Share the Stage - Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Share the Stage for?
Non-professional singers and orchestral players who are over 18, enthusiastic, motivated, and can commit to the rehearsal schedule.
How much does it cost to take part?
Nothing, it’s free of charge.
What do I need to bring to rehearsals?
Your instrument / voice
A pencil
A bottle of water if you choose
Do I need to buy the music?
No, all music will be provided. You’ll be asked to sign out a copy at your first rehearsal and return it after the performance.
When and where will rehearsals take place?
Rehearsals will take place between September and November. Full dates and times are on the event page. Most rehearsals will be at The Glasshouse. One or two rehearsals will need to be at other venues, but we’ll tell you as far ahead as possible when that happens.
I have access needs; how can you help me to take part?
There are several ways we can help you to take part in projects at The Glasshouse. Some ways we can support individuals are:
- Providing music on coloured paper
- Emails in accessible fonts
- Welcoming focus aids in rehearsals
If you have specific needs, come and talk to us and we’ll work out a plan with you.
We’re proud to have achieved Gold on Attitude is Everything’s Live Events Access Charter. You can find out more about how to access The Glasshouse here: Access information | The Glasshouse
What about travel and parking?
There’s loads of information about how to get to The Glasshouse by public transport here: planning your journey.
Share the Stage participants will get free parking for rehearsals at The Glasshouse. But if you’re driving to The Glasshouse, consider whether you could car share with another participant – every journey counts when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint.
What do I need to wear?
For the concert, we’ll ask you to wear smart, plain black clothes and black shoes. It doesn’t matter what your part is in the concert, you can wear the clothing you feel comfortable in, as long as it’s smart, plain and black.
For rehearsals come as you are, whether that’s gardening gear, suited and booted, or somewhere in between. We care about your music-making not your wardrobe.
Will there be a lot of people taking part?
Yes. We expect to have about 300 people on stage – maybe more.
What standard do I need to be?
To play in the orchestra you need to be at least Grade 6 standard or equivalent if you haven’t taken exams. We won’t be checking your certificates, but a standard lower than this means you’d really struggle to keep up.
For a place in the choir, you don’t need to have sung in a choir before, but you do need to be able to hear if you’re singing the same note as everyone else. If you’re not sure, use your phone to record yourself singing along to your favourite song, then email your recording to us. Or for an even quicker check, try an online pitch accuracy test like Pitchy Ninja.
We’ll ask you how comfortable you are reading music to help us put you in the right rehearsal group for you.
What’s the level of commitment required?
This project is not intended to be a “concert in a day” experience. We are inviting you to take part in a professional standard performance so the project will require significant preparation. We’re looking for people who are motivated and enthusiastic. We expect participants to commit to learning their part, using the resources we provide. That’ll mean attending all rehearsals from September onwards and practising between rehearsals so that you’re ready for the next session.
Can I apply for an orchestral AND a choral place, so that if I am unsuccessful for one, I have a chance at being accepted for the other?
Yes, you can. Let us know which would be your preference, and make sure you note on both forms that you’ve applied for a choral place and an orchestral one.
I can’t get to all the rehearsals, but I’ve played / sung it before – can I join in?
You are very welcome to apply, but please note that ideally we are looking for players/singers with full availability. If we are oversubscribed, your availability could be a deciding factor.
How do I access rehearsal videos?
For some rehearsal groups we’ll provide rehearsal videos for you to practise with at home. We’ll email links to you.
Do I get free tickets to the concert?
No, but the concert will be livestreamed so your family and friends around the world will be able to watch online free of charge.
I don’t know anyone else taking part, can you introduce me to people?
Yes. We’ll start our first rehearsal a bit early so you can meet other people and have a chat. If that feels overwhelming for you, just tell us beforehand or when you arrive and we’ll find a buddy for you.
I’ve done Share the Stage before. Will I be allowed to take part again?
Yes, but having sung with us previously doesn’t guarantee you a place. We are looking for a mix of people who are new to Share the Stage and people who have shared the stage with us before as well as people from a range of age groups and post code areas.
Got another question? Drop us a line at sharethestage@theglasshouseicm.org