About the Conference experience
How late can I register online?
I am thinking of attending the Conference for the first time. What should I know?
Why should I come to Atlanta?
What will my Conference registration fee get me?
What do I do when I first arrive at the Conference?
What events will Chorus America provide transportation to/from?
Is it possible to share a hotel room with another Conference delegate to save money?
What meals are included in the Conference and what will I have to pay for myself?
After you’ve registered / for your planning
Where can I find an ATM machine?
When would you suggest traveling?
How do I find out where a specific Conference event is located?
Where do the Conference events take place?
Where can I find a map of Conference venues?
What should I wear at the Conference?
What is the cancellation policy?
Using this website / online registration
How do I navigate this website?
How are event listings organized?
I can’t see the “Back” or “Next” buttons on the registration form. What should I do?
Do I have to have a PayPal account to register online?
What information is new on the site or recently updated?
How to Contact Chorus America
How late can I register online?
Online registration for new attendees will remain open through June 9. After that, registration will only be offered on-site in Atlanta. For more details, visit the Conference Registration Information page.
I am thinking of attending the Conference for the first time. What should I know?
The Chorus America Conference is a unique experience with plenty of “bang for your buck.” Our Conference is small enough that you’ll find many veterans of the choral field—well-known composers, conductors, artistic leaders, executive directors, development staff, board members, exhibitors, and others—right there with you. One of the hallmark components of the Conference that is not often found at other professional conferences is our popular Buttonhole consultations. All Conference attendees have the opportunity to have a 20-minute one-on-one conversation with a leader in the choral field; all you have to do is sign up at the Conference!
Just starting out as a choral leader? For the first time ever, we are offering our popular “101 course” on running a chorus, the Chorus Management Institute, during the Conference. Click here to learn more.
There are several dynamic plenary sessions which gathers all the Conference delegates and a wide range of breakout sessions for you to choose from, in addition to plenty of networking events and performances. You are sure to leave the Conference inspired with new energy and ideas.
What will my Conference registration fee get me?
The Conference registration fee alone gets you access to a number of wonderful events, including:
- Five dynamic plenary sessions
- Over 25 breakout sessions on artistic and programming topics, fundraising, marketing, audience development, board development, strategic planning, finance, recruitment, and more! Also, take a look at programming themes like African American Choral Music and Celebrating Robert Shaw and a special Mozart Requiem Conducting Masterclass with Norman Mackenzie and Robert Spano
- Access to the exhibit area, where you can meet and greet choral business vendors
- Three networking receptions including a reception in the Exhibit Area, a post-concert opening reception on Wednesday, June 16, and a cocktail reception (cash bar) on Friday, June 18
- Two peer group meetings
- Access to buttonholes – one on one meetings with arts experts
- The opportunity to participate in Chorus America’s popular Chorus Management Institute—click here for information on how to register
Additionally, we offer you a number of great can’t-miss opportunities to enrich your Conference experience:
- Your choice of four pre-Conference in-depth seminars on Wednesday, June 16 ($65 for any)
- Centerpiece concert with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on Wednesday, June 16 (tickets are $56, $38, and $27)
- Spivey Hall Dinner & Concert with Spivey Hall Children’s Choir and Morehouse College Glee Club and Alumni on Thursday, June 17 ($25 includes a general admission concert ticket, dinner, and transportation)
- Awards Banquet with Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus on Friday, June 18 ($85)
- Closing Luncheon & Annual Meeting with Allison Vulgamore and a special guest performance ($45)
What do I do when I first arrive at the Conference?
Check in at the registration table, which will be clearly marked. If you have not already registered online by the time you arrive, you must do so onsite. At the registration table, you will need to check in and pick up your Conference notebook, bag, nametag, and other materials. Chorus America staff and volunteers will be on-hand to answer any additional questions you may have.
What events will Chorus America provide transportation to/from?
Don’t worry about how to get to or from Conference events; you should just plan for getting to and from the hotel at the beginning and end of the Conference. For the Wednesday night concert and reception, and Thursday shared sessions with the League of American Orchestras and the Thursday evening Spivey Hall Dinner and Concert, we will provide transportation. As long as you follow the directions in the Conference notebook, we’ll get you to and from each event. More details about transportation to off-site events will be provided soon – we will update the Travel/Lodging page with the most recent information and it will be included in the Conference notebook that you receive upon registration.
Is it possible to share a hotel room with another Conference delegate to save money?
Yes, if you indicated that you were interested in being placed the “roommate search” list on the registration form, you will receive contact information for others who did so as well about every two weeks leading up to the Conference and you can make your own arrangements. If you would like to receive the latest list, please contact adina@chorusamerica.org.
What meals are included in the Conference and what will I have to pay for myself?
For your planning purposes, here is a breakdown of the meals over the course of the Conference for most delegates:
Wednesday, June 16
- Breakfast: on own
- Lunch: on own
- Pre-Dinner: Reception in Exhibit Area
- Dinner: on own
- Post-Concert: Opening Night Reception
Thursday, June 17
- Breakfast: coffee and breakfast pastries available
- Lunch: the Thursday Peer Group Meetings during lunchtime. $20 box lunches are available for purchase – on the registration form and onsite. CMI Track participants will receive a complimentary box lunch during their session.
- Dinner: Spivey Hall Dinner & Concert, $25 includes a general admission concert ticket, dinner, and transportation.
Friday, June 18
- Breakfast: coffee and breakfast pastries available
- Lunch: on own, except for Emerging Leaders Meeting [more info coming soon!]
- Pre-Dinner: Cocktail Reception – cash bar
- Dinner: Awards Banquet & Auction – $85
Saturday, June 19
- Breakfast: coffee and breakfast pastries available
- Lunch: Closing Luncheon & Annual Meeting – $45
- Dinner: on own
We encourage you to bring snacks, if needed. There are a number of restaurants and stores in the area immediately surrounding the Conference hotel. Please visit the Travel and Lodging page for restaurant listings and information, including a map of restaurant locations.
If you have any dietary restrictions that we should be aware of, please indicate so on your registration form or contact office manager Adina Sklare.
Where can I find an ATM machine?
There is an ATM in the lobby of the hotel. ATMs are also widely available in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta and we encourage you to also check your bank’s website for ATMs and branch locations.
When would you suggest traveling?
The exact timing of the sessions is subject to change, but if you would like to take advantage of an in-depth session, you should plan to arrive at the hotel to register by noon on Wednesday, June 16. To attend the opening Plenary session that afternoon, you should plan to arrive for registration by 3:00pm.
In terms of departure on Saturday, June 19, the African American Choral Music: Capstone Event will end by 4:30pm. The last CMI session will end by 6:30pm.
How do I find out where a specific Conference event is located?
Inside the Conference notebook that you will receive at registration you will find a schedule of events which will include location information as well as maps and directions to help you make your way. If you cannot find a specific event at the time of the event, Chorus America staff and volunteers will be at the registration area and at all Conference events to assist you.
Where do the Conference events take place?
Most of the Conference events will take place at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, but a few events will take place at locations offsite, like Woodruff Arts Center, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, and Spivey Hall. We will provide more transportation information about these events soon and post it on the Travel & Lodging page.
If you require special arrangements for off-site events, check the “Please contact me to discuss transportation, dietary, or other special needs” box on the registration form or contact Adina Sklare at 202.331.7577 x244.
*Please note that there are numerous Hyatt hotels in the Atlanta area and there are even four Hyatt hotels on a street named Peachtree (two on Peachtree Street, two on Peachtree Road). There are even two Hyatt hotels in Buckhead . If you are taking a taxi, please tell them that you are at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. It is close to a major intersection of Peachtree Road NE and Piedmont Road NE.
Where can I find a map of Conference venues?
View Chorus America Conference 2010 – Atlanta in a larger map
For more information about nearby restaurants, including a map of restaurant locations, please visit the Travel and Lodging page.
What should I wear at the Conference?
Conference dress is business casual. Atlanta temperatures in June average 76° F. You may want to dress in layers, however, because hotels are well-known for their temperature fluctuations. The Awards Banquet & Auction is business or cocktail attire.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations must be received in writing by June 4, 2010 in order to qualify for a refund. A $100 registration fee will be deducted for each refund processed before June 4. After that date, no refunds will be issued. Attendee substitutions are accepted, but please notify the Chorus America office as soon as possible to ensure proper name badge and attendee listings.
How do I navigate this website?
Start by clicking on “Schedule” on the lefthand navigation menu. This will open the Schedule-at-a-Glance in a new window and give you a bird’s-eye view of the overall organization of Conference events. We have designed the site so that you can keep the schedule window open while you browse. When you click on links in the Conference schedule, it will open in your original window—if you are having trouble, make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser.
As you browse Conference events, you will see at the bottom of most event descriptions that they are tagged by type of event as well as topic. To browse similar events, you can click on those tags. In the lower lefthand navigation column, you can also click on a type of event, use the dropdown menu under Events by Theme and Peer Group, or search for terms to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Instead of looking at Conference events by type, you may also choose to look at the growing list of presenters, speakers, and performers; these bios are also linked to the events with which a presenter, speaker or performer is affiliated.
How are event listings organized?
When you click on a type of event or choose from the dropdown menu under Events by Theme and Peer Group, the event descriptions that appear are organized chronologically according to the Conference schedule, so an event occurring on Friday morning will appear underneath an event occurring Thursday night.
In the case of certain event types, a general description may appear at the top of the list. For example, when you click on African American Choral Music, a general description appears at the top of the page, followed by the descriptions of specific events organized chronologically by when they occur during the Conference.
I can’t see the “Back” or “Next” buttons on the registration form. What should I do?
Your computer’s resolution may be set lower so that the entire form is not viewable on your screen. The Conference registration form—and entire Conference website, in fact—is best viewed using Internet Explorer 8 or above and at a screen resolution of 1024×768 or higher. If you are using a PC and IE 8 or Firefox, you can press F11 to go to full-screen mode, and this should allow you to see the entire form. You can also try using the arrow keys on your keyboard to scroll down the page (even though the scrollbars are not visible).
If you need to change your screen’s resolution in Windows, right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose Properties, then click the Settings tab. By moving the slider in the middle of the dialog to the right, you should be able to select a higher resolution.
If you’re still having trouble, you may contact us by email to service@chorusamerica.org.
Do I have to have a PayPal account to register online?
No, you don’t. PayPal will process a credit card for you online if you don’t have a PayPal account. However, if you prefer, you may always download the paper registration form and send it back by fax (202.331.7599) or by email to service@chorusamerica.org.
What information is new on the site or recently updated?
02/10/2010 – Conference website launched
03/05/2010 – Additional details and speaker posted on The Shifting Sands of Demand
03/11/2010 – Posted additional details on how to register for the CMI Track
03/15/2010 – Additional details and speaker posted on Closing Luncheon & Annual Meeting
03/18/2010 – Additional details and speakers posted on New Research that Matters for the Arts Sector Overall
03/28/2010 – Added more detailed information on travelling to the Conference hotel
03/31/2010 – Added new FAQs and information relevant to new Conference attendees; reorganized entire FAQ page
04/05/2010 – Included Conference venues Google map on FAQ
04/12/2010 – Posted Google map, restaurant list, and links for nearby restaurants on Travel/Lodging page and posted additional information on various Breakout Sessions
04/13/2010 – CMI faculty members announced
04/20-28/2010 – Posted additional information on various Breakout Sessions and added new Day-by-Day Conference Schedule (PDF) which includes specific timing of events.
The Chorus America staff are here to assist you in any way we are able. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or problems not addressed on this page either by phone or email using the information listed below.
For phone inquiries addressed to particular topics, please call 202.331.7577 and enter the appropriate extension.
Auction, Sponsorships
- Catherine Dehoney, cdehoney@chorusamerica.org, x241
Concerts, Programming, Registration
- Jonas Cartano, jonas@chorusamerica.org, x247
Exhibiting, Student Scholarships
- Catherine Davies, catherine@chorusamerica.org, x240
Webmaster
- Katie Wanschura, katie@chorusamerica.org, x251
Please direct general inquiries to service@chorusamerica.org. Have a question you think belongs on our FAQ? Email us and let us know!
