Management & Governance

Chorus America strengthens the governance, management, marketing, fundraising, and operations of choruses by providing practical tools, templates, training, and strategies for its administrative and board leaders. We track the annual operations of choruses, identify best practices and assessment tools, and help our members build audiences for choral music.

Articles

Fresh Air, Fresh Ideas: Join us in Seattle!

Fresh Air, Fresh Ideas: Join us in Seattle!

Chorus America Staff |

The centerpiece of Chorus America’s professional development and training initiative, our annual Conference consistently receives rave reviews from our attendees. Over the course of four days, participants have the opportunity to attend plenary speeches, breakout sessions, banquets, and special performances that are sure to give you plenty of fresh ideas and strategies to use in your own chorus. Read more

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Member Spotlight; Melinda Pollack-Harris, Sing to Live Community Chorus, Chicago

Member Spotlight; Melinda Pollack-Harris, Sing to Live Community Chorus, Chicago

Kelsey Menehan | Adults/Seniors, Community Outreach, General, Health, Impact/Value, Participation, Performance, Singing, Volunteer

When Melinda Pollack-Harris was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, she needed music to face the challenge. That was the inspiration for Sing to Live Community Chorus for women, loved ones, and friends touched by cancer. Read more

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Going Viral: The Power of Video to Raise Your Chorus's Profile

Going Viral: The Power of Video to Raise Your Chorus's Profile

Kelsey Menehan | Audiences, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Fundraising, General, Impact/Value, Innovation, Marketing/Public Relations, Singing, Social Media, Technique/Tool, Technology

Plug the words “choir videos” into your search engine and you’ll get an astounding number of links (Google found 112,000,000. Yes, million.) Is your chorus among them? It could be—and more easily than you may think. Chorus America asked several choruses to tell us how they are making video a key part of their marketing strategy. Read more

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Learning Leadership

Learning Leadership

“More than just waving our hands”

Don Lee | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Management/Leadership, Professional, Strategic Planning, Technique/Tool

Many choral directors take on administrative responsibility with little formal preparation. Here are strategies to excel in the office and boardroom as well as the concert hall. Read more

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The Art of Strategic Alliances

The Art of Strategic Alliances

Matthew Sigman | Composing/Commissioning, Governance, Innovation, Management/Leadership, Strategic Planning, Technique/Tool

When do partnerships add value and when do they distract from a chorus’s mission?  Philadelphia’s venerable Mendelssohn Club explores the spectrum of collaboration, from artistic to administrative. Read more

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10 New Ways Your Chorus Can Use Facebook and Twitter

10 New Ways Your Chorus Can Use Facebook and Twitter

Lauren Rosenthal | Audiences, Education, Marketing/Public Relations, Social Media, Technology

Whether your chorus is a 150-member children's choir or an eight-member a cappella group, social media can be a powerful tool for staying in touch with your members and your audience. Here are some new ideas to help keep your Facebook and Twitter presence fresh. Read more

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The Art of Strategic Alliances: Best Practices

The Art of Strategic Alliances: Best Practices

Matthew Sigman | Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Governance, Innovation, Professional, Strategic Planning, Technique/Tool

Considering a strategic alliance? You might also want to consider these best practices drawn from the major findings of the Mendelssohn Club's Strategic Alliances study featured in the article "The Art of Strategic Alliances" by Matthew Sigman. Read more

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Member Spotlight: Erica Battle, Detroit Children’s Choir

Member Spotlight: Erica Battle, Detroit Children’s Choir

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Diversity, Education, General, Innovation, Management/Leadership, Operations, Schools

In Detroit, music and arts organizations are pooling their resources to buy management expertise. That's how Erica Battle, a certified public accountant, stepped into her position as executive director of the Detroit Children's Choir. Here she talks with Chorus America about the shared services model that has been successful in Detroit, her new role, and her recent experience at October's Chorus Management Institute. Read more

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The Changing World of Communications

The Changing World of Communications

Communications director Robin L. Perry reflects on how the tsunami of technology has changed the way organizations communicate.

Gayle Ober | CA News, Careers, Innovation, Marketing/Public Relations, Social Media

With this issue of The Voice, editor Robin L. Perry says farewell. After 12 years at Chorus America, she is taking on a new challenge, working with her father on a biography, which will involve a move to California. Chorus America has been the beneficiary of Robin's expertise, creativity, and hard work. She leaves us with a terrific base on which to grow and we wish her all the best in her new venture. I asked her to reflect on her tenure as director of communications and to share with readers her perspectives on how communications have changed during that time. Read more

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10 Tips for Engaging Your Board

10 Tips for Engaging Your Board

Don Lee | Fundraising, Governance, Management/Leadership, Operations

It's really the staff's job to position the board to do their best work―and most of that boils down to excellent communication and clarity of expectations. Read more

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Resources

Fundraising Plan Outline

Fundraising Plan Outline

Chorus America Staff | Finance, Fundraising, Operations, Sample/Template

The most effective choruses plan out their annual fundraising; use this outline as a starting place. Read more

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Finance Scavenger Hunt

Finance Scavenger Hunt

Chorus America Staff | Finance, Sample/Template, Technique/Tool

Developed by an executive director, a treasurer, and a lawyer, this handout walks through the basics of sound financial management and how to read financial statements. A great primer for new board members! Read more

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Conflict of Interest Policy

Conflict of Interest Policy

Chorus America Staff | Governance, Legal/Licensing, Management/Leadership, Sample/Template

Use this policy template to ensure that your chorus is in compliance with tax requirements. Read more

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Choral-Orchestral Engagements

Choral-Orchestral Engagements

Survey Results and Best Practices

Chorus America Staff | Community Outreach, Legal/Licensing, Operations, Performance, Research/Data, Sample/Template, Symphonic, Technique/Tool

This 2004 whitepaper provides practical guidance on the unique issues choruses face in working with orchestras for concert engagements. Based on data gathered from Chorus America's symphonic chorus members, it also provides a sample contract and budget to use when negotiating your engagement. Read more

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Children's Chorus Recruitment Case Study

Children's Chorus Recruitment Case Study

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Recruitment, Technique/Tool

Developed after in-depth interviews with 20 children's choruses, this case study attempts to address common barriers and pre-conceptions about the recruitment issue. Read more

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Bylaws Template (USA)

Bylaws Template (USA)

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

Use these sample by-laws to get your new chorus off the ground, adding in any clauses required by your state legislation. (USA only) Read more

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Bylaws Checklist (Canada)

Bylaws Checklist (Canada)

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

Use this checklist to ensure that your chorus' by-laws include all the necessary components. (Canada only) Read more

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Budget Template

Budget Template

Chorus America Staff | Finance, Operations, Sample/Template

This Excel spreadsheet template provides a guideline for building a basic budget, including allocating expenses and income across the calendar year. Read more

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Board Member End-of-Term Questions

Board Member End-of-Term Questions

Chorus America Staff | Evaluation, Governance, Management/Leadership, Technique/Tool

Use this questionnaire at the end of each board member's term. Read more

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Board Member Agreement

Board Member Agreement

Chorus America Staff | Governance, Sample/Template

Use this sample agreement to help ensure successful board recruitment by laying out clear expectations and responsibilities for each incoming board member. Read more

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Events

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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Chorus Management Institute  2012

Chorus Management Institute 2012

Indianapolis, IN

Chorus America Staff |

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DeKalb Choral Guild Gala Celebration

DeKalb Choral Guild Gala Celebration

Sandy Springs, GA

DeKalb Choral Guild | Fundraising

Black Tie Gala celebration in support of the DeKalb Choral Guild -your premier community chorus in DeKalb County GA.  Read more

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Fundraiser for The Northern Virginia Chorale

Fundraiser for The Northern Virginia Chorale

12193 Fair Lakes Promenade Dr., Fairfax VA

Susanne Cook | Fundraising

  The Northern Virginia Chorale will have a fundraiser at Barnes and Noble, 12193 Fair Lakes Promenade Dr., Fairfax, VA, on March 17, 2012.  We will be performing between 10 AM and 2 PM.  There will be activities for children:  face painting and bookmark making, and also members will read to the children.  The music and activities will have a St. Patrick's theme.  We appreciate your support at any time that day (and for five days thereafter online) by using our voucher #10683035, which will give the Chorale a percentage of sales. Read more

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Dialogue

Age Discrimination?

Age Discrimination?

Anonymous |

Giving ticket discounts to seniors and students is a widespread practice, but should we be concerned about age discrimination? Read more

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