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

Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín

Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín

Thomas Sheets | History, Innovation, Performance, Profile, Repertoire, Singing

Performances of Verdi's Requiem by Jewish prisoners at the Terezín concentration camp inspire a present-day concert drama that explores the profround relationship between music and its performers. Read more

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Final Thoughts Before A Concert

Final Thoughts Before A Concert

An Interview with Craig Jessop

Chorus America Staff | Conducting, Rehearsal, Technique/Tool

Do you ever wonder what choral conductors think about after the last orchestra rehearsal before the big performance? Chorus America contributor Kelsey Menehan sat down with Craig Jessop at the Berkshire Choral Festival to find out. Read more

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Why People Who Hate Choral Music Love Carmina Burana

Why People Who Hate Choral Music Love Carmina Burana

Conductor Tom Hall on Why Its So Exciting

Chorus America Staff | Innovation, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

Since its premiere in 1937, Carl Orff's bawdy rollick through the fields and swamps of Love, Lust, and Booze has commanded the kind of following that rock bands dream of. Among the zipped up, stiffly starched giants of the choral repertoire, Carmina Burana is the bad girl who can't seem to keep her blouse buttoned. Read more

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Women in Choral Conducting: A Level Playing Field?

Women in Choral Conducting: A Level Playing Field?

Vivien Schweitzer | Careers, Children/Youth, Diversity, Governance

Men vastly outnumber women in orchestral conducting, but choruses tell a different story. What issues do women choral conductors face today? Read more

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When To Speak About Your Performance

When To Speak About Your Performance

Eric Booth | Audiences, Conducting, Performance

The goal of a concert is not to perform great music well, but to co-create personally relevant experiences together inside the music. Read more

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Marilyn Horne's Second Act

Marilyn Horne's Second Act

Kelsey Menehan | Community Outreach, Education, Profile

Marilyn Horne, one of America's most celebrated opera stars, decided to shine the spotlight on the next generation. Read more

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Choral Masterworks: Is Any One Version "The Best"?

Choral Masterworks: Is Any One Version "The Best"?

Chorus America Staff | Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

Choral conductor Tom Hall pulls back the veil on several well-loved choral works in this interview. Read more

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Singing with an Aging Voice

Singing with an Aging Voice

How Choristers and Choruses Can Address the Challenges Together

Kelsey Menehan | Adults/Seniors, Evaluation, Singing, Technique/Tool

As singers age, what used to be easy becomes harder—sustaining the high notes, singing through a phrase on one breath, doing a smooth crescendo and decrescendo. Here's a look at several strategies for overcoming the challenges of an aging voice. Read more

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Richard Westenburg: An Appreciation

Richard Westenburg: An Appreciation

Tom Hall | Conducting, Profile

Richard Westenburg, the founder of New York's famed chorus and orchestra, Musica Sacra, died of colon cancer on February 20, 2008. Westenburg had been an important fixture on the New York scene for more than 40 years. Read more

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David Lang on Hearing Music with Fresh Ears

David Lang on Hearing Music with Fresh Ears

David Lang | Audiences, Composing/Commissioning, Innovation, Performance, Profile

Composer David Lang tells about the creative vision of Bang on a Can: Take concerts apart and put them back together again so that music can be heard with fresh ears. Read more

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Resources

The Choral Works of Hamish MacCunn (1868–1916)

The Choral Works of Hamish MacCunn (1868–1916)

Jennifer Oates | Audiences, Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, History, Performance, Repertoire, Research/Data, Singing

This issue provides insight into the music of Hamish MacCunn, Scottish romantic composer, conductor, and teacher. Jennifer Oates gives us a complete listing of MacCunn's choral works, including audio file examples. Read more

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David Hamilton’s Music for Choir and Instrumental Ensemble

David Hamilton’s Music for Choir and Instrumental Ensemble

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Performance, Rehearsal, Repertoire, Singing

Research Memorandum Series No. 202 This issue provides insight into the music of David Hamilton, prolific composer and music educator from New Zealand. Jennifer Morgan Flory gives us a complete listing of Hamilton's works for choir and intstrumental ensemble. Read more

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John Corigliano's Of Rage and Rememberance

John Corigliano's Of Rage and Rememberance

Community and Ritual in the Age of AIDS

Chorus America Staff | Repertoire

American Choral Review 54 includes an analysis of John Corigliano's work inspired by the AIDS crisis as well as reviews of summer festivals. Read more

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The Choral Works of Stephen Chatman

The Choral Works of Stephen Chatman

Chorus America Staff | Conducting, Repertoire, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 201. This issue provides insight into the music of Stephen Chatman, internationally known Canadian composer and teacher. Graeme Langager gives us a complete listing of Chatman's published and unpublished choral compositions. Read more

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Renaissance and Baroque Performance Practice: Invaluable Resources for the Choral Conductor

Renaissance and Baroque Performance Practice: Invaluable Resources for the Choral Conductor

Chorus America Staff | Conducting, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 200. A thorough and definitive compilation of resources in Renaissance and Baroque performance practice spanning, approximately, the past 70 years. This issue provides a broad yet in-depth overview of the manifold issues faced by choral conductors in preparing performances of music from these time periods. Read more

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Navigating a Music Director Transition

Navigating a Music Director Transition

An Online Seminar

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Operations, Strategic Planning, Technology

Responding to survey data that revealed that 33% of responding conductors were founding directors that anticipated retiring from their ensembles within 5-10 years, Chorus America created this online seminar, Navigating a Music Director Transition. Packed full of video interviews with leaders in the field who have addressed this transition from all different roles (departing music director, incoming music director, board president, executive director, search committee member, etc.), as well as practical worksheets and tools, the 4-part seminar is a vital resource for any choruses anticipating an artistic change. Read more

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Kent Tritle on Monteverdi Vespers

Kent Tritle on Monteverdi Vespers

Kent Tritle | Conducting, Performance, Repertoire

Conductor Kent Tritle, who conducted Monteverdi's Vespers at the 2011 Berkshire Choral Festival, offers his insights on the challenges of singing this seminal choral work. Read more

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Arthur Farwell’s New York City “Song and Light Festival”

Arthur Farwell’s New York City “Song and Light Festival”

Chorus America Staff | Research/Data

American Choral Review 53.2 Read more

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Singer Audition Form

Singer Audition Form

Chorus America Staff | Evaluation, Operations, Recruitment, Sample/Template, Singing

A sample form for conductors to use when evaluating potential singers. Read more

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Orchestra Contract

Orchestra Contract

Chorus America Staff | Legal/Licensing, Operations, Performance, Sample/Template

Use this basic sample contract when your chorus is retained to perform by an orchestra. Read more

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Events

A Choral Tapestry

A Choral Tapestry

Chevy Chase, MD

Ed Stawick |

Voices 21 closes its thirteenth season with a program that weaves an array of musical selections into one beautiful choral tapestry on the human response to nature's beauty. Read more

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A Choral Tapestry

A Choral Tapestry

Columbia, MD

Ed Stawick |

Voices 21 closes its thirteenth season with a program that weaves an array of musical selections into one beautiful choral tapestry on the human response to nature's beauty. Read more

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USAFA Band & Colorado Springs Chorale

USAFA Band & Colorado Springs Chorale

190 South Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Colorado Spring... |

The Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance Military Affairs Council and Mike Shaw Buick-GMC present The 2013 Armed Forces Week Concert, “Call of the Champions.” The Armed Forces Week celebration is one of the largest of its kind in the country. The Concert features the United States Air Force Academy Band, performing a program of inspirational and patriotic music and song. In 2012, over 2,000 people attended this event. The concert is open to the public, and is FREE of charge, although tickets are required. Tickets are available at the Pikes Peak Center and World Arena box offices beginning May 3rd. Limit 4 tickets per person. Read more

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SA Choral Society presents Beyond the Horizon: Music of the 20th and 21st Century

SA Choral Society presents Beyond the Horizon: Music of the 20th and 21st Century

230 E. Travis Street, San Antonio, TX 78205

Gustavo Rios Jr | Adults/Seniors, Children/Youth, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Conducting, Diversity, Education, Families, Fundraising, Participation, Performance, Singing, Volunteer

  Season finalé featuring music of the 20th and 21st century.   Read more

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Cordus Mundi & Friends - June 9, 2013

Cordus Mundi & Friends - June 9, 2013

Solebury, PA

Rick Rosen | Performance

Bucks County, PA-based male acappella group Cordus Mundi presents Cordus & Friends, a collaborative concert. Read more

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New Hope - Solebury Community Choir - June 2, 2013

New Hope - Solebury Community Choir - June 2, 2013

New Hope, PA

Rick Rosen | Performance

New Hope-Solebury concludes Season #1 with a mixed program.   Read more

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PME’s A Cappella Jazz & Pop Concert

PME’s A Cappella Jazz & Pop Concert

2315 Durant Ave Berkeley, CA 94704

Dale Engle |

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PME’s A Cappella Jazz & Pop Concert

PME’s A Cappella Jazz & Pop Concert

1111 O'Farrell St San Francisco, CA 94109

Dale Engle |

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PME’s A Cappella Jazz & Pop Concert

PME’s A Cappella Jazz & Pop Concert

1970 Chestnut Street, Berkeley, CA

Dale Engle | Diversity

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ARS MUSICA CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA PRESENT Stravinsky & Bruckner: A Masterworks Concert: Themes of Psalms, Peace, and Salvation

ARS MUSICA CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA PRESENT Stravinsky & Bruckner: A Masterworks Concert: Themes of Psalms, Peace, and Salvation

6 S. Monroe St., Ridgewood, New Jersey

Ars Musica Choraloe | Composing/Commissioning

Ars Musica's Stravinsky &  Bruckner: A Masterworks Concert, conducted by Music Director Kelly Crandell will be performed at 8 pm on Saturday, June 8, 2013, at West Side Presbyterian Church,6 South Monroe St.,Ridgewood,NJ. It features Ars Musica's world premiere of "Longed-for Rain," by contemporary composer Martha Sullivan, who offers a preconcert talk at 7 pm. Purchase tickets at www.arsmusica.org or +1‑973‑628‑8793: $20 (advance); $25 day of concert; 12 and under, free. 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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