Additional Expenses

We do not have many extra expenses, as we are well aware that parents are constantly dealing with this problem — often two or three times over! Our biggest involve travel: whatever we can't raise through fundraisers has to be covered by those who tour every June. An overseas trip, for example, may cost $3,500 per person before fundraising; a domestic tour can run from $650 per person on up. We try to put money toward future big trips each year, as well as trying to pay half to two-thirds of each girl's travel expenses for the current year. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer travel scholarships at this time.

Commitments for big June tours involving plane tickets and hiring a bus must be made by November 15 at the latest. We usually plan for 25 girls. Seniors and Duals are invited first, then Concert Choristers on down. Agencies will allow us to add up to 10 girls, but they sharply penalize us for withdrawals. Payments are made to the agency every six weeks, and must occur in a timely fashion. We expect to travel to Europe every two or three years; the intervening years may be to adjacent states or to another region of the country. US tours require a commitment by Feb. 15 at the latest.

Tour choir girls must purchase the tour T-shirt ($10), an extra casual uniform T-shirt ($8), the AGC polo shirt ($25) and — for cooler areas — AGC sweatshirts ($12). Tour girls are in uniform all day every day, whether casual or dress.

Preceding each June tour we have two weeks of Choir Camp. The first week is for Juniors and nonmembers, with Dual Choristers taking a leadership role; the second is for Seniors and experienced nonmembers, and required for all tour girls. Choir camp tuition is included in regular choristers' summer tuition, with a small additional charge to help cover lunches, snacks and guest instructor fees, due one week before camp starts. (Nonmembers pay a camp fee.) Camp runs weekdays 9-5 p.m., with a 5-6 p.m. performance each Friday, and includes sectionals, group practice, choreography & guest musicians.

We sing for Galveston's Dickens on The Strand festival each year during the first weekend of December. This trip runs $30 per girl, depending on the number of girls going and thus the number of vans we rent, plus costume rental ($15-$25) and purchase of some accessories (hats for older girls, gloves). We usually don't take Residents, as the weekend can be a bit tiring for younger girls. The girls leave Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.; they are housed and fed both nights by a doting Galveston congregation. Saturday is spent in Galveston singing two or three concerts and marching in a parade (and shopping). We sing for the church's 11:00 Sunday service to thank them for hosting us, then head home, picking up lunch on the way.

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