Governance

Articles

Back from the Brink

How One Chorus Grappled with the Perfect Storm of Bad Economic Circumstances

Eric Holtan | Audiences, Finance, Fundraising, Governance

All of us in the arts feel the pinch in a recession. Here is the story of how the Tucson Chamber Artists weathered the storm of economic bad news during one year, employing adaptive strategies throughout the season to overcome them. Read more

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Harness More Fundraising Power with Volunteers

Derrick Feldmann | Fundraising, Governance, Networking, Recruitment, Volunteer

Engage, equip, and empower volunteers to help your chorus reach its fullest fundraising potential. Read more

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Staying Power: How Historic Choruses Keep Going Strong

Sara Pearsaul Vice | Community Outreach, Governance, History, Innovation

What allows one chorus to thrive for more than a century while another is forced to close down after just a few years? Leaders of some of the longest-running choral organizations credit a combination of factors for their longevity. Read more

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The Role of the Governance Committee

Sherif Nada | Evaluation, Governance, Recruitment, Technique/Tool

The impact of the governance committee is far-reaching—the character of a board and indeed the effectiveness of the organization itself, emerge from its efforts. Read more

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Panic Is Never a Strategy

In Times of Crisis, Communities Need Choruses

Todd Estabrook | Governance, Impact/Value, Management/Leadership

Communities in crisis need music and art more than ever to tell the stories that inspire us to resolve and overcome adversity. Through optimism, adaptation, and strong leadership choruses can contribute to the solution. Read more

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Financial Reports You Can Count On

Eric Fraint | Finance, Governance, Management/Leadership, Operations

Guidelines on the financial reports you need from your accountant—and when—to be an effective steward of your chorus. Read more

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Women in Choral Conducting: A Level Playing Field?

Vivien Schweitzer | Careers, Children/Youth, Diversity, Governance

Men vastly outnumber women in orchestral conducting, but choruses tell a different story. What issues do women choral conductors face today? Read more

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Putting Ego to Work for Your Chorus

Steven Smith | Governance, Impact/Value, Management/Leadership

In his recent book egonomics: what makes ego our greatest asset (or most expensive liability), co-author Steven Smith explores the power of ego to enhance communication and organizational effectiveness. Because choruses, like many arts organizations, are comprised of community boards and often little or no staff—all led by an artistic director whose vision, talent, and charisma play a major role in galvanizing and motivating the activities of singers, board, and staff—the quality of communication among them is vital to organizational health. Smith elaborates on how ego can be harnessed to foster effective communication. Read more

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Building Participatory Arts Experiences

Ben Cameron | Finance, Fundraising, Governance, Management/Leadership

Seismic market shifts invite us to rethink our missions. Smart performing arts groups are expanding social lobby spaces, adding coffee bars, engaging in re-branding—all to recognize that we traffic not merely artistic production but a total experience that begins with seeing the first ad, continues through the first call to the box office, and doesn't end until long after the audience member is home in bed. But, are we ready for a world where value is co-created? Read more

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Chairing the Finance Committee

Bess Hamilton Foley | Finance, Governance, Operations

Providing financial oversight for your chorus is a critical role with many facets—learn about the challenges and rewards of effective stewardship. Read more

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Resources

'Music Director Transition' Tool: Annual Employee Performance Evaluation Guidelines

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Evaluation, Governance, Strategic Planning, Technique/Tool

Ten helpful guidelines to help establish a healthy annual performance review process for the music director of your chorus. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: Action Plan Matrix

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

A worksheet to help choruses plan for founding artistic leadership transitions. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: 5 Agenda Items for the Final Search Committee Meeting

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Operations, Technique/Tool

A checklist of agenda items. Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: 4 Tips for Building Your Board

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Recruitment, Strategic Planning

A founder transition requires strong leadership from the board. Is your board ready? Read more

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'Music Director Transition' Tool: 3 Key Transition Questions

Chorus America Staff | Careers, Conducting, Governance, Operations, Sample/Template, Strategic Planning

Questions to answer as you begin a founding music director transition. Read more

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Fundraising from Individuals Webinar

Chorus America Staff | Fundraising, Governance, Research/Data, Technique/Tool

Chorus America presents data on the current state of philanthropy and provides guidance on building a strong individual donor base. (PowerPoint slides available separately.) Read more

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Fundraising from Individuals

Chorus America Staff | Fundraising, Governance, Research/Data, Technique/Tool

Slides from Chorus America's webinar on ways to build your individual donor base. (Webinar available separately.) Read more

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Chorus Operations Survey Report (2010)

Roland Kushner | Audiences, Finance, Governance, Marketing/Public Relations, Operations, Research/Data, Technique/Tool

The 2010 survey reports on operations data from the 2008-2009 season. An excellent benchmarking tool. Read more

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Conference Keynote Speech: There Are No Crises

Russell Willis ... | Audiences, Finance, Fundraising, Governance, Innovation, Management/Leadership

A speech by Russell Willis Taylor of National Arts Strategies that addresses ways to turn times of organizational and environmental crisis into growth and creative thinking opportunities. Delivered at the 2010 Conference. Read more

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Chorus Governance: Recruitment, Roles, and Responsibilities

David Styers | Governance, Recruitment, Technique/Tool

Resources from a presentation given by David Styers of BoardSource at the 2010 Conference. Read more

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Events

35th Annual Conference

Minneapolis, MN

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, Education, Governance, Management/Leadership, Marketing/Public Relations, Networking, Operations, Strategic Planning, Technology

Chorus America's 35th Annual Conference is not to be missed! Featuring performances by nine of Minnesota's premier choruses, a massed youth choir, a morning sing with Garrison Keillor, and keynote speakers Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Melanie de More, among others, this Conference will inspire and educate. Read more