Covenant

The Dissenting Harmony Covenant

The goal of Dissenting Harmony is to create a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone, while still upholding the choral practices that help us grow and create meaningful performances together. With that spirit in mind, we ask each member to commit to the following guidelines.

We Welcome Each Other By:

Leading with kindness and open-minded hospitality
Letting go of judgement
Accepting one another (and ourselves) for who we are
Celebrating all aspects of diversity

We Make a Safe Space for Healing and Growth By:

Being present and holding space for one another through life’s challenges
Honoring emotional expression – including rage, grief, joy, and confusion – without shame or judgment
Offering reasonable, flexible accommodations so that everyone can participate meaningfully
Respecting boundaries
Actively standing against oppression, discrimination, bullying, and abuse.

We Communicate With Care By:

Speaking directly and compassionately with one another
Making sure voices are heard and understood
Speaking up when silence would inhibit progress
Disagreeing from a place of curiosity and respect
Interrupting hurtful interactions when we witness them
Being clear about expectations, decisions, and commitments
Listening respectfully and openly to ideas, concerns, and visions
Repairing harm together with care and accountability

We Create Meaningful Music Together By:

Arriving on time and prepared for each rehearsal or performance
Not missing more than 3 rehearsals for each choral season
Practicing each week between rehearsals, and having music confidently memorized by performance time
Boldly exploring our voices, artistry, and inner world in a spirit of trust and openness, without fear of judgment
Listening and attending fully to our musical leaders (artistic director, section leaders) and to each other so that we may blend our voices effectively

We Sustain Our Community By:

Honoring our commitments to ourselves and each other
Offering grace and forgiveness when we fall short
Giving generously of our time, talent, and resources to support our sisterhood

These are the agreements that bind us in community. Together, we commit to these shared practices.