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High Notes Blog

Chorus America's High Notes blog is curated by the Chorus America staff. Here, find articles on what our members are up to, and links to the latest news and commentary on the issues that matter to the choral field. High Notes also includes information about policy issues and advocacy alerts.

Additional Advocacy Information

Chorus America is a member of the Performing Arts Alliance (PAA), a national coalition of nonprofit arts service organizations advocating for federal policies that impact the nonprofit performing arts sector. Membership in Chorus America includes membership in PAA and you can learn more about PAA's policy agenda in the PAA Advocacy Center.

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  • Update: What You Can Do Now to Support the NEA
    by Chorus America Staff

    With the federal appropriations process just beginning, it will be some time before we have more information about how President Trump's budget will affect funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). But it's not too early to show your support.

  • What You Need to Know about Possible NEA Budget Cuts
    by Chorus America Staff

    Here's some context from our partner the Performing Arts Alliance on today's reports that President-elect Trump's budget plans would eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts - including steps you can take to make sure your lawmakers understand the importance of the NEA.

  • First Round of 2017 NEA Grants Announced
    by Mike Rowan

    The National Endowment for the Arts announced the recipients of its first round of 2017 grants, and Chorus America is honored to be the recipient of a $90,000 award. We are also excited to see many of our partners and choral organizations represented in the list of awarded grants, including:

    Arts Education Category
    Anima-Young Singers of Greater Chicago

  • Calling On Choruses to #Sing1Voice
    by Chorus America Staff

    Singing together is a powerful tool for bringing people together. Let’s put that tool to work.

    In the wake of this election season, our country seems to be defined by our differences. News channels and social media feeds are filled with fear, anger, and uncertainty as we grapple with how to move forward.

  • Prepare Your Chorus for New Overtime Regulations

    by Chorus America Staff

    On December 1, updates to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) take effect that will impact many choruses. The changes will more than double the minimum salary level that most employees must be paid (from $23,660 to $47,476 per year) to be exempt from overtime pay.

  • Congressional Arts Report Card Shows Your Delegates' Level of Arts Support
    by Mike Rowan

    In advance of the 2016 November elections, the Arts Action Fund has released the 2016 Congressional Arts Report Card to educate voters on how supportive of the arts their members of Congress have been in their voting records. The Report Card site includes statistics, facts, and information about the grading scale used, as well as a tool for voters to find their elected representatives, in an effort to allow citizens to make arts-informed decisions this election season.

  • Andrea Ramsey's Story Behind Writing Her Commission Consortium Piece
    by Mike Rowan

    Composer Andrea Ramsey took part in the 2016 Chorus America Commisssion Consortiums, an opportunity that allows participating choruses to be a part of commissioning a new work from a leading composer and to premiere the work in their community, by donating a commission for treble voices.

  • Cantus and Chanticleer Concert To Be Streamed Live
    by Mike Rowan

    On October 3, the world-class male vocal ensembles Cantus and Chanticleer will perform in concert together for the first time, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.

  • Support School Arts Funding During National Arts Ed Week
    by Mike Rowan

    In conjunction with National Arts in Education Week (Sept. 11-17), The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) is urging arts education advocates to write to their congressional representatives in support of Title IV. As part of the landmark Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) legislation that was signed into law in December 2015, a block grant was created under Title IV that provides funding for "Well-Rounded" education subjects, which now includes music and the arts.

  • Save the Date! July 2017 Conducting Academy
    by Chorus America Staff

    Emerging conductors can improve their technique and advance their careers at Chorus America’s Conducting Academy, to be held July 9-15 at the California State University Fullerton campus.

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