Who Belongs? How to Join Board
of Directors Executive Staff Brief
History
Chorus America's mission is to build a dynamic and inclusive choral community so that more people are transformed by the beauty and power of choral singing.
Chorus America strengthens choral organizations and provides their leaders with
information, research, leadership development, professional training, and advocacy to
help them deliver the best possible contributions to their communities and to the choral art.
Chorus America provides invaluable news, resources and expertise delivered in myriad accessible ways. Chorus America’s programs bring professionals and volunteers together
to learn and collaborate in a friendly, supportive environment that promotes networking,
information exchange, and shared goals.
Chorus America speaks with a strong and
unified voice to increase recognition of choral singing as an essential part of society.
More than 1,600 choruses, individuals, and businesses
are members of Chorus America. This powerful group of conductors, arts administrators,
board members, singers, music business executives, and choral music lovers
are at the core of a dramatically expanding choral movement in North America.
Anyone can become a member of Chorus America.
Read about membership categories, benefits,
and dues; Join/Renew for the option of joining
online or downloading and printing an application form.
The Board of Directors
of Chorus America includes distinguished leaders from a broad diversity
of choruses and arts organizations throughout the United States and Canada.
They meet twice a year in January and June, and are led by an Executive
Committee that meets also in March and September. Meet
the Board
The staff at Chorus America works hard to serve
you. Meet the people behind the scenes.
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Chorus America was founded in 1977 by the professional
choral music community in response to clear and demonstrated needs
for more public awareness, financial support, and experienced organizational
management. Out of their personal commitment to the choral music art
form, and in an attempt to put North America's choral ensembles on
a path to growth and success, the late Michael Korn and several colleagues,
including Roger Wagner, Gregg Smith, Margaret Hillis, Hugh Ross, Janice
Kestler, and Walter Gould, met and decided to found a new organization.
What began in Philadelphia as the Association
of Professional Vocal Ensembles has since expanded to embrace the
broad spectrum of choruses, growing from 45 choruses in 1977 to
650 today, as well as more than 900 individual and business members.
In June 1993, the organization's name was officially changed to
Chorus America, and in 1998 Chorus America relocated its national
offices to Washington, DC.
Charter Members of Chorus America, when it
was first incorporated as the Association of Professional Vocal
Ensembles in Philadelphia, December, 1977:
- Dino Anagnost, Orpheon Chorale
- Betty Baisch, Choral Associates
- Raymond Beegle, New York Vocal Arts Ensemble
- Edward Cansino and Jeannine Wagner, i
cantori
- Robert DeCormier, DeCormier Singers
- Walter Gould, Century Artists Bureau
- William Hall, William Hall Chorale
- Beverly Henson, Oklahoma Chorale
- Paul Hill, The Paul Hill Chorale
- Margaret Hillis, Chicago Symphony Chorus
- Orland Johnson, Johnson Singers
- Martin Josman, National Chorale
- Michael Korn, The Philadelphia Singers
- Norman Luboff, Norman Luboff Choir
- Frank Ledlie Moore, Novello Publications
- Mel Olson, First United Methodist Church
of Omaha
- Robert Page, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
- Howard Roberts, Howard Roberts Chorale
- Hugh Ross, Schola Cantorum
- Norman Scribner, Choral Arts Society
of Washington
- Gregg Smith, Gregg Smith Singers
- Wayne Strongman, Tapestry Singers (Toronto)
- Roger Wagner, Roger Wagner Chorale and
Los Angeles Master Chorale
- Richard Westenburg, Musica Sacra
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1977-1985
Michael Korn |
1985-1987
Paul Hill |
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1987-1990
Arlene Williams |
1990-1993
Robert Page |
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1993-1995
Marshall A. Rutter |
1995-1997
Doralene Davis |
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1997-1999
Mary Deissler |
1999-2001
Tom Hall |
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2001-2003
John Alexander |
2003-2006
Duain Wolfe |
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2006-2010
Todd Estabrook |
2010-present
Gayle Ober
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