Players’ Information and
Membership Guidelines
The players’ information and membership guidelines are intended to serve as a reminder of our responsibilities as ESO members to ensure that our playing experience together is enjoyable and stress-free. As a member we expect commitment, support, and willingness to help in running our orchestra; in return you will be coached by our inspiring leaders and our Musical Director and enjoy giving fantastic concerts, whilst also enjoying our active social scene.
Membership
Membership of the orchestra is open to experienced instrumentalists and interested players should contact the secretary in the first instance.
Applicants for wind, brass, percussion, and string section leaders may be asked to attend a formal audition. Other string players will sit with the leader of their section for assessment of their orchestral playing.
The committee, in consultation with the Musical Director, has the power to terminate any membership, for example if playing standard falls short of that required or a member’s behaviour is considered to be inappropriate.
Subscriptions
Every member pays a subscription (on an annual, monthly, or per concert basis). Subscription fees are set by the committee each season.
Annual subscriptions are due from the beginning of the season (1st September), are normally collected during the first couple of months of the season, and must be paid by the AGM in December. See detail below for rates and payment methods.
Players who have not paid their subscriptions by the date of the AGM for annual subscriptions, on a monthly basis by standing order, or before each concert (if paying per concert) may be replaced at subsequent concerts. They also cannot vote at the AGM.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7.35pm, setting up from 7.20pm at Ealing Green Church, W5 5QT, apart from the final Thursday before a concert, when they are at the concert venue if possible. On concert days there is usually an afternoon rehearsal.
Members are expected to attend the majority (>75%) of rehearsals for a given concert. For wind, percussion, or brass, any member who is unable to play in a concert should tell the Orchestra Manager (via the sign-up sheet) as soon as possible. Those wind, percussion, or brass members who miss any specific rehearsals should in principle be responsible for finding a suitable dep to cover rehearsals, especially when absence is known in advance. For all players (string, wind, percussion, and brass) please sign up as soon as possible (ideally before the first rehearsal of the concert). String players signing up after seating plans have been arranged should expect to sit at the back of their sections, at the discretion of the section principal. Those players who attend less than 75% of rehearsals may only play in the concert at the discretion of the leader or the Musical Director.
Members who regularly miss rehearsals without notice may have their places filled and their membership terminated.
Visitors may come and listen to rehearsals with the agreement of the Musical Director or Chairperson.
Guest players can be invited to play with the orchestra with the agreement of the Musical Director or Chairperson and in line with a player’s notified absence (see [2] above).
Players should provide their own music stands for concerts (not required for rehearsals).
Members are expected to practise parts as necessary in advance of rehearsal, and during rehearsal to observe directions given by the Musical Director, keeping talking to a minimum.
Section Leaders
Section leaders will ensure all players for their sections are selected in accordance with the membership guidelines.
They are responsible for working with the committee and the Musical Director to contribute to the standard of orchestral playing.
For string sections, the section leader is responsible for marking bowing and communicating bowings to their section.
Music
The orchestra will provide all scores and parts.
Members are responsible for ensuring that all music taken home after rehearsal is available for each rehearsal.
All music must be returned to the librarian immediately following each concert.
Members may be asked to pay for parts which are not returned by them, or parts that have been damaged whilst in their care.
Occasionally string players will have to make copies for practice purposes. When copies are limited each string section is responsible for ensuring that there are enough copies for the performance.
Concert Dress
Concert dress is ‘long smart black’. We will survey the membership should a future change be considered appropriate.
Ticket Sales
All members should do their best to sell tickets for every concert. Tickets are available online via the concert link on the ESO website.
Data Protection
Personal information that is provided to the orchestra is supplied for use by the orchestra only and not passed on to any third-party organisations.
Social Media
Any member engaging with our social media channels (including Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.) is expected to show courtesy, kindness, and respect for all other members. We encourage members to adopt the following guidelines.
Comments should:
Be respectful of the rights and opinions of others, and especially in regard to race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
Stay on topic.
Be part of the conversation, but not take over.
Members are encouraged to use their social media accounts to publicise concerts and promote ticket sales. We also encourage support for other musical groups that members are connected to.
Friends’ Membership
Members of the orchestra can also become Friends of the orchestra by paying the Friends’ subscription (currently a minimum of £30) in addition to the membership subscription. Benefits of becoming a Friend include seat reservation and complimentary seat cushions for audience guests, and a Friends’ newsletter.
Volunteering
The day-to-day operations of the orchestra rely on members volunteering their time freely. Much of this is handled by the committee, and from time-to-time all members are expected to lend a hand. This is particularly important for concert days when kit needs to be transported between venues, staging needs setting up, and help with refreshments and audience management is required.