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Celebrating the Life of Diane Loomer, C.M. 1940-2012

Chorus America Staff | Careers, General, Profile

On December 10th, the choral world lost one of its celebrated and respected choral conductors. Diane Loomer died in Vancouver, Canada after a short illness. She was 72. Here Chorus America board members Susan Knight and Leonard Ratzlaff remember their colleague and friend. Read more

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Remembering Dave Brubeck

Tom Hall | Careers, Composing/Commissioning, General, Impact/Value, Profile

Music director and radio host Tom Hall remembers his friend and colleague, jazz musician Dave Brubeck, who passed away just short of his 92nd birthday. Read more

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“Call Me Maybe” Gets a Choral Twist

Viral Video Shines New Light on Choral Music

Lauren Rosenthal | Composing/Commissioning, Conducting, Impact/Value, Innovation, Performance, Profile, Rehearsal, Singing

If you’ve been on the internet during the past month, you’ve probably seen the quirky viral video of a chorus and orchestra covering the popular, can’t-get-it-out-of-your head song “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. There are hundreds of other videos online covering the song, ranging from topics like NFL replacement referees to the United States Olympic swim team, so what makes this one so special? With more than two million hits and counting on YouTube, mentions in newspapers around the country, and even a featured performance on the Today Show, who knew choral music could go so viral? Read more

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Member Spotlight: Roland Carter

Preserving and Performing African-American Music

Chorus America Staff | Civic Engagement, Conducting, Diversity, Education, History, Impact/Value, Performance, Profile, Repertoire, Singing

Choral conductor and composer/arranger Roland Carter has a passion for finding and performing the rich array of choral music from the African-American tradition. While at the 2012 Chorus America Conference in Minneapolis, Chorus America talked with Carter about his life and work. Read more

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From Score to Seat

A Composer and Her Audience

Gabriela Lena Frank | Audiences, Composing/Commissioning, Diversity, Families, Innovation, Profile

Composer Gabriela Lena Frank explores the evolving relationship with her audience, beginning with her doting parents. Read more

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Finding Your Tribe: A Life in Choral Music

Sharon Gustavson | Impact/Value, Participation, Profile, Singing

One chorus managing director reflects on her lifelong love affair with choral singing. Read more

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Virtual Choir or Bust!

Cory Davis | Composing/Commissioning, Innovation, Participation, Profile, Singing, Technology

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 2.0, featuring his composition, "Sleep," attracted 2,058 singers from around the world. One singer shares his experience of participating in this social media experiment. Read more

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Spotlight on Eric Whitacre

Kelsey Menehan | Composing/Commissioning, Innovation, Profile, Repertoire, Singing

We take a look at the man behind the cluster chords: how Eric Whitacre arrived at a life in music, and the ups and downs he's encountered along the way. Read more

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Selecting Music for Diverse Audiences

An Interview with Julian Wachner

Chorus America Staff | Audiences, Conducting, Innovation, Profile, Repertoire

With so many music directors juggling multiple podiums, choosing repertoire that meets the specific needs of each chorus and the audience in that community takes on special significance. Read more

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From Oxford to Hogwarts: Singing on the Harry Potter Soundtrack

Gregory Camp | Participation, Profile, Singing

Ever wonder what goes into the making of a film's soundtrack? Singer Gregory Camp knows. Along with his chorus at the University of Oxford, Gregory got the chance to perform on the film soundtrack to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince—complete with studio time at London's famed Abbey Road Studios. Read more

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Resources

Additional content: Ambassadors of Peace

Kelsey Menehan | Community Outreach, Impact/Value, Profile, Repertoire, Singing

Examples of concert programming that are designed on themes of peace or reconciliation. Partner piece to "How Choruses Have Become Ambassadors of Peace." Read more