“The phenomenon of a gay men’s chorus is a vital part of the musical fabric of our society. It is not a gimmick to draw a crowd. We have always just wanted to put on great concerts – and make a difference while doing it.”
For nearly half a century, Voices of Omaha has presented annual performances of Handel's Messiah without admission charge. In 2010, artistic director Edward B. Hurd laid out a challenge and a path forward: “We can do even more for our community.” Part II of this two-part series explores how the chorus exponentially increased its development efforts and shares "words to the wise" learned through experience.
For nearly half a century, Voices of Omaha has presented annual performances of Handel's Messiah without admission charge. In 2010, artistic director Edward B. Hurd laid out a challenge and a path forward: “We can do even more for our community.” Part I of this two-part series takes a look at the chorus's image makeover and efforts to attract a younger and more diverse community.
Conducting Hope tells the inspiring story of the East Hills Singers at Lansing Correctional Facility in Kansas. Producer and director Margie Friedman talks about the only men’s prison choir in the country to perform outside prison walls.
What choruses can learn from a dance company that uses its art form to help communities tell their own stories.
Gretchen Kuhrmann is the director of Choralis, a Northern Virginia-based chorus that will perform Bob Chilcott’s Requiem at the Chorus America conference on June 12. Chorus America asked her about the concert and her program to train and recruit young singers.
Joyce Garrett knew from a young age that she wanted to work with choirs. What she didn't realize was that this desire would lead her to change the lives of hundreds of high school students along the way.
Prison choirs help inmates reconnect with their self-worth and build a sense of community –both inside and outside prison walls.
How Nelson Mandela shaped a national anthem that united South Africans in song.
Talking about diversity is nothing new to us in the arts and cultural world. But to realize the fruits of these conversations, we need to move beyond the idea of diversity to a deeper level of understanding and respect for ourselves and others.
