By Andy Waggoner, Community Choirs R&R Chair
Membership Needs to Have Its Privileges
By Andy Waggoner, Community Choirs R&R Chair
Hello SWACDA Friends.
I’m happy to share my first article for the Connection with you!
I’m honored to serve as Artistic Director of the St. Louis County Community Chorus in Missouri. With an active membership of 200+ voices, we are constantly working to create a sense of community.
For most of us, leading effective rehearsals and concerts come naturally. Repertoire, concert themes, artistic leadership, etc, are all part of the job. But creating a true sense of community for our singers can be a challenge. It’s an even bigger challenge because we typically only see our people once a week for a couple of hours and we want to maximize our rehearsal time.
I thought I’d share a few ideas from our experiences.
Rehearsals
I know we don’t have a lot of time. I know the third piece needs another half an hour, and the tenors are just NOT getting the rhythm at measure 54. But we must make time for personal connection. Tell stories and share insights from your career and musical journey. Share why a piece is important to you or a time when you performed it. And most of all…
Humor
USE YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR! Choirs love to laugh together! And, nine times out of ten, AFTER they have a good laugh, they sing REALLY well. Keep it fast-paced and light. They don’t have to be there. Make it fun for them! Share funny jokes or better yet, have a choir member share one. Share music memes or other attention-grabbing posts on social media.
Operational Leadership
Our chorus has an army of people who keep our machine running. From the Board of Directors to membership, fundraising, social events, attire, concert operations, charities, scholarships, music librarians, etc. – make sure you have built a team of people. I know it’s often easier to do many tasks yourself. But not only are you going to stress yourself out, you’re missing an opportunity to engage a singer and offer them leadership.
Musical Leadership
Two things I would suggest is to have active, competent and dedicated Section Leaders and a named, consistent Assistant Director. In a chorus our size, we needed to up our section leader game. In addition, we wanted to start an auditioned, high-level Chamber Choir. We decided to combine the two. With 80 altos, one section leader was not enough. We now have a Chamber choir with four on a part, who also serve as section leaders. Now, I have many singers scattered throughout the section who listen for problem areas and act as a guide and resource for their section. The only people I allow to ask questions in rehearsals are our Section Leaders. This not only manages my limited rehearsal time, but it empowers our leaders to answer questions and get to know the members. (The Section Leaders always have my markings and any relevant notes so they can pass that on to members) In addition, our Chamber Choir represents the Chorus throughout the community by presenting their own concerts and performances.
Unite Around a Charity
A few years ago, I had the idea to start Season of Giving as a way for our large membership to give back to the community. We put a team together, polled the chorus, and landed on a few different charities that we could all support together. In the last few years, we have raised thousands of dollars and thousands of personal care items, food, backpacks, and other things for our community. We’ve supported area agencies, Honor Flights, Pianos for People, area schools, and a few others.
Social Events
This is a difficult one for a chorus our size (I welcome any ideas you have!) But we do try to get everyone together at least once a year. We want to start offering smaller gatherings and hope to implement section gatherings this coming semester! If your size allows, go to a show together or have a movie night or rent a private room at a restaurant. Our first rehearsal is always a fun time with snacks as we welcome our new members, introduce leaders and enjoy some social time. We also offer an annual picnic in the early fall for the entire membership and their families.
Signs of Appreciation
Whenever possible, thank the people who make your chorus run. Have them over to your house for dinner. Purchase small gifts or ornaments. Dedicate a piece to them. You get the idea! (Most) People don’t serve for the thanks, but it sure doesn’t hurt!
Public Praise
Finally, offer praise and gratitude for your singers, and do it often. This can happen in rehearsal AND in concert. Nothing makes your singers smile more than to know you are pleased with their work. Thank them for the opportunity YOU get to lead them. Again – they don’t have to be there. Let them know how thankful you are that they ARE there! One of the privileges of membership is the opportunity for singers to work with a gifted, choral professional, that’s you!
These are just a few things we’ve employed and I hope you can find one or two things to implement in your own ensemble. Membership in a chorus NEEDS to have its privileges!
As always, please feel free to reach out to me if I can be of any help to you or your choirs.
Finally, I hope to see many of you in Dallas for the national conference!
Have a wonderful holiday!
Andy Waggoner
