March 10, 2010
Dear Directors,
By now you have received your contest times. These are a few simple reminders in order to help your day be more successful and less stressful. Enclosed in this information packet is a church map which indicates the areas of the facility we will be using. We will try to have a student worker meet you as you enter the church. The physical layout of the contest will be the same as last year.
Location and Parking
The church is located at 555 Tallowood, Houston, 77024. For more information visit their website www.tallowood.org
Plan your transportation to arrive 30 minutes early. This will allow you plenty of time to check in with Mr. Fassino. It also allows a cushion for unexpected traffic delays. There is NO wiggle room in the schedule. If you are late you will be moved to the end of the day. It is your responsibility to communicate to your district transportation the exact times that you need your buses . It never hurts to leave early.
Buses will drop off in the Main Parking lot on Tallowood. DO NOT DRIVE UNDER THE PORT O CACHE.
After drop off, buses should park at the end of the parking lot where there are no cars.
Chaperones
You MUST have the appropriate number of chaperones for your students. One for every 10 students is a good rule of thumb. If you are unable to enlist parents to travel with you, then ask your administrators to travel with you.
Your students can not be left unsupervised at any time while at the contest site.
Holding Area
The Gym will serve as the Holding Area for students who are waiting while you check-in, or while you wait for your buses to return.
The Holding Area should be a relatively quiet waiting place for choirs preparing to sing.
Warm Up, Concert, and Sightreading
After you register, please wait in the Gym until 10 minutes before your Warm-Up. At that time, line your choir up and a worker will escort you to the Warm-Up Room (Choral Hall). You have a 20 minute Warm-Up that begins when you enter the room NOT when you start singing. There is a 10 minute time frame to walk to the Worship Center. As you leave the Choral Hall, you will walk in the Worship Center via the door behind the Worship Center. Be aware that there are stairs. You will enter the choir loft from the top and walk down to the steps for the choirs..
Lead off with the TOP LEFT SIDE OF YOUR CHOIR. There should be NO TALKING while waiting to enter the Worship Center.
Once you have finished your concert, you will lead off again with the TOP LEFT of your choir and walk down the ramp inside the Worship Center and exit the back doors. A monitor will meet you at the back of the Sanctuary and lead you to the Sightreading Holding Room.
Once inside the Sightreading Holding Room you will listen to the Sightreading Rules CD. You will be instructed when it is time to enter the Sightreading Room. YOU MAY NOT REMAIN IN THE SIGHTREADING HOLDING ROOM AFTER THIS TIME. All of your instructions must done during the Rules CD. This is not a time to teach skills. Last year a couple of directors caused the contest to run behind because they refused to leave the room when told to do so.
Once you complete the sightreading portion of the contest, you will exit from the BACK LEFT of the room and go to the Holding Area or load your buses.
Choirs may only listen to other choirs concert performances in the sanctuary under the following conditions:
1. There are the correct number of chaperones AND if possible, the director should be present.
2. Students enter the Worship Center ONLY BETWEEN groups.
3. Students are not allowed to leave the Worship Center except BETWEEN GROUPS.
4. Adults and students must SIT silently during the concerts. Applause ONLY after the third song.
Last year students laid down on the pews and put their feet on the furniture. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. No gum, candy, food or drink of any kind in the Worship Center.
5. Directors do not expect your students to sit silently through more than one or two choirs.
Try to have your buses waiting at the exact time that you are finished sight reading.
6. Directors, it is your responsibility to tell your students and chaperones the behavior expectations.
Do not leave your students unattended in the Worship Center while you go visit with someone.
Wheel Chairs, etc…..
If you have a student in a wheel chair or on crutches, they will need to go around and enter and exit the Worship Center via the ramp. There is NO ramp and your choir will need to sing from the lower level of the risers. It is your responsibility to assist your own students that need extra help. Bring parents and/or school officials to assist you. Neither church officials nor contest hosts can assist with this due to liability issues.
Piano
Although you may position the piano in any position you want, you will be responsible for unlocking the wheel lock to move the piano and then YOU MUST RELOCK the wheel lock before your accompanist plays. There is only one lock to turn so it is easy. If the piano lock is not in position, the piano will roll off the stage and that will be disastrous.
Remember: UNLOCK to move and then RELOCK before you start your program.
We will provide one stand for the director. Please notify me as soon as possible if you are need additional stands and chairs for instrumentatlists. It is your responsibility to provide a second piano for numbers that involve two pianos.
Please READ your Constitution and Rule Book (C&CR). If you have questions about the contest site, please feel free to contact me by email or by phone 281-237-5204 or 713-826-5687. If you have questions about the music, contest rules, please contact Fred Fassino at Double check that you have 3 copies of each of your songs now.
Items to go over with your students:
1. No food/drink/gum/candy in the Worship Center.
2. There are church functions all around this large campus. Students should be on their best behavior.
No running, yelling, or taking shortcuts across the grass.
3. Do not touch items that may be on display or in the pews of the church.
4. Be respectful to parents, judges and students who are assisting with the contest.
5. Choirs that are noisy or behaving in an inappropriate manner (laying down or feet on pews) will be asked to leave the Worship Center.
6. EVERY SCHOOL MUST HAVE CHAPERONES. One for every ten.
7. Remind your students that this contest is directly related to state choral objectives. Demonstrating proper concert etiquette in a formal setting. Give them a grade for this when they are listening to the choirs.
8. There will NOT be a concession stand. Memorial City Mall is close and there is a wonderful food court.
Best regards,
Dorothy Wilson and Eric West
Cinco Ranch High School Choir
23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd. w Katy, Texas 77494 w (281) 237-5204 w