Monterey Peninsula Choral Society London Olympics Tour,

July 29 – August 5, 2012

Information and FAQ

Purpose and Expectations

• This is a performance tour.
• There will be at least three formal concerts and two informal concerts.  They will be audio and video recorded.
• Singers will be required to participate in every performance.

Rehearsals and Repertoire

• Music has not yet been selected; pieces will be a cappella or piano-accompanied.
• Rehearsals will begin at the end of summer 2011.
• The MPCS spring 2012 concert will include some of the tour repertoire; tour singers will be required to sing with MPCS for the spring season.
• Concert repertoire will be memorized; we will not take sheet music along.
• On tour, rehearsal will be limited to warm-up and site logistics.

Attire

For formal performances

• Men will wear tuxedos; two shirts are recommended.
• Women will wear concert-length black dresses.

For informal performances

• A casual but uniform look.

A committee will be formed to make the dress and informal wear recommendations.

Cost

• Please read the KI Concerts tour package proposal carefully for details about cost exclusions and cancellations.
• Tour price is based on the exchange rate of $1 US = 0.65 British pound, and is subject to change.
• What is the Land-Only price?  Answer will be posted when received
• Singers are encouraged to purchase their own travel insurance.
• What is the administrative fee for singers on the SmartEvents registration website?  The fee is intended to cover sheet music & rehearsal CDs as well as Accompanist fees for rehearsals outside of the regular MPCS season.
• Are there sponsorships or other subsidies available to offset costs?  Not to date.

Registration and Payment Schedule

• No limit has been placed on the number of singers who can participate on the tour; however, a ratio of fewer than 3 alto/soprano to 1 tenor/baritone/bass will be needed.
• Places are secured by registering on SmartEvents and paying the initial deposit.
• The initial payment is due by Tuesday, May 24.  The remaining payment schedule shown in the tour proposal is fixed.
• We have opened a separate account for the tour.  Make checks for the initial deposit payable to Monterey Peninsula Choral Society, with the notation London Olympics tour.  If using PayPal, there is an additional fee of 2.5%.

Logistics

• How far from London will the tour hotel be?  We don’t know at this time, but we will be bussed to our performance and excursion sites.
• What are the arrival and departure airports?  Answer will be posted when received.
• Are the tour dates solid?  Yes, barring a disaster.
• Passports are essential and copies must be provided by March.  No visa is needed for U.S. citizens whose passport is valid for at least three months beyond their stay.
• Will there be any free time?  Lunches are on your own, and there is free time after dinner provided no evening performance is scheduled.
• Will there be a choice of Olympic competition to attend?  No.
• Singers/non-singers will check in/out daily with bus “captains”.

Communication

• Join our Yahoo group at http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/olympicsmpcs/ , where you can ask questions, get answers, post information, and be in the know about the tour.

Miscellaneous

• Is the Memorial Day weekend 2012 Carnegie Hall concert still happening?  Yes.

4/18/2011 — sw