Latest Community Posts

I direct a 45-voice church choir that does a wide range of music, but mostly what would be considered traditional fare.  I am finishing my second year at the church, so the transition to a new director is well underway.  As with many mainline churches, our median choir member age is quite high and we will […]

Greetings Everyone, I know that this is an unusual request however it’s what the family desires.  The widow has expressed that she and her husband went polka dancing every week for decades.  She and the family would like a polka played at the funeral but also mentioned a “polka hymn” ?  that they had heard […]

What, do you believe, is the proper protocol for listing pieces in a printed program?  I thought this was it:   Name of Song……………………………Smith & Jones, arr. Davis   I was taught to use composer and lyricist’s last names in the order listed on the octavo, followed by arranger’s last name (if there is one). […]

Hi all,   I am going to be a new high school choir director next year and I’m just wondering if you can offer any advice on how to get more boys in choir.  Right now, for the fall, we have 52 girls enrolled in chorus and only 4 boys.   Only 4!!!   I seriously need […]

off-ten or off-en?  Specifically a singer questioned its use in a setting of “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” by Craig Courtney.  the word is divided over two quarter-notes.   Julie

Hi, My small women’s ensemble (usually 13 – 18) is becoming very small next year (6). This is a very talented ensemble; each can carry their part independently. They have excellent intonation and music reading abilities as well as musical sophistication.   Yes, Dana Taylor, I’ve scoped out your website and have ordered Angelus’ CD […]

The American Prize is pleased to announce that the winner of The American Prize in Composition (Choral Division) is Ted Vives, for Castrovalva, Lux Aeterna and Gloria. Ted Vives has received many awards and commissions for his choral and instrumental works. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Music Composition and Education from Florida State University and […]

By Eric Swanson DODGE CITY — Sixteen students bustled around a Wright Park picnic shelter Monday, cleaning graffiti and putting fresh paint on the shelter. The students belong to the Dodge City Community College Concert Choir, and they were working on the picnic shelter as a community service project before the semester ends. The project […]

Anyone have any experience with finding a grant to help a high school choir commission a composer to write a piece of music for them?  Any ideas, experiences or suggestions are welcome.

Our choir of 50-60 members has been performing Messiah every December for decades. I joined as a bass 3 years ago with a minimal audition and no vocal experience (mediocre trombone in HS) and have used Cyberbass and lessons to try to get up to speed. Every spring we choose something else to perform and […]