Choral Arts Alive and Thriving

There is much discussion about the state of American performing arts.

The 270,000 American choral ensembles are well represented in that discussion.

In December of 2010, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) released the results of the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA). Rocco Landesman, NEA Chairman, hosted a roundtable discussion to review the findings of the study. America’s choral arts were represented by the invited Ann Meier Baker, President and CEO of Chorus America; the nation’s premiere member organization for more than 650 vocal ensembles.

As well, Chorus America commissioned a study entitled “How Children, Adults, and Communities Benefit from Choruses.” The 2009 study was funded by the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Along with a whole host of information, the study found that 32.5 million adults regularly sing in a choral ensemble. Adding children to that mix brings the total to 42.6 million American adults and children taking part in a choir. Attributes of those represented by the numbers reflect increased civic involvement, discipline, and teamwork.

Representing an additional 173 choruses is the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA). The mission of GALA Choruses is to support the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender (GLBT) community choruses as they change the world through song while Chorus America’s mission is to build a dynamic and inclusive choral community so that more people are transformed by the beauty and power of choral singing.

Both GALA Choruses and Chorus America provide a wealth of assistance that includes advocacy, administrative tool kits, programs, resources, master classes, and conferences.

So, if your child sings with the Appalachian Children’s Choir located in Charleston, West Virginia or you are a rabid fan of the full-time professional Grammy Award winning Chanticleer of San Francisco, know that many of the needs of the diverse choral community are being addressed.

Clearly and thankfully, American choral ensembles come from a broad spectrum of communities. Virtually every dell and cranny is supporting a mix of singers gathering for the love of expressing themselves through the choral arts.

Matt

http://www.chorusamerica.org/
http://www.galachoruses.org/