Member’s Handbook                                                                                                                                                              Page  10

Performance Assessment Session (PAS)

Because Schola Cantorum is made up of volunteer singers, many of whom participate in other community choruses and music ministries, some scheduling conflicts and absences are anticipated.  This practical observation must be balanced against the reality that the chorus prepares concerts for a paying public.

The Performance Assesment Session (PAS) is a quality control event used by the Artistic Director to assess singer readiness for performances when circumstances have called that singer’s preparation into question.  The Artistic Director may ask a singer to report to an PAS for evaluation if either of the following criteria is met:

* The singer has missed two or more rehearsals, whether regular or sectionals.  Two (2) late arrivals and/or early departures from any rehearsal are counted as one (1) missed rehearsal.

* The singer has joined the group so late in the timeline of current series rehearsals that, in the opinion of the Artistic Director, he/she may be inadequately prepared for the upcoming performances.

The PAS will be scheduled at a time and location mutually agreed by the Artistic Director and all other participants.  More than one singer may be evaluated at a given PAS at the discretion of the Artistic Director.  At the PAS, the singer(s) under review will be asked to perform several of the repertoire pieces in whole or in part with a small ensemble of Schola members in good standing.  Both the pieces to be performed and the additional ensemble members will be chosen by the Artistic Director.

During the PAS, the Artistic Director will assess whether each singer under review is:

* secure in pitch and rhythms on the performance repertoire.

* aware of and capable of executing score markings regarding dynamics, phrasing, diction, proper foreign language pronunciations, and interpretational nuances as noted by the Artistic Director during the series’ preparatory rehearsals.  The Artistic Director may choose to visually inspect the scores of any singer under review to assist in making this determination.

* sufficiently prepared and familiar with the repertoire to attend visually to the Artistic Director’s guidance during performances.

The evaluated singer(s)’ performance eligibility, as determined by the Artistic Director’s findings, is recorded in the PAS record. There are three possible determinations resulting from the PAS:

* The Artistic Director finds the singer under review is adequately prepared for performance.  No further review  is required.

* The Artistic Director finds the singer under review is inadequately prepared, but estimates that further review of the material could improve performance to the standard required prior to the upcoming performances.  In this case, the Artistic Director may offer the singer a list of additional preparation goals and may at his/her discretion re-evaluate the singer at a future date prior to the upcoming performances. The singer may decline to do the additional preparation, but in this case he/she is excused from the upcoming performance series.

* The Artistic Director finds the singer under review is inadequately prepared, but estimates there is insufficient time prior to the upcoming performances for the singer to correct the preparation shortfalls.  In this case, the singer is excused from the upcoming performance series.

A singer may decline to be evaluated by the PAS process, or the singer may fail to “show” as agreed to his/her PAS.  In this case, he/she is excused from the upcoming performance series.