The "about" page gives a general oversight about the choir, but one question goes unanswered- what's it like for the singers? What's the commitment level, the typical schedule, and the usual cost for an individual? 

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SCHEDULE

Our most busy time of year is during the winter season due to holiday performances, Messiah concert, and our annual Madrigal Dinner. Students are expected to participate in all full-choir performances, and absences should be cleared by the director. Of course, Dr. Gardias understands that students have commitments beyond the choir- for example, several students have been part of this choir and the Davis robotics team, which both require heavy time involvement and travel. Because the work seasons don't overlap, people have been able to successfully manage both extracurriculars.

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As previously mentioned, along with full-choir performances, we are hired for several octets that students sign up for. The amount of time dedicated towards octets is very much catered to the individual- depending on a singer's schedule, students may volunteer for as many as they choose. Octets occupy the majority of the choir's schedule, but they shouldn't pose as a stress for the students!

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TRAVELING

The choir has an annual retreat and a trip that rotates between New York, Los Angeles, and a surprise international location. While trip donations are needed and appreciated, we always budget for families that might not be able to financially contribute, everything remains anonymous, and we never turn away a student.

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COSTUMES

Students should consider their costume immediately after they are accepted into the choir, because this can become a lengthy process. There are three options for your costume- designing/sewing one, renting from the costume closet, or renting/borrowing from a previous Madrigal. Incoming students work with our costume coordinators to keep track of their costume's progression. The prices between these options vary, but the expected price ranges are listed below:

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- Designing a costume, hiring a seamstress - $1100-$2000

- Purchasing materials, no seamstress hired - $300-600, 40-120 hrs of labor

- Renting from the costume closet - $300/yr *subject to change*

- Renting/borrowing from Madrigal graduate- varies

 

We believe money should hinder no one's ability to be part of this choir, and we understand the price concern for these costumes. Contact Ms. Bistolfo and our costume coordinators for financial concerns, and they will be more than happy to work things out.