Topic, General: Living Your Mission
Saturday, March 9, 2019, 10:00am
University Lutheran Church, Cambridge, MA
Is your choir looking to re-energize around its core purpose? Meeting attendees were able to take inspiration from GBCC member choirs whose missions are a daily touchstone. Members heard from representatives from Coro Allegro, Triad: Boston’s Choral Collective, Voices 21c, and Mystic Chorale about how their unique missions guide not only their artistic programming but also their marketing, fundraising, and operational activities. They also discussed the rewards, and challenges, of creating cultures where mission is shared and debated.
Resources:
Review the Slides from the Presentation
Also check out Nick Page’s (Founder and Artistic Director of Mystic Chorale) book recommendations; What is Art For? by Ellen Dissanayake and No More Secondhand God: And Other Writings by R. Buckminster Fuller
Topic, Fundraising: Successful Applications for MCC Grant Opportunities
Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, 10:00am
All Saints Parish, Brookline, MA
Sara Glidden, Cultural Investment Portfolio Program Manager for the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), discussed upcoming MCC grant opportunities and strategies for successful applications.
Resources:
Review Sara Glidden’s Presentation Slides and Panelist Bio
Check out a sample application of the MCC Cultural Investment Portfolio
Links to the Project Grant Guidelines for the FY20 Cultural Investment Portfolio and the registration link for the FY20 Cultural Investment Portfolio Projects Grant Information Session Webinar are also available
Topic, Leadership: Navigating Leadership Transitions
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, 10:00am
University Lutheran Church, Cambridge, MA
Member choirs and music directors including Boston Choral Ensemble, Boston Cecilia, and Kevin Leong (Masterworks Chorale and Concord Chorus) shared tips for managing smooth leadership transitions, whether artistic, staff or board.
This presentation was recommended for: board members and those in your organization responsible for hiring decisions. It was FREE to GBCC members.
Resources:
Click on the following link for Bios of Panelists
Apply for the Boston Cecilia Music Director position
Review the Types of Conductor Searches
Topic: Accessibility & Inclusion
Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, 10:00am
Holden Chapel, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Our choirs are always looking to engage and support singers and audience members, but are we aware of the ways in which we unintentionally push them away? Our special guests for the season’s opening meeting were Andy Clark, Director of Choral Activities at Harvard University, and Charles Baldwin, Program Officer for Mass Cultural Council’s Universal Participation Initiative. Charles discussed ways that choirs can make everything from their programming to their marketing materials to their spaces more inclusive and equitable for the community, while Andy will discussed strategies for helping all those within our choirs feel welcome, particularly those who are undergoing transitions that may affect their singing.
Resources:
Gala Choruses’ Resource Center, including this 2-page handout on “Creating Inclusive Choirs: Transgender & Gender Nonbinary Singers”
Charles Baldwin’s presentation handout: The Universal Participation Initiative at Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Singing Teacher’s Guide to Transgender Voices (Liz Jackson Hearns and Brian Kremer): References and Resources for Teachers
The We Have Voice Collective Code of Conduct
Paul Kahn: “An Astronaut on Earth”
