This page is for parents and carers of youth members under 18. If your child is 18 or over, they follow the Adult Member Commitment Policy in their own right. See also Youth Attendance Rules for the full attendance rules.
The principle
An ensemble only works when every member shows up. Your child’s absence is not just their absence — it changes the sound, the morale, and the readiness of everyone around them. That is why the standard is full commitment for the season, not just most of it.
This is a high bar on purpose. It is part of what makes AChA different: excellence offered as worship asks something real, and that reality is part of what forms your child. The commitment will stretch them. That is the point.
What your child is committing to
When your child joins, they are saying yes to two things — and you are saying yes to supporting them in it:
- Yes to every rehearsal.* When the call goes out, they reply yes and they come.
- Yes to the concert.** When the call goes out, they reply yes and they perform.
That is the commitment in full. Everything below is the honest answer to the questions parents ask once they understand what that yes means.
* If your child genuinely cannot make a rehearsal, let AChA know beforehand using the Member Absence Form. Communicating an absence is required — missing without notice triggers a membership pause after 10 days. Only rehearsals announced at least 3 months in advance count toward attendance.
** If your child cannot make the upcoming concert or needs a longer break, there are formal options: a Membership Hold (they cannot perform in the next concert — their place is kept but the 80% rule is paused), a Membership Freeze (exceptional circumstances — they may still be permitted to perform), or a Cancellation. Use the Member Absence, Hold, Freeze & Cancellation Form.
The honest questions and answers
These are the real questions parents ask. The answers are firm by design — because the commitment is real.
† About faith and different traditions: AChA is an ecumenical community. Your child will make music alongside young people from Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal, and other backgrounds. They will encounter music, prayer, and scripture from across the Christian tradition. Involvement is not agreement — your child is not required to adopt anyone else’s theology. The community holds this openly and with care. See Faith at AChA, for Every Family for more.
The non-negotiables
These are hard rules. They are not case-by-case.
Attendance threshold
If your child’s attendance drops below 80 per cent, they will not be permitted to perform in the concert. The concert is earned through presence in the room. Below the threshold, they are not concert-ready and will not be on stage.
Onboarding
Your child cannot keep attending if onboarding is not completed. Onboarding is the doorway, not an optional extra. There are no refunds for rehearsals attended before onboarding is completed.
Leaving and returning
If your child leaves a season, they cannot simply return as a guest later. Return requires a formal hold, freeze, or cancellation handled through the proper process. Quietly stopping attendance is not a pause.
Your role as parent
You are agreeing to get your child to rehearsals consistently, to communicate absences on their behalf when needed, and to support their commitment at home. The biggest predictor of a young person drifting away is not losing motivation — it is a small, unfixed logistical problem no one raised in time. AChA will reach out; please reach back.
If your child needs to step back
Life happens. If something serious arises, the right path is a formal hold, freeze, or cancellation — not a quiet stop. AChA takes these situations seriously and has a proper process for them. Please use it rather than letting your child drift.
Related pages
- Youth Attendance Rules — the full attendance rules for youth members, including the 80% threshold.
- Faith at AChA, for Every Family — what your child will experience spiritually, whatever your background.
- Parent Onboarding & Character Guide — what to expect and how to support your child through the season.
- Adult Member Commitment Policy — the equivalent page for members aged 18 and over.
- Drop-off, Pick-up & Supervision — practical rehearsal logistics for parents.