Choral Ethics: Calming the Waters

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” Saint Francis de Sales

It has been a difficult ten days or so for most of us in the United States. No matter your views, no matter who you voted for, it has been difficult. The climate is more divided than it was four years ago or even eight years ago, even in our choral community where it should be ONLY about the music.

Eight years ago, my chamber choir had its Fall concert the Sunday after the election. Politics among a few of my singers differed and we joked good-naturedly about those differences during down time in that particular rehearsal cycle. But there were one or two people who had become, during the intermission of that Fall concert in the Green Room, what my late mother called “sore winners.” I didn’t know about it until well after the concert and those who reported back to me were livid. They asked me what I was going to do about it, and I said I didn’t know, but I would think about it and discuss it with a few other key members.

We, as an ensemble, came together and decided that our chamber choir would be a “politics-free zone” during rehearsals and certainly during concerts. And we’ve maintained that policy, except when it came to Ukraine and our joint decision to sing a Ukrainian folk song on our concert following the invasion.

Others may disagree with our decision; sighting freedom of speech or lively political discussions being intellectually stimulating. Perhaps, in another setting, that would be correct but in the choral rehearsal, it needs to be ABOUT THE MUSIC. With rehearsal time so precious, we don’t have time to discuss anything but the music.

Mostly it’s been freeing, though most of us in my chamber choir now share similar views and it would no longer be as contentious as it was eight years ago. And we certainly have talked about politics, one-on-one, or after rehearsals. But during rehearsals or during concerts, none of us speak of politics because we want, no we NEED, to have one place in our lives that is JUST ABOUT THE MUSIC.

A chamber choir is a different animal than larger ensembles, so our solution may be not even necessary for bigger groups. Even so, think about creating an atmosphere of peace and kindness during the next few months, some of the busiest times in our profession. We don’t have time to be ugly to one another. I am reminded of this quote, from a very wise person, Anonymous: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Be kind, my dear ChoralNetters. ~Love, Marie