Membership

Qualifications

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.

Application Procedure

1. Individuals wishing to perform in the Wheaton Municipal Band (WMB) shall submit a request for an audition time to the Personnel Manager. This should be done 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 1^st 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.

Responsibilities of Members

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.

Rehearsals and Performances

Rehearsals

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 4^th parade and any special concerts.

∑ The description of band concert dress is explained in the WMB General Rules and Regulations.

Band Council

Band Officers

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 have been returned.