FAQ

Questions	How do I become a member? If you know a member of The Elderberries, tell that person that you are interested. If you would like to join when conditions permit, please contact a choir member or the webmaster through this website, and your inquiry will be forwarded to the executive. What is the time commitment? To begin the 2021-22 season, practices were held in the pavilion at Gull Lake Park on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30. As of February 19, 2022, see further details under the COVID Measures tab. Covid-19 has made a lot of changes. We used to practice for two hours every Tuesday from September to June. We would offer concerts in the weeks before Christmas, and near the beginning of June, as well as taking part occasionally in special events (Remembrance Day, retirement home visits). Many of our members would go south for months at a time, and catch up on rehearsals when they returned. If they felt they weren't well enough prepared to sing at a concert, they came and sat in the audience. What is the cost? What does it pay for? The fee for the spring 2022 semester is $40. When the time comes that we are having concerts again, you may be asked to contribute refreshments for our audience at our concerts, and to donate items for the silent auction that we use to raise funds for our activities. The choir pays our director and accompanist, buys music when we want to learn a piece that isn't in our (extensive) music library, pays to use the venues where we practice and give our concerts, and has other expenses (including fees for this web site). Do I have to be a good singer, play an instrument or read music? You just have to enjoy singing! There are no auditions; you don’t have to be able to read music or play an instrument. Sometimes our director sends us computer files of our parts for some of the more difficult pieces, so we can practice at home. You can come and try for a few practices, and we won’t ask you to pay the membership fee until you decide you would like to continue. Does the choir have special clothing or a uniform? We sometimes wear white tops and black bottoms, plus vests, scarves, or ties that are supplied by the choir. Many times, we decide to wear “festive clothing” to bring good cheer to our audiences. Where do we get the music for the pieces we are going to sing? The Elderberries have an extensive library of music. Members are given numbers, and receive the music for the next concert in a numbered set, which we return to the library after each concert.

Questions

How do I become a member?

If you know a member of The Elderberries, tell that person that you are interested.

If you would like to join when conditions permit, please contact a choir member or the webmaster through this website, and your inquiry will be forwarded to the executive.

What is the time commitment?

To begin the 2021-22 season, practices were held in the pavilion at Gull Lake Park on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30. As of February 19, 2022, see further details under the COVID Measures tab.

Covid-19 has made a lot of changes. We used to practice for two hours every Tuesday from September to June. We would offer concerts in the weeks before Christmas, and near the beginning of June, as well as taking part occasionally in special events (Remembrance Day, retirement home visits).
Many of our members would go south for months at a time, and catch up on rehearsals when they returned. If they felt they weren't well enough prepared to sing at a concert, they came and sat in the audience.

What is the cost? What does it pay for?

The fee for the spring 2022 semester is $40.

When the time comes that we are having concerts again, you may be asked to contribute refreshments for our audience at our concerts, and to donate items for the silent auction that we use to raise funds for our activities.
The choir pays our director and accompanist, buys music when we want to learn a piece that isn't in our (extensive) music library, pays to use the venues where we practice and give our concerts, and has other expenses (including fees for this web site).

Do I have to be a good singer, play an instrument or read music?

You just have to enjoy singing! There are no auditions; you don’t have to be able to read music or play an instrument. Sometimes our director sends us computer files of our parts for some of the more difficult pieces, so we can practice at home. You can come and try for a few practices, and we won’t ask you to pay the membership fee until you decide you would like to continue.

Does the choir have special clothing or a uniform?

We sometimes wear white tops and black bottoms, plus vests, scarves, or ties that are supplied by the choir. Many times, we decide to wear “festive clothing” to bring good cheer to our audiences.

Where do we get the music for the pieces we are going to sing?

The Elderberries have an extensive library of music. Members are given numbers, and receive the music for the next concert in a numbered set, which we return to the library after each concert.