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

Events

Eric Whitacre and the Eric Whitacre Singers | Inspirations: North American Debut Tour

Eric Whitacre and the Eric Whitacre Singers | Inspirations: North American Debut Tour

North Bethesda, MD

DCINY | Audiences, Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Impact/Value, Performance, Professional, Singing

  Announcing the debut US tour of Eric Whitacre and his professional choir, the Eric Whitacre Singers in March 2013 – Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia and New York City. The programme will include recent works from Eric such as “Alleluia” and “The City and the Sea” as well as some of the greats of his catalogue, “When David Heard“, “A Boy and a Girl” and “Leonardo Dreams of his Flying Machine“. Other composers featured include Lauridsen, Monteverdi and Bach.     Read more

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Choral Conducting Master Class with Dr. Jan Harrington

Choral Conducting Master Class with Dr. Jan Harrington

Princeton, NJ

The Princeton F... | Adults/Seniors, Conducting, Education, General, Performance, Rehearsal, Technique/Tool

This 5-day professional choral conducting master class will offer practical rehearsal strategies, choral warm-up ideas, and sessions on performance issues, score study and preparation, creating compelling performances, and readings of new and recently published choral literature for choirs of all levels. Read more

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The Collegiate Chorale presents: Symphony No. 7 “Toltec” and Oceana

The Collegiate Chorale presents: Symphony No. 7 “Toltec” and Oceana

New York City

emilymt | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Performance

The Collegiate Chorale announces the New York Premieres of two works by major composers: Symphony No. 7 “Toltec” by Philip Glass and Oceana by Osvaldo Golijov, featuring international jazz vocalist Biella Da Costa and the American Symphony Orchestra. Read more

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Harpsichord & Vocal Recital and Wine & Cheese Reception

Harpsichord & Vocal Recital and Wine & Cheese Reception

San Francisco, CA

Tricia Bell | Performance

Benefit for the San Francisco Bach Choir Read more

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SA Choral Society presents The Choral Works of Brahms

SA Choral Society presents The Choral Works of Brahms

205 James St., Boerne, TX 78006 & 227 W. Woodlawn Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212

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

This season we are proud to be a part of the 2013 Brahms Festival, sponsored by the San Antonio Symphony. Read more

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Music of the Soul

Music of the Soul

Westborough

Robert Eaton | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Children/Youth, Families, General, Performance, Schools, Singing

The Peaceable Kingdom- Randall Thompson With Algonquin Regional High School Chamber Singers- Kathrine Waters, Director Five Hebrew Love Songs- Eric Whitacre Dark Night of the Soul- Ola Gjeilo The intensity and starkness of The Peaceable Kingdom provides sharp contrast with the tenderness and intensely moving Five Hebrew Love Songs. Gjeilo merges voices, piano, and violin into symphonic waves of lush sonorities which plunge the listener deep into their soul and leaves one awe struck with wonder. Read more

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Voices of Light: The Passion of Joan of Arc

Voices of Light: The Passion of Joan of Arc

Southborough, MA

Robert Eaton | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Education, General, History, Impact/Value, Innovation, Performance, Singing, Technique/Tool, Technology

Voices of Light merges the legendary silent film masterpiece The Passion of Joan of Arc, widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, with a live performance of a ravishing score by award-winning composer Richard Einhorn. An incredibly moving composition for solo voices, chorus and orchestra, Voices of Light has been hailed as "a triumph" (Los Angeles Times) and "an overwhelming experience" (Chicago Tribune). Read more

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"BROADWAY AT THE 92Y" Chorus concert  February 10, 2013

"BROADWAY AT THE 92Y" Chorus concert February 10, 2013

1395 Lexington Avenue, New York NY

Broadway at 92Y... | Performance

The concert will include songs from KISS ME KATE, DESERT SONG, THE FULL MONTY, GUYS AND DOLLS, SHE LOVES ME, and a special tribute to Marvin Hamlisch. Read more

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J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Kauffman Center in Kansas City

J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Kauffman Center in Kansas City

Kansas City, MO

Spire Chamber E... | Professional

J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion Spire Chamber Ensemble Sunday, March 24, 7:00 pm Period Performance featuring the Spire Baroque Orchestra and Soloists from the Choir Read more

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Sing For Their Supper Concert

Sing For Their Supper Concert

1000 Elm Street, Glenview, IL 60025

Sheryl1017 | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Community Outreach, Conducting, Families, Fundraising, General, Participation, Performance, Singing

A mid-winter concert to shake off the chill!  To benefit the Northfield Township Food Pantry.  Come enjoy solo voices performing music from the Sally Clonts Memorial Music Library, Bill Dawson playing bassoon, a vocal octet, two selections by the Chancel Choir, directed by Stephen Blackwelder - even a Sing Along Sound of Music! 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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