Equal Opportunities
No individual shall be excluded from membership of the orchestra or de-barred from any official capacity on the Committee on the grounds of sex, race, colour, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or political affiliation.
Membership
An Individual must be capable of proving to the conductor that their standard of playing reaches the minimum requirement.
To be a member of the orchestra an individual must have a permanent seat in a section for their given instrument.
Subscriptions
The subscriptions must be kept up to date by the payee and payment made either in full annually or by monthly standing order. If a standing order is set up, set the payment reference as your full name. If any member of the orchestra is unable to pay then exceptions may be made with agreement of the committee. Subscriptions for the first concert and subsequent rehearsals are not required but if remaining an orchestra member after the first concert, subscriptions are to be made from the following month.
Dress code
Rehearsals – There is no dress code for rehearsals.
Concert dress – Will be announced on a concert by concert basis.
Code of conduct
Members are expected to be polite, courteous and respectful to each other. Verbal abuse, physical attacks or bullying (i.e. confrontational or intimidation) may result in termination of membership. Should anyone feel they have a concern it should be immediately raised in confidence to a committee member or safeguarding officer.
Music on loan
Music must be kept in good condition and returned on concert night.
Property and premises
When hiring venues for rehearsals or concerts, members must follow the guidelines set out by the venue.
Attendance
Members are expected to make as many rehearsals as possible in order to keep the orchestra as close to concert size as possible. If a wind or brass player is unable to attend a rehearsal or concert, they must inform both their section principal and the orchestra leader. If they cannot attend enough rehearsals during the term, they maybe asked to stand down for that concert. (at the committees discretion)
Communication
If there are changes in any section of the orchestra (For example change of seating arrangements). It is the section principals duty to inform the individual or section with as much notice as possible.
Email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses will be held for communication purposes and will be used in accordance with GDPR.
Safeguarding
There will be three safeguarding officers with a view to always being a minimum of one on site.
Rules and regulation document
The rules and regulations document shall be reviewed annually or at any point that the committee or membership feels an amendment is required.
Access to Rules and regulations document
The document will be handed out to all new members and published on the website along with the constitution.