Building the Chorus: Recruiting Techniques that Work

ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly online publication, designed for those who work with singers of all levels but specifically K-12 and community choirs. A full annotated ChorTeach index is available online at acda.org/publications/chorteach. Over 160 articles are organized into seventeen categories. For more information, email  or visit acda.org/chorteach. Following is an excerpt from an article in the Spring 2023 issue titled “Building the Chorus: Recruiting Techniques that Work” by David Hensley.
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As choral music educators, we are in the business of providing an arts-centered program of study to our singers. Although we are keenly aware of the importance of our program in today’s educational arena, many music programs throughout the country are in a re-building mode. To say choral music didn’t fare well during the pandemic is only too obvious. The goal of this article is to offer help in building (or re-building) a successful choral program. Choral music often competes with other elective programs for student participation, particularly in the secondary schools, and strategies for recruitment continue to be important. Reaching all students in your school or institution should be a top priority, and this article presents tried-and-true techniques that can help to build a strong foundation of singers for your choral program.

Recruiting techniques are not new. Many of us are, however, out of practice. With input from and observation of other choral directors, I have compiled a list of successful recruiting methods. These are from the original 1983 article, with the addition of contemporary strategies useful for 2023. Some may be particular to a specific setting, and some may not be usable in all situations. This list is in no way complete; it is offered to stimulate the imagination and assist in building or rebuilding choral programs affected by declining numbers of students.

And remember: Your best recruiter is what you do in class every day. If the singers love the music and you lead them with respect, they will tell their friends. But be careful…they will also tell their friends if the classroom experience is negative.

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Perform at the feeder schools for the entire student body (if possible) or at least for the choral classes. This shows off your students, and you become visible. Allow time for your singers to answer the questions that the younger students may raise; this builds rapport.

*Visit acda.org/chorteach for the full article. Choose the Spring 2023 issue.