FAQs

How do I become a member of the Voices of MetroWest Community Choir?
Go to  Join VOICES and register, anyone who loves to sing is welcome to join! 

Rehearsals will be held at the Framingham Civic League, 214 Concord Street, Framingham from 7 - 8:15pm.

Do I need to audition to sing with Voices of MetroWest?
There are no auditions to join. The choir is open to anyone who loves to sing!

What kind of music do you sing?
Our  2008 Fall Gospel Concert will be a collection of traditional and contemporary Gospel Songs.  The styles of Gospel, meaning "good news”, captures the unique phenomenon of Americana, as the early gospel music is influenced by Jazz and Blues, while the contemporary gospel music is influenced by R&B, Hip-Hop and Country.  

Our 2009 Spring Concert will feature songs from many styles around a specific theme. The musical selections will come from the rich heritage of popular and native music from around the world of a non-classical nature; including musical theater, contemporary choral, R&B, Jazz, Folk, Country, African, and Latin America .  

What amount of time commitment will there be in joining the Chorus?
Voices of MetroWest will have two concerts seasons, 2008 Fall and 2009 Spring. Each concert season will have separate registrations, allowing you to sing in one or both concerts. The 2008 Gospel Concert season is a 10 week rehearsal to concert schedule.

The 2008 Fall Concert season will have WEDNESDAY rehearsal sessions starting September 10, culminating with concerts on Saturday Evening and Sunday Afternoon; November 8 and November 9 respectively.  Rehearsals will be held at the Framingham Civic League, 214 Concord Street, Framingham from 7 - 8:15pm.

The 2009 Sprint Concert season will have WEDNESDAY rehearsal sessions from 7-8:15 pm; starting February 18, culminating with concerts on a Saturday Evening and Sunday Afternoon in late April. 

How do I register to join?
You need to register online by going to Join VOICES and fill out the registration form.

Do I have to pre-register? 
Yes, we need you to pre-register by going to Join VOICES and register online. 

Can I come to a rehearsal and try it out?
Absolutely! The first two rehearsals of the season are open—you can come and rehearse with us!  If, for any reason, you don’t want to continue, you can obtain a refund of your registration fee as long as you let us know by the second rehearsal of the season.

You may just come to the first rehearsal, but......the number of individuals that will fit onto the performance stage is limited, however; and registrations are on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure your space on the stage, it is highly recommended that you register early. 
 
Once the stage-capacity limit is reached, all other singers who still want to register will be put on a wait-list. Being on this list enables the singer to attend rehearsals with the Chorale. If stage space becomes available, singers are moved from the wait-list to the performance list. 

Where do I send my registration payment?
            Please send your check to: 
            Voices of MetroWest, Inc.
             PO Box 497 
             Natick, MA 01760     

            (508) 314-2090

What is the refund policy if I decide not to continue singing?
You can obtain a refund through the second rehearsal. Please contact  registration@voicesofmetrowest.com to request a refund.

Is there financial aid available? 
We are pleased to offer scholarships to aid singers who wish to participate in our concerts or workshops. We will award scholarships up to a maximum of 60% of the advance registration fee.  

For further information or to request a scholarship, please contact  registration@voicesofmetrowest.com  

Do I need to read music?
No, reading music is not a pre-requisite for singing with us. We provide printed music for the Voices of MetroWest rehearsals—so sight reading is a plus. However, you do not need to read music to join the choir. We encourage you to use a tape recorder to record your part at rehearsals so that you can practice during the week. All music must be memorized.

What part will I sing?
Voices of MetroWest sings in 4 sections: soprano, alto, tenor and bass. During the first rehearsal, we will organize singers into one of the choral sections.

What is the minimum age limit?
The minimum age to sing in Voices of MetroWest is 14 years of age, subject to the approval of the current season's director. Children are to be accompanied by an adult.  

What happens if I miss a rehearsal?
We understand that you may have to miss a rehearsal from time to time; however, if you miss MORE THAN 2 REHEARSALS during a concert season you cannot sing in that season's concerts. There expect 100+ of us singing and we have a lot of material to cover-if you miss more than 2 rehearsals it's impossible for you to catch up-and we want to give the best performances possible to our great audiences!


Is there a size limit for the chorus or does everyone get in?
We can only take as many singers as our concert stages can accommodate. If you register after we’ve reached our limit, you will be placed on a wait-list. You can practice with the Chorale but will not be guaranteed a space on stage for the concert performances.

Where do you rehearse?
Rehearsals will be held at the Framingham Civic League, 214 Concord Street, Framingham at 7 - 8:15pm. 

Are your venues handicap accessible?
Our rehearsal space and concert venues are handicap accessible.

Public transportation to rehearsals / concerts?
BUS

TRAIN

Concerts: Please see the directions page for directions to our concert venues.

Private transportation to rehearsals / concerts?
Our vision is to make Voices of MetroWest as user-friendly as possible, including transportation. Transportation arrangements can be coordinated for anyone desiring to sing. Contact us at info@voicesofmwtrowest.com for additional information.

Do you have any child care available?:  
Our vision is to make Voices of MetroWest as user-friendly as possible, including providing a two level child care center during the rehearsal time. Level 1 will be for children from Ages 3 to 8. Level 2 will provide a quiet study hall environment for the other children and young adults.  Contact us at info@voicesofmetrowest.com for additional information.

Is Voices of MetroWest a "for profit" organization?
No. The chorus has been established as a non-profit organization.

What are your political/religious affiliations?
Voices of MetroWest is not affiliated with any political or religious ideology. The community is made up of people from many creeds, backgrounds and affiliations who come together to celebrate the joy of singing the songs of the many cultures of the world.

How do I advertise in the Voices of MetroWest concert program?
Please contact programads@voicesofmetrowest.com

Have a question about the Voices of MetroWest that doesn't appear on this page?
Please feel free to email us at Info@voiceofmetrowest.com

                        We welcome all who love to sing!