No. Many of our members learn the music by rote. We’ve developed recorded rehearsal aids for each song that present your part in the left channel and all the other parts in the right channel. You can use your audio player balance controls to adjust the help. Many of the guys play these recordings as they drive or work, etc.
If you’re not sure which part you sing, come a few minutes early to your first meeting, and the director will spend a little time with you to evaluate your vocal range.
Generally, there is one rehearsal per month, of 3 hours duration. We work for a couple of hours, then have a brief worship period, to give our voices a rest. Our first (Kick-Off) meeting and our Festival Concert weekends are two-day events, with rehearsals starting Friday night at 6:00 pm and all day Sabbath. Take a look at the member’s calendar for details. We also provide a light supper after rehearsals, providing a time for fellowship and getting to know other singers.
Yes. All of our staff positions are volunteer, but there are still expenses, especially music licensing, which we take very seriously. Currently, member dues are $55/year, and members provide their own concert attire and transportation. Singers’ meals are funded by dues, but it costs $5.00 for family members.
Not really. Like any physical activity, singing can fall victim to the aging process, but practice and effort can forestall those effects. At the younger end of the spectrum, it would be desirable for a young man’s voice to have changed.
No. Several of our members belong to other church fellowships. We are unabashedly Seventh-day Adventist Christians, and will always and only proclaim the gospel of Christ, but if you’re comfortable with that, we’ll be comfortable with you!
Singing, particularly in a group, has been documented as providing physical and mental health benefits. There’s something about the cooperative effort and the joy of working together to create beauty that’s uplifting. One of our older members reports that each Sabbath as he heads out to rehearsal, he debates whether he has the energy for the afternoon, but on the drive home, he finds he’s more energetic than on the way in. The worship time and fellowship opportunities built into each rehearsal are as valuable to many of us as the music itself. There’s something special about being with a group of like-minded men who care about each other.
From time to time, OAMC accepts invitations to travel abroad to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether a singer joins with the group on such a mission is fully voluntary. However, the experience of traveling with fellow singers and believers can help strengthen one’s faith while offering inspiration and hope to audiences. For overseas missions, we ask members to fund their costs of the trip. This can be done from personal funds, through fundraising, or a combination of both. OAMC strives to provide fundraising materials and encourages fundraisers to report back to donors.