Let’s Get Physical: Singing and Disease-Specific Therapy

Singing has been found to be a potentially potent treatment for a wide variety of conditions, both alleviating symptoms and providing patients with a sense of positivity and community.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

Singing and Healthy Aging

Whether taking up a new activity or continuing a lifelong practice, older adults who sing are reaping a host of social and health benefits.Read more

Choruses and Community Wellness

How can we share the wellness benefits of choral singing with a broader community? A growing number of choral leaders are looking at ways to extend the group singing experience beyond the concert hall.Read more

Singing at the Threshold

A growing movement to bring singing into hospice and hospital settings eases end-of-life transitions for patients and their families.Read more

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

There’s No Place Like Chorus for the Holidays

Kelsey Menehan | Civic Engagement, Singing

Instead of participating in a traditional holiday chorus concert this year, one singer finds community in a different sort of musical gathering. Read more

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Online Music Resources for Choral Singers

Daniel Molkentin | Rehearsal, Singing, Technology

Looking for an obscure piece of music? The lyrics to a song in French? Sheet music for Handel's Messiah? These online resources will help you find what you need. Read more

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4 Techniques for Memorizing Lyrics

Mark Bosnian | Performance, Rehearsal, Singing, Technique/Tool

Having trouble getting the words to stick in your mind? Here are several strategies for succeeding at memorization. Read more

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How to Learn a New Piece of Music

Mark Bosnian | Rehearsal, Repertoire, Singing, Technique/Tool

Four steps to ironing out those tricky passages so that you hit the mark at performance time. Read more

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Postcards from Tour: Singing Leavitt’s Requiem in Paris

Cory Davis | Performance, Singing

One choral singer travels to France with a hundred others to perform the European premiere of a new requiem setting by Paul Leavitt. Read more

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Singing in Tune

Chloe Veltman | Audiences, Health, Performance, Rehearsal, Science, Singing

The anatomy of choral intonation and techniques for improving it. Read more

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Rach On! Performing Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil

Grant Gershon | Performance, Repertoire, Singing, Technique/Tool

An a cappella masterpiece of staggering beauty and power, Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil (or Vespers) presents many challenges for the choral singer. Grant Gershon, music director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, chose the piece to open his 10th Anniversary season with LAMC. We talked with him about the work and how he prepared his singers to perform it. Read more

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Verdi's Requiem: Under the Influence

Jeffrey Baxter | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

Composers don't exist in a vacuum; they are continually influenced by their predecessors and peers, their culture and society. Here, we look at some of the influences (and influencers) reflected in Verdi's Requiem. Read more

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What Every Chorus Should Know About Its Singers

Chorus America Staff | Impact/Value, Management/Leadership, Participation, Singing, Volunteer

What do choral singers wish their chorus managers and music directors knew about them? What would make singers' experience in the chorus more enjoyable, more meaningful, more fun? Read more

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Brutally Honest: Complaint Choirs Around the World

Jan-Marie Petersen | Innovation, Participation

It is a truth universally acknowledged that people like to voice their frustrations to anyone who will listen. The idea of "complaint choirs" arose out of this cathartic need, and since 2005, groups have been popping up all across the globe. Here's a look at some of our favorite videos. Read more

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Resources

The Feldenkrais Method for Singers—Relaxing the Tongue

Karen R Clark | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

The practice of Feldenkrais can help singers perform with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. In this video, Feldenkrais practitioner Karen Clark demonstrates how to train the powerful tongue muscle to cooperate with rather than hinder the singing process. Read more

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The Choral Warm-Ups of Robert Shaw

Pamela Elrod | Rehearsal, Singing, Technique/Tool

Believing that the chorus was a corporate entity with a spirit of kinship, famed conductor Robert Shaw used the warm-up period to focus on matters of tuning, tone color, ensemble blend, acoustical conditions, and development of the dynamic palette. We've compiled several of his warm-ups. Read more

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The Feldenkrais Method for Singers—Achieving Relaxed Alertness

Karen R Clark | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

The practice of Feldenkrais can help singers perform with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. In this video, Feldenkrais practitioner Karen Clark demonstrates how being both relaxed and alert can bring greater freedom in singing. Read more

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The Feldenkrais Method for Singers—Vocalizing To Release Tension

Karen R Clark | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

Through a self-discovery process using movement, the practice of Feldenkrais can help singers perform with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. In this video, Feldenkrais practitioner Karen Clark guides a singer to notice and then release tension while vocalizing. Read more

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The Feldenkrais Method for Singers—Releasing Eye Tension

Karen R Clark | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

The practice of Feldenkrais can help singers perform with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. In this video, Feldenkrais practitioner Karen Clark demonstrates how releasing tension around the eyes contributes to less effortful singing. Read more

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The Feldenkrais Method for Singers—Opening the Throat

Karen R Clark | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

The practice of Feldenkrais can help singers perform with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. In this video, Feldenkrais practitioner Karen Clark demonstrates how opening the throat releases tension and allows for greater freedom in singing. Read more

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The Feldenkrais Method for Singers—Centering with the Breath

Karen R Clark | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

The practice of Feldenkrais can help singers perform with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. In this video, Feldenkrais practitioner Karen Clark demonstrates the use of breath to center and stabilize the singing process. Read more

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The Feldenkrais Method for Singers—Introduction

Karen R Clark | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

You know that freed-up feeling where it seems your body is singing itself? Singers yearn for more of that, but myriad stresses, tensions, confusions, and vocal issues can get in the way. Through a self-discovery process using movement, the practice of Feldenkrais can help singers perform with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. In this video series, Feldenkrais practitioner Karen Clark describes and demonstrates how this approach has helped her—and the singers she works with—release tension and find greater freedom in their singing. Read more

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Virtual Voice Lesson: The Farinelli Breath Exercises

Shauna Fallihee | Singing, Technique/Tool

Carlo Broschi, known as Farinelli, was a famous, and wildly popular castrato of the early 1700s. One of the secrets to his magnificent voice was the seemingly unending stream of breath that supported it. Voice teacher Shauna Fallihee demonstrates the breathing exercises Farinelli created to strengthen the intercostal muscles. Read more

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Warm-Ups for What Ails You: Lack of Breath Control

Rebecca Achenbach | Singing, Technique/Tool

Work on your breath control with these exercises from choral conductor and voice teacher Rebecca Achenbach. Read more

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Events

Jazz in the Key of Joy

Phoenix, Arizona

Carolyn Eynon | Fundraising

Vocal Jazz Cabaret Concert featuring solos and ensemble Jazz at the Phoenix Zoo on May 5, 2013. Wine and Hors D'eurves served at 4;00pm. contact www.carolyneynonsingers.com tickets $30 Read more

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Time Zones ~~ Bach and Chaplin Merge!

Pittsburgh, PA

BriGuySinger | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Children/Youth, Conducting, Diversity, Families, History, Impact/Value, Innovation, Performance, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

The season of examining time and travel finishes with a juxtaposition of two distinct Time Zones, the first being that of our forebear and namesake, Johann Sebastian Bach, and the second being that of a writer, star and legend of the silent screen, Charlie Chaplin. In combining the musical genius of Bach with the brilliant silent narratives of Chaplin’s films, the Bach Choir bridges these two bountiful eras, creating a thought-provoking connection between artistic genres. Read more

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Johannes Brahms German Requiem

Norwalk CT 06856

Fairfield Count... | Audiences

As we continue our 50th anniversary season, the Fairfield County Chorale will perform Johannes Brahms Requiem with the Fairfield County Chorale Orchestra at the Norwalk Concert Hall on Saturday, March 16th, 2013 at 7:30PM. Eminent soloists Fancesca Mondanaro, soprano and Suchan Kim, tenor will perform with the chorale. The performance will also feature three pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Kyrie in D minor, Ave Verum Corpus and Masonic Funeral Music. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door (general admission). Student tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, call (203) 254-1333 or visit www.fairfieldcountychorale.org Read more

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Seattle Men's Chorus Presents: Dancing Queen

Seattle, WA

Flying House Pr... | Diversity

Two things we just can’t get enough of: ABBA and Leslie Jordan! We are thrilled to welcome back Emmy Award-Winning actor and comedian Leslie Jordan in this “mash-up” of comedy and music from one of our favorites — and yours — rock/pop sensation, ABBA. Fab costumes. Booty movin’ songs. Side-splitting comedy. What more do we need to say?!? Saturday evening at 8:00pm and Sunday matinee at 2:00pm. Read more

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Essence of Joy Alumni Singers Concert

22nd and Spruce St.

bluelyric7 | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Community Outreach

For one night only, we've got a choir of over 70 singers who are traveling in from all over the country, some straight from Broadway, Off-Broadway and National Tours for a special evening celebrating inspiring choral works and gospel music! Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased here: http://eojas.eventbrite.com/ or at the door.For more information about our mission, visit eojas.org Read more

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Toronto Mendelssohn Singers - Sacred Music for a Sacred Space

Toronto, Ontario

Toronto Mendels... | Audiences

A popular Toronto Mendelssohn Choir tradition, this Good Friday concert will feature the 70-voice Mendelssohn Singers. Immerse yourself in a concert of meditative sacred music spanning four centuries, set in the beautiful space and acoustics of St. Paul’s Basilica. Noel Edison, conductor; Matthew Otto, associate conductor; John Marshman, cello. Repertoire includes: God So Loved the World (Timothy Corlis, TMC commission, premiere); Svyati (John Tavener); Ave Maria (Pawel Lukaszewski); Nunc Dimittis (Pawel Lukaszewski); Miserere (Gregorio Allegri); Missa Papae Marcelli (G.P. da Palestrina); Tickets: $50; seniors $45; VoxTix (under 30) $20 http://www.tmchoir.org/tmcPerformances/sacred-music.cfm Read more

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A Night in Havana: Pacific Mozart Ensemble Fundraiser

1970 Chestnut Street, Berkeley, CA

Dale Engle | Singing

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Handel's Messiah

Williamsville, NY

HGrant | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, General, Performance, Singing, Symphonic

The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus (BPC) is known for its annual December presentations of Handel's Messiah. This year, the BPC is extending the telling of this magnificent story by performing the rarely heard Easter movements from Messiah. Read more

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“Music of the Three B’s”

Ingomar United Methodist Church, 1501 W Ingomar Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237

PCCsing | Audiences, Community Outreach, Conducting, Performance

Tickets: Adults- $20 advance, $22 at the door; students-$8; children (under 12)-$0 Description: In addition to Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, the concert will include Bach’s classic Cantata No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, and Brahms’ stunning Schicksalslied. Further details, including ticket ordering, can be found at www.PCCsing.org Read more

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“Music of the Three B’s”

Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

PCCsing | Performance

Tickets: Adults- $20 advance, $22 at the door; students-$8; children (under 12)-$0 March 3rd (4 p.m.) Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Description: In addition to Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, the concert will include Bach’s classic Cantata No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, and Brahms’ stunning Schicksalslied. Further details, including ticket ordering, can be found at www.PCCsing.org Read more