Sisters’ Voices Mission Statement
Educating and Celebrating young female voices
Values
Courage – the willingness to move forward in spite of fear or the perception of personal risk
Curiosity – the readiness to question assumptions, to hold possibilities open, to seek more information rather than accepting first impressions
Connection – the cherishing of the interpersonal ties that support us all and give us room to grow
Volunteer Opportunities
- Assisting weekly with SV1, SV2, SV3, or SV4 – yearlong commitment
- Managing for SV4 or SV5 – yearlong commitment
- Helping to maintain the music library and classroom – yearlong commitment
- Other administrative projects – commitment is time-limited, based on the project
Who may volunteer
- Singers in 7th-12th grade in 2026 may apply to do volunteer administrative work for Sisters’ Voices on a one-time or regular basis.
- Singers in 8th-12th grade in 2026-2027 may apply to volunteer with a younger ensemble: SV1, SV2, or SV3.
- 8th graders (or high school students who can arrive by 3:30 in the afternoon) may volunteer to work with SV1 or SV2.
- 8th-12th graders may volunteer to work with SV3.
- 11th and 12th graders may volunteer to work with SV4.
Applying to Volunteer
If you’re interested in volunteering in any position for the 2026-27 year, please fill out the application here.
Decisions about assignments for assistants working with SV1, SV2, SV3, and SV4 will be made over the summer.
What we hope you’ll gain as a volunteer
Volunteering can have many benefits.
- You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the Sisters’ Voices community by working with other singers, either teaching younger singers or doing projects with singers your own age or older. We hope you’ll have fun and find real connection to other singers and to the staff, and that you’ll understand the power of your contributions.
- If you’re working weekly with younger singers, you’ll have opportunities to lead the younger singers. The teacher of the ensemble will work with you to find opportunities that will fit your skill and experience and that will help you grow.
- You’ll have the opportunity to lead and work on projects, developing new skills in a friendly and supportive environment
- As you look forward to opportunities outside of SV, you’ll have relationships with SV adults who will know your intentions and your work and who will be able to write recommendations for you.
Volunteer Training
Sisters’ Voices volunteers who will work with SV1, SV2, SV3, and SV4 will go through training led by Leandra and/or other teachers. This training will happen before the year begins.
Volunteers working on administrative projects will receive training upon arrival.
In case of severe weather
If severe weather is approaching and it’s your day to assist with rehearsal, SV staff will reach out to you to let you know and discuss the plans. Please reply as promptly as you are able.
In case of emergency
We will go carefully through handling different sorts of emergency situations together at our training, and we will review this information as the year progresses.
Feedback
The adults working most closely with you will give you constructive feedback regularly. If there is something you would like to discuss, or something you’d like feedback on specifically, please ask.
The adults will also value your feedback. We may reach out to you to ask your thoughts about decisions that need to be made. We also will welcome your thoughts and ideas at any time.
We ask that feedback, both ways, usually happen one-on-one, and not in front of an ensemble or group of people.
Resolving problems and dismissal of volunteers
There are sometimes team relationships that do not fit. Communication is essential, leaning into our values of courage, curiosity, and connection, holding out the benefit of the doubt for each other, knowing that we all come to the table with good intentions.
If the relationship between you and a staff member is not working, please reach out and ask for a conversation. The staff will do the same with you.
At our training session we’ll discuss grounds and process for ending an ongoing volunteer relationship.
ASSISTING WITH SV1, SV2, SV3, SV4
General Expectations and Guidelines of Assistants with SV1, SV2, SV3, and SV4
Behavior
You will be expected to engage fully with the activities of the ensemble, providing a positive role model for the younger singers.
You are not a bystander! Everyone in the room participates. You are the singers’ best example of how to engage. Have fun!
Your Attendance and Reporting
Your attendance and work at every rehearsal is essential – to the functioning of the classroom, to the relationships you’re building with the singers, and to the trust you’re building with the teacher. If you know you will not be able to attend rehearsal, please let the director of the ensemble you’re working with know as soon as possible so that she will be able to make sure your regular work is covered.
If you miss two rehearsals in a row, or otherwise are missing too many rehearsals (the specific number will depend on the ensemble, time of year, and other things), the director and/or Leandra will reach out to you.
Recording volunteer hours worked
We will keep a running record of your work time on the class’s attendance sheet.
Cell phone use
As with all Sisters’ Voices activities, cell phones are expected to be out of sight and not in use during SV time. Your work with SV1, 2, 3, and 4 will not require use of your cell phone. However, you will need to have your phone on your body at all times in case of emergency.
You may not take pictures of younger singers with your own phone or camera. When pictures are needed, you will be given a Sisters’ Voices camera to use.
Dress guidelines
Because assistants with SV1, SV2, SV3, and SV4 will be expected to participate fully in the rehearsal activities, you need to wear clothing that will allow and facilitate movement, including floor exercise. Clothing should be in no way revealing, distracting, designed to promote status, or limiting of movement. Any messages printed on clothing should be positive and in line with SV values.
Communication
Communication is essential to teamwork. You will receive weekly parent emails that are specific to the ensemble with which you are working; please read these and respond with questions if necessary.
Please respond to communications (text, email, phone) from Sisters’ Voices staff promptly. Please also reach out when you have thoughts to contribute!
Reporting injuries
If you are injured (non-life-threatening), or you witness another person being injured (non-life-threatening), please report it immediately to the adult in charge of your class. It is appropriate to interrupt the teacher teaching the class if there is an injury (when in doubt, interrupt).
In the event of a serious or life-threatening injury or emergency, please refer to training in CPR and First Aid. Please see the next section.
CPR, First Aid, and Sexual Abuse training and certification
If you have CPR and First Aid certification, please send a picture of your card or other certificate to donna@sistersvoices.org. If you do not hold certification, we will provide an online training session, in conjunction with SV volunteer training, that will give you information (but not lead to certification).
SV will also expect all volunteers working with younger children to complete a training from Darkness to Light in Sexual Abuse.
What’s needed from Assistants: SV1, SV2, SV3, SV4
Arrival
You are expected to arrive 20-30 minutes before rehearsal begins to help with set up and to help transition the singers into the space.
Setting up
The director of your ensemble will specify the set up for rehearsal. It often involves setting out chairs or mats, placing names on chairs or mats, making sure singers have music and/or other materials needed for the day’s class.
Transitioning singers into rehearsal
In SV1, 2, and 3, all singers enter the building, use the bathroom, and wash their hands before rehearsal. Adults and volunteers need to assist singers, providing supervision in the hallway and direction back to the room, take off shoes, enter the space ready for rehearsal.
During Rehearsal
These are things that we would like you to do with confidence. We will go over each of these things in our training together.
Taking attendance
Supervising singers in the classroom
Supervising singers when out of the classroom
Supporting the teacher
Teaching, sometimes, and planning
Making notes about singer behavior
Staying attuned to singers who struggle with behavior and/or with musical skills; communicating positively with all singers
Transitioning singers out of rehearsal and back to families
After rehearsal, please help support singers putting on their shoes, lining up at the door, retrieving all belongings, and meeting up with parents and guardians.
Cleaning up, transitioning to next rehearsal
VOLUNTEERING WITH ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER PROJECTS
General Expectations and Guidelines
Behavior
All behavioral values and expectations set out in rehearsals apply to your time volunteering. Please treat the space with respect, be aware of others who also share the building, and be kind to others.
Please stay focused on your task, working with the rest of the group.
You should never be in the Binkley building without an adult who is directly supervising your project (though she may turn over the work to you). Please report to that adult any concerns you have about the project or space.
Attendance and Reporting
The adult and other singers working on your project are counting on you. Please let them know if you will not be able to make it.
Recording hours worked
We will keep a running record of your work time on a page in the workroom.
Cell phone use
As with all Sisters’ Voices activities, cell phones are expected to be out of sight and not in use during SV time. Please leave your phone in the phone bin when you arrive.
Communication
Communication is essential to teamwork. Please respond to communications (text, email, phone) from Sisters’ Voices staff promptly. Please also reach out when you have thoughts to contribute!
Reporting injuries
If you are injured, or you witness another person being (or having just been) injured, please report it immediately to the adult in charge of your project.
CPR, First Aid training and certification
If you have CPR and First Aid certification, please send a picture of your card or other certificate to donna@sistersvoices.org. It’s helpful for us to know what skills are in the building in case of emergency!
