Navigating Change, Sustaining Inclusive Singing Communities

Dear Chorus America Community,

Recent executive orders affecting federal arts funding have created new challenges for how cultural organizations cultivate inclusive communities, engage audiences, and fulfill their artistic missions.

We recognize that the choral community is navigating uncertainty as we all work to understand and respond to these challenges.

At Chorus America, our mission, vision, and guiding principles remain unchanged. We fundamentally believe that singing together has the unique power to build bridges of understanding and create spaces where all voices can be heard. We know that many of you are working thoughtfully to sustain inclusive, vibrant singing communities while adapting to evolving circumstances.

We are committed to supporting you with practical resources and guidance during this period of change and increased impact on the choral community. The new steps we have taken include hiring a government affairs specialist to help us navigate the policy changes and provide our members with more frequent updates and more comprehensive information. You’ll find the first of these expanded updates here.

We are also building a webinar to bring you what we’ve learned and address your concerns. We expect to finalize a date and time in early March soon. Please stay tuned for specific details as soon as they are confirmed. 

As always, we aim to respond to important issues thoughtfully, and it is crucial that we take sufficient time to understand the reality of each order or policy. We will continue to monitor developments that affect our field and share relevant information as it becomes available via email, in our online community, and on our High Notes blog.

To fully understand how these developments are affecting our field and represent your concerns, it’s important that we hear from you. Please fill out this form to let us know how your programs and activities are being affected and share your questions.

Our team stands ready to help members understand how these changes impact your work and to facilitate connections with peers facing similar challenges. You can always reach us at membership@chorusamerica.org.

Historically, singing together has been a force for positive change. While we navigate these current challenges, Chorus America remains committed to supporting our members' ability to create and perform, sharing the range and depth of their humanity. We will continue to advocate for policies that protect artistic freedom and support the full spectrum of human expression through song.

We are here to support you.

Warmly,

Christopher Eanes

President and CEO