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

A Capital Farewell for Norman Scribner

A Capital Farewell for Norman Scribner

Robin L. Perry | Conducting

DC's "dean" of choral conductors steps down and reflects on a career that spanned a half century in the U.S. capital Read more

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When Only Some Singers Are Paid

When Only Some Singers Are Paid

Don Lee | Management/Leadership, Performance, Professional, Singing, Volunteer

The experience of several professional core choruses demonstrates there are ways to gracefully handle the inherent tension that arises when paid singers are brought on board in a mostly volunteer ensemble. Here are eight tips from managers, conductors, and volunteer singers who have been through this process. Read more

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Transitioning to a Professional Core Chorus

Transitioning to a Professional Core Chorus

Don Lee | Management/Leadership, Performance, Professional, Singing, Volunteer

Adding paid professional singers to a volunteer chorus raises issues of fairness, finances, artistic prowess, and culture. We offer advice for managing the process from those who've been through it. Read more

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Member Spotlight: KellyAnn Nelson and Christopher Eanes & the Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati

Member Spotlight: KellyAnn Nelson and Christopher Eanes & the Young Professionals Choral Collective, Cincinnati

Kelsey Menehan | Civic Engagement, Impact/Value, Participation, Performance

Many young professionals lose the choral experience they loved in school. KellyAnn Nelson and Christopher Eanes hit on a surefire draw: Invite 20- and 30-somethings to rehearse and perform in a local bar. Read more

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How To Maintain the Quality of Your Chorus from Year to Year

How To Maintain the Quality of Your Chorus from Year to Year

Kelsey Menehan | Conducting, Management/Leadership, Performance, Recruitment

Musical excellence attracts and retains excellent singers. If the choir never gets better, the best ones will find someplace else to sing. Here are seven strategies for maintaining and enhancing the quality of your chorus. Read more

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Creating a Conducting Video

Creating a Conducting Video

An Essential Part of a Conductor's Portfolio

David Hayes | Careers, Conducting, Education, Performance, Professional, Technique/Tool, Technology

Videos play a vital role in advancing the careers of conductors today, both as self-evaluation tools and as a way to easily showcase skills to others. We explore two types of conducting videos, the guidelines to create them, and how to use them to enhance your career. Read more

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Choral Music on the Radio

Choral Music on the Radio

A New Blend

Don Lee | Audiences, Impact/Value, Performance, Repertoire, Technology

Today's radio programmers are moving past the bad rap of early research and experimenting with a richer mix of choral and vocal music. Read more

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Chicago a cappella: Leveraging Repertoire To Build a Brand

Chicago a cappella: Leveraging Repertoire To Build a Brand

Matthew Sigman | Community Outreach, Marketing/Public Relations, Repertoire

A journey through the history of Jewish liturgical music alters a chorus’s path to the future. Read more

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Music To Die For: Why We Love Requiems

Music To Die For: Why We Love Requiems

Kelsey Menehan | Composing/Commissioning, Repertoire

From the sweet lyricism of Fauré to the populism of Brahms to the theatricality of Verdi, requiems remain the favorites of singers, conductors, and audiences alike. We talked with Kathy FitzGibbon, director of choral activities at Lewis and Clark College and head of faculty at the Berkshire Choral Festival, about the enduring appeal of requiems and the modern interpretations they have spawned. 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

The Complete Conductor: Orchestral Conducting for the Choral Director

The Complete Conductor: Orchestral Conducting for the Choral Director

New York City

Jeffery Thyer | Conducting, Education, General, Networking, Performance, Professional, Rehearsal, Repertoire, Technique/Tool

The Complete Conductor: Orchestral Conducting for the Choral Director is an intensive program for choral directors to gain more experience in working with an orchestra. Read more

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ELIOGABALO

ELIOGABALO

New York City

emilymt | Performance

Gotham Chamber Opera continues its 2012-2013 Season with ELIOGABALO (1667) by Francesco Cavalli. This production of Eliogabalo will be staged by James Marvel and produced in cooperation with Randy Weiner (Sleep No More) in one of New York’s most decadent nightspots: The Box, on the Lower East Side. Read more

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Masterworks at San Roque - Mozart and Beethoven

Masterworks at San Roque - Mozart and Beethoven

Santa Barbara, CA

John A. Lynn |

  ·         JoAnne Wasserman, Conductor ·         Alexander Wasserman, Guest Artist, Piano ·         Mozart: Grand Mass in C Minor ·         Beethoven: Choral Fantasy   Artistic Director and Conductor JoAnne Wasserman will lead pianist Alexander Wasserman and members of the Choral Society in performances of Mozart’s Grand Mass in C Minor and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy.     Date & Time:     Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 3 p.m. New pre-concert event: Dr. Stephen Dombek presents a lively discussion about the music 30 minutes before each performance (for ticketholders). Location:            San Roque Catholic Church – 3200 Calle Cedro, Santa Barbara   Cost:                   $20 in advance; $25 at the door; $20 seniors/students (all tickets). For group discounts, call 965-6577.   Tickets are available online at www.sbchoral.org and at Chaucer’s Books or call (805) 965-6577. Read more

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Santa Barbara Choral Society Presents Handel’s Messiah/Holiday Concert

Santa Barbara Choral Society Presents Handel’s Messiah/Holiday Concert

3200 Calle Cedro, Santa Barbara, CA

John A. Lynn | Audiences

  Let the power of 100 singers uplift you as the Santa Barbara Choral Society presents Handel’s Messiah Part 1 in a special holiday concert. Giving voice to the deepest sentiments of the holidays, the Santa Barbara Choral Society, soloists and orchestra, will fill the brilliantly resonant space of San Roque Catholic Church with sounds of comfort and joy.    Artistic Director JoAnne Wasserman will lead soprano Celeste Tavera, mezzo-soprano Diana Tash, tenor Ben Brecher, and Music Academy alum, bass DeAndre Simmons, along with the Santa Barbara Choral Society orchestra and the members of the Choral Society in the performance of Handel’s Messiah Part 1, and evocative arrangements of traditional holiday texts from chant to contemporary. Following the Messiah Part 1, the second half of the concert features some new pieces that the Choral Society has never performed before as well as several traditional holiday pieces.    Date: Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 3 p.m. Location:  San Roque Catholic Church – 3200 Calle Cedro, Santa Barbara Cost: $20 – in advance (all tickets); $25 – adults at the door; $20 – seniors/students - $20 For group discounts call (805) 965-6577   Tickets are available online at www.sbchoral.org and at Chaucer’s Books. Read more

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Handel's Messiah (Period Performance) in Kansas City

Handel's Messiah (Period Performance) in Kansas City

Mission, KS & Kansas City, MO

Spire Chamber E... |

Handel's Messiah (Period Performance) Period Performance featuring the Spire Baroque Orchestra and Soloists from the Choir Read more

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New York City Master Chorale: Tenors Wanted

New York City Master Chorale: Tenors Wanted

New York, NY

elee | Diversity, General, Participation, Performance, Professional, Recruitment, Rehearsal, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic, Volunteer

The New York City Master Chorale, a 70-member classical chorus, is auditioning tenors with significant choral experience and strong sight-reading skills. Auditions for the spring 2013 season will be held in January 2013. Rehearsals are held Wednesday evenings in Manhattan. Repertoire this spring will be Poulenc Gloria and Stabat Mater. Spring concerts include a spring concert and a March performance as part of Trinity Wall Street’s Concerts at One series. To schedule an audition please contact info@nycmasterchorale.org. For more information about the chorus and to listen to audio clips of the chorus, please see www.nycmasterchorale.org.   Read more

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Star of the East - Christmas Concert

Star of the East - Christmas Concert

Chicago, Il

Oak Park Concer... |

The Oak Park Concert Chorale (OPCC), led by director Paul Lindblad, will present Star of the East. Join us for an evening of choral gems to herald the Christmas Season.  Three newly commissioned works by Paul Bouman, Carl Schalk and Harvey Hahn will be the centerpiece of this inspiring concert which also features carols from the Medieval, Baroque and 20th Century.   We hope you will be able to be with us for this festive Christmas concert! It will be an evening to remember. Read more

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Immortal Bach

Immortal Bach

New York, NY 10024

Central City Ch... |

A concert of music written and inspired by J.S. Bach and his contemporaries.  Works include Bach's motets Komm, Jesu, komm; and Jesu, meine Freude; Knut Nystedt's Immortal Bach; and works by Schutz, Mendelssohn, Rheinberger, Hassler, and others. Tickets at the door, $25 / $20 seniors.  Tickets in advance:  $20 (by email request to CentralCityChorus@gmail.com). For more information, visit our website, www.CentralCityChorus.org. Read more

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World Holiday Celebrations

World Holiday Celebrations

5, Thomas Circle Washington, DC 20005

Children's Chor... | Children/Youth, Families, Performance

Please join us and explore the winter celebrations from around the world through the beautiful repertoire performed by the finest children's chorus in our nation's capital, winner of the “Best Choral Group” Wammie Award by the Washington Area Music Association! Read more

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Show Choir 80th Anniversary Holiday Concert

Show Choir 80th Anniversary Holiday Concert

8300 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024

Houston Choral ... | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, General, History, Participation, Performance, Singing, Venue, Volunteer

  Houston Choral Showcase celebrates 80 years of singing with a fun-filled holiday show at 3pm on Sunday, December 16th, at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 8300 Katy Freeway in the Memorial Area. This community show choir will present jazzy arrangements of holiday tunes, songs from favorite Christmas movies, holiday classics old and new, comedy, and more. The choir has previously used the names of Greater Houston Chorus and Houston Community Chorus, and any former members in attendance at the show will be invited on stage for a special time of recognition. Tickets for this performance are $15 at the door, with discount pricing for advance purchase online. http://www.houstonchoralshowcase.org. 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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