Singing

Articles

How Can Many Singers Speak with One Voice?

Don Lee | Community Outreach, Diversity, Impact/Value, Participation, Repertoire, Singing

More and more choruses are practicing advocacy inside the concert hall, representing social justice and community issues in their performances. What kinds of steps are they taking to ensure that singers are on the same page so that they can perform as a collective? Read more

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Making Your Chorus Welcoming for Transgender Singers

Ari Agha | Diversity, Participation, Singing

Choruses seek to foster an open, welcoming culture, but some practices can exclude and cause pain for transgender singers. Here are some steps your chorus can take to avoid them. Read more

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Welcoming Transgender Singers: Resource List

Ari Agha | Diversity, Participation, Research/Data, Singing

How can choruses foster a more inclusive culture for transgender singers? This list of resources accompanies our article from the Winter 2017-18 issue of the Voice on welcoming transgender singers. Read more

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Welcoming Transgender Singers: Key Terms

Ari Agha | Diversity, Participation, Singing

In creating a chorus culture that is welcoming to transgender singers, terminology can be something that some choral leaders may need catching up on. This list of key terms below supplements our article in the Winter 2017-18 Voice on making choruses welcoming for transgender singers. Read more

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Life Lessons from Choral Singers

Chorus America Staff | Adults/Seniors, Community Outreach, Impact/Value, Participation, Singing, Volunteer

In addition to enriching musical knowledge and enhancing vocal technique, singing in a chorus can also teach important lessons about life itself. We reached out to the growing network of choruses specifically for older adults, and asked longtime singers about the ways in which singing has informed other aspects of their lives. Read more

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Keeping the Choral Singer Pipeline Flowing

Mike Rowan | Adults/Seniors, Participation, Recruitment, Singing

Singers are the lifeblood of the choral field. Ensembles from coast to coast are anchored by veterans of school and youth choral programs who found the experience rewarding enough that they continued through adulthood. But as choral leaders know all too well, many choristers can’t or don’t stick with it; they drop out of choral singing when they hit significant life transitions. Read more

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Creating a Lifelong Singer

Jill Kimball | Children/Youth, Conducting, Evaluation, Impact/Value, Participation, Singing

When Susan McMane was in high school, she probably spent about as much time chanting “two, four, six, eight” as she did singing “do, re, mi.” Read more

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A New Career Path for Singers

Kathryn Mueller | Careers, Innovation, Professional, Singing

A growing number of singers are knitting together careers by traveling from city to city to perform with professional choral ensembles. Here’s how this model works for them – and how it impacts the choral field. Read more

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Finding the Right Teacher: An Interview with Deborah Simpkin King

Kathryn Mueller | Careers, Education, Performance, Singing

Choosing the right primary teacher at college or conservatory is one of the most important decisions a music student will make in their musical career, according to Deborah Simpkin King. A conductor and educator, King is artistic director and founder of Schola Cantorum on Hudson and its Conducting and Choral Scholar programs. Her tips on finding the perfect fit with a teacher for undergraduate or graduate studies are a great resource to share with young conductors and singers. Read more

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Supporting the Choral Ecosystem

A first-of-its-kind convening highlights some promising ideas for helping the choral field thrive

Chorus America Staff | CA News, Community Outreach, Diversity, Education, Impact/Value, Participation, Research/Data, Singing

When you stop to think about the ways people sing together, the diversity is breathtaking. Just a partial list includes community, school, collegiate, and church choruses, as well as gospel choirs, barbershop groups, contemporary a cappella ensembles, men’s choruses, and special mission groups like threshold choirs. Read more

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Resources

Yoga for Singers: Introduction

Justin Montigne | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

The ancient practice of yoga can help you establish good singing posture, become aware of your body, and use your breath effectively. Read more

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Yoga for Singers: Why Yoga?

Justin Montigne | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

Instructor Justin Montigne explains how the practice of yoga or proprioceptive awareness can benefit singers. Read more

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Yoga for Singers: Twists

Justin Montigne | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

Long seated rehearsal? Alleviate tiredness in the lower back with this simple twist. Read more

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Yoga for Singers: Pose for Sitting and Singing

Justin Montigne | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

Learn to find your "sitting bones" and develop a grounded posture for seated singing. Read more

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Yoga for Singers: Lunge

Justin Montigne | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

Learn how tension in the tailbone can negatively affect your singing, and how to counteract it with a lunge exercise. Read more

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Yoga for Singers: Internal/External Rotation

Justin Montigne | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

The bones in the body can move in internal or external rotation -- learn how to recognize the difference between these two motions and develop an awareness for how they can be used to reduce tension. Read more

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Yoga for Singers: How Yoga Supports Concentration

Justin Montigne | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

As singers, we all need to be able to concentrate for long periods of time. Try improving yours with this mindfulness exercise. Read more

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Yoga for Singers: Exploring the Chakras

Justin Montigne | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

Chakras are believed in Eastern traditions to be invisible energy "organs" of the body. Justin explains how singers can tap into expressive performances by becoming aware of the chakras. Read more

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Yoga for Singers: Aligning with Mountain Pose

Justin Montigne | Health, Singing, Technique/Tool

Justin shows us how to find "Tadasana," or Mountain Pose—very similar to good singing posture! Read more

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Virtual Voice Lesson: All About Alignment

Shauna Fallihee | Rehearsal, Singing, Technique/Tool

All of our "singing structures" are along the spine. If your spine is out of alignment or your body is in an uncomfortable position, you cannot support your sound easily. Voice teacher Shauna Fallihee shows how to sit or stand in a way that supports and frees the voice. Read more

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Events

Summer Sing of Mendelssohn's "Elijah"

Falls Church, VA

lwicks | Singing

Choralis invites area singers to sing-through Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah. Led by Artistic Director Gretchen Kuhrmann, the Sing will feature Kerry Wilkerson, Baritone, as Elijah and additional soloists Danielle Talamantes, Soprano; Kristen Dubenion-Smith, Mezzo-Soprano; and Dennys Moura, Tenor. Accompaniment will be by Keyboard Artist Todd Fickley. Admission is $15 and score rental is $5. Read more

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Summer Sing of Brahms "Ein deutsches Requiem" (in German)

Falls Church, VA

lwicks | Singing

Choralis invites area choristers to sing-through the Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem (in German), with soloists Laura Choi Stuart, Soprano and James Shaffran, Baritone and Todd Fickley, Keyboard Artist. The Sing will be led by Choralis Artistic Director Gretchen Kuhrmann. Read more

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Summer Sing of the Faure and Rutter Requiems

Falls Church, VA

lwicks | Singing

Choralis invites area choristers to sing-through the Fauré Requiem and Rutter Requiem, with soloists Sheri Reed Crotty, soprano and Vincent Fung, baritone and keyboard accompaniment. The Sing will be led by Choralis Artistic Director Gretchen Kuhrmann. Read more

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Audition for Sacred and Profane Chamber Chorus 18-19 Season!

San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Michelle Lee | Participation, Performance, Recruitment, Rehearsal, Repertoire, Singing, Volunteer

CALLING ALL VOCALISTS! East Bay a capella chamber chorus Sacred & Profane has openings! Auditions for our 2018-2019 season are available this Summer for all voices. Sacred & Profane has openings for voices in all sections (SATB). If you are an experienced singer with a healthy voice & a great attitude, please audition with us for 2018-2019, our 41st Season. Auditions available by appointment. Read more

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Summer Singers Day Camp (Grove City location)

100 Campus Drive, Grove City, PA 16127

Edwina French | Children/Youth, Community Outreach, Education, General, Participation, Recruitment, Singing

A fun day camp to inspire and encourage musical talent in children ages 7-11! Read more

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Summer Singers Day Camp (Pittsburgh location)

2425 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. 15222

Edwina French | Children/Youth, Community Outreach, Education, General, Participation, Performance, Recruitment, Singing

A fun day camp to inspire and encourage musical talent in children ages 7-10! Read more

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Song/Play

New York, NY

andrea@DCINY.org | Singing

DCINY welcomes back composers Francisco J. Núñez and Cristian Grases to the Carnegie Hall stage with a world premiere program featuring two brand new works created for youth voices featuring the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Singers. Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras directed by Hanrich Claassen performs works by Nancy Bloomer Deussen and Edvard Grieg. Read more

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Spirit Journey

New York, NY

andrea@DCINY.org | Singing

Featuring the Distinguished Concerts Singers and Orchestra, Composer/Conductor Pepper Choplin leads his work Our Father: A Journey through the Lord’s Prayer. Co-Conductors Kevin McBethand Andy Waggoner lead choir and orchestra in a new world premiere by American composer Mark Hayes, Spirit Suite 1 & 2. Read more