General Terms and Conditions

General Terms and Conditions Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus per 1st September 2026

Article1. General

In these General Terms and Conditions, the following definitions apply:

Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus (AMSGMC): Stichting Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus, registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under registration number 63802090 and represented by its Board.

Participant: A natural person aged 18 years or older who has been admitted as a member of the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus.

These General Terms and Conditions apply to all services, activities and membership of the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus.

Article 2. Objectives of the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus

Mission Statement

The Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus promotes the visibility, inclusion and acceptance of the queer community through music and performance.

Mission

We are a queer community chorus that performs to inspire, entertain and connect both our members and our audiences.
We welcome people who identify as part of the queer community and whose skills are suited to one of the chorus’s singing or dance sections.
We celebrate our heritage as the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus while embracing the diversity of today’s queer community.
We strive to be visible, proud and confident members of society.
We believe that singing and performing together builds bridges, inspires others, fosters understanding and celebrates diversity.
We provide a safe, respectful and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, supported and valued, and where we look after one another.

Article 3. Establishing Participation

Applications for participation in the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus must be submitted using the official registration form available on the chorus website or through another registration method approved by the Board.
The registration form must be completed in full, and all information provided must be accurate and truthful.
Applicants are required to attend an audition or voice assessment, dance assessment or other appropriate assessment, depending on the performance section for which they are applying.
Participation becomes effective only after the applicant has been formally accepted by the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus.
Where admission is not possible due to capacity within the relevant vocal or performance section, an applicant may be placed on a waiting list
By becoming a participant, members agree to comply with these General Terms and Conditions, the Code of Conduct, and any other policies adopted by the Board.

Article 4. Conditions for Participation

Full participation in the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus is open to individuals who:

are at least 18 years of age;
identify as part of the queer community;
have a vocal range suitable for one of the chorus’s vocal sections;
have successfully completed the audition or voice assessment process;
agree to comply with these General Terms and Conditions, the Code of Conduct, and other applicable policies of the chorus; and
contribute to a safe, respectful and inclusive environment within the chorus.

Article 5. Obligations of the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus

The Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus is committed to providing its participants with:

regular rehearsals under the direction of a qualified conductor and, where applicable, a choreographer and/or dance captain, except during holiday periods, recognised public holidays or in cases of force majeure (including, but not limited to, pandemics, extreme weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances);
a suitable, safe and accessible rehearsal venue with appropriate facilities;
reasonable efforts to arrange a suitable replacement or alternative rehearsal where the conductor, choreographer or dance captain is unavailable;
suitable rehearsal materials, including sheet music and, where applicable, rehearsal recordings or other learning resources;
a safe, respectful and inclusive environment in which participants can rehearse and perform free from discrimination, harassment or bullying; and
timely communication regarding rehearsals, performances and other chorus activities.

Article 6. Obligations of Participants

Participants are expected to:

comply with these General Terms and Conditions, the Code of Conduct, and any other policies adopted by the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus;
actively contribute to the chorus by attending rehearsals regularly and participating, where reasonably possible, in performances, concerts, events, workshops and other activities organised by the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus;
notify the appropriate chorus representative as soon as reasonably possible if they are unable to attend a rehearsal or performance;
treat fellow participants, volunteers, artistic staff, Board members and audiences with respect, contributing to a safe, inclusive and supportive environment;
pay membership fees and any other agreed participation fees within the applicable payment terms; and
take reasonable care of the chorus’s property, rehearsal venues, sheet music, costumes and any other materials provided for rehearsals or performances.

Article 7. Membership Fees and Payment

The Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus charges a membership fee for participation. The applicable membership fee is determined annually by the Board and communicated to participants before the start of each season. Please read carefully the membership and attendance policy.
Participants are allowed to take a 6 month break from the chorus (half season) while maintaining their spot in the chorus. In order to maintain their spot in the waiting list, a payment of 50% of that half season membership fee is required. Taking a break longer than half a season will result in the need to rejoin the waiting list.
No registration fee is charged unless otherwise decided by the Board and communicated in advance.
Membership fees must be paid in accordance with the payment schedule communicated by the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus. Unless otherwise agreed, payments must be made by bank transfer to the bank account designated by the chorus.
Participants joining during the course of a season may be charged a prorated membership fee, as determined by the Board.
If a participant fails to pay the membership fee by the due date, the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus will issue up to two payment reminders.
If payment remains outstanding after the reminders, the participant may receive a formal notice of default. Any reasonable administration or collection costs permitted by law may be charged to the participant.
The Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus reserves the right to suspend a participant’s attendance at rehearsals, performances and other activities until all outstanding fees have been paid.
Membership fees are non-refundable, including where rehearsals, performances or other activities cannot take place due to force majeure, including but not limited to pandemics, extreme weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.
Participation in specific concerts, performances, events, workshops, tours or other activities may require an additional contribution. Any such costs will be communicated to participants in advance.

Article 8. Termination of Participation by the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus

The Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus reserves the right to terminate a participant’s membership if the participant fails to comply with these General Terms and Conditions, the Code of Conduct, or any other policies adopted by the Board.
The Board may terminate a participant’s membership where the participant’s behaviour, actions or conduct:
- compromise the safety, wellbeing or inclusion of other participants;
- constitute discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation or inappropriate behaviour;
- damage the reputation, interests or proper functioning of the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus;
- repeatedly disrupt rehearsals, performances or other chorus activities; or
- otherwise seriously conflict with the values and objectives of the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus.
Unless immediate termination is justified, the participant will be informed in writing of the intended termination and the reasons for it. The participant will be given the opportunity to respond before the Board makes its final decision.
The Board may terminate participation with immediate effect in cases of serious misconduct, including but not limited to violence, threats, theft, harassment, discrimination, serious breaches of the Code of Conduct, or any behaviour that creates an unsafe environment or places the chorus, its participants or its reputation at significant risk.
Where membership is terminated with notice, any membership fees paid in advance for the period following the termination date will be refunded. No refund will be made where membership is terminated with immediate effect due to serious misconduct, unless the Board decides otherwise.
Termination of participation does not release the participant from any outstanding financial or other obligations owed to the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus.

Article 9. Termination of Participation by a Participant

A participant may terminate their membership at any time by submitting written notice to the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus.
Unless otherwise agreed by the Board, a notice period of three (3) months applies from the date the written notice is received.
The participant remains responsible for all membership fees and any other financial obligations that become due during the applicable notice period.
Membership fees already paid are non-refundable, unless the Board decides otherwise or these General Terms and Conditions provide otherwise.
In the event of the death of a participant, membership shall automatically terminate. Any membership fees paid in advance for the period following the date of death will be refunded to the participant’s estate or legal representative.

Article 10. Liability

The Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus shall only be liable for direct loss or damage resulting from its intentional misconduct or gross negligence, except where liability cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.
The Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus shall not be liable for indirect or consequential loss or damage, including but not limited to loss of income, personal inconvenience or other indirect losses, unless such liability arises from intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
Participants remain responsible for their own personal belongings during rehearsals, performances and other chorus activities. The Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus accepts no liability for loss, theft or damage to personal property, except where caused by its intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
Participation in rehearsals, performances and other chorus activities is at the participant’s own risk, except where liability cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

Article 11. Miscellaneous Provisions

Participants acknowledge that photographs, audio recordings and video recordings may be made during rehearsals, performances and other chorus activities for promotional, archival and communication purposes. By participating, participants consent to the use and publication of such recordings in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus Privacy Policy.
In the event of a dispute between a participant and the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus, both parties shall make reasonable efforts to resolve the matter through consultation before pursuing any further legal action.
If a situation arises that is not covered by these General Terms and Conditions, the Board shall decide the matter in the spirit and objectives of these General Terms and Conditions.
If any provision of these General Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
These General Terms and Conditions and all legal relationships arising from them shall be governed exclusively by Dutch law.
The Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus reserves the right to amend these General Terms and Conditions. Participants will be informed of any amendments in a timely manner before they take effect.