Annual Conference | Chorus Management Institute | Singer Network Conducting Masterclass | Previous Programs | Leadership Development Forum

Chorus America provides many opportunities for professional development through a variety of programs that address management, board, and artistic issues.

31st ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND NPAC
	31st ANNUAL CONFERENCE June 10-14, 2008 at the National Performing Arts Convention Denver, CO Co-hosted by the Colorado Symphony Chorus and the Colorado Children’s Chorale
This year, Chorus America’s 31st Annual Conference is being held in conjunction with the National Performing Arts Convention (NPAC) in Denver, Colorado, June 10-14, 2008. Top performing arts leaders from opera, dance, theater, orchestras, and more will join with chorus leaders for five fabulous days of collaboration, communication, concerts, and celebration.
View Conference program and registration. View 30th Annual Conference Highlights (June 2007) Back to top

CHORUS MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (CMI)
	Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, August 22-24, 2008 This year’s CMI will be held at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, August 22-24, 2008. Known for providing intensive management and board training in a collegial environment, the CMI will be held for the first time in Canada, hosted by Chorus Niagara and sponsored by Canada Council for the Arts in collaboration with the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors and Choirs Ontario. Niagara-on-the-Lake will provide a scenic setting where participants can socialize and network following sessions.
Find out more about the Program. Register by July 18 for the best rates! View the CMI brochure in PDF format.
Chorus America has offered its acclaimed Chorus Management Institute (CMI) in San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Princeton, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh. This year we set on sights on Canada. The intensive 3-day workshop covers fundraising, board development, marketing, leadership transitions, and strategic planning. Taught by expert faculty, the interactive sessions and dynamic activities are the closest thing to a chorus management "crash course" available. CMIs are offered at economical rates, presented with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and other regional funders in each location. Check back for more information about the 2008 CMIs.
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SINGER NETWORK
	Singer Network, a Service of Chorus America, is a web-based worldwide community of choral singers that connects singers with each other and provides access to a rich compendium of articles and vital resources to encourage singing for a lifetime.
Singer Network offers a wide range of in-depth articles and a variety of interactive features. Visit www.singernetwork.org to take a tour and get involved!
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CONDUCTING MASTERCLASS

With the guidance of the Conducting Porgrams Task Force, Chorus America produces advanced education and enrichment opportunities to prepare choral conductors for lifetime professional conducting careers. Conducting masterclasses are designed to give emerging professional conductors the opportunity to work with coaches on skills to help them meet the challenges beyond their university training in choral-orchestral conducting, a cappella repertoire, and the unique challenges of directing a children's chorus. The masterclasses also address non-musical responsibilities of being a conductor and provide other career-enhancing information.

A Cappella Conducting Masterclass Chorus America, in conjunction with VocalEssence and St. Olaf, presented the A Cappella Conducting Masterclass on October 5-8, 2007. Participants worked with coaches Phillip Brunelle, Anton Armstrong, Sigrid Johnson, Tom Hall, Kathy Romey, Pearl Shangkuan, Ron Staheli, John Alexander, and Duain Wolfe on classical, spiritual, and contemporary repertoire. Other Masterclass leaders included special guests Osmo Vänskä and Libby Larsen, and Associate program mentors Matthew Mehaffey and Christopher Aspaas. The Masterclass was supported in part by the Katherine B. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation, Wenger Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and Chorus America's John Alexander Conducting Faculty Chair Endowment.

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PREVIOUS CONDUCTING PROGRAMS

Conducting Masterclass for Conductors of Children/Youth Choruses January 11 - 14, 2007 San Francisco, CA Chorus America, presented the Conducting Masterclass for Conductors of Children/Youth Choruses on January 11-14, 2007, hosted by the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Podium coaches were Joseph Flummerfelt of the New York Choral Artists and Ann Howard Jones of Boston University and Tanglewood Institute Young Artists; private coaches included Vance George, Susan McMane, Barbara Tagg, and Judith Willoughby; David Brunner served as Masterclass composer in residence. The Masterclass was supported in part with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and Keynote Arts Associates. View the Masterclass photo gallery Choral-Orchestral Conducting Masterclass May 10 - 13, 2006 Philadelphia, PA Chorus America, in conjunction with The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Philadelphia Singers, and The Mannes College of Music, presented the Choral-Orchestral Conducting Masterclass on May 10-13, 2006, hosted by The Curtis Institute of Music. Conductors studied repertoire from Beethoven's choral-orchestral works under the guidance of Christoph Eschenbach, Otto-Werner Mueller, David Hayes, Duain Wolfe, Vance George, Alan Harler, Amy Kaiser, and Rossen Milanov. The Masterclass was supported in part by The Helen F. Whitaker Fund and Chorus America’s John Alexander Conducting Faculty Chair endowment. Read about the workshop in the Voice Choral Orchestral Conducting Workshop May 19 - 22, 2005 Cincinnati, OH Chorus America, in cooperation with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Cincinnati May Festival, presented a Choral-Orchestral Conducting Workshop, May 19-25, 2005 on the CCM campus. Orchestral Conducting Workshop for Children/Youth Chorus Directors June 24 - 27, 2004 Chicago, IL Chorus America, in association with Northwestern University, offered its first-ever Orchestral Conducting Workshop for directors of Children/Youth choruses, June 24-27, 2004, at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Read about the workshop in the Voice A Cappella Conducting Workshop June 4-8, 2003 Kansas City, MO Chorus America concluded a successful A Cappella Conducting Workshop June 4-8 in Kansas City under the direction of master teachers Dale Warland and Charles Bruffy. Sixteen Conducting Fellows worked with the Kansas City Chorale and Dale Warland Singers on contemporary American repertoire, with many of the composers in attendance. Chicago Choral-Orchestral Conducting Workshop Chorus America's first Conducting Workshop with the Chicago Symphony Association in October 2002 was a great success and provided valuable podium time for 18 promising young conductors. Read about the workshop in "No Short Cuts to Conducting." Back to top

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FORUM

The Leadership Development Forum (LDF) is a gathering of the executive directors of the largest-budget choruses within Chorus America's membership. These meetings are typically held twice a year with the goal of enabling leading managers to excel professionally and advance their organizations by sharing ideas and experiences in a vibrant learning community. The meeting agendas are planned with input from the members and generally include two parts: a presentation by an expert on a topic of major interest and a discussion of various current issues that are chosen in advance by the group. LDF meetings are open to the chief administrative leaders of choruses with budgets of $1 million or more, based on a rolling 3-year average. Back to top