Choral Music–A Matter of Life and Death . . . ?
by Clayton Parr
ACDA-Michigan President Elect
I have a cousin who lives in a rural area not far away. We’ve never been particularly close — he’s somewhat older than I am, grew up on a farm, didn’t go to college, worked as an electrician, enjoys hunting and fishing, not active in music. Last December, he had occasion to come to our Lessons and Carols service at Albion for the first time. I was so surprised when he came up to me afterward, with tears in his eyes, and said, “I finally understand what it is that you do.”
That got me thinking — how many other folks like him have I been “missing” over the years, with the choices I’ve made in programming with my choirs? It’s easy to come to the conclusion that our audiences just want entertainment — there’s evidence all around us to support that idea, even in the church music field (!) Of course, we know there’s much more — choral music’s power to make a difference in the lives of performers and audiences alike. At this past ACDA-MI Fall Conference, Josephine Lee and the Chicago Children’s Chorus reminded us of that truth, through both their performance and their discussions about what the CCC is doing for neighborhoods throughout the city.
How are you using the choral leadership opportunities you’ve been given to make a difference in your community? Getting singers involved in outreach, volunteering? Partnerships with community organizations? Programming that highlights social issues, for example, suicide prevention in Jake Runestad’s Please Stay? If you have a moment to send me your “make a difference” stories, we could make a long list with ideas that could inspire all of us.
As I begin my time of service to all of you, I’m looking forward to hearing your choral stories — your successes, and even your frustrations. The more we hear from you, the better we can work together to craft experiences (future conference sessions, special events, etc.) that will help us get the tools, ideas, repertoire and inspiration to do what we do more effectively. Drop me a line — I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks,
Clayton Parr, President-Elect
cparr@albion.edu
