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

Bridging Cultural Divides: Can Choruses Lead the Way?

Kelsey Menehan | Civic Engagement, Diversity, Education, Impact/Value, Participation, Recruitment

Many types of organizations are tackling issues of diversity. Patricia Moore Harbour, who has facilitated a number of these discussions in a process that she describes as the Transformative Learning Experience, believes arts organizations, especially choruses, may start out ahead of the game. Read more

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Working with the Music Director

Chorus America Staff | Conducting, Governance, Management/Leadership

Artistic leadership of a chorus is both an individual balancing act and a highly collaborative endeavor. Read more

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How to Choose Chorus Apparel

Lawana Holland | Marketing/Public Relations, Operations, Performance

Finding the right look for your chorus is no easy undertaking. Here's a look at the questions you should consider before making a decision on what your chorus should wear on stage. Read more

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Executive Burnout

Heidi Waleson | Careers, Governance, Health, Management/Leadership

The steady drumbeat of long hours, incessant financial pressure, poor board relationships, and lack of access to professional training take their toll on chorus executives. Here are strategies and perspectives on striking a better balance. Read more

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Is Your Chorus Ready To Tour?

Choruses and Tour Companies Share Their Wisdom

Kelsey Menehan | Finance, Operations, Performance, Venue

Every summer, countless choruses hit the road, offering up their musical gifts in venues across the globe and conferring many benefits to the chorus and its singers. Here are questions to ask before planning your first—or next—tour. Read more

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Fundraising On the Day After

Karen Deans | Fundraising, Governance

The past decade seems to have had more than its fair share of natural disasters and tragedies. In the aftermath of a major event, how should your chorus approach its fundraising activities? What do you say to those who challenge the idea of funding the arts at a time of great social need? Read more

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10 Questions to Organize Your Day

Managing Time So You Have More of It

Douglas Patti | Careers, Management/Leadership, Operations

If your day is spent managing a chorus, then you know all too well how Murphy’s Law and the ongoing needs of your staff and board can exacerbate the ability to get your own work done. Read more

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Attracting the Average Joe

Ann Meier Baker | Audiences, Innovation

Attracting audiences is not just about marketing. Savvy choral leaders know to always look for new ideas to refresh the concert presentation. Read more

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In the Board Room, Culture Counts

Nancy R. Axelrod | Evaluation, Finance, Governance, Management/Leadership

All the accountability checks in the world won't prevent lousy decisions if board members, managers, and artistic leaders lack teamwork and communications chemistry. Cultivate a healthy culture that brings out the best group traits of your board. Read more

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Do Choral Concerts Need To Be More Visual?

Sandra Bernhard | Audiences, Innovation, Marketing/Public Relations, Repertoire

Stage director Sandra Bernhard and conductor Stephen Coker consider ways choruses might enhance the concert experience by using visuals and storytelling techniques. Read more

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Resources

Navigating a Music Director Transition

An Online Seminar

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Operations, Strategic Planning, Technology

Responding to survey data that revealed that 33% of responding conductors were founding directors that anticipated retiring from their ensembles within 5-10 years, Chorus America created this online seminar, Navigating a Music Director Transition. Packed full of video interviews with leaders in the field who have addressed this transition from all different roles (departing music director, incoming music director, board president, executive director, search committee member, etc.), as well as practical worksheets and tools, the 4-part seminar is a vital resource for any choruses anticipating an artistic change. Read more

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Nonprofit Chorus Self-Evaluation Tool

Chorus America Staff | Evaluation, Governance, Legal/Licensing, Operations, Strategic Planning, Technique/Tool

A comprehensive evaluation tool for choruses that addresses nine areas: organizational purpose, programs & evaluation, governance, planning, fundraising, financial stability & transparency, marketing & public relations, human resources, and operations & facilities. Each section's questions are organized from legal minimums to best practices. Read more

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Chorus Operations Survey Report (2011)

Roland Kushner | Evaluation, Finance, Fundraising, Governance, Management/Leadership, Marketing/Public Relations, Operations, Research/Data, Technique/Tool

Chorus America's annual survey of the operations of choruses, the Operations Survey Report includes more than 40 different analyses, from number of board meetings to board giving, from ticket pricing to chorus dues amounts, from accompanist pay practices to marketing efficiency. The 2011 report features data from the 2009-2010 season. Read more

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Strategic Plan Template

Chorus America Staff | Governance, Sample/Template, Strategic Planning

Use this template as a guide for your chorus. Read more

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Soloist Contract

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

Use this basic sample letter of agreement to hire vocal or instrumental soloists (or a guest ensemble). Read more

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Singer Information Form

Chorus America Staff | Operations, Recruitment, Sample/Template, Singing

Use this template as a guide for collecting useful information about new and returning singers during auditions. Read more

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Singer Handbook Table of Contents

Chorus America Staff | Operations, Performance, Rehearsal, Sample/Template, Singing

Most choruses provide singers with a handbook for participation; use this sample table of contents to make sure you haven't forgotten any policies. Read more

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Orchestra Contract

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

Use this basic sample contract when your chorus is retained to perform by an orchestra. Read more

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Music Director Search Audition Evaluation Form

A Sample from the Dessoff Choirs

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Evaluation, Management/Leadership, Operations, Recruitment, Sample/Template

A rating form for singers to use when evaluating all potential conductors during a search. Read more

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Music Director Search Audition Evaluation Form

Template for Evaluating Finalists

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Evaluation, Management/Leadership, Operations, Recruitment, Sample/Template

A rating form for singers to use when evaluating conductors who have been identified as finalists during a music director search. 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