The 2018 ACDA Symposium on Research in Choral Singing will be held Friday and Saturday, September 14 and 15, 2018, on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The keynote speaker will be Graham Welch (University College of London). Dr. Welch’s research on singing development spans more than three decades. He is currently coeditor of the Oxford Handbook of Singing […]
Choral Culture
Choral Potpourri: Perfection is Overrated, Part 2
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” Vince Lombardi I wrote about perfection here at Choral Potpourri a few years ago. My opinions are essentially this; while I believe in striving for perfection, I rarely achieve what others might hold up as perfection. I am (mostly) okay with that. […]
Choral Potpourri: Self-Fulling Prophesy
“America’s future will be determined by the home and the school. The child becomes largely what he is taught; hence we must watch what we teach, and how we live.” Jane Addams I have been around the performing arts, LITERALLY, all of my life. With an opera singer mother and a tap/ballet dancer/choreographer/stage director father, […]
Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; The Annual “Thank You” Blog
“When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.” Dalai Lama We are finishing the choir year. No matter what sort of choral organization you are involved with, things are winding down with the end of the school year, the concert year, and the church year. There are people out there you […]
Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; Not Important Enough
“No person is important enough to make me angry.” Thomas Carlyle I have mentioned a few times in this blog I dislike whiners and tattletales. It’s the result of being the oldest of six children; the quickest way for me to tune out your story is to whine or tattle. I made sure my own […]
Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; Conductor Cults
“The great leaders are like the best conductors – they reach beyond the notes to reach the magic in the players.” Blaine Lee A few weeks ago, I had lunch with an old friend, Jay*, who is a choir friend of mine. He teaches and directs in the city, so we don’t always have time […]