Frequently Asked Questions
How old does my child need to be to participate?
The Children’s Chorus accepts choristers from 1st grade through 12th grade.
Children are
auditioned and placed in age and ability appropriate choirs. We are
initiating a new group, "Music Movers", in Fall 2006 for 4 and 5 year olds.
When and where is rehearsal?
Rehearsal for the Masterworks Children’s Chorus is held on Thursdays at Hope
Church (200 Dapron) in
Belleville. Choristers rehearse from 5:30 until 6:30 and Intermezzo
and Concert Choir rehearse from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. Music Movers will
gather from 5:00 pm until 5:30 pm. (MapQuest
Directions to Hope Church)
How much is tuition?
Tuition is $325 per year and covers rehearsals (about 40 weeks) and
performances. Masterworks
provides music for the choristers – there are no music purchases expected
from them. We accept payment of $325 at the beginning of the season.
We accept payment through checks, cash, Mastercard and Visa. We have a
payment plan where you can pay, through automatic bank transfer, in six monthly
installments of $58 (September, October, November, December, January, and
February). There is a small per month fee for our monthly installment
fee. In addition, students can sell program advertising to offset the
cost of their tuition. New: Singers participating summer camp 2006
receive a discount of $25 towards the Fall tuition.The second and third members of each family who attend Masterworks
receive a $50 per year discount in tuition.
What if my child does not want to continue to participate in Masterworks?
Masterworks depends upon each singer’s voice. Each of the choristers depends
upon the other
children’s voices too. Tuition is due in full at the time of auditions.
There are no refunds for
children who quit mid-year unless there are special circumstances so dire
and unforeseen that
an exception can be made. If that is the case, the Finance Committee handles
it. It is not now
and will never be Masterworks’ goal to teach children to quit. We think that
will always be a
dangerous lesson for children to learn.
Is scholarship assistance available?
Masterworks automatically makes sibling scholarships available to families
with more than one
child in the chorus. Other financial assistance is available on a limited
basis. Masterworks gives
no full-ride scholarships, but requires everyone to pay some portion of
his/her child’s tuition.
Scholarships are handled by the Finance Committee on a confidential basis.
How many concerts will my child perform?
The Masterworks Children’s chorus regularly performs 2 of its own individual
concerts per
season. It also performs with the adult Chorale every December in Christmas
at the Cathedral
and at the Broadway, Etc. concert of popular music in May. Both these
opportunities allow the
Children’s Chorus to perform with professional musicians (orchestra and
soloists). St. Peter
Cathedral is a magnificent acoustical venue and Masterworks thinks it is
important for the
Children’s Chorus to experience it. Additionally, there are several
unplanned community
performances that occur each year.
Will my child learn to read music?
Students are taught to read music throughout the Masterworks experience. It
is a process and
we begin preparing students immediately to accomplish that goal. For that to
happen for children,
they need to stay with us through their musical development. There are steps
that reading music
builds upon – cannot be taught in a year or two. My son's voice has
changed. Can he sing with Masterworks Children's Chorus?
The MCC is a treble choir. It is for female voices and unchanged male
voices.
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