Articles

Which comes first—the melody or the lyrics? Composer Alice Parker explains her creative process.

Whether or not a concert was exceptional, standing ovations are becoming de rigueur with today's audiences. Is this reflective of declining music programs in the schools?

Senior choruses are springing up all over, and singers are reaping the benefits of meaningful community involvement, increased social interaction, and better health.

So, it's your turn: You have been asked to step into the role of board chair. But what will be expected of you? How can you be sure that you can provide the leadership needed? How can you fulfill the expectations outlined in the job description? We explore top traits of board leaders, how to motivate your team, and crafting productive partnerships among your staff.

When Brazeal Dennard passed away in 2010, he left behind a rich musical legacy. This 2007 article profiled the life and career of this champion for African-American music as he celebrated 60 years conducting the Angelic Choir of the Peoples Baptist Church in Detroit.

Arts education is a civic investment with a tangible return. Dana Gioia emphasizes the need for arts education in all schools and for all children, and cautions against trading off the challenging pleasures of art for the easy comforts of entertainment.

Writing a successful foundation proposal is not rocket science, but it does require vision, research, planning, cultivation, and careful implementation.

A mission statement that articulates not just who you are but why you matter will help your chorus stand out in the eyes of potential singers, audiences, and donors.

Are more composers increasingly looking to the choral genre as a means for expression? We explore the issue in this roundtable discussion featuring Heather Hitchens of Meet The Composer, John Nuechterlein of the American Composers Forum, and Joanne Hubbard Cossa of the American Music Center.

As chorus leaders you make important decisions annually, monthly, even daily, that affect the future of your organization. In doing so, be sure to consider context, both internal and external, as you make your choices. What are other choruses doing? What are others in the broader nonprofit community doing? What have we ourselves been doing and how might we do it better? We discuss how others have used the Chorus America Chorus Operations Survey Report to inform their decisionmaking.

Many types of organizations are tackling issues of diversity. Patricia Moore Harbour, who has facilitated a number of these discussions in a process that she describes as the Transformative Learning Experience, believes arts organizations, especially choruses, may start out ahead of the game.

Choristers make beautiful music together—sometimes as couples! Some 58 percent of choristers we polled said they socialize with fellow choristers outside of rehearsals and performances, and 37 percent said they had dated members of the chorus in which they sing. Choruses can be a great place to meet friends, and even a potential mate.