1. Applicants
must be a minimum of 15 years of age by the first rehearsal of the season.
2. The
performance level of the band demands that applicants should have attained a
high level of proficiency on their instruments, at least equal to a typical
college junior music student.
Categories
of Membership
1. New Member – a member who has auditioned and was selected for membership without any prior playing with the Wheaton Municipal Band (WMB).
2. Regular Member – a member who has auditioned and was selected for membership and has performed with the WMB in a prior season. This includes substitute members (defined below).
3. Continuing Member – a Regular Member who has played 7 of 9 concerts with the WMB (excluding Indoor Concert) for the past 2 seasons and has earned an audition score of at least 60. These members will be placed into the band.
4. Substitute
Member – a musician who is called upon by the Personnel Manager to fill a
vacancy for a concert or series of concerts.
1. Individuals
wishing to perform in the Wheaton Municipal Band (WMB) shall submit a written
application to the Personnel Manager.
These are available on the Band Web Site: www.wheatonmunicipalband.org
.
2. Qualified
applicants will be asked to appear for an audition. The audition is weighted heavily on sight-reading ability. Each applicant has the opportunity to
earn a possible score of 120.
Three judges evaluate 4 categories of playing with a score from 1 to 10
in each category. Prepared music
is also scored in the same manner with the results used only for breaking ties.
3. Former
members re-audition each year and must achieve a score of at least 60 to be
considered for membership.
4. Roster
seating is determined by an audition committee composed of: band officers,
Personnel Manager/General Manager, Business Manager and the Music
Director. During the season, if
the Music Director is dissatisfied with the seating order, the Music Director
may re-audition members or adjust their seating, with the concurrence of the
band officers and personnel manager.
5. Applicants
not selected as regular members will be considered as substitutes
6. In
extreme cases (rare) continuing members may request audition waivers in writing
at least 30 days in advance of the 1st scheduled audition date. The Band Board will evaluate requests
for waivers and the audition committee will determine seating of that member if
the waiver is approved.
7. Continuing
members whose audition scores fall below 60 will be given written warning. The next year they must audition and
achieve a score of at least 60 to retain their continuing member status.
1. Regular
members of the WMB will be required to maintain satisfactory attendance at rehearsals
and concerts. Members must attend
the Wednesday evening rehearsal in order to play the Thursday night concert of
that week.
2. Regular
members are expected to play seven (7) of the nine (9) Thursday night
performances. For exception to
this, members must satisfactorily clear excess absences with the personnel
manager.
3. Members
must demonstrate continuing musical competence and abide by WMB General Rules
and Regulations.
1. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at Memorial Park Bandshell, unless stated otherwise.
2. The
first week of the band season usually includes both a Wednesday and a Thursday
night rehearsal.
3. Regular
call times are given in the WMB General Rules and Regulations.
Performances
·
The band officers, Music Director and the General
Manager determine the season schedule.
This includes regular Thursday evening concerts, July 4th
parade and any special concerts.
·
The description of band concert dress is explained in
the WMB General Rules and Regulations.
1. Elected
band officers include President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and three
Band Trustees.
2. The
President, Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer are elected each year. Band Trustees serve a three-year term,
rotating so that only one is elected each year.
3. Band
officers must be available for and are expected to attend meetings throughout
the year. The band President
chairs meetings of the band officers and staff. Meetings are open to the membership of the band. The board may declare itself in
Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters.
4. Election
of the band officers is held at a regularly scheduled rehearsal in July. Through regular announcements, members
of the band will be notified at least one week before the election. Vote will be by secret ballot.
5. Only
new and regular members of the band are eligible to vote or run for an office.
Band Staff
1. Professional
band staff includes Music Director/Conductor, General Manager, Personnel
Manager, Business Manager, Librarian, Director of Publicity, Uniform Custodian,
Announcer, Web Master and Jazz Band Conductor.
2. In
case of resignation from office of a member of the professional staff, the band
officers will make a recommendation to the Wheaton Band Commission. Professional staff members are
appointed by the Band Commission and are salaried directly by the City of
Wheaton.
3. Secondary
band staff positions include members of the Work Crew, audition helpers and
others as determined by the band officers and professional band staff. The General Manager generally makes the
appointment.
Contracts
1. Regular
and Alternate members who play with the Wheaton Municipal Band must sign and
return a contract with the City of Wheaton.
2. Payment
for performances may be withheld if an individual has no contract on file.
3. Individuals
who do not fulfill the terms of the contract may be penalized as set forth in
the contract.
4.
The payroll is usually processed after the conclusion
of the season, after all contracts have been signed and returned, and after all
uniforms and WMB equipment has been returned.