Choralconductorsandcliniciansoftenfocusonhoningthetechnicalandartisticelementsoftheirchoir’sperformance,butwhatisthetruepurposeofchoralsinging?Choralperformancessoundbeautiful,buttheyalsotellstories,“saysomething“tosomeone,andcreatechangeinthem.Inthatfundamentalsense,theyarealwaysactivist.InTransformingChoralSinging:AnActivist’sGuideforChoirDirectors,authorCharlesW.Bealedrawsfromhisnearly20yearsofleadingmajorchoirsintheLGBTQIA+choralmovementinternationallyaswellashislongexperienceasasinger,organist,conductor,andeducatortoputforthanewvisionforchoralsinging:tomoveaudiencesandchangetheworld.Fourmainprinciplesunderpinthisvision:connection,impact,socialjustice,andstylisticopenness.Bealelaysdownanon-canonicalandinclusiveframework,groundedincriticalmusicologyandpedagogy,formission-drivenandactivist-orientedengagementwiththechoralarts,andprovidespracticaltakeawaysforchoralpractitionersandconductorsthroughalivelymixofpractical,rigorous,andfunworkshops,tips,andsuggestions.Startingfromthepremisethatallstylesdeserveequalspace,theninechapterscoverthecoreaspectsofchoraldirecting,includingmission,vocalsound,rhythmandgroove,improvising,programming,conducting,andleadingachoralcommunity,teachingandlearning,andthedailypracticeofequityandinclusion.Thebookcloseswithaseriesofcallstoactionandlaysoutapotentiallytransformativeactivistvisionforthewholefield,whichforegroundsparticipationandengagement,andconceivesofallchoralsingingasapowerfulcatalystformusicalandsocialchange.Theresultisaprovocativeandcontemporaryapproachtobuildingchoralcommunitieswithprofoundimplicationsforwhywesing,whatwesing,howwesing,andhowweconduct,teach,rehearse,andleadachoralcommunity.
