Advocacy & Research

Chorus America is the leading advocacy and research organization for choruses and provides data that defines the character, scope, and impact of choral participation on singers and their communities. We give voice to the choral field, collaborate with arts colleagues on key advocacy initiatives, and provide tools to make a compelling case for support of choral music.

Articles

A National Library of Men's Choral Music

A National Library of Men's Choral Music

Michael Doan | Composing/Commissioning, History, Performance, Repertoire, Singing, Technology

As all-male colleges went coed in the 1970s, they left something important behind: their music. The Washington Men's Camerata is working to preserve this historic resource. Read more

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Singing and Healthy Children

Singing and Healthy Children

Kelsey Menehan | Children/Youth, Education, Health, Impact/Value, Participation, Performance, Schools, Singing

Participating in a chorus can have a transformative effect on a child’s academic achievement and overall well-being. Read more

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Singing and Healthy Aging

Singing and Healthy Aging

Kelsey Menehan | Adults/Seniors, Health, Performance, Singing

Whether taking up a new activity or continuing a lifelong practice, older adults who sing are reaping a host of social and health benefits. Read more

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Singing and Psychological Well-being

Singing and Psychological Well-being

Kelsey Menehan | Health, Impact/Value, Participation, Performance, Research/Data, Singing

The power of group singing to elevate mood and forge relationships can help people weather challenges and face life’s ups and downs. Read more

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Let’s Get Physical: Singing and Disease-Specific Therapy

Let’s Get Physical: Singing and Disease-Specific Therapy

Kelsey Menehan | Adults/Seniors, Health, Impact/Value, Singing

Singing has been found to be a potentially potent treatment for a wide variety of conditions, both alleviating symptoms and providing patients with a sense of positivity and community. Read more

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Choruses and Community Wellness

Choruses and Community Wellness

Don Lee | Audiences, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Health, Impact/Value, Participation, Performance, Singing

How can we share the wellness benefits of choral singing with a broader community? A growing number of choral leaders are looking at ways to extend the group singing experience beyond the concert hall. Read more

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The Art of Strategic Alliances

The Art of Strategic Alliances

Matthew Sigman | Composing/Commissioning, Governance, Innovation, Management/Leadership, Strategic Planning, Technique/Tool

When do partnerships add value and when do they distract from a chorus’s mission?  Philadelphia’s venerable Mendelssohn Club explores the spectrum of collaboration, from artistic to administrative. Read more

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Evaluate Your Chorus’ Education Program—On Any Budget

Evaluate Your Chorus’ Education Program—On Any Budget

Chorus America Staff | Audiences, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Education, Evaluation, Impact/Value, Marketing/Public Relations, Participation, Research/Data, Schools

Your chorus has created and launched an exciting education program. How will you fund its evaluation? Kimberly Meisten of VocalEssence and David Myers of the University of Minnesota School of Music presented these ideas at the 2012 Chorus America Conference. Read more

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Singing and Wellness Resource Guide

Singing and Wellness Resource Guide

Chorus America Staff | Adults/Seniors, Children/Youth, Evaluation, General, Health, Impact/Value, Participation, Schools, Singing, Technique/Tool, Volunteer

Continue to explore the topic of Singing and Wellness with this online Resource Guide that includes studies cited in Voice articles as well as further reading. Read more

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Hope and Hard Work: Government Support of the Arts in the U.S.

Hope and Hard Work: Government Support of the Arts in the U.S.

Ann Meier Baker | Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Fundraising, General, Government/Policy, History, Impact/Value, Research/Data

During campaign season, "government support" comes up often as a discussion topic. As the U.S. approaches its November election, it feels like an appropriate time to remind ourselves about how government support applies to the arts. Here are some thoughts from Chorus America to get you started. Read more

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Resources

Chorus Operations Survey Report (2012)

Chorus Operations Survey Report (2012)

Roland Kushner | Evaluation, Finance, Fundraising, Governance, Management/Leadership, Marketing/Public Relations, Operations, Research/Data, Technique/Tool

Chorus America's annual survey of the operations of choruses, the Chorus Operations Survey Report includes more than 40 different analyses, from number of board meetings to board giving, from ticket pricing to chorus dues amounts, from accompanist pay practices to marketing efficiency. The 2012 report features data from the 2010-2011 season. Read more

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Making the Case for Your School Choir: An Advocacy Guide

Making the Case for Your School Choir: An Advocacy Guide

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

Given the situation at the federal, state, and local levels, Chorus America developed this guide to help chart a path toward proactive advocacy on behalf of choral music education. Contains a step-by-step advocacy plan as well as research and statistics on the value of choral singing in school from more than 40 studies. Read more

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'Making the Case' Tool: The Comparative Advantages of Choruses

'Making the Case' Tool: The Comparative Advantages of Choruses

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

The top 10 reasons why choral singing is a great activity! Read more

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'Making the Case' Tool: Quotes Linking Arts Education and Student Achievement

'Making the Case' Tool: Quotes Linking Arts Education and Student Achievement

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

A list of useful quotes from influential leaders in support of the arts and choral music. Read more

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'Making the Case' Tool: Partnerships Between Schools and Independent Youth Choirs

'Making the Case' Tool: Partnerships Between Schools and Independent Youth Choirs

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

Chorus America’s member choruses all across North America are leading the way in working with school music programs to support, revive, or expand choral music education. Here are some examples of how our members are creatively partnering with schools. Read more

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'Making the Case' Tool: Choral Singing and Student Achievement Fact Sheet

'Making the Case' Tool: Choral Singing and Student Achievement Fact Sheet

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

In the 21st century, America’s manufacturing-driven economy is being replaced by a creative economy. President Obama is calling for a “complete and competitive education” to ensure our place in the global economy. How do the arts—and choral music specifically—help prepare our students to meet these challenges? Read more

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'Making the Case' Tool: Build Your Network Worksheet

'Making the Case' Tool: Build Your Network Worksheet

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

A question-and-answer worksheet to help you expand your network of choral music supporters. Read more

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'Making the Case' Tool: Annotated and Linked Bibliography

'Making the Case' Tool: Annotated and Linked Bibliography

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

This annotated and linked bibliography for Making the Case for Your School Choir provides data from more than 40 different studies, advocacy guides, and publications at your fingertips. Read more

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'Making the Case' Tool: Advocacy PowerPoint Presentation

'Making the Case' Tool: Advocacy PowerPoint Presentation

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

A PowerPoint template that you can adapt for use when making a presentation on the value of choral singing. Read more

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'Making the Case' Tool: Action Plan Matrix

'Making the Case' Tool: Action Plan Matrix

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Education, Impact/Value, Research/Data, Schools, Technique/Tool

Use this matrix as a worksheet to help formulate an action plan to support choral music in schools. Read more

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Events

BACHday Bash 2013

BACHday Bash 2013

Pittsburgh, PA

BriGuySinger | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Civic Engagement, Diversity, Fundraising, General, History, Impact/Value, Venue

We hope you can join us as the Bach Choir celebrates its 78th season with scrumptious food & superb libations, an exciting silent auction, and a grand new venue - the historically restored Mansions on Fifth Hotel. All proceeds will benefit the Choir as it continues to present unique and dramatic choral productions. Read more

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Purcell The Indian Queen

Purcell The Indian Queen

Boston, MA

Handel and Hayd... | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Awards, Careers, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Diversity, Education, Families, General, Impact/Value, Performance, Singing, Symphonic, Venue

H&H presents a program of comedy, romance, intrigue, and beautiful music with this dramatic semi-opera and scenes from other Purcell works. Read more

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The Walden School Alumni Composers Forum

The Walden School Alumni Composers Forum

455 Fair Oaks St., San Francisco, CA 94110

Seth Brenzel |

Join us in San Francisco - bring friends and family for an afternoon of new music and discussion! Moderators: Alex Christie and Dana Jessen Performers: Katy Luo, piano Composers: Nick Benavides Alejandro Poler Loretta Notareschi Niko Korolog and more! Read more

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Vox Femina Los Angeles Presents No Ordinary Women

Vox Femina Los Angeles Presents No Ordinary Women

200 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012

GreenGal | Singing

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Time Remembered / Time Forgotten

Time Remembered / Time Forgotten

Pittsburgh, PA

BriGuySinger | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Community Outreach, Conducting, Diversity, Education, Families, General, Health, Impact/Value, Performance, Repertoire, Science, Singing, Social Media, Symphonic, Venue, Volunteer

The first concerts in the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh season entitled Time Voyagers will present a collection of choral works all dealing with time and the elements that affect us. Time Remembered/Time Forgotten features the Pittsburgh premiere of Robert S. Cohen’s Alzheimer’s Stories.  Also on this program are Howard Hansen’s Song of Democracy based on the poetry of Walt Whitman. The program finishes with a newly discovered SATB a cappella arrangement of the beautiful Vocalise of Sergei Rachmaninoff along with two new choral works from Diane Benjamin, Are We Not Your Family? and Remembering Read more

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Grace and Spiritus Chorale Auditions for 2012-2013 Season

Grace and Spiritus Chorale Auditions for 2012-2013 Season

254 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201

CHM |

  We add new voices to our chorus each year and invite interested singers to contact us for an audition for the 2012-13 Season on September 5, 12, or 19.  Read more

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Reston Chorale Art Show and Sale

Reston Chorale Art Show and Sale

Reston, Virginia

Sing4u | Fundraising

Reston Chorale Art Show and Sale Read more

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Post an event

Post an event

New York, New York

New York City L... | Singing

2012 Mini-Concert   Read more

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Dialogue

How Do You Use Research?

How Do You Use Research?

Anonymous | Research/Data

  What are some ways you have used research, such as the Chorus Impact Study, to benefit your chorus locally? Read more

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