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

What Every Chorus Should Know About Its Singers

What Every Chorus Should Know About Its Singers

Chorus America Staff | Impact/Value, Management/Leadership, Participation, Singing, Volunteer

What do choral singers wish their chorus managers and music directors knew about them? What would make singers' experience in the chorus more enjoyable, more meaningful, more fun? Read more

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Boys to Men: Singing Through Voice Change

Boys to Men: Singing Through Voice Change

Chloe Veltman | Children/Youth, Education, Health, Participation, Schools, Singing

An influx of new programs are beginning to recognize the value of keeping boys singing—through changing voices and for a lifetime. Read more

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Keeping Singers Well: Exercise and Sleep

Keeping Singers Well: Exercise and Sleep

Matthew Sigman | Health, Singing

When your body is the instrument, it's imperative to keep it in tip-top shape with good exercise habits and the right amount of sleep. Read more

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Keeping Singers Well: Hydration

Keeping Singers Well: Hydration

Matthew Sigman | Health, Singing

While it is ultimately the responsibility of the singer to stay properly hydrated, it's not always so easy. Read more

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Why the Bach Passions Are Problematic

Why the Bach Passions Are Problematic

Tom Hall | History, Performance, Repertoire

What is our responsibility as singers and as choruses when historic choral works are offensive, even hostile, to a whole group of people? Tom Hall, music director of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, discusses Bach's St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion. Read more

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Spotlight on Eric Whitacre

Spotlight on Eric Whitacre

Kelsey Menehan | Composing/Commissioning, Innovation, Profile, Repertoire, Singing

We take a look at the man behind the cluster chords: how Eric Whitacre arrived at a life in music, and the ups and downs he's encountered along the way. Read more

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Selecting Music for Diverse Audiences

Selecting Music for Diverse Audiences

An Interview with Julian Wachner

Chorus America Staff | Audiences, Conducting, Innovation, Profile, Repertoire

With so many music directors juggling multiple podiums, choosing repertoire that meets the specific needs of each chorus and the audience in that community takes on special significance. Read more

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The Rise of A Cappella

The Rise of A Cappella

An Interview with CASA Founder and Sing-Off Producer Deke Sharon

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Community Outreach

Choral music—especially a cappella choral music—is more popular than ever it seems. Chorus America sat down with Deke Sharon, founder of the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) and a producer of NBC's The Sing-Off, to get the inside scoop behind the a cappella choral music movement and its current place in pop culture. Read more

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The Art and Science of Good Sound Design

The Art and Science of Good Sound Design

Michael Shaughnessy | Audiences, Performance, Technology

Whether your needs are as simple as amplifying announcements from the podium or as complex as balancing voices with instruments in a large space, paying attention to sound design can make or break your concert. Read more

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5 Tips for Performing Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil

5 Tips for Performing Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil

Alexander Ruggieri | Rehearsal, Repertoire, Singing, Technique/Tool

The All-Night Vigil doesn't last all night anymore, but doing what it takes to perform it well certainly can keep conductors and singers up nights. Here are five tips for conquering this masterpiece: Read more

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Resources

Events

Pacific Boychoir Performs Rachmaninoff’s Vespers at Grace Cathedral

Pacific Boychoir Performs Rachmaninoff’s Vespers at Grace Cathedral

San Francisco, CA

Pacific Boychoi... | Children/Youth

Every three years, the Grammy-winning Pacific Boychoir presents Rachmaninoff's epic All-Night Vigil, or "Vespers". First premiered by a boys choir in Moscow in 1915, the Pacific Boychoir became the first choir to reproduce the original performing forces in 2007, when the San Francisco Classical Voice said “The sheer sonic experience was chilling.” Along with Wesley Rogers as tenor soloist, the Bay Area’s finest choral tenors and basses augment the choir, which will number 90+ male voices to present Rachmaninoff ’s masterpiece. Also on the program is Arvo Pärt's The Beatitudes, with guest organists Ben Bachmann (May 24), and Rudy de Vos (May 25). Read more

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Pacific Boychoir Performs Rachmaninoff’s Vespers at Cathedral of Christ the Light

Pacific Boychoir Performs Rachmaninoff’s Vespers at Cathedral of Christ the Light

Oakland, CA

Pacific Boychoi... | Children/Youth

Every three years, the Grammy-winning Pacific Boychoir presents Rachmaninoff's epic All-Night Vigil, or "Vespers". First premiered by a boys choir in Moscow in 1915, the Pacific Boychoir became the first choir to reproduce the original performing forces in 2007, when the San Francisco Classical Voice said “The sheer sonic experience was chilling.” Along with Wesley Rogers as tenor soloist, the Bay Area’s finest choral tenors and basses augment the choir, which will number 90+ male voices to present Rachmaninoff ’s masterpiece. Also on the program is Arvo Pärt's The Beatitudes, with guest organists Ben Bachmann (May 24), and Rudy de Vos (May 25). Read more

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Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage: Beethoven; A Sea Symphony: Vaughan Williams

Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage: Beethoven; A Sea Symphony: Vaughan Williams

57th Street and 7th Avenue

New York Choral... |

Experience the power and majesty of the sea through the music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Each turned to a great poet, Goethe and Whitman, respectively, to depict the sea as a symbol of the unity of the world’s peoples and ocean travel as a metaphor for mankind’s journey of self-discovery. Award-winning stage and screen star Kathleen Turner will introduce Ralph Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony. Read more

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San Gabriel Valley Choral Company Presents "Mystic Voices"

San Gabriel Valley Choral Company Presents "Mystic Voices"

101 Foothill Blvd., Monrovia, CA 91016

San Gabriel Val... | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, CA News, Community Outreach, Conducting, Diversity, General, Performance, Repertoire, Singing

"Our 'Mystic Voices' concert explores themes of mysticism and spirituality in three parts,” said SGVCC’s Artistic Director Zanaida Robles. “Part one serves as an invocation, featuring music of various composers that invite listeners to be still, to be open, and to be transported. Part two features 'Five Mystical Songs' by Ralph Vaughan Williams - the main course in this feast of music and mysticism.  Part three is an affirmation of the spirit in a mix of African American spirituals and gospel music." Read more

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Feel the Spirit: Spirituals from African-American and other traditions

Feel the Spirit: Spirituals from African-American and other traditions

2121 Harrison St Oakland, CA

Dale Engle | Performance, Singing

Performance of African-American Spirituals has become a cornerstone of PME’s identity. Reflecting the full range of spiritual music, this concert will be full of contemplation, stillness, and shouting for joy! Read more

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Feel the Spirit: Spirituals from African-American and other traditions

Feel the Spirit: Spirituals from African-American and other traditions

401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA

Dale Engle | Performance, Singing

Performance of African-American Spirituals has become a cornerstone of PME’s identity. Reflecting the full range of spiritual music, this concert will be full of contemplation, stillness, and shouting for joy! Read more

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Coro Allegro ... in time of war

Coro Allegro ... in time of war

Cambridge, MA

Coro Allegro |

Coro Allegro, a chorus for members and friends of the LGBT communities, affirms, strengthens, and enriches the lives of its members and the broader community through the presentation of outstanding performances of classical choral music. Read more

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ProMusica Arizona presents "A Night with Stradivarius"

ProMusica Arizona presents "A Night with Stradivarius"

Phoenix, Arizona

yvonne dolby | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Children/Youth, Families, General

ProMusica Arizona Chorale & Orchestra(PMAZ) is partnering with celebrated violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn to present “A Night with Stradivarius.”  The signature artist performs in partnership with one of the world’s most legendary instruments, the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius of 1720, said to have inspired the Academy Award-winning film “The Red Violin.” The event is a milestone for PMAZ—the group’s first concert in Phoenix’s beautiful and historic Orpheum Theatre, as well as its first collaboration with an artist whose performance credits include the great concert halls of the world. The concert is also the first appearance by the artist in Arizona.            Read more

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ProMusica Arizona presents "A Night with Stradivarius"

ProMusica Arizona presents "A Night with Stradivarius"

Phoenix, Arizona

yvonne dolby | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Children/Youth, Families, General

ProMusica Arizona Chorale & Orchestra(PMAZ) is partnering with celebrated violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn to present “A Night with Stradivarius.”  The signature artist performs in partnership with one of the world’s most legendary instruments, the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius of 1720, said to have inspired the Academy Award-winning film “The Red Violin.” The event is a milestone for PMAZ—the group’s first concert in Phoenix’s beautiful and historic Orpheum Theatre, as well as its first collaboration with an artist whose performance credits include the great concert halls of the world. The concert is also the first appearance by the artist in Arizona.            Read more

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Community Show Choir "Hitmakers" Performance, June 15

Community Show Choir "Hitmakers" Performance, June 15

2707 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77098

Houston Choral ... | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Civic Engagement, General, Participation, Performance, Repertoire, Singing, Venue, Volunteer

  The Houston Choral Showcase "Hitmakers" Spring Show will be June 15, featuring choral arrangements of hits from the 1950s to the present day and including some hot-off-the-press 2013 Oscar winners. 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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