Budleigh Salterton
Male Voice Choir

The Choir is organised into four sections Ist and 2nd Tenors and Baritones and Basses, Each section has a Section Leader, appointed to both lead the section and guide and support its members.

Committee

The Choir has a Committee, which manages the activities of the Choir body in line with its written Constitution, and within the financial requirements of its Charitable status.

Major decisions of Choir operating strategy are made through the Committee Meetings which are held on the first Monday in every month.  The committee members, all active members of the Choir, are appointed by election each year, and include positions for the Chairman, Secretary and various administrative functional positions, the Section Leaders, and three ‘lay’ choristers chosen from the members.  Also attending the Committee meeting is the Musical Director (and the Assistant Musical Director) whose role has many functions, three of which are to – conduct the choir – chose the contents of programs for rehearsals and performances – decide when new members are ready to perform.

The Committee agenda includes –

• Discussion and management of the future Performances Program including visiting Choirs and Guest performances within our program, and preparing and managing the publicity, program and ticket printing
• Reporting controlling and accounting for the Choir finances, approving expenditure, and regulating income
• Choir event management - organising the detail of immediately upcoming performances –addressing issues of access, staging, transport, uniforms, health and safety, and choir presentation and discipline in performances
• Reports comments news and issues from the choristers voiced through their Section Leader or the lay members of the Committee
• Meeting minutes which are circulated in due course after each meeting, and an updated Events calendar and financial statement issued.  Additionally the Chairman reports verbally to the whole Choir at the rehearsal immediately following the meeting, mentioning items of importance and recounting considerations and decisions resulting from the Committee Meeting.   

Administration

Music stocks are held by a Librarian committee member who manages the Library store and archives, procures new music as required and distributes music for Choristers to retain on loan in their personal portfolio of songs

Uniforms are procured for members use by the Choir Manager, who also retains some stocks of uniform.

The Choir Manager also undertakes the logistics for each choir performance.

The Choir meets each Tuesday with very few exceptions throughout the year, and members are encouraged to attend the majority of regular rehearsals.  The Musical Director and Conductor may disallow a member from attending a concert if he considers that he has not adequately rehearsed.

The Choir engages professional and highly accomplished pianist as accompanist to rehearsals and performances, and also has a number of reserve pianists who know our work and can be called upon on the very rare occasions our own is not available.

Concerts are held throughout Devon and occasionally in to the surrounding counties.  Transport by coach is often organised for travel distance where it is economic and warranted and refreshments are usually provided for Choir members by the local chaity hosting the Concert.

• The Choir has a written Constitution Document revised in 1998.
• Section Leaders role is described in Duties and Responsibilities Document 2008.
• Conditions of Membership and embodied in the Choristers Membership Certificate.

No joining fee is charged, but a Members subscription charge is made (currently £40pa) to assist with Choir funds.  No charge is made for provision of music or uniform issued to members.  Members are normally expected to fund their own travel expense to rehearsals and concerts, and car sharing is encouraged where feasible.