Victoria Chorale

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WELCOME TO 2025 WITH VICTORIA CHORALE!

SETTING OUR SHARED EXPECTATIONS

 

 

A very warm welcome to both returning and new singers with Victoria Chorale for 2025.

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Proudly celebrating its 32nd year in 2025, Victoria Chorale has earned a reputation for the excellence, diversity and warmth of its performances and the camaraderie amongst the choir members. To achieve this aim, it is important that every chorister, both continuing and new, commits to our shared expectations.

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What are the core expectations?

 

In a nutshell, the four core expectations of every chorister are:

1. Singing capability in a SATB choir.

2. Commitment to knowing your music and regular practice between rehearsals.

3. Commitment to attend rehearsals and concerts.

4. Providing an enjoyable and safe experience and environment for all choristers, our Music Director, Section Leads, rehearsal accompanists, orchestra members, concert soloists, and support staff.

 

Our Music Director’s Five Commandments is included below. All singers should familiarise themselves with this important document. Advice on singing teachers and/or vocal coaches is available on request.

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Singing capability

 

Our shared expectation is that each chorister is able to confidently hold a part, sing in tune, have the ability to read their music and learn their parts by regular practice between rehearsals. We expect all choristers to work on sections of the music they are having difficulty with and listen at rehearsals to others singing and recognise areas in which they need to improve.

 

New choristers will have a short voice placement check with the Music Director during their first few weeks to assess their current ability and appropriate voice part.

 

Commitment to knowing your music and regular practice between rehearsals

 

Maintaining and improving singing ability and ensuring a quality concert requires all choristers to commit to learning their music and regular practice between rehearsals. Rehearsals are not the place to learn your notes. Learning aids are provided on our website (www.victoriachorale.org.au). Key parts of the score and/or areas to work on will also be advised by the Music Director.

 

Continuous improvement requires self awareness and an openness to constructive feedback, including confidential feedback to choristers from our Music Director.

 

Commitment to attend rehearsals and concerts

 

We expect every chorister to arrive early to enable rehearsals to start on time, to attend all rehearsals that they possibly can and to sing in the concert. We understand that illness, emergencies, work and family commitments and other factors occur and may mean not being able to attend a rehearsal or sing in a concert. In these circumstances, the chorister must promptly advise the Membership Secretary by email or telephone in advance.

 

Repeated absences and/or an unexpected late inability to sing in a concert creates difficulties for other choristers in your section and for our Music Director. It also creates problems for blending of voices and provision of a quality concert. Where a chorister is repeatedly absent from rehearsals without prior advice and explanation, the Membership Secretary will refer the matter to the Music Director.

 

We expect all choristers to be attentive at rehearsals, to comply with the directions of the Music Director and to have prepared for the rehearsal.

 

Choristers who wish to attend rehearsals only and not sing in the concert must advise the Membership Secretary when registering for that concert term and request prior approval. Agreement to this request is subject to advice from the Music Director.

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Providing an enjoyable and safe experience and environment for all choristers

 

We pride ourselves on being a friendly choir in which singers treat each other in a supportive, cordial, cooperative and respectful manner. Please wear your name tag at rehearsals.

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All choristers should avoid talking while rehearsals are underway and conduct which annoys or harasses fellow choristers or adversely affects their singing or hearing of directions from the Music Director. Mobile phones and other electronic devices should be off or on silent and must not be used during the rehearsal.

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Positioning in rehearsals and concerts will take account both of voice placement and the importance of seeing the conductor. Seating at rehearsal is normally in subdivided voice parts (S1, S2, T1, T2, B1, B2, A1, A2). Singers are expected to be flexible with respect to singing first or second in their voice part, to ensure there are balanced numbers. We expect all choristers to comply with the rehearsal and concert seating plans, the instructions of your Section Leader and the Concert Manager’s directions at the concert.

 

We also need to provide a safe environment and adherence to our illness and Covid Safety policy is important.

 

Contributing to the Choir

 

Victoria Chorale is a non-profit organisation run by a voluntary Committee.  We need all members to contribute to the operation of the choir in some way.  This can range from helping set up at rehearsals and concerts, distributing posters and flyers, serving on Committee or taking responsibility for a particular aspect of the choir. The choir is only able to operate by having many people assist with the activities which make it successful.

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Please do your utmost to encourage family, friends and your contacts to buy tickets for each concert.  You will be supported in this by being provided with flyers and email messages you can send to them.

 

Welcome once again to 2025 with Victoria Chorale! Your Committee welcomes your feedback and ideas on how we can collectively build and strengthen Victoria Chorale.

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Our Music Director’s Five Commandments

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As a member of Victoria Chorale you are part of a group dedicated to producing high-quality and engaging music for both our audiences and yourselves. The following guidelines outline the expectations for singing standards, practice habits, and performance readiness. These standards are essential for the success of the choir, and your commitment to these practices will help us perform at our best.

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1. Thou Shalt Practice Between Rehearsals

 

Rehearsals are essential, but individual preparation between sessions is just as important. Every chorister is expected to invest time in practicing at home. Listen to recordings, use learning aids, and practice until you can confidently sing your part without relying on others. Choristers should be able to sing their parts confidently at least 4 weeks prior to the concert. While following experienced choristers can be helpful, do not rely on them to "carry" you.

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Focus on challenging sections: Identify difficult passages and spend extra time mastering them. Build muscle memory through repetition. Recording yourself and listening back can help you identify areas of improvement. Work on these sections until they become second nature.

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Understand the score: Understand the structure of the piece—its key(s), tempo, textures, dynamics, and phrasing. Ask yourself: What did the composer intend? What is the emotional or narrative content of the music?

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2. Thou Shalt Watch the Conductor

 

The ability to follow the conductor’s gestures is critical to the success of any choir. To achieve unity, we must react together to his cues. Mario will guide you through tempo changes, dynamic shifts, and other musical expressions. Being attentive to his gestures and marking your scores is essential, especially at critical moments like time changes, entries, and cut-offs. A solid command of the music will enable you to respond promptly and confidently to his instructions (see Commandment 1).

 

3. Thou Shalt Listen Actively to the Others

 

Active Listening is key to a cohesive and beautiful sound. Pay attention to how your voice fits with the rest of the group, not just your own part. Listen to the other voice parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and how they interact harmonically, rhythmically, melodically and contrapuntally. (Please google that last word, it does exist....) Adjust your volume, tone, and pitch as necessary to blend with others. A successful choir sound relies on how each individual part listens to, supports, and complements the others.

 

4. Thou Shalt Attend Rehearsals

 

The rehearsal process is vital for the success of the choir. Every chorister must attend rehearsals regularly. Consistent attendance allows us to fine-tune our collective performance, build ensemble cohesiveness, and receive essential guidance from the conductor. Your presence helps us build on previous work and ensures that you’re prepared for performance.

 

5. Thou Shalt Take Private Singing Lessons

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We strongly recommend that all choristers take private singing lessons. They will improve your confidence, sound quality, and musicianship. Working on your vocal technique will strengthen your breath support, posture, vocal placement, and care of your voice. Lessons are also a great opportunity to explore your vocal range and improve your ability to sight-read music.

We have a list of recommended singing teachers and can provide this upon request. Choristers may also source their own singing teacher to better suit locations and scheduling of lessons.

 

Mario Dobernig

Music Director and Conductor