Request for Proposals: Purchase of the Alaska Children’s Choir
Introduction
The Alaska Children’s Choir has been owned and directed by Janet Stotts since 1985. Janet passed away on April 26, 2015. Her husband, Gene, hopes that someone sharing Janet’s passions for music and working with children will purchase the choir. Janet thrived on the artistic freedom afforded to her as owner of a sole proprietorship business.
We also recognize that the financial challenge of purchasing and building the choir could be unrealistic for otherwise qualified applicants. We therefore also encourage existing organizations in the Alaska music community to think of creative ways in which the Alaska Children’s Choir could join them.
Alaska Children’s Choir History
The Alaska Children’s Choir, founded in 1979, is dedicated to excellence in music education and choral singing, offering Southcentral Alaskan children the opportunity to train and perform to some of the highest artistic standards locally, nationally and internationally. Sixty children ranging in age from 5-18, were enrolled as members of one of five levels of the Alaska Children’s Choir in the spring semester of 2015: Minisingers, Mastersingers, Chambersingers, Jubilate, and Touring Choir. Levels are based on age and vocal experience. You can learn more about the choir on the choir website, alaskachildrenschoir.net.
The entire choir performs together in several concerts each year. The group also performs frequently with other local musical organizations, including the Anchorage Concert Chorus, Anchorage Opera, and the Alaska Chamber Singers.
Each summer, the Touring Choir travels from home on a concert tour. Nationally, the Touring Choir has traveled to Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, the Midwest, the East Coast including Washington, D.C. and three appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York City. International tours have included Australia, Austria, British Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Wales to participate in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in both 1992 and 2013.
The Choir has earned many awards at choral festivals, including: 1st place Children’s Choir in the 19th International Youth and Music Festival (Vienna, Austria); Senior Youth Choir of the Year award at the Bournemouth Musicmaker’s Festival (Bournemouth, England); Trophy of Excellence in Children’s Choral Singing at the Classic American Music Festival (Honolulu, Hawaii); 2nd place Children’s Choir in the International Oskarshamn Festival (Oskarshamn, Sweden); and 2nd place in both the Children’s Choir and the Youth Choir divisions at the International Kathaumixw in Powell River, BC.
Janet also gave private lessons in voice and piano. Many of her students competed in National Association of Teachers of Singing solo competitions and in school district solo and ensemble competitions. She also held several music theatre workshops each summer.
Families touched by Janet have expressed a fervent hope that the choir, voice lessons, and summer music workshops will continue. The current tuition schedule is on the choir website.
What is For Sale
The Alaska Children’s Choir comes with a thirty-year collection of sheet music, filling nine four-drawer filing cabinets. A sample of this music library may be reviewed on the ACC website. Also included in the library is a collection of music both written and on CD, as well as an electronic keyboard and a variety of unpitched percussion instruments. The Choir has a collection of music theory workbooks, a handbook developed over 30 years, and a suite of choir management materials covering tuition, tours, medical releases, uniform requirements, and concerts. Finally, an important part of the package is the copyrighted name and logo for the Alaska Children’s Choir.
Procedure
Asking price for this choir is $50,000 with negotiable price and payment terms.
Proposals from Individuals who wish to retain the sole proprietor status should contain the following:
- A cover letter expressing your vision for the choir and why you think you are the person to achieve that vision.
- Evidence of training in music theory, choral directing, vocal instruction, piano, and childhood education.
- Demonstrated talent in choral directing, vocal performance, and piano accompaniment. Please provide a portfolio.
- Evidence of knowledge, training and/or experience required to manage the duties of a sole proprietorship for profit business. Please address the areas of tax reporting, budgeting, finances and accounting, long range planning and scheduling, personnel/volunteer management, contracting for services (venues and performers) and choir recruitment.
Group proposals from not-for-profit organizations or private interest groups should contain the following:
- A cover letter expressing the group’s vision for the choir and why the group can best achieve that vision.
- The organization’s mission statement; and
- Papers of incorporation and 501(c) status.
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