Joyful Noise

Mission

Joyful Noise is a Christian organization committed to encourage and inspire members of the Washington and Lee campus and outside communities with the gospel experience by spreading the Word of God through song and dance.

History and Purpose

In the Fall of 1999 Dafnette Prothro helped to establish Joyful Noise as a way to bring the gospel experience to Washington and Lee's campus. Joyful Noise offers an outlet for students through the praise and worship of God while exposing and engaging the Washington and Lee community in the experience of gospel music. Membership is open to all interested students and faculty.

Rehearsals and Performances

Rehearsals will begin promptly at 6:00pm on Fridays and end at 7:30pm. Rehearsal will be in Wilson Hall room 2019. Dues this year will be $10.

Choir members are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. A choir member who accumulates two unexcused absences will be warned. If a third unexcused absence occurs, the member will not be permitted to sing at the next performance. If a member accumulates 4 or more unexcused absences from rehearsals or performances during an academic term, he or she will not be permitted to performances for the remainder of the term.

Choir members must submit excuses regarding missing rehearsals or performances to their section leader at least 2 hours before a rehearsal and 2 days before a performance via e-mail or phone. At the rehearsal, the section leaders are to report excuses to the secretary. Excuses must also be submitted to section leaders via e-mail or phone for known or scheduled late arrivals or early departures to or from rehearsal or performances.

A choir member who does not attend one out of the two rehearsals immediately preceding a performance cannot participate in the scheduled performance. If a member is going to be absent, he/she can attend the Friday sectional prior to rehearsal to learn the songs.

Any choir member arriving to practice more than 15 minutes after rehearsal has begun without an excuse submitted to their section leader regarding tardiness should not come to practice.

Robes

All members will be issued a robe upon becoming a member of the choir. A $50.00 deposit is required to receive a robe. (Financial assistance can be provided to you if needed.) The deposit will be returned to you upon graduation or if you decide to leave the choir. If you do not return your robe upon graduating or deciding to leave the choir, you will be billed a $200 replacement fee. If you have already paid your robe deposit, you will not need to pay it again.

Committees

All choir members are required to belong to and be active in one of the four committees:

• The Public Relations Committee is responsible for generating publicity about the choir in the beginning of each year and before Gospel Fest.
• The Praise and Worship Committee is responsible for helping the praise and worship leaders organize and lead Sunday service whenever we are at a church.
• The Fundraising Committee is responsible for arranging monthly social activities for the choir, the yearly retreat, and fundraising for the choir.
• The Music Committee is responsible for helping the director gather, organize, and select music for the choir to sing.