Conducting & Performing

Chorus America advances the artistry of choruses by providing masterclasses for choral conductors, sessions on repertoire and performance practice, convenings of artistic directors, research on conducting careers and transitions, information on performance trends and innovations, and forums for discussion of artistic issues.

Articles

On Tour with the Eric Whitacre Singers

On Tour with the Eric Whitacre Singers

Kelsey Menehan | Audiences, Conducting, Performance, Repertoire, Singing, Venue

The Eric Whitacre Singers recently made its debut U.S. tour in March, organized and presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY.) Chorus America asked four of the Singers to provide some insight into life on the road, performing in American venues, and working with a choral "rock star."    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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Conductor's Corner: Tips for Healthy Rehearsals

Conductor's Corner: Tips for Healthy Rehearsals

Kelsey Menehan | Conducting, Health, Rehearsal, Singing, Technique/Tool

As wonderful and therapeutic as choral singing can be, the rehearsal process is sometimes stressful for both singers and conductors. Here are a few ideas for creating a hospitable and healthy space that enhances the body, mind, and spirit of all involved.  Read more

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Member Spotlight: Dominick DiOrio, Composer and Choral Conductor, Indiana University

Member Spotlight: Dominick DiOrio, Composer and Choral Conductor, Indiana University

Kelsey Menehan | Composing/Commissioning, Education, General, Impact/Value, Innovation, Participation, Performance, Professional, Singing

Dominick DiOrio is one of the youngest people ever to be hired on the conducting faculty at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He leads the Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, a 30-member auditioned ensemble that specializes in music of the last 50 years. Chorus America talked to DiOrio about his own compositions and his passion for finding and performing the music of contemporary composers. Read more

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Can Everybody Sing?

Can Everybody Sing?

Singer and Composer Melanie DeMore Says Yes!

Kelsey Menehan | Audiences, Community Outreach, Conducting, Diversity, Participation, Performance, Rehearsal, Singing, Technique/Tool

Singer and composer Melanie DeMore enjoys nothing more than gathering together a group of people and forming a spontaneous choir. “I think that singing in a community allows people to have a certain bigness that they cannot have in a solitary way,” she says. In this Chorus America interview, DeMore talks about the importance of spreading the gift of choral singing far and wide.  Read more

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Member Spotlight: Jerry Rubino, Voices of Experience, Minneapolis

Member Spotlight: Jerry Rubino, Voices of Experience, Minneapolis

Kelsey Menehan | Adults/Seniors, Community Outreach, Conducting, Education, General, Health, Professional, Singing, Symphonic

After 23 years of many roles with the Dale Warland Singers, including associate conductor, Jerry Rubino is leading a new "artistically ambitious" choir of seniors called Voices of Experience. Chorus America talked to Rubino about what he calls his "ministry" of music—how he encourages singers to bring their full, expressive selves to singing. Read more

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Celebrating the Life of Diane Loomer, C.M. 1940-2012

Celebrating the Life of Diane Loomer, C.M. 1940-2012

Chorus America Staff | Careers, General, Profile

On December 10th, the choral world lost one of its celebrated and respected choral conductors. Diane Loomer died in Vancouver, Canada after a short illness. She was 72. Here Chorus America board members Susan Knight and Leonard Ratzlaff remember their colleague and friend. Read more

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Remembering Dave Brubeck

Remembering Dave Brubeck

Tom Hall | Careers, Composing/Commissioning, General, Impact/Value, Profile

Music director and radio host Tom Hall remembers his friend and colleague, jazz musician Dave Brubeck, who passed away just short of his 92nd birthday. Read more

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Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem

Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem

An Act of International Reconciliation

Dr John Evans | Audiences, Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, History, Impact/Value, Performance, Repertoire

As the world celebrates the centenary of this central figure of 20th century classical music, noted scholar John Evans illuminates the power and impact of his great choral-orchestral work. Read more

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Conductor's Corner: When What You Say Is Not What You Get

Conductor's Corner: When What You Say Is Not What You Get

Axel Theimer | Adults/Seniors, Conducting, Education, Performance, Rehearsal, Research/Data, Singing

Do you feel like the instructions you are giving your singers in rehearsal are not getting the desired result? Conductor Axel Theimer, the founder and artistic director of the Twin Cities-based Kantorei, has developed new approaches that align with research on how humans learn best. Consider his strategies for putting your singers at ease and tapping into their abilities. Read more

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Resources

Choral-Orchestral Engagements

Choral-Orchestral Engagements

Survey Results and Best Practices

Chorus America Staff | Community Outreach, Legal/Licensing, Operations, Performance, Research/Data, Sample/Template, Symphonic, Technique/Tool

This 2004 whitepaper provides practical guidance on the unique issues choruses face in working with orchestras for concert engagements. Based on data gathered from Chorus America's symphonic chorus members, it also provides a sample contract and budget to use when negotiating your engagement. Read more

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Choral Conductors Today: A Study

Choral Conductors Today: A Study

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Management/Leadership, Recruitment, Research/Data

Chorus America interviewed more than 700 conductors about their career paths, levels of education, salary, job satisfaction, and more in 2005. The resulting data provides a profile of the "typical" choral conductor that may be surprising. Read more

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Additional content: Ambassadors of Peace

Additional content: Ambassadors of Peace

Kelsey Menehan | Community Outreach, Impact/Value, Profile, Repertoire, Singing

Examples of concert programming that are designed on themes of peace or reconciliation. Partner piece to "How Choruses Have Become Ambassadors of Peace." Read more

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28 American Master Choral Composers

28 American Master Choral Composers

A Repertoire and Recording Listing to Support NEA's American Masterpieces

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Government/Policy, Repertoire

Celebrating America's greatest choral composers, this publication provides repertoire and recording lists for 28 composers from Billings to Whitacre. Read more

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Commissioning Timeline

Commissioning Timeline

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, Operations, Sample/Template

Commissioning a new work? Follow this two-year timeline to help plot out which steps you should take when. This timeline is appropriate for a work that does not involve complicated instrumental requirements or multiple movements. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: Sample Search Timeline

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Sample Search Timeline

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Operations, Sample/Template, Strategic Planning

A sample timeline to help with music director search planning. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: Readiness Quiz

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Readiness Quiz

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Operations, Strategic Planning, Technique/Tool

Is your chorus ready for a founder transition? This 9-question quiz will help you determine the answer. Read more

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Events

Highland Park Chorale and Orchestra

Highland Park Chorale and Orchestra

Dallas, TX

Greg Hobbs | Performance

Missa in Angustiis Franz Joseph Haydn Sunrise Mass Ola Gjeilo Read more

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A Boy Called King

A Boy Called King

100 Northern Ave., Boston, MA, 02210

Ileana Maria | Audiences, Children/Youth, Community Outreach, Composing/Commissioning, Diversity, Performance, Singing

World Premiere: "A Boy Called King" is a turbulent love story exploring many interesting themes. Daniel Roumain is the composer, and the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston is hosting the performance. Read more

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Breath of Inspiration: An evening of Gospel, Classical, Jazz and More!

Breath of Inspiration: An evening of Gospel, Classical, Jazz and More!

111 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

iris@DCINY.org | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Children/Youth, Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Diversity, Education, Families, General, Marketing/Public Relations, Participation, Performance, Repertoire, Schools, Singing, Symphonic, Venue

An evening of triumphant music! Members of Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and Gwen Wyatt Chorale (CA) provide an entertaining palette of unique genre-bending sounds. From Gospel to Classical, these passionate, energetic artists perform with a supreme gusto and enthusiasm that is sure to delight and entertain audiences of all ages and tastes.   Read more

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Central City Chorus presents "Now is the Month of Maying"

Central City Chorus presents "Now is the Month of Maying"

W. 87th St., between Broadway and West End Ave., New York, NY

Central City Ch... |

New York City's Central City Chorus and Music Director Phillip Cheah proudly present Now Is the Month of Maying, an evening of madrigals and part-songs to celebrate Spring, on Saturday, June 1, 2013, 8 pm, at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, W. 87th St., between Broadway and West End Avenue, New York, NY, 10024.  The program includes works by Morley, Byrd, Wilbye, Farmer, Stanford, Grainger, Saint-Saëns, and P.D.Q. Bach (the nefarious brainchild of musical satirist Peter Schickele).   Read more

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Angel City Chorale 20th Anniversary Concerts

Angel City Chorale 20th Anniversary Concerts

Los Angeles, CA

Green Gal | General

Angel City Chorale will commemorate its first two decades in song with special reunion concerts on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, 2013. The Angel City Chorale 20th Anniversary Concerts will feature the West Coast premiere of Grammy Award-Winning Composer Christopher Tin’s Calling All Dawns. Read more

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Choral Arts presents Life Stories: The Choral Music of Eric Barnum

Choral Arts presents Life Stories: The Choral Music of Eric Barnum

Seattle, WA

Choral Arts | Audiences, Children/Youth, Community Outreach, Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Education, General, Performance, Repertoire

An extraordinary concert devoted to the luminous harmonies and deep spirituality of one of America's foremost choral composers, Eric Barnum. This program features many of Barnum's most alluring works and includes the Seattle premiere of "Human Heart", performed as a combined finale with six exceptional student choirs. During the evening, Choral Arts will also premiere "Chronologic", its annual Finding Your Voice poetry contest commission. For more information visit: http://www.choral-arts.org/concerts/life-stories.html Read more

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IT'S OUR PARTY! A SWEET/SASSY 16 PARTY

IT'S OUR PARTY! A SWEET/SASSY 16 PARTY

200 South Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Vox Femina Los ... | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, CA News, Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Diversity, Education, Families, General, Performance, Schools

MISSION: Vox Femina Los Angeles gives women voice through the performance of quality choral literature. Diverse in culture, age, race, belief and sexual identity, we are a chorus committed to commissioning new works and raising awareness about issues that affect us as a family of women. Through music, we aim to create a world that affirms the worth and dignity of every person. Read more

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La hija de Rappaccini

La hija de Rappaccini

Brooklyn, NY

emilymt | Performance

GOTHAM CHAMBER OPERA presents La hija de Rappaccini Mondays, June 17 and 24, 2013 at 7pm At Brooklyn Botanic Garden Read more

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Bucks County Choral Society

Bucks County Choral Society

5175 Cold Spring Creamery Road, Doylestown, PA 18902

Leland Felt | Performance

BUCKS COUNTY CHORAL SOCIETY Thomas Lloyd, Artistic Director 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT   Read more

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Verdi's Requiem

Verdi's Requiem

190 South Cascade Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Colorado Spring... |

G. Verdi's Requiem Guests of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic with assistance from the Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble,  Soli Deo Gloria, and the Taylor Choir of Grace and St. Stephens Episcopal Church Read more

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Dialogue

Questions During Rehearsal?

Questions During Rehearsal?

Anonymous | Rehearsal, Singing

Conductors, do you let your singers ask questions during rehearsal? What are the pros and cons? Read more

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