Division. When we place with a sufficiently high score, we
then go to the Far Western District Fall Convention, singing with the best choruses of the District, which includes CA,
AZ, NV, & HI.
Most contests are “out of town,” and most require at least overnight accommodations.
Many of us go to these contest/conventions with pleasurable anticipation to listen to the best choruses and quartets, and
share time with many friends from the district and the barbershop world.
Quartets and choruses that qualify then go on to compete at the International level the first week of July. The GNC has
competed twice on the International stage and placed 7th both times.
See Chapter Manger, Doug Yarrow, for contest registration information.
Performances:
The GNC loves to sing for special events in the community, including Memorial Day, Veterans memorials, and sporting
events. Again, chorus members are expected to be participants in these events when these events do not conflict with a
member’s employment.
Uniforms/costumes:
The GNC members wear a uniform/costume for every performance.
The Chapter Board of Directors is currently planning on new uniform clothing.
Contact Uniform Chairman, Clint Cole, for more costume/uniform information.
Quarteting:
Though certainly not required, singing in a quartet is highly recommended. One gains experience and confidence when
singing with three other guys. You can’t ‘lean’ on another person in a quartet.
Costs:
Membership is not without monetary expenses!
Our annual dues include:
Registration (one time) . . . . . . . . $ 10
Barbershop Harmony Society . . . . $ 97
Far Western District . . . . . . . . . . . $ 19
Fresno Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $120
Total Initial dues . . . . . . . $246
Initial dues for new members under 25 years of age are only $10 for the first year.
There are several options to pay your dues, including install payments on a credit card.
Uniform costs:
These costs are currently changing. Our new formal uniform is expected to be around $160
Get help from our Uniform Chairman, Clint Cole
Contest Registration:
Northeast Divisional Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30
Far Western District Contest, Spring Prelims . . . . . . . $50
International Convention and Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . $175
Far Western District Fall Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40
Obviously, lodging, mileage and meal costs will vary according to your tastes and budget.
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