CHORUS AMERICA ANNUAL MEETING REPORT

MEMBERSHIP & PROGRAMS

Strategic Plan

In January 2023, Chorus America’s board of directors adopted a new Strategic Plan. The plan articulates a new Vision, Mission and series of Guiding Principles for our organization, as well as three Strategic Objectives and accompanying goals that will shape our work during FY 2023–2025. Our new Strategic Plan builds on lessons learned about remaining flexible in the face of rapid change and ensuring the strength and relevance of the choral field. It deepens our commitment to meaningful, measurable action steps that ensure representation of and service to the vibrant diversity of the choral field, especially to those marginalized because of race and ethnicity. It is a living document, which will be reviewed often to keep us accountable to our commitments and goals in a fast-moving world. Read the full Strategic Plan at chorusamerica.org/ about/strategic-plan.

Membership

Chorus America currently has 1,102 members and serves over 6,670 individuals through their affiliations with choruses, industry-wide businesses, and other member organizations. This fall, we adopted a new dues structure that distributes membership dues more equitably across budget sizes for our chorus members, making membership more accessible—and affordable—for choruses with small and mid-sized budgets. As the choral field continues to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, n Individual (42.12%) n Student (4.21%) n Business/Affiliate (3.66%) n Choruses up to $120,000 (27.84%) n Choruses $120,000–$1 million (18.04%) n Choruses $1 milion+ (4.12%) we’ve seen a positive impact on our membership numbers: Individual memberships have increased 5% since the end of last fiscal year and chorus memberships have increased by 2%.

The Chorus America Online Community, a new member benefit launched at the end of last year, continues to grow. The Online Community offers a secure online space where members can connect, ask questions, share ideas and resources, and have conversations with their peers. Currently, around 2,000 members access community discussions either online or through email. Discussion topics over the past year have included health guidelines, the use of digital or printed programs, online ADEI resources, and job descriptions.

Programs

Chorus America offered the ADEI Learning Lab to a third cohort of participants in the fall of 2022. This four-week workshop is designed for White-identifying choral leaders who want to address structural racism in their organizations and become better allies and accomplices to their colleagues who have been marginalized because of race and ethnicity. The first half of the Lab focuses on participants’ individual roles in advancing ADEI in the field and the second focuses on the role their organizations play in creating a more equitable field.

With over $900,000 in grants distributed to 20 grant partners in the spring of 2022, our Music Education Partnership Grants program supported grant partners by providing a learning cohort during their projects’ implementation. This cohort gives grantees a forum to share knowledge and expertise with each other, as well as connect with staff. We have held three online convenings for grantees, culminating in an in-person gathering at our 2023 Conference in San Francisco. Another major focus this year has been to collect and share data to communicate the impact of funded projects. We are working with a music education researcher to conduct research that will result in a report and access map illustrating how funded projects have impacted access to choral music education, as well as articles, blog posts, and case studies featuring grantee projects.

Our Member Professional Development Day on March 15 was designed to be an accessible and flexible virtual learning opportunity focused on practical chorus management topics. Five live, online seminars covered topics including reengaging audiences, strategic and scenario planning, leadership transitions, and fundraising. Members could register for individual sessions or for the full program, as well as watch session recordings following the event.

The 2023 Conference will be a fully in-person event, held on May 31–June 2 in San Francisco. The three days will include plenaries, panels, and breakout sessions that address relevant issues such as rebuilding choral music audiences, creating a culture of inclusion and u

2023 Chorus America Conference

belonging, commissioning new works, and fostering community through intergenerational singing. Conference programming also includes meaningful networking opportunities in both group and one-on-one settings and three performances that showcase the dynamic range of Bay Area choral ensembles and the area’s cultural richness.

The Conference will also mark the launch of the Choral Executive Leadership Academy, a new leadership development program for early-to-mid career choral leaders who have been marginalized because of race. Developed in partnership with Arreon HarleyEmerson and his consulting business Equity Sings, the Leadership Academy focuses on building the skills and support systems needed to hold executive positions in choral organizations, with the aim of increasing diversity in administrative leadership of choruses. After an in-person Conference convening, the curriculum will address executive-level administrative topics through online learning, hands-on guidance from expert faculty, and one-on-one mentorship over the course of six weeks this summer.

Also this summer, the 2023 ChoralOrchestral Conducting Academy will return to an in-person event for the first time since 2019. The seven-day Conducting Academy will take place July 3–9, 2023 at California State University, Fullerton. The program provides participants, including Conducting Fellows and Conducting Scholars, a unique opportunity to develop choralorchestral skills and enhance their university training by working with string ensembles and full orchestra under the tutelage of leading mentors.

Financials

In FY22, Chorus America continued to navigate the pandemic and its financial impacts alongside new initiatives to support the field. Short- and long-term strategies have been employed to ensure continued financial stability. A full copy of our most recent audit is available at chorusamerica.org/AnnualMeetingMaterials2023.

Fy22 Revenue By Category

n Grants and Contributions

$600,557.00 (28%) n Assets Released (Prior Gifts and Earnings)

$1,116,182.00 (52%) n Membership Dues

$200,891.00 (9%) n Conference

$110,217.00 (5%) n Publications

$86,189.00 (4%) n Investment

$6,831.00 (<1%) n Other

$30,136.00 (1%)

Total: $2,151,003.00

Fy22 Expenses By Category

n Membership Services and Publications

$414,898.00 (19%) n Program Services

$1,256,569.00 (58%) n Management and General

$280,658.00 (13%) n Fundraising $197,528.00 (9%)

Total: $2,149,653.00