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

Best Little-Known Choral Recordings

Best Little-Known Choral Recordings

Helene Whitson | Repertoire, Singing

Choral music sleuth Helene Whitson has sifted through used CD bins and trolled the Internet to bring you some of the hidden gems of the choral repertoire. Read more

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Eric Whitacre Speaks Out

Eric Whitacre Speaks Out

An Interview With Choral Music's Rock Star

Kelsey Menehan | Composing/Commissioning, Education, Impact/Value, Innovation, Profile, Social Media

Eric Whitacre muses on how he gets inspired to compose, his special connection with young people, and what he thinks about the future of choral music. Read more

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What Is "Shape-Note" Singing?

What Is "Shape-Note" Singing?

Elisabeth Higgi... | History, Repertoire, Singing, Technique/Tool

In this musical tradition, singers read a variety of different note shapes—each one corresponding to a different syllable: fa, so, la, or mi. Read more

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Inside Conspirare: A Different Kind of Chorus

Inside Conspirare: A Different Kind of Chorus

Kelsey Menehan | Composing/Commissioning, Innovation, Performance, Repertoire

Choruses have a real chance to be innovators and maybe help lead the way for all the arts. Read more

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A Performance of a Lifetime

A Performance of a Lifetime

Children's Choruses Sing at Barack Obama's Inauguration

Jan-Marie Petersen | Children/Youth, History, Profile

Children's choruses from San Francisco sang for millions at the inauguration ceremony of President Barack Obama. Here's what happened on that historic day. Read more

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A Conversation with Craig Hella Johnson

A Conversation with Craig Hella Johnson

Chorus America Staff | Conducting, Innovation, Performance, Repertoire

We sat down with Conspirare founder and artistic director Craig Hella Johnson to get the inside scoop on how the group came to be and the magic behind their success. Read more

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Ligeti in Winter

Ligeti in Winter

Gregory Boals | Audiences, Impact/Value, Rehearsal, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

Much in the same way you might stop and get to know your neighbors during a snowstorm, a difficult piece can draw singers together in solidarity amdist the flurry of notes. Read more

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Conquering the B Minor Mass

Conquering the B Minor Mass

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Rehearsal, Repertoire, Technique/Tool

The Bach B Minor Mass takes Olympian fortitude to learn and perform. In this interview with conductor and historian Dennis Shrock, we take a look at the history of the work and what singers can do to make the performance experience easier on themselves. Read more

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Where You Lead, They Will Follow

Where You Lead, They Will Follow

An Interview with Sir David Willcocks

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, History, Profile, Rehearsal

Famed conductor Sir David Willcocks speaks about his special love of choral singing and of choral singers through his experience as director of music at King's College, Cambridge and of the Royal College of Music's Bach Choir. Read more

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He Changed Choral Music in Canada

He Changed Choral Music in Canada

Chronicling Elmer Iseler's Impact

Walter Pitman | Conducting, History, Profile

Ten years after his death, a new book about conductor Elmer Iseler examines his legacy on choral music not just in Canada but throughout the choral music field. Read more

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Resources

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Orientation Materials Checklist

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Orientation Materials Checklist

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

A checklist of documents and organizational background to prepare for the incoming music director. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: Developing a Communications Plan

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Developing a Communications Plan

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Marketing/Public Relations, Sample/Template, Strategic Planning, Technique/Tool

A worksheet to help choruses communicate to all constituents in the event of an artistic founder transition. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: Determining Your Organizational Direction

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Determining Your Organizational Direction

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

Thirteen questions to help determine the future of the chorus when an artistic founder transition is imminent. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: Building Your Search Budget

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Building Your Search Budget

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

Searching for new artistic leadership requires its own budget. This list of income and expense considerations will help. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: Annual Employee Performance Evaluation Guidelines

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Annual Employee Performance Evaluation Guidelines

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

Ten helpful guidelines to help establish a healthy annual performance review process for the music director of your chorus. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: Action Plan Matrix

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Action Plan Matrix

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

A worksheet to help choruses plan for founding artistic leadership transitions. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: 4 Tips for Building Your Board

'Music Director Transition' Tool: 4 Tips for Building Your Board

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Recruitment, Strategic Planning

A founder transition requires strong leadership from the board. Is your board ready? Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: 3 Key Transition Questions

'Music Director Transition' Tool: 3 Key Transition Questions

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

Questions to answer as you begin a founding music director transition. Read more

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The Choral Music of Ruth Watson Henderson

The Choral Music of Ruth Watson Henderson

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Repertoire, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 198 Read more

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Events

Haydn In Paris

Haydn In Paris

Boston, MA

Handel and Hayd... | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, General, Professional, Repertoire

Under Harry Christophers' expert hands, Haydn comes to life in a program that showcases one of his Paris Symphonies, The Bear, a festive and jubilant work commissioned by a Parisian orchestra in the 1780s. H&H's fiery and expressive Concertmaster, Aisslinn Nosky, returns to the spotlight after the smashing success of her Vivaldi The Four Seasons performances in 2012. Read more

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Purcell The Indian Queen

Purcell The Indian Queen

Boston, MA

Handel and Hayd... | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Conducting, General, Performance

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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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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Susquehanna Chorale "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi

Susquehanna Chorale "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi

500 Walnut St., Harrisburg, PA

Susquehanna Cho... | Audiences

Hear the drama as the Susquehanna Chorale appears with Stuart Malina and the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra to bring this popular Italian opera to life in a passionate concert performance. Read more

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Susquehanna Chorale "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi

Susquehanna Chorale "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi

500 Walnut St., Harrisburg, PA

Susquehanna Cho... | Audiences

Hear the drama as the Susquehanna Chorale appears with Stuart Malina and the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra to bring this popular Italian opera to life in a passionate concert performance. Read more

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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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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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