Benefits of Membership     Whether you're a listener or performer, Fortnightly membership will make you part of a unique South Bay musical tradition. Each season Fortnightly hosts eight free public "Formal Concerts" at the Palo Alto Art Center (at Newell Road and Embarcadero). Last season, many of these concerts were standing room only. Fortnightly's Formal Concerts (which the Club has been producing since 1908) have been recognized in the local press and by local governments as a cultural treasure - a gift to music lovers in the area. See Fortnightly Music Club in the News. As a member you will become a patron of this activity. In addition to supporting and being encouraged to attend our Formal Concerts you will be invited to attend members-only, private, "Informal Concerts" that are held in club members' homes throughout the season. These small and elegant "house recitals," usually followed by refreshments, provide an opportunity to support, play for, and socialize with other musicians and music lovers. The dates and times of this season's Informal Concerts are as follows (locations available to members only under the Members Area tab): October 9, 2021, at 3:00 pm November 6, 2021, at 3:00 pm December 11, 2021, at 3:00 pm January 8, 2022, at 3:00 pm February 5, 2022, at 3:00 pm March 5, 2022, at 3:00 pm April 2, 2022, at 3:00 pm May 7, 2022, at 3:00 pm Membership of course provides an opportunity to perform and develop your art. All members are entitled to perform at our private Informal Concerts. To perform at the public Formal Concerts, members must pass an audition that may be scheduled only after becoming a member of the Club and attending at least one Formal Concert and one Informal Concert. (Information about the audition process is available to members under the "Members Area" of this webpage.) Of course, you do not need to be a performer to join Fortnightly! Many, if not most, of our members are simply avid listeners — a valued skill itself. To foster greater community and cooperation among its members, Fortnightly provides members a hard-copy Membership Directory each September with the names, street addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of all of its members. The Directory includes information about members' musical interests, the instruments they play (if any), and if they are singers, conductors, or composers. If you are a performer looking for musical collaborators, our Membership Directory can be of benefit. Additionally, the Club, at its discretion, will publicize members' non-Fortnightly concerts (i.e., concerts at other venues and with other organizations) on its webpage and via the eight monthly emails sent by the club President throughout the year that announce our eight Formal Concerts. (We do not to spam our members with information. We generally limit our communication with members to these eight emails, plus emails announcing the dates and locations of the private Informal Concerts.) Members are encouraged to help run the Club. They can, for example, become involved in setting up concerts (with programs and refreshments), and in advertising the Club to the public. Members are strongly encouraged to serve on the Club's Board of Directors, which oversees the Club's operations. We are an all-volunteer "Do-ocracy", presenting musical events because we love the art form.   How To Become a Member     Club membership requires completion of a membership application and payment the relatively inexpensive yearly dues, currently $35. Dues are payable by check or via PayPal. Dues cover costs related to concert hall rental, maintenance of the Art Center's excellent 9-foot concert grand pianos, the printing of programs, advertising, and refreshments at concerts. (All of our performers and administration are volunteers.) To request a membership application or learn more about membership, please download our application request and/or contact the Membership Chair Lena Chow.