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Accompanist Guild Policy

piano keyboard

2026-2027

 

FULL MEMBERS

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
                                

FEES

  • Hourly fees
    • Voice and Instrumental – $40/hour  (1 hour/$40 minimum)
    • Short-term contracts – $50/hour  (less than one month partnership, $50 minimum)
  • Vocal Semester fee (assessed with tuition and fees by WSU)
    • $550 – includes 1 hour per week (30 minute lesson & rehearsal per week for 14 weeks)
    • jury, masterclass, and recital fees will be billed separately
    • *for pianists - invoices to SOM  <$137.50 monthly> beginning Sept. 1 in fall; Feb. 1 in spring
  • Instrumental Jury Prep Package
    • $160 (includes 3 hours rehearsal/lesson time & jury fees)
  • Performance fees
    • Weekly master classes:
      • Voice – $20
      • Instrumental – $25
    • Studio recitals:
      • Voice and Instrumental – $40
    • Convocation:  
      • Voice and Instrumental - $40 
    • Juries:
      • Voice and Instrumental – $40
    • Recital fees:
      • $100  –  All or any part of Junior qualifying & undergraduate recitals (not exceeding 30 minutes)
      • $125 – All or any part of Senior or undergraduate recitals (over 30 minutes)
      • $150 – Graduate recitals
      • $200 – Faculty & Guest Artist recitals
      • *Dress rehearsal fees will be assessed at the hourly rate
    • NATS
      • The fee for NATS will be determined by location and travel considerations.  The fee for the preliminary round is due at the time of registration for the competition to secure a place on the pianist's roster.  Accompanists are limited by the NATS organization to 12 vocalists.  A student participating in two events counts as two in the pianist's total and will be charged as such.  Fees for the seimi-final and final rounds will be additional charges.
    • Local auditions/competitions
      • $40 and up performance fee, rehearsal fees at the hourly rate
    • Naftzger Young Artist Competition
      • All division rounds beginning at $100 per each. Rehearsal time will be assessed at the short-term hourly rate ($50/hr, see B). Al fees will be determined by the amount of repertoire requiring accompaniment and the pianist's preparation time and will be negotiated when contracted.  The pianist reserves the right to charge for preparation time.

PAYMENT OF FEES

  • Accompanists will provide itemized statements for hourly services and performance fees. Payment is due at or before the prepared project (jury, recital) and is made directly to the individual pianist. Ask your pianist for their preferred method of payment. 
  • The vocal semester fees are assessed and collected by WSU with tuition and fees. Pianists will invoice the School of Music to collect the fee for the individual students with whom they are collaborating.
  • Vocal students will be billed directly for performance fees that are beyond the scope of the semester fee allotment. This will include the semester jury, masterclasses, recitals, competitions, recording, or extra rehearsal time.
  • Please notify your accompanist personally if you will miss either a rehearsal or a lesson. Students will be charged for missed lessons/rehearsals unless 24 hour notice is given.
  • Accompanists are not required to play recitals or juries for students who are in arrears. If bills are not settled by jury or recital time, the accompanist will decline the performance.  Accompanists will notify the Advisory Committee and fellow colleagues if account remains unpaid at the end of a semester.
  • Out of town performances and expenses will be paid in advance. Fees for overnight and half-day trips will be at the discretion of the accompanist.

2026 – 2027 ACCOMPANISTS GUILD ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Michael Sylvester, Associate Professor of Voice; michael.sylvester@wichita.edu

Dr. Courtney Long, Assistant Professor of Music Theory; courtney.long@wichita.edu

JuleAnn Troutman, Accompanist; juleannking@gmail.com

Bridget Hille, Accompanist; bridget.hille@gmail.com

 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

  • An Advisory Committee is established to administer auditions for incoming pianists and address questions and concerns as they occur. The Committee will consist of two accompanists in "full member" standing, one instrumental and one voice faculty member, and the School of Music Director.
  • Any concerns about Guild members, studio instructors, or students not abiding by fair business practices, the code of ethics, or common courtesy, should be directed to the Faculty Advisors and will be acted on by the full Advisory Committee.
  • Auditions will occur as needed, usually once a year before the fall semester begins. Each pianist will be required to perform from a selected list of instrumental and vocal literature accompaniments.  In addition, each pianist will be asked to sight-read some selections.
  • New accompanists will be considered "associate members" for two years, at which time the Advisory Committee will determine if they are eligible for "full member" standing. Exceptions to this policy can be made at the discretion of the Committee. If the committee feels an accompanist is not ready to be an associate member due to lack of experience, they will be an “apprentice member” for up to two years.
  • If a pianist has auditioned unsuccessfully two times, the Committee reserves the right to decline further attempts.
  • All accompanists will sign a copy of the Code of Ethics, which will be held on file by the School of Music Director.
  • It is understood that any violation of the Accompanists Guild Code of Ethics left unresolved after a warning will result in dismissal from the Group.

CODE OF ETHICS

Members will agree to follow the professional standards, code of ethics, and consistency of fees as established by the Advisory Committee.

Members of The Accompanists Guild will:

  • Fulfill the professional requirements as outlined by the Advisory Committee (i.e., undergo audition).
  • Maintain a professional level of musicianship by doing research or practicing as needed outside of rehearsal and lesson time.
  • Keep charges consistent with Policy Statement and present itemized bills and receipts.
  • Be dependable and prompt in meeting rehearsal, lesson and master class schedule, and notify student and/or teacher if absence is necessary.
  • Agree not to recruit students already established in a studio without knowledge of the teacher and the current accompanist.
  • Expect that if an accompanist change is desired by the studio teacher, the teacher will contact the student and current accompanist to facilitate this change.
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