History

Articles

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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Gregg Smith Singers At 50

Kelsey Menehan | Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, History, Repertoire

A look at the Gregg Smith Singers' astounding legacy of supporting new choral music in America. Read more

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Performing Under Pressure

On Being a King's College Chorister

Karin Brookes | Children/Youth, Education, History, Impact/Value, Singing

Thorough preparation is key to a flawless performance when 200 million listeners tune in to hear the annual (and beloved) broadcast of the King's College Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Read more

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Gay and Lesbian Choruses - Then and Now

John D. Sparks | Community Outreach, Diversity, History, Impact/Value

A history of gay and lesbian choruses in America: A movement that began in anger and isolation has given way to musical excellence and collaborations promoting tolerance and inclusion. Read more

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What Is A Chorus?

How We Define Choral Music - Now and Then

Tom Kelly | History, Impact/Value, Repertoire

And what exactly is choral music? Music claimed by choruses is often not choral in origin—it becomes choral music when a chorus sings it. Read more

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Sacred Texts in a Secular World

A Word To Nonbelievers and Believers

Michael Steinberg | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire

What should we do when a piece of music offends a whole group of people? Read more

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Your Concert As Feast: Notes on Programming

George Gelles | Conducting, History, Operations, Repertoire

Never program down to your audience, and never assume that your audience isn't ready to be challenged by fresh interpretations of familiar pieces, by works from the canon that unjustly have been ignored, by the music of today and tomorrow. Read more

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The Legacy and Lessons of the Dale Warland Singers

Kelsey Menehan | Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, History, Innovation, Professional, Profile

People came from across the country to celebrate the farewell concert of the Dale Warland Singers. What can we learn from a chorus that achieves the pinnacle of aristic acclaim when it decides to close its doors after 31 years—what is the cost of excellence and when is it time to say goodbye? Read more

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Studying Bach with Mel Gibson

Tom Hall | Composing/Commissioning, Diversity, History, Repertoire

Performances of Bach's Passions, particularly in light of the attention that Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ has received, present an opportunity for Christians and Jews to confront issues of religious intolerance, the role of the arts, and how the arts might, advertently or inadvertently, promote intolerance. We can use our role as musical leaders to engage in this important dialogue on religious intolerance. Read more

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Resources

Recent Research in Choral Music I: Books and Dissertations

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 183 Read more

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Life on a Higher Pedestal: Otto Dresel's Bach Club (1883-1890)

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, Diversity, History, Performance, Repertoire, Research/Data, Singing

American Choral Review 45.1 Read more

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The Motets of Georg Schumann (1866-1952); Bach: The Learned Musician: Aspects of Bach Biography

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Research/Data, Singing

American Choral Review 44.2 Read more

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From Billings to Ives: American Choral Music Recordings, Part II

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 180 Read more

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Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847): A Comprehensive Bibliography

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 179 Read more

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Writings on the Choral Music of Brahms, Part III

Chorus America Staff | Composing/Commissioning, History, Repertoire, Research/Data

Research Memorandum Series No. 178 Read more

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Events

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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Mass Enlightenment

646 Richards Street, Vancouver, BC

Laudate Singers | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Education, History, Performance

From Palestrina to Poulenc, Dufay to Kostiainen: 500 years of the Mass celebrated by the pure voices of Laudate Singers. Read more

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Mass Enlightenment

1044 St Georges Avenue, North Vancouver, BC

Laudate Singers | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Diversity, Education, History, Performance, Singing

From Palestrina to Poulenc, Dufay to Kostiainen: 500 years of praise celebrated by the pure voices of Laudate Singers. Read more

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"Letter from Italy, 1944"

LaRosa Lane, Middletown, CT

Joyce Kirkpatrick | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Composing/Commissioning, General, History, Performance, Repertoire, Singing, Symphonic

Veterans, PTSD, world premiere, Connecticut artists, letters from Italy – what do these have in common? On April 28, 2013 an epic musical drama will unfold in Connecticut. It is about a World War II, 10th Mountain Division soldier, Dr. John K. Meneely, Jr., who served as a medic in the Aleutians and Italy. At the end of the war suffering from PTSD, he returned home to his young family. For the next 18 years he and his family struggled with his internal battles. Half a century later, their collective story is being told and their triumphs being sung. The soldier’s daughters, Grammy-nominee composer Sarah Meneely-Kyder and poet Nancy Meneely, both Connecticut residents, have woven their physician father’s letters and their family’s story into a poignant saga of courage and compassion. Meneely-Kyder has set her sister’s ringing lyrics to music in a major musical drama, Letter from Italy, 1944. It calls for a cast of five soloists, a large chorus and orchestra. Read more

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10th Mountain Division and "The Last Ridge" - An Oratorio's Backdrop

100 Training Hill Road, Middletown, CT

Joyce Kirkpatrick | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Civic Engagement, Community Outreach, Composing/Commissioning, Education, General, History

On Friday, February 8, “The Last Ridge: the Epic Story of America’s Mountain Troops and their Assault on Hitler’s Europe” will be presented at 7 PM at Chapman Hall, Middlesex Community College. Author McKay Jenkins will deliver the illustrated lecture, a history of the illustrious 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Read more

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Voices of Light: The Passion of Joan of Arc

Southborough, MA

Robert Eaton | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Education, General, History, Impact/Value, Innovation, Performance, Singing, Technique/Tool, Technology

Voices of Light merges the legendary silent film masterpiece The Passion of Joan of Arc, widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, with a live performance of a ravishing score by award-winning composer Richard Einhorn. An incredibly moving composition for solo voices, chorus and orchestra, Voices of Light has been hailed as "a triumph" (Los Angeles Times) and "an overwhelming experience" (Chicago Tribune). Read more

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BACHday Bash 2013

Pittsburgh, PA

BriGuySinger | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, Civic Engagement, Diversity, Fundraising, General, History, Impact/Value, Venue

We hope you can join us as the Bach Choir celebrates its 78th season with scrumptious food & superb libations, an exciting silent auction, and a grand new venue - the historically restored Mansions on Fifth Hotel. All proceeds will benefit the Choir as it continues to present unique and dramatic choral productions. Read more

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Coro Allegro Celebrates 20 Years With Artistic Director David Hodgkins

Boston, MA

kipjld1964 | Careers, Conducting, History, Management/Leadership, Participation

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Show Choir 80th Anniversary Holiday Concert

8300 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024

Houston Choral ... | Adults/Seniors, Audiences, General, History, Participation, Performance, Singing, Venue, Volunteer

Houston Choral Showcase celebrates 80 years of singing with a fun-filled holiday show at 3pm on Sunday, December 16th, at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 8300 Katy Freeway in the Memorial Area. This community show choir will present jazzy arrangements of holiday tunes, songs from favorite Christmas movies, holiday classics old and new, comedy, and more. The choir has previously used the names of Greater Houston Chorus and Houston Community Chorus, and any former members in attendance at the show will be invited on stage for a special time of recognition. Tickets for this performance are $15 at the door, with discount pricing for advance purchase online. http://www.houstonchoralshowcase.org. Read more