we the people, of Chamber Opera of USC...

CONSTITUTION

Article I

Section A: NAME
           
            Part 1. The official name shall be THE CHAMBER OPERA OF USC.

Part 2. This organization will use the name or its acronym, COUSC [IPA: kusk], in all publicity materials and correspondence.
                                                                                                                        
Section B: PURPOSE
           
Part 1. The purpose of THE CHAMBER OPERA OF USC is to provide undergraduate students in the field of music with opportunities to perform in front of the live audience and to enhance their knowledge of chamber opera through creative collaboration between graduate and undergraduate students.

Part 2. In accordance with our purpose, we have established the following goals:

1. To provide graduate music and theatre students with a chance to direct, conduct, or produce a chamber opera and/or a scene from an opera, operetta, and musical theatre.
2. To foster a community of students with deep-rooted interests in opera and to expand their appreciation of opera theatre.
3. To develop through open discussion, experimental approach, and creative inquiry the basic understanding of opera as a musically based theatrical art-form in the contemporary culture and to further define its place in the 21st century.
4. To encourage the interrelated multi-media artistic collaborations among various departments and related organizations at USC and surrounding community.

 

Article II

Section A: MEMBERSHIP AND RIGHTS

Part 1. All currently enrolled music and theatre majors and minors, both undergraduate and graduate, are eligible to be voting members. All students involved in either the fall or spring production shall automatically be considered members.

Part 2. The graduate students will direct the opera scenes and chamber works. As stage directors, they are required to attend the auditions and participate in the process of selecting the repertoire of COUSC. Graduate students are not eligible to perform in the scenes or a chamber opera, unless determined by the Executive Board. Under certain circumstances (i.e. need for more stage directors), the Executive Board may select an undergraduate student to direct a scene.

Part 3. Any student with the appropriate background (e.g. collaborative pianist, conductor) can provide musical coaching for a scene and conduct a chamber opera in the scene. Students are expected to notify their directors of outside coachings.

Part 4. All undergraduate students interested in the performing aspect of COUSC are required to audition live for the stage and music directors. An audition, however, is not mandatory if a student is interested in participating in a capacity other than performance.

Part 5. If a member of the Executive Board wishes to perform, he or she shall not be involved in casting process.

Part 6. COUSC shall strive to give all auditionees a performance opportunity.

Part 7. The Executive Board may invite a non-USC person to become a guest member at its discretion. 

Part 8. All members are required to demonstrate willingness to work in various capacities (i.e. help obtain costumes, put up posters around campus) for the purpose of this organization.

Part 9. The casting results will be entirely based upon live auditions. Approval must come from the current voice teacher of a student or the faculty advisor(s) to the organization.

Part 10. Membership decisions will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion or creed, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.

Section B: MEETINGS AND REHEARSALS

Part 1. All members are eligible to attend all general meetings, rehearsals, and performing events of this organization, unless expressly forbidden by the rehearsing artists.
            Part 2. Rehearsals are scheduled upon casting.

Part 3. Every member of the organization must submit conflict and contact forms to the Secretary and is responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.

Part 4. The music of the assigned scene or a role must be memorized before starting a stage rehearsal, unless determined otherwise by the stage and music directors.

Part 5. Failure to appear at a scheduled rehearsal or lack of preparation may result in termination.

Part 6. COUSC shall hold its meetings at dates, times, and sites determined by the Executive Board. Any member may propose agenda items, in writing, to the President, in advance of the meeting.

Part 7. Any member of COUSC may write to the President or the Vice-President requesting a special meeting, claiming that an emergency exists and requires immediate action. If the request merits consideration, the Executive Board shall decide, within three weeks, whether, when, and where to hold a special meeting.

Part 8. The Executive Board shall hold its annual meeting as called by the President of the organization.

Section C: WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP

Part 1. Members may have their membership withdrawn for failure to adhere to the requirements of membership as stated above. 

Article III

Section A. SEASON

Part 1. The normal season of COUSC shall include no less than two productions per year.

Part 2. As part of the community outreach effort, the Board of Directors may choose to stage a performance outside of the university’s campus.

Part 3. Nominations for the spring performance of the chamber opera(s) shall be submitted in writing to the current President by a date to be determined by the Executive Board.

Part 4. The proposals of the chamber opera (s) will be carefully considered, accepted, and/or rejected by the President and the Associate Conductor, in cooperation with a faculty advisor(s) if possible.

Part 5. As part of the COUSC’s commitment to modern works, the Board will strive to produce new works each season, if at all possible. This may be a complete, fully staged work or parts of a new opera.

Part 6. In addition to the performances and educational interactions between graduate and undergraduate students, and in accordance with its purpose and goals, COUSC may chose to organize a forum, workshop, and/or seminar once a year. This event shall be offered at a discount price to all members of the COUSC.

Section B. TICKETS

Part 1. All of the students, faculty, and staff are admitted free of charge to all COUSC events on campus, unless specified by the Executive Board.

Part 2. In the event of public performance off-campus, a nominal ticket price will be charged.

Part 3. The Executive Board shall determine the price of the ticket.

Part 4. All of the events shall be open to public, unless specifically requested by the Executive Board or the faculty advisor (i.e. fundraising concerts).

Part 5. There shall be no charge to the members of COUSC to attend a particular event. The Executive Board shall establish a discount ticket scale for non-voting members and others as appropriate.

Section C. VENUES

Part 1. The performances will take place on university grounds or in an otherwise specified location in greater Los Angeles.

ARTICLE IV

Section A. ELECTED OFFICERS

Part 1. The officers of COUSC shall be the Co-Presidents, Vice President, Secretary, Director of Public Relations, Production Manager, Treasurer, and Webmaster.

Part 2. Only non-graduating students shall be eligible for the position of Vice President. The Vice President will be expected to assume the position of Co-President for the next school year.

Part 3. The COUSC Executive Board shall be composed of the elected officers.

Part 4. Special committees, stage directors, music coaches, conductors, guest artists, and additional performance scenes may be appointed by the President subject to the approval by the Executive Board.

Part 5. Officers may be removed from office for failure to perform duties or for violation of membership clause.

Section B. DUTIES

Part 1. The Co-Presidents will chair all meetings of COUSC and will call special meetings as needed. The Presidents will direct the planning of the organization’s cultural programs and compiling the agenda for meetings. The Presidents will direct the planning of the organization’s cultural programs, provide leadership, and set future goals for the organization. The Presidents shall train the Vice President. 

Part 2. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President when the President’s office becomes vacant; and assumes the office if the vacancy is temporary. The Vice-President shall assist the President as requested. The Vice President is expected to assume the office of Co-President for the following school year.

Part 3. The Secretary will record and file meeting minutes and handle all official correspondence for the organization.

Part 4. The Director of Public Relations shall conduct the advertisement campaign for the upcoming productions of COUSC and handle COUSC merchandise, as directed by the Co-Presidents.

Part 5. The Treasurer will maintain detailed financial records, report on the financial transactions of COUSC, and file paperwork/ write proposals for outside funding.

Part 6. The Production Manager shall be responsible for the co-ordination of stage managers, props, costumes, and other technical duties. The Production Manager is also responsible to collect the conflicts from the students and music directors in his/her scene and create a schedule.

Part 7. The Webmaster shall be responsible for obtaining materials to update the website www.COUSC.com and shall regularly update the website, including the calendar page.

Part 8. The Executive Board of COUSC shall be responsible for the organization’s affairs and policy, and shall be subject to these laws.

Section C. TERM OF OFFICE

Part 1. The officers, with the exception of the Co-Presidents and Vice President, shall be elected at the 1st general meeting of the Spring Semester.

Part 2. Officers-elect shall take part in Executive Board meetings after the spring elections, but shall not officially assume their positions until May. In the months between elections and May, officers-elect are expected to “shadow” their positions and learn what they will be responsible for.

Part 3. The officers shall be elected for a term of one (1) year and shall be eligible for re-election for one (1) additional consecutive year, unless determined otherwise by a faculty adviser. An officer may then run for a different office.

Part 4. The current Co-Presidents shall appoint the offices of the President and Vice President.

Section D: ELECTIONS AND VOTING

            Part 1. Ultimate authority resides in the voting members of the organization.

            Part 2. Voting is open to the current members of COUSC.

            Part 3. All votes shall have equal value.

Part 4. Any members may nominate any other member, including himself or herself, to serve a term in office. Nominations for all offices will be taken from the floor at the first general meeting of the spring semester.

Part 5. A simple majority vote of the quorum present at that meeting will be sufficient to elect an officer.

Part 6. In contests of more than two (2) candidates, a plurality of votes shall be sufficient to elect an officer.

Section E. STAGE DIRECTOR

Part 1. Stage Directors must encourage students to arrive prepared to all rehearsals, with notes learned and memorized.

Part 2. Stage Directors must work and guide students in their role analysis, subtext and characterization, according to his/her concept of the dramatic situation.

Part 3. Stage Directors must report conflicts, no-shows, missed rehearsals, and other related incidents to the Co-Presidents. The decision to recast or replace someone in a scene shall be made in cooperation with the Co-Presidents.
ARTICLE VI

Section A. FACULTY ADVISOR REQUIREMENTS

Part 1. As a recognized student organization at the University of Southern California, COUSC is required to have an official advisor from the USC faculty and/or staff.

            Part 2. An organization may choose to appoint more than one advisor.

Section B. DUTIES

Part 1. The advisor must sign the recognition application each year, or whenever officer information changes or the constitution is amended.

Part 2. The Executive Board shall meet with the advisor at least two times per semester. The advisor will also make himself or herself reasonably available upon a written request from the Executive Board.

Part 3. An advisor may vote in COUSC matters, but may not hold an office.

Part 4. An advisor must review a final list of casting, submitted to him/her by the Executive Board. An advisor can make any suggestions regarding the suitability of talents and content of works. It is understood, however, that the faculty advisor may not carry final veto power in regards to the suitability and content.

ARTICLE VII

Section A. FINANCE

            Part 1. The Executive Board may plan special fundraising events.

            Part 2. COUSC members may voluntarily donate money at each annual meeting.

Part 3. Additional funding for the organization may come from ticket sales and advertisements in the playbill of the current production.

Section B. AMENDMENTS

Part 1. This constitution can be amended by a majority of the COUSC membership or the Executive Board at a regular meeting. Notification of such a motion must be made to members at least one meeting in advance of the one in which the actual vote is taken.