Orchestra Policies

Rehearsals || Concert Dress || Tickets || Music ||
String Rotation || Bad Weather Policy || Administrative Contacts

The Symphony of the Potomac will not tolerate discrimination, inappropriate behavior, or sexual harassment, and will take prompt corrective action to remedy any such offense.

Rehearsals

• Rehearsals take place primarily on Thursday evenings from 7:45 to 10:15 PM. Detailed schedules for each concert, including instrumentation, dates of string rehearsals, changes in venue and the like, will be produced on disagreeably colored paper and issued early in each rehearsal sequence. These schedules will also be posted on the orchestra’s website (symphonypotomac.org). Please make sure that you are aware of the effect of any schedule changes on your personal obligations to the orchestra.
• If you must miss all or part of a rehearsal, please notify the appropriate personnel manager and your section leader in advance and make arrangements for your music to be at rehearsal. If you anticipate recurring problems with this, please photocopy your parts when you first get them and leave the originals with the librarian. String players should not have to worry about this if both people on each stand have music.
• Players having chronic problems with musical preparation, attendance, or any of the other customary, routine aspects of orchestral life may be asked to leave the orchestra.

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Concert Dress

• There is a pre-concert rehearsal for each symphonic program. Please see the calendar and subsequent schedules for exact times.
• Concert Dress
  • Men: BLACK TIE is the standard of dress for men at performances. This means
    • a tuxedo with white dress shirt and formal black bow tie, or
    • customary black suit with regular white shirt and black bow tie. 
    For members who do not own a tuxedo and do not wish to purchase one, the simplest option is to replace the long tie with an inexpensive black bow tie.
  • Women: LONG BLACK dress or black top with long black skirt or pants.

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Tickets

• We are working on this policy at this time.

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Music

1. All members must be sure that their current contact information (address / telephone number / email address) are on record with the Orchestra Librarian and the appropriate personnel manager.
2. String players must record their names (clearly) and the numbers of the parts taken on the sign-out sheet provided by the Orchestra Librarian.
3. Music is not delivered to or picked up from your stand. Orchestral material will be found at the front of the rehearsal hall before we begin. Please put your music back where you got it if for some reason you are not taking it home. Do not leave it on your stand or chair.
4. Please turn in your music after each concert. If you do not, you are sure to receive a solicitous call or email from the Orchestra Librarian requesting the expeditious return of the music. Music that is not returned immediately after the concert will be charged full replacement cost plus a processing fee. If you must ship your music back to the librarian, we urge you to use a service that includes tracking so you can be sure your music is received.
5. If you have music out and cannot come to a rehearsal or concert, you are responsible for making sure that your music or a copy gets to the rehearsal so that your part can be played by a substitute.

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String Rotation

Except for the first stands, string seating rotates from concert to concert. Section leaders will have the seating at the first rehearsal for each program and will be happy to explain the system of rotation.

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Bad Weather Policy

1. Rehearsals will be held whenever possible.
2. If we must cancel a rehearsal, or if our rehearsal space is closing, we will send out notice via email and by initiating our phone tree. Such decisions will be made by 3 PM whenever possible. If you are in doubt as to whether or not a rehearsal will take place, call the music director, one of the personnel managers or the librarian.

With few exceptions, our rare cancellations in the past few years have been under circumstances when the decision was taken out of our hands. Player loyalty and tenacity in foul weather have been exemplary-but don't hesitate to call to get the latest, official word, or to let us know about your situation. If a rehearsal is held but conditions in your neighborhood make it impossible for you to get there, please notify your personnel manager as you would for any absence.

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Administrative Contacts

• Music Director: Joel Lazar, (301) 469-0989, Fax (240) 465-0798, E-mail: joellazar@comcast.net
• Personnel Manager, Strings: Allie Laban Baker, (410) 480-1069, E-mail: normalbaker@verizon.net
• Personnel Manager, Wind/Brass: Harriet Guskin, (301) 299-8233, E-mail: hgg7805@msn.com
• Orchestra Librarian, Webmaster, and Keeper of the Personnel List: Margaret Dikel, (301) 881-0122. E-mail: mfriley@erols.com

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