MEMBERS' MANUAL 2007

The name of the choir shall be "The Cape Town Male Voice Choir", (“the Choir.")

The objectives of the Choir shall be the promotion of music suitably arranged for, inter alia, male voices and the singing thereof at a high standard; and any activities incidental thereto, including the raising of funds and the fostering of good relations and a spirit of community among choir members.

There shall be three classes of members:

1. ACTIVE members shall be those men who, after due audition in such manner as the Musical Director may determine, are elected to membership by the Committee and such men shall thereafter be eligible to take part vocally in the Choir's productions.
   
   
2. ASSOCIATE members shall be those persons on whom the Committee has conferred associate membership for the purpose of their assisting the Choir in its administration, production or activities.
   
   
3. HONORARY members shall be those persons on whom the Committee has conferred honorary membership in recognition of notable service rendered b those persons to the Choir, or for other good cause, upon such terms and conditions and for such period as the Committee may decide in each case. Such membership may, for good cause, be terminated by the Committee.

The Committee may in writing call upon any member, whether Active, Associate or Honorary, to resign, should it be decided by the Committee, after affording such member an opportunity to be heard by the Committee, that such resignation is in the best interests of the Choir. Such member shall thereupon resign and in default thereof the Committee shall be entitled to revoke such membership.

Resignation shall not relieve a member of any liability due to the Choir at the date of such resignation.

The number of members may be restricted and a waiting list opened, should the Committee so decide.

1. The Management of the Choir shall be vested in a Committee, consisting of not more than:
   
   
   • The Chairman, who shall be an Active member
   • The Secretary
   • The Treasurer
   • One Active member representing each of the four voice parts.
   • Two further Active or Associate members.
   • The Musical Director ex officio.
   • The Accompanist ex officio.
   
   
2. Any elected member may hold an additional office. Five members of the Committee shall form a quorum.
   
   
3. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt any Active or Associate member as the case may be to fill a vacancy on the Committee left by any Active or Associate member and shall further have the power to co-opt any person, (but who shall not have a vote) to carry out specific duties).
   
   
4. All members of the Committee whether elected or co-opted shall hold office until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, but shall be eligible for re election.
   
   
5. The Committee shall, on such terms and conditions as it may determine, appoint a Musical Director and an Accompanist, who shall jointly be responsible for all matters relating to the choice, rehearsal and performance of music. The Musical Director shall have the right to appoint an assistant or assistants as he or she in consultation with the Committee, shall determine, provided that such appointment shall be subject to the approval of the Committee.
   
   
6. The Committee shall meet as required by the Chairman or upon receipt of the Secretary of a requisition in writing signed by at least one third of the members of the Committee. It shall in any event meet at least once quarterly.
   
   
7. Decisions in committee shall be by simple majority with the Chairman holding an additional casting vote in the event of an equality of votes.
   
   
8. The Secretary shall record accurate minutes of all General and Committee Meetings of the Choir to be read or taken as read and accepted at the next General or Committee meeting as the case may be.
   
   
9. The full Committee may appoint a STANDING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE and/or subcommittee from amongst its members on such terms and conditions as it may decide. The Standing Management Committee shall include amongst its members at least the Musical Director, the Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer.
   
   
10. The Committee may for good reason revoke or vary the terms or conditions of any appointment or co-option whether under Clause 4.2 or Clause 4.8.
    
    
11. The appointment of the Musical Director and/or Accompanist may, subject to the requirements of the employment laws of South Africa as may be of applicable, be terminated only by decision of the majority of members in General Meeting.
    
    
12. On the vote of not less than 75% (seventy-five percent) of the Committee Members, a member of the Committee may be requested to resign as such and shall act accordingly.

1. The Annual General Meeting of the Choir shall be held as soon after the end of the financial year as is practicable. At least 14 (fourteen) days notice in writing shall be given to all members by the secretary. The financial year shall run from 1 April to 31 March. At this meeting, the following business shall be transacted:
   
   
   • To receive and approve the reports of the Chairman, the Musical Director and any other reports which may be required.
   • To receive and approve the report of the Treasurer, together with audited accounts.
   • To elect office bearers.
   • To appoint Auditors (no member of the Committee shall be appointed as Auditor).
   • To set the Annual Subscription and method of payment.
   • To consider any other business as is normal at an Annual General Meeting.
     
     
2. All General Meetings of the Choir, other than the Annual General Meeting, shall be called special general meetings and may be called by the Committee or upon receipt by the Secretary of a written request from at least a quarter of the Active members of the Choir. The Secretary shall give at least 14 (fourteen) days written notice to all members and shall state in such notice the nature of the proposed meeting. No matter other than that stated shall be decided at such a meeting.
   
   
3. In the case of General Meetings, a quorum shall be 25% (twenty-five percent) of all active members of the Choir. All motions shall be resolved by a simple majority, with the proviso that any changes to the Constitution shall require a 75% (seventy-five percent) majority of those present and entitled to vote. The Chairman shall in the event of any equality of votes be entitled to a casting vote.
   
   
4. In the event of there being no quorum, the meeting shall stand adjourned to a date not more than 3 (three) weeks thereafter at which date no quorum shall be required provided that not less than 7 (seven) days notice of such adjourned meeting shall be given.
   
   
5. Each person entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote only on any motion. There shall be no provision for proxy votes.
   
   
6. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by any person entitled to receive notice, shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.
   
   
7. Only Active members shall be entitled to vote at Annual or Special General Meetings.
   
   

1. The annual subscription and method of payment thereof in respect of Active members shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting. Associate and Honorary Members shall not be required to pay a subscription.
   
   
2. Members in arrear shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the Choir and their membership shall automatically terminate if they are more than 6 (six) months in arrears.
   
   
3. The Committee shall have the power to reduce or waive fees in appropriate circumstances.
   
   

1. All monies received shall be paid into a savings or current account. Subject to the provisions of clause 7.2, all withdrawals shall be authorised in writing by the Treasurer, and one other member of the Committee nominated by the Committee for that purpose. No member of the Committee or of the Choir shall incur any liability on behalf of the Choir without the sanction of the committee provided that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit the approval by the Committee, with retrospective effect, of expenditure undertaken by a Committee member acting in the Choirs' best interests.
   
   
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 7.1, the Treasurer is authorised to pay such regular monthly expenses as are approved by the Committee in advance and shall furthermore be authorised to pay occasional ad hoc expenses which arise from time to time such payments not to exceed in total R200 per calendar month, without prior authority had and obtained from the Committee provided that such occasional expenditure shall be tabled for ratification at the Committee meeting immediately following such expenditure.
   
   
3. All funds of the Choir shall be used exclusively for the objectives of the Choir. No part shall be distributed to any member, officer or other-individual, provided that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered.
   
   

1. All assets of the Choir shall be vested in the Committee who shall have the power to add to, dispose of or control them as they see it.
   
   
2. In the event of the dissolution of the Choir, the assets remaining after satisfaction or all its debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to some other institution or institutions having objectives similar to the objectives of the Choir.
   
   

1. The Committee shall, in consultation with the Musical Director, determine the uniform for each performance by the Choir. Each Active member of the Choir shall conform to such determination.
   
   

1. The Choir shall be a legal persona and may sue or be sued and enter into any contract in its own name.
   
   

1. The Committee shall be entitled to make and from to time amend Rules in furtherance of the objectives of the Choir. All members shall comply therewith and failure to do so shall entitle the Committee to act in terms of Clause 3.2 or take such other steps as may be appropriate. Rules existing at the date of adoption of this constitution shall be deemed to have been duly made in terms hereof.
   
   

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CAPE TOWN MALE VOICE CHOIR

The Choir is an institution in the musical life of Cape Town and has been in existence for 30 years.

Dr Chris Molyneux, the Choir's founder, opened the Choir to men of all colours, creeds and backgrounds. The only criteria were an ability to sing and a commitment to the Choir. The Choir is now about 45 strong and has a highly varied repertoire with material across a wide range of classical, popular, sacred and traditional music styles and with an emphasis on four-part harmony pieces. 

The aim of the Choir was to bring the joy of choral music to its members and audiences alike. And so it has continued by giving performances at a host of venues throughout the Western Cape including churches, schools, homes for the aged and the needy, grand events at opera houses, wine farms, botanical gardens, sports stadiums, the V & A Waterfront, and even Rhodes Memorial.

The Choir has been seen and heard on television and radio and has recorded a few CDs and tapes.

From the start the Choir has won medals, diplomas and trophies at various Eisteddfods. The first was in 1976 when it won a diploma and later the Choir won two gold medal awards at the Roodepoort International Eisteddfod.

The Choir is proud of its ability to attract the very best of musicians as its musical directors. The choir has had three directors of particular note:

• Dr. Chris Molyneux who has many musical qualifications to his credit and who has been involved with church music and secular Choirs for many years;
  
  
• Bill Holland, a professional musician, who is equally at home in a classical, orchestral or jazz environment;
  
  
• Margaret Barlow, a choral trainer extraordinaire who, apart from her widely-acclaimed school Choirs, has fine-tuned both the Cape Town Male Voice Choir and the Cape Town Philharmonia Choir to their present high standards.
  
  

From the outset the Choir has always strived for musical excellence, to be of service to local Cape Town communities and to foster camaraderie among its members. This is likely to remain its mission for its next 30 years.