For Singers

Chorus America champions the dedicated choral singer by developing online resources and tools to advance skills and promoting connections between singers. We recognize that choral singing is the most popular form of participation in the performing arts, that choral singers are active and engaged citizens, and that children who sing have greater academic success and social skills.

Articles

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

Kelsey Menehan | Adults/Seniors, Families, Impact/Value, Participation, Singing, Volunteer

The Berkshire Choral Festival is summer camp for adults who can't get enough of choral singing during the year. A first-time attendee shares her adventure in choral fantasy land. Read more

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Final Thoughts Before A Concert

Final Thoughts Before A Concert

An Interview with Craig Jessop

Chorus America Staff | Conducting, Rehearsal, Technique/Tool

Do you ever wonder what choral conductors think about after the last orchestra rehearsal before the big performance? Chorus America contributor Kelsey Menehan sat down with Craig Jessop at the Berkshire Choral Festival to find out. Read more

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Does Portable Music Isolate Listeners?

Does Portable Music Isolate Listeners?

Michael Shaughnessy | Impact/Value, Participation, Singing

How iPods are changing the dynamic of music-listener interactions. Read more

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Operas Move to the Silver Screen

Operas Move to the Silver Screen

Michael Shaughnessy | Audiences, Impact/Value, Singing

New ways of consuming opera performances may help reinvigorate the art form. Read more

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I Sincerely Regret to Inform You...

I Sincerely Regret to Inform You...

Anonymous | Participation, Profile

On being a choir reject. Read more

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The Letter Every Singer Wants to Receive

The Letter Every Singer Wants to Receive

Chorus America Staff | General, History, Participation

I don't know about you, but I have received at least one letter telling me that, no, I would not be singing in the chorus next year. So it was a great balm to read this post-audition letter from the late great choral director Robert Shaw to the members of one of his early choral groups, The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Read more

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A Young Singer's Olympic-Sized Adventure: Part One

A Young Singer's Olympic-Sized Adventure: Part One

Kelsey Menehan | Children/Youth, Health, Impact/Value, Profile

The Olympic Games always bring forth moving stories of athletes overcoming great odds to participate in this grand quadrennial event. This year there's another "Olympic" story, just as inspiring, not about an athlete, but about a 14-year-old singer named Gianna Horak. Read more

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Choruses in the Movies: Part One

Choruses in the Movies: Part One

Kelsey Menehan | Adults/Seniors, Impact/Value

Aged rock stars, protesting Estonians, South African orphans—all play starring roles in three films that sing of the power of choral communities. Read more

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Why People Who Hate Choral Music Love Carmina Burana

Why People Who Hate Choral Music Love Carmina Burana

Conductor Tom Hall on Why Its So Exciting

Chorus America Staff | Innovation, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

Since its premiere in 1937, Carl Orff's bawdy rollick through the fields and swamps of Love, Lust, and Booze has commanded the kind of following that rock bands dream of. Among the zipped up, stiffly starched giants of the choral repertoire, Carmina Burana is the bad girl who can't seem to keep her blouse buttoned. Read more

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Marilyn Horne's Second Act

Marilyn Horne's Second Act

Kelsey Menehan | Community Outreach, Education, Profile

Marilyn Horne, one of America's most celebrated opera stars, decided to shine the spotlight on the next generation. Read more

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Resources

Warm-Ups for What Ails You: Tuning Problems

Warm-Ups for What Ails You: Tuning Problems

Rebecca Achenbach | Singing, Technique/Tool

Improve your intonation with these exercises from choral conductor and voice teacher Rebecca Achenbach. Read more

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Warm-Ups for What Ails You: Vocal Fatigue

Warm-Ups for What Ails You: Vocal Fatigue

Rebecca Achenbach | Singing, Technique/Tool

Choral conductor and voice teacher Rebecca Achenbach offers simple warm-up exercises to help you keep singing and singing. Read more

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Kent Tritle on Monteverdi Vespers

Kent Tritle on Monteverdi Vespers

Kent Tritle | Conducting, Performance, Repertoire

Conductor Kent Tritle, who conducted Monteverdi's Vespers at the 2011 Berkshire Choral Festival, offers his insights on the challenges of singing this seminal choral work. Read more

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Kent Tritle: Choral Singing Is a "Health Club for the Soul"

Kent Tritle: Choral Singing Is a "Health Club for the Soul"

Kent Tritle | Health, Singing

Conductor Kent Tritle talks about power of choral music to change the world, the importance of taking choral music "into the trenches," and how older singers can keep their voices healthy and strong over many years of singing. Read more

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Virtual Voice Lesson: Singing Legato

Virtual Voice Lesson: Singing Legato

Shauna Fallihee | Rehearsal, Singing, Technique/Tool

In a series of video lessons, soprano soloist and voice teacher Shauna Fallihee guides you in the essential steps to freeing your natural voice and singing with ease. Read more

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Warm Up with the San Francisco Festival Chorale

Warm Up with the San Francisco Festival Chorale

Jimmy Kansau | Singing, Technique/Tool

Are you tired of the same rehearsal warm-ups every week? Do you want to try some different exercises for a change? Sing along with the San Francisco Festival Chorale. Read more

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Virtual Voice Lesson: Getting to Know Your Instrument

Virtual Voice Lesson: Getting to Know Your Instrument

Shauna Fallihee | Rehearsal, Singing, Technique/Tool

In a series of video lessons, soprano soloist and voice teacher Shauna Fallihee guides you in the essential steps to freeing your natural voice and singing with ease. Read more

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How Massage Can Benefit Singers

How Massage Can Benefit Singers

Chorus America Staff | Health, Singing

Have you ever considered that singing can be a remarkably athletic activity? According to Beth Keltz, a licensed massage therapist, singing requires just as much athleticism as playing baseball or football. Beth and colleague Carly Greenwood, who work with the singers at the Berkshire Choral Festival, explain the benefits of massage for singers. Read more

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Soloist Contract

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

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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Events

Two Rivers Chorale in concert - Aaron, Lenny and the Fabulous Four - Music by Copland, Bernstein and The Beatles

Two Rivers Chorale in concert - Aaron, Lenny and the Fabulous Four - Music by Copland, Bernstein and The Beatles

Arden Hills, MN

KNelsonMN | Singing

Two Rivers Chorale (TRC), under the baton of Timothy Sawyer, performs beloved choral musical selections by Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and the Beatles in concerts on Friday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina and Sunday, April 21, 3:00 p.m. at Benson Great Hall, Bethel University in Arden Hills. Read more

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Two Rivers Chorale in concert - Aaron, Lenny and the Fabulous Four - Music by Copland, Bernstein and The Beatles

Two Rivers Chorale in concert - Aaron, Lenny and the Fabulous Four - Music by Copland, Bernstein and The Beatles

Edina, MN

KNelsonMN | Singing

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Mississippi Valley Orchestra in collaboration with Chorus Polaris and Two Rivers Chorale presents Songs of Fate

Mississippi Valley Orchestra in collaboration with Chorus Polaris and Two Rivers Chorale presents Songs of Fate

Columbia Heights, MN

KNelsonMN | Singing, Symphonic

Mississippi Valley Orchestra, under the baton of Christina Chen-Beyers, presents Songs of Fate on Tuesday, February 12, at 7:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights in collaboration with Chorus Polaris, conducted by John Hoffacker and Two Rivers Chorale, conducted by Timothy Sawyer. Read more

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The Song From Withing

The Song From Withing

8516 Athabasca Street SE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Cantaré Childre... | Children/Youth

Cantaré Children’s Choir presents The Song from Within Deep within each of us is a song that we sing. It varies from time to time, moment to moment; songs of joy, songs of sadness, songs of contemplation and reflection, songs of dreaming of faraway places and times. Join Cantaré Children’s Choir and the Man Enough to Sing? participants for the songs from within. Saturday, March 9, 2013, 7:30 PM at McDougall United Church, 8516 Athabasca Street SE Tickets: $20 www.cantarechildrenschoir.org   Read more

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Man Enough to Sing?

Man Enough to Sing?

8516 Athabasca Street SE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Cantaré Childre... | Adults/Seniors

Man Enough to Sing? One rehearsal. One performance. Be part of this unique, fun and inspiring event with acclaimed Cantaré Children’s Choir Artistic Director, Catherine Glaser-Climie. Workshop, Saturday, March 2, 2013, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM and Concert, Saturday, March 9, 2013, 7:30 PM at McDougall United Church, 8516 Athabasca Street SE Calgary, Alberta Canada  Registration: $200 www.cantarechildrenschoir.org   Read more

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Toronto Mendelssohn Choir concert webcast

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir concert webcast

Toronto, Ontario

Toronto Mendels... | Audiences, Community Outreach

For choral music lovers across Canada, the U.S. and around the world, the TMC will webcast their performance of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle live at www.tmchoir.org as part of its outreach program.  Register online with an email and enjoy the concert from anywhere on Sat, Feb 9 at 3 pm ET, UTC -5. TMC webcasts are now flash and iPhone and iPad compatible.  Read more

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SING IN UMBRIA, ITALY, with JOSEPH FLUMMERFELT

SING IN UMBRIA, ITALY, with JOSEPH FLUMMERFELT

UMBRIA, ITALY

Paulo Faustini |

Choral singers needed for 12 choral & cultural program based in Spoleto, Italy  More information:  http://www.umbrianserenades.com/ Read more

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J.S. Bach: The Complete Motets

J.S. Bach: The Complete Motets

San Francisco, CA

Tricia Bell |

The San Francisco Bach Choir sings all 6 of Bach's gorgeous motets in one program! Read more

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Dialogue

Questions During Rehearsal?

Questions During Rehearsal?

Anonymous | Rehearsal, Singing

Singers, does your conductor allow questions during rehearsal? What are the pros and cons from your perspective? Read more

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