Hosted by The Washington Chorus Robert Shafer, Music Director

29th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
A Triumph

Record-setting attendance and spectacular June weather added to the success of the 29th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., June 7-11, hosted by The Washington Chorus. More than 500 chorus leaders and local chorus volunteers gathered for four days of meetings, seminars, networking, exhibits, social events, and concerts, demonstrating a healthy future for the choral field. The theme, "Capital Ideas," was played out in many ways, from an enhanced program to countless opportunities to visit many of the area's world-famous sights, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Embassy of Finland, Cathedral of St. Matthew, Music Center at Strathmore, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, among others. Sponsorship was also at an all-time high, with Classical Movements as the lead sponsor.

Besides building on popular features from previous years, the 2006 Conference introduced some new and exciting elements, including a Capital Attraction, “From Archive To Artistry: The Holocaust Museum and the Making of the Holocaust Cantata.” Participants toured the museum and heard composer Don McCullough and musicologist Bret Werb describe how the museum’s archival fragments and research were used as the basis of McCullough’s Cantata.

The Opening Plenary, “Our Choral Capital,” was moderated by Ray Suarez of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and included comments about inclusiveness and diversity by Dr. Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock; reflections about the value of singing for young people by Francisco Núñez, founder and artistic director of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City; and a declaration of choral music pride by The Washington Chorus member Knight Kiplingerof Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. Dr. Barnwell also opened the session by leading the Morning Sing, mostly of rounds based on African melodies.

Diana Saez of Coral Cantigas opened Friday’s Plenary Session with a Morning Sing of Latin melodies, inviting a delegate to accompany her on drum while she played guitar. Friday’s keynote speaker Lynne Lancaster, author and co-founder of BridgeWorks, focused on generational differences and how choruses can incorporate this knowledge in making the most effective use of staff, volunteers, singers, and board members. Terry Knowles, executive director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, host for the 30th Annual Conference in Los Angeles, June 6-9, 2007, invited delegates to Los Angeles using a clever video invitation.

Judith Martin (“Miss Manners”), columnist and author, gave her expert advice on “ovation inflation,” “clap trap,” and other matters of chorus- and performance-related etiquette at the Annual Meeting and Luncheon. Former Chorus America chairman John Alexander, artistic director of the Pacific Chorale, engaged Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops, in a wide-ranging and witty Keynote Conversation during the Plenary Session on Saturday. Wayne Brown, director of music and opera at the National Endowment for the Arts, invited delegates to apply for NEA’s second round of grants for the American Masterpieces: Choral Music project, which was launched with a special performance entitled “America Sings” on June 11 at the Music Center at Strathmore. The free concert, produced in partnership with Chorus America under the artistic direction of Philip Brunelle, celebrated America’s rich choral tradition and featured 13 ensembles and more than 300 singers in a fast-paced kaleidoscope of music from the Revolutionary War to the present. NEA chairman also Dana Gioia addressed the audience, speaking about the importance of choral music and Chorus America’s vital role in choral the field.

Throughout the week, Conference delegates attended performances by outstanding local choruses. The Washington Bach Consort and the United States Army Chorus kicked things off with the Opening Night Concert at the beautiful Cathedral of St. Matthew. The National Symphony Orchestra, led by Leonard Slatkin, delivered the Centerpiece Concert at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with a rare performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 featuring a mass choir of singers from the Cathedral Choral Society, Children’s Chorus of Washington, Choral Arts Society of Washington, The Master Chorale of Washington, and The Washington Chorus. The Saturday Keynote Concert at the National City Christian Church included performances from the Woodley Ensemble, as well as the Children's Chorus of Washington.

More daily breakout sessions than ever before covered a wide range of topics, including marketing, fundraising, administrative and artistic issues, board development, children/youth chorus topics, and audience development. In-Depth Seminars played to capacity, covered vital topics, and were delivered by top experts in their fields, Douglas W. Kinzey (Successful Arts Marketing Strategies), Nancy Axelrod (Building Exceptional Boards), and Bud Beyer (The Conducted Moment: Lessons for the Conductor from Mime and Theater). Click here to view the
full Conference schedule of speakers and topics.

Valuable networking went on throughout the Conference in a variety of ways, including constituency group meetings, special interest group meetings, one-on-one Buttonhole Consultations with industry leaders, and various receptions where delegates could mingle and make new connections. Members of the choral community were recognized with Chorus America's prestigious annual awards [ See the Awards Press Release and Awards Photo Gallery]. And, as in past years, attendees proved very generous, contributing more than $22,000 towards the Conference Campaign to help support Chorus America’s important work. A matching grant offered mid-week by Hugh Davies of ACFEA Tour Consultants proved vital in reaching this record amount.

The Conference concluded with the Banquet & Auction and an inspired performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, as well as a surprise performance by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers of a commissioned work by Stephen Paulus.* With the help of an outstanding volunteer team headed by Julie Bussell and Lynda Crane, the Auction raised over $50,000 for Chorus America's programs.

[*The Paulus piece, commissioned in honor of Mike McCarthy, is set to “The Day is Done” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; the music is available from Paulus Publications, information@stephenpaulus.com.]

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