Q: Why Join AGMA?
A: It's good for you, it's good for the chorus, and it's good for the company.

Prior to 1995, the Arizona Opera chorus was not affiliated with or represented by AGMA. At that time, choristers were mostly veterans of the volunteer group that had founded the company, and received little recognition or reward for their work. Choristers were paid a stipend of about $200-$250 per production, and were frequently treated in a less-than-professional way by company management.

The chorus affiliated with AGMA in 1995 to gain both better compensation (including rehearsal pay and per diem for out-of-town work), and to establish a formal working relationship with the company covering working conditions, expectations of choristers and management, and a defined process for addressing employment, grievances (in both directions), and other important issues. The original agreement has been renewed and updated twice, with the current version subject to renewal in 2008.

Choristers now receive about $2,000 per production, depending on the number of performances and rehearsal hours -- a considerable improvement over prior years! An immediate effect of the higher compensation was the turnout of more and better singers who wanted to join the chorus, and could now afford to do so. The quality of the chorus has improved markedly over the last several years, as has the professional relationship between management, local AGMA-AZ leadership, and the chorus as a whole. The presence of AGMA will continue to be a key element in keeping things going well.

Another benefit, primarily to AZ Opera, is the increasing status as a fully professional, up-and-coming regional company due to its being "an AGMA company." Because of this, well known singers and directors have come to Arizona who otherwise would not have done so.

AGMA membership may be imperative for singers who will be working outside of Arizona, either as principals, comprimarios, or choristers, at companies that require membership as a condition of engagement.

But there are many benefits to AGMA members in Arizona as well:

• You are eligible for AGMA-related benefits, important to many performers or others who may not have them through a full-time "day job" (see the Union Plus Web site).
• Your membership in AGMA serves as qualification for joining other professional performing organizations, such as Actors Equity, SAG, and AFTRA.
• You have the national AGMA organization behind you as you deal with problems or issues at Arizona Opera or any other opera company that has an AGMA Agreement in place.
• You are entitled to provide input to, or be a member of, the negotiating committee when the new AGMA-Arizona Opera Agreement is renegotiated in 2008. Non-members will not be invited to negotiation planning sessions.
• Your local AGMA-AZ leadership has put together a series of professional development workshops and required AZ Opera management to sponsor at least one annually as part of the 2004-2008 Agreement. AGMA members will have a say in what future workshops are offered.
• Like anything of value, there is some cost involved in joining AGMA, including an initiation fee, regular dues ($78 per year), and working dues (2% of your gross pay as a chorister). You can set up a payment plan to pay the initiation fee over a period of time, according to your own schedule and payment amount and AZ Opera will automatically deduct your working dues. You are required to pay regular dues annually directly to AGMA.

It's true that you can join the AZ Opera chorus without joining AGMA, and receive the same treatment under the AZ Opera-AGMA agreement as members do, but over 70% of incumbent choristers are members. Membership is an important statement of unity with your fellow choristers, as well as to company management, saying that you support the progress that has been made in so many areas over the last several years and expect it to continue.