After 15 wonderful and rewarding years as Rotary Show Chorus Music Director, I have decided it is time to hang up my baton. A couple of weeks ago I announced that anyone interested in considering replacing me should contact me. Briefly, the Director works with other chorus leadership to:
- Select the music with the arranger for next year’s show.
- Create chorus scores with the arranger.
- Produce the learning trax with the recording engineer.
- Plan and undertake the 14 one-and-a-half hour chorus rehearsals in March and April.
- Help singers be successful by assisting with music preparation and improving singing skills.
- Coordinate with other show leadership, especially the Saturday morning production team, to insure smooth flow of the show’s entertainment content.
- Manage the professional musicians hired to support the chorus.
- Lead the chorus so everyone has fun and an enjoyable musical experience.
The chorus calendar begins in August and runs through the end of April. Total hours involved might be around 100 between August and February for music selection, score production and personal preparation. Another 50 in rehearsals and personal preparation in March and April will get the job done. Other than rehearsals, scheduling the time is pretty much up to you.
As for musical experience and skills required, some experience with music theory, choral directing, reading music and teaching singers to sing better and as a chorus would be the primary skills necessary. We have an assistant director so you don’t have to do all the work all the time. We also have a chorus manager who takes care of most of the chorus business and administrative issues.
Because the chorus calendar starts in August, the successful candidate will assume the director’s duties in August of 2019. Ideally, this person would be my wingman/woman as we put the 2019 show together. This would offer an opportunity to meet the chorus and understand their skill level and expectations of the director while seeing what needs to be done without the responsibility of having to deliver. Naturally, it would be helpful if the new director participated in some way with the chorus next year.
Please contact me if you would like to learn more about this exciting and rewarding job.
Al Bonney
Rotary Chorus Music Director
231-223-4064 (h)
231-392-6538 (c)
12586 Center Rd.,
Traverse City, MI 49686