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

When Only Some Singers Are Paid

When Only Some Singers Are Paid

Don Lee | Management/Leadership, Performance, Professional, Singing, Volunteer

The experience of several professional core choruses demonstrates there are ways to gracefully handle the inherent tension that arises when paid singers are brought on board in a mostly volunteer ensemble. Here are eight tips from managers, conductors, and volunteer singers who have been through this process. Read more

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Mothers and Music Education: The Influence and the Impact

Mothers and Music Education: The Influence and the Impact

Jan-Marie Petersen | Families, History, Impact/Value, Singing

Mom. It's one little word, but such an enormous job. In celebration of mothers, we asked members of our Facebook page to tell us: "What impact did your mother have on your life in music?" Read more

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You’re Never Too Old To Sing

You’re Never Too Old To Sing

Leda Scearce | Adults/Seniors, Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

Is your voice, like your body, showing some age? Voice specialist Leda Scearce offers insights and tips for keeping your instrument agile and well tuned. Read more

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When Self-Criticism Interferes with Your Potential

When Self-Criticism Interferes with Your Potential

Frank Nemhauser | Singing, Technique/Tool

Anything worth doing requires playing the “inner game”—successfully navigating one’s own psychological landscape and overcoming the internal criticisms that get in the way of our best performance. Read more

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Choral Music on the Radio

Choral Music on the Radio

A New Blend

Don Lee | Audiences, Impact/Value, Performance, Repertoire, Technology

Today's radio programmers are moving past the bad rap of early research and experimenting with a richer mix of choral and vocal music. Read more

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Caution: Not All Herbal Remedies and Supplements are Good for Your Singing Voice

Caution: Not All Herbal Remedies and Supplements are Good for Your Singing Voice

Kelsey Menehan | Health, Singing

People who resist taking a medicine prescribed by a physician may think nothing of using herbals or alternative medicine. But these products can have an impact on voices. Read more

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Vocal Health: Save Your Voice Through Pacing

Vocal Health: Save Your Voice Through Pacing

Leda Scearce | Health, Rehearsal, Singing, Technique/Tool

Between corralling the kids, leading meetings at work, socializing with friends, and singing, the voice can reach its limit. In this Chorus America interview, vocal health expert Leda Scearce of the Duke Voice Care Center offers tips about how to pace yourself to protect your voice from overuse. Read more

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Overcoming Psychological Barriers to Good Singing

Overcoming Psychological Barriers to Good Singing

Kelsey Menehan | Rehearsal, Singing

What are your inner critics saying as you sing? Are they keeping you back from being the best you can be? If so, it's time to take control and set yourself free. Read more

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Gifts from My Voice Teacher

Gifts from My Voice Teacher

Kelsey Menehan | Adults/Seniors, Singing, Technique/Tool

When you are a woman of a certain age, it is no small thing to "find your voice" again. In this season of gift giving and receiving, I am celebrating the many gifts that my voice teacher has bestowed on me this year. 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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