Learning Leadership

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

10 New Ways Your Chorus Can Use Facebook and Twitter

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...Read more

10 Tips for Engaging Your Board

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

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

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

The Art of Strategic Alliances

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

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

On Broccoli and Strategic Planning

How Chorus America Ate Its Green Vegetables

Todd Estabrook | Governance, Management/Leadership, Strategic Planning

Most of us react to strategic planning like kids encountering strange green foodstuffs—we don't like it even if it is good for us! Here's how Chorus America tackled the job, and more importantly, why. Read more

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Should Board Members Be Required to Give Money?

Matthew Sigman | Finance, Fundraising, Governance, Participation

Assembling the ideal board is less about fundraising prowess and more about about balancing the right components. Read more

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You've Reached an Organizational Impasse—Now What?

A Children's Chorus Case Study

Chorus America Staff | Children/Youth, Community Outreach, Governance, Management/Leadership

A children's chorus manager is at at an impasse in moving her organization forward with the ambitious artistic plans for future growth. Several experts weigh in on how she should proceed. Read more

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Recruitment Strategies for Children's Choruses

Jan-Marie Petersen | Children/Youth, Community Outreach, Recruitment, Schools, Social Media

Growing challenges in recruiting singers has led to creative tactics and new successes Read more

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Never Ask for Money!

Four Steps To Greater Fundraising Success

Kelly Ruggirello | Fundraising, Governance, Management/Leadership, Recruitment

A values-based strategy that aims to match donors with ways that they can give back to their communities—and removes the ego factor that can make fundraising scary. Read more

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Guerilla Concerts

Susan Swaney | Audiences, Community Outreach, Innovation, Marketing/Public Relations

Singing is an anywhere, anytime activity in many parts of the world. There, it's not something you go to—it's something you are. What if we took music out into the world rather than always asking people to come to it? One ensemble endeavors to do just that by taking choral music to the most unlikely places. Read more

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Get the Media Attention Your Chorus Deserves

Kathy Bonk | Audiences, Marketing/Public Relations

Getting the word out to your local media is one of the best ways to ensure that arts patrons and the public know about the good work your chorus is doing. Here are tips for getting your chorus activities and performances noticed. Read more

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Important Rights and Permission Resources

Chorus America Staff | Legal/Licensing, Technique/Tool

A list of websites and resources to use to ensure that your chorus stays on the right side of legal. Read more

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CD or Not CD

Matthew Sigman | Legal/Licensing, Marketing/Public Relations

On the internet all choruses are equal: Even the smallest ensemble with limited resources can now establish a global presence using digital technology to spread its sound. Here we offer some advice on how to decide which sound format is best for your chorus. Read more

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The Crowd Snores

Brian Kellow | Audiences, Community Outreach, Innovation, Marketing/Public Relations

Are we chasing audiences with marketing and theatrics at the expense of real engagement? Some observations and lessons from the world of opera. Read more

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Resources

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

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

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Indianapolis, IN

Chorus America Staff |

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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

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