Costume Coordinator

ALEX SNOW -  alex.chaseford@gmail.com
Please contact Alex with costuming questions.

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General Overview

     Costumes are an exciting and integral part of the Madrigal Choir experience. All new students and their families will participate in a series of costuming meetings before any costume construction or rental is approved. Guidelines for Davis Madrigal costumes continue to evolve. Madrigal velveteen costumes are constructed of quality materials, carefully crafted to meet performance requirements and individualized by trim and secondary fabric choices. Each costume blends into the Madrigal color and style range enhancing the visual impact of the choir as a whole. Velveteen color availability is determined not only by those hues passed down from recent graduates but by the current balance of costume colors in the choir. Each new Madrigal will be assigned a flattering primary hue by the Costume Committee that contributes to the pleasing array of velveteen colors in the choir.

     The Coordinator will assist every family in obtaining a Madrigal costume that suits their student and their budget. Rentals are available from the Madrigal Costume Closet or from the pre-approved list of costumes offered by former Madrigals. The current Costume Closet rental price is $300-350 per year and scholarships are available upon request. Rentals from a former Madrigal will vary in price, but expect to pay for maintenance and cleaning. New singers may choose to build a new Madrigal costume. New construction is more expensive than renting and the cost will vary depending on design and trimmings. Occasionally, costumes are passed down in families or on to friends, but these garments will require an audition, assessment and meet current guidelines. 

     Designing a new Madrigal costume is a rewarding creative process. Locating secondary fabric and trim supplies is challenging but assistance is available. The Coordinator will meet with students, their families and seamstress to work through and approve design choices, secondary fabrics and trims until all garments are complete and performance ready. Families are encouraged to hire one of the recommended seamstresses from our list as construction is complex, and garment fitting requires advanced skills. Any other seamstress arrangement will require pre-approval. Please see the Guidelines, Design Packets, Time Line, and the Seamstress & amp; Resource Lists for more details.