It was tempting to rush in and fill up the musical hole with the first group I could find. However, I quickly found out that being part of a small democratic group can spoil you; going back to a cast-of-thousands chorus where the director's dictum is law isn't appealing anymore. The last time I sang in such a chorus, the only people I got to know well were the two women who sat on my left and right - kind of an isolating experience.
Time to go a-hunting.
In a small town, singers are usually limited to one community chorus but in most major metropolitan areas there are numerous choral choices, not even counting the bezillions of church choirs everywhere. How do you decide where to focus?
Here's what I've learned to keep in mind:
- Motivation behind wanting to sing with a group. Is it purely for enjoyment? Is it a crucial part of your social life - are you seeking friendships that extend beyond rehearsal nights? Do you want a serious challenge, musically speaking? Or do you want to keep it light? Are you hoping for solo or small group opportunities? Do you love performing for its own sake? I suggest taking a few minutes to write down your goals, no matter how informal they are.
- Preferences, which are as individual as each singer. Over the years I've discovered that I like (and seem to do my best work) in small groups of 20 or fewer. I have a friend who loves being part of an enormous group that can carry off impressive works like Beethoven's Ninth. Consider your own preferences: do you gravitate towards classical repertoire, barber shop, Broadway or a mix? What directorial style suits you best - meticulous and detailed or loose and easy?
- Skills and abilities. After completing a survey of smaller groups within a 50-mile radius (we choristers will go to great lengths...) I realized that I'd have to "up" my skill level in order to have a chance at a slot in about half of them - members were, if not paid professionals, advanced singers with serious training and experience. If you're aiming for a non-auditioning chorus, you can just show up. But if you're aiming for a selective group, consider getting vocal coaching even if for a limited time. It can really pay off when audition time rolls around.
- Finally, there's your budget. Membership in a choir can be free (church), affordable or prohibitively expensive. While working overseas in a notoriously expensive city, I joined a chorus that required members to purchase 5 tickets for each performance - hopefully you'd recoup your money by selling the tickets to friends...but if your friends weren't fans of classical choral music you were out of luck. Ouch! Know what you're willing and able to pay. Find out from current or former members whether the group tends to spring surprise expenses beyond the quarterly or seasonal fee. And try to determine how much time members spend in fundraising activities. Can your schedule handle extra commitments?
If you find out as you explore that your requirements are so narrow that you're not finding anything, you can always broaden them. But unless you're a total novice at choral singing, it helps to start out small, with a few first and second-tier possibilities, plus a Plan B in case you don't find what you're looking for at all.
And while you're seeking, keep singing, even if it's just to yourself, in the shower or car. Or hook up with a casual community chorus that doesn't audition. Ot take lessons and pick your teacher's brain. Stay in the game. Finding a group is like finding a job: if you're already active in something, you're more likely to make the sorts of connections that can lead to the perfect-for-you opportunity.
