Open Voices is a non-auditioned community choir and any voice is welcome. The capacity to take in new members is assessed at the end of every concert season.

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) Form.  If you are interested in joining the choir, you must complete and submit our online EOI Form. 
   
2. Please check your email for a message from membership@openvoices.ca  The Board member responsible for Membership will confirm receipt of your EOI form, and will provide periodic email updates to everyone who is on the EOI list.
   
3. Be patient!  When there are vacancies in the choir (typically in June at the end of the concert season, occasionally at the beginning of the second term in February), the Artistic Director has the prerogative to select some names from the EOI list if required to balance or strengthen sections of the choir. If there are remaining vacancies, a lottery is done to draw names at random from the EOI list according to the needs in each section. If your name is chosen, you will be notified by the Board member responsible for Membership to offer you a place in the choir, to review the annual commitment with you, and to offer Orientation Information should you accept the offer. Please note: the Open Voices Board has the prerogative to use affirmative action to help create diversity in the choir. 

Do I need musical experience to be a member? 
No, Open Voices is a non-auditioned community choir and there is no voice check, required experience or musical training needed to join.  The current membership ranges from people who are new to singing in a choir to those who are very experienced. Some members read music well, some do not.  Print music, teaching recordings, optional beginning theory lessons and sectional rehearsals are provided to help members learn and have maximum fun.

What is expected of members regarding dues? 
Full Membership dues for the 2025/2026 concert season are $325.00 per year. However, the choir doesn’t want finances to be a barrier, so other amounts are acceptable, no questions asked. Our operating budget is planned around approximately 85% of members paying full dues. 

More questions about membership? 
If we haven’t answered all your questions about joining the choir, please feel free to contact us at membership@openvoices.ca

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Membership Commitment

Members of our choir make a big commitment to participate in and contribute to the learning and community culture of Open Voices. This commitment from all our members is essential to the success and awesomeness of Open Voices. What does this mean exactly?

• Members are committed to attending weekly rehearsals and sectionals, which are scheduled on Wednesday evenings. Members are committed to keeping their section leader informed if they miss practices.
  
• Members are committed to performing at dress rehearsals and concerts.
  
• All members are committed to participate in Open Voices for the full concert season, September (or the time they join) to June.

Your citizenship as an Open Voices Member goes a bit beyond weekly rehearsals:

• Members are committed to use the study practice resources that we provide – even a little bit of independent study of your music goes a long way to helping the choir and enhancing your learning and enjoyment.
  
• Members are committed to looking at ways they can support the choir through a bit (or a lot) of volunteer work.
  
• Members are committed to take a role in getting us big concert audiences by selling and promoting tickets – your friends and family are our core audience.
  
• Members are committed to attend the choir’s fall Annual Meeting.

Joining Open Voices asks a lot – but it also gives a lot.