//podcastplus.net/feed/corona-choir-what-choral-folks-need-to-know-with-fish-the-choir-guy~047a2b37 Choirs warm up so they SING well. Choral Directors, Corona Choir is your daily warm up to LEAD well. Choristers, Parents of young Singers, Friends, Supporters and Audience Members of choral music, get ready to be informed and inspired. Join host Steve Fisher, or Fish the Choir Guy as his South African friends call him, at the juncture of Covid-19 and choir. Whether you're involved in a choir at a school or university, a community based program, a professional ensemble, or a place of worship, Corona Choir will help you survive, succeed and flourish as we endure together the ongoing pandemic. You'll hear from choral folks of all kinds, from all over the United States, and around the globe to tell us what we need to know. We'll learn from medical experts who can update and guide us so we can keep our choristers safe. Most importantly of all, we'll hear from Singers themselves, to know how they're feeling, so we can serve them better. If you join the Corona Choir email list, you will be automatically entered into a drawing to win an ALL EXPENSE PAID trip to the one place in the world that should be at the top of every person on the planet's bucket list - and especially choral folks...SOUTH AFRICA! To sign up, go to coronachoir.org. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 22:38:33 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/8116898-part-1-of-episode-50-with-two-time-grammy-award-winner-donald-nally-of-the-crossing.mp3?blob_id=36673087 #50. If you're a choral nerd, get ready to nerd OUT. You're about to hang out with The Crossing's two-time Grammy Award winner Donald Nally.  One of the remarkable things about Donald is that his immense talent does not stop him from being vulnerable.  In fact, I'm sure his openness and humility, along with his singular goal of choral honesty, are the reasons why he enjoys such success.  So give a listen and discover what professional endeavor Donald avoids because he says he's a disaster at it. What it was like to meet Mick Jagger and perform with the Rolling Stones. Why The Crossing has performed with the LA Philharmonic and the NY Philharmonic but never The Philadelphia Orchestra. What Donald really thinks about Zoom. And what it really feels like to win not one, but TWO Grammys. And you'll hear Donald's answer to the question of what the "secret formula" is to winning a Grammy. Obviously ,  he's figured it out.  Or has he? This is an engaging conver... Sun, 14 Mar 2021 02:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/8116898-part-1-of-episode-50-with-two-time-grammy-award-winner-donald-nally-of-the-crossing.mp3?blob_id=36673087 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/8135144-part-2-of-episode-50-with-two-time-grammy-award-winner-donald-nally-of-the-crossing.mp3?blob_id=36674024 Be sure to listen to Part 1 before listening to this! Artwork for Part 2 by Steven Bradshaw. Visit www.stevenbradshawart.com . Sun, 14 Mar 2021 02:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/8135144-part-2-of-episode-50-with-two-time-grammy-award-winner-donald-nally-of-the-crossing.mp3?blob_id=36674024 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/7761907-mermaiding-is-a-thing-what-s-that-about-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-choral-music.mp3?blob_id=34472104 Not THAT much, so only give this a listen if you love mermaids or are obsessed with Ariel from The Little Mermaid , and want to explore the actual world of real life mermaiding.  Yes, it's really a THING. Of course, there are always - at most - six degrees of separation between any two people or topics.  In literature and music, mermaids have always been a popular subject.  In the Romantic period, composer Clara Shumman set German poet Heinrich Heine's  "Die Lorelei," to music as an art song.  It's been wonderfully arranged as an SSA piece by Brandon Williams, available at J.W. Pepper .  But really,  this inaugural episode of what will be a monthly series is offered as an escape to take us choral folks outside the choir world into another world that perhaps we didn't know existed, or maybe we've always wondered..."what's THAT About!?" Our special guest is Hailey Michaux, a real mermaid! Some mermaids do it for the pictur... Tue, 09 Feb 2021 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/7761907-mermaiding-is-a-thing-what-s-that-about-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-choral-music.mp3?blob_id=34472104 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/7532452-the-long-run-building-lasting-relationships-with-our-singers-and-fellow-choirs.mp3?blob_id=33308974 CORONA CHOIR is baaaaaaaack with both "Greatest Choir Director" and "Let the Choir Kid Talk". If you want great ideas on how to maintain and grow choral relationships, for what this episode's main guest thinks of as "the long run" - with not just your choir members but with the other choirs in which they sing - then this really fun episode is for you.  Steve Fisher has an engaging conversation with Frank Van Atta, Choir Director of Upper Choir ensembles at Germantown Friends School, along with three of Frank's students who also are long time members of the community-based Commonwealth Youthchoirs. Choir Kids Graham, Zack and Amelia don't hold back with what they're thinking 11 months (!) into the pandemic.  Click here for the show notes.   And if you are interested in learning more about an engaging online experience for your choir that takes the pressure off you the choir director, visit singlikeasouthafrican.com . Fri, 29 Jan 2021 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/7532452-the-long-run-building-lasting-relationships-with-our-singers-and-fellow-choirs.mp3?blob_id=33308974 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6461656-exclusive-conversation-with-colorado-aerosol-study-lead-researcher-dr-jelena-srebric.mp3?blob_id=27052864 #048.  If you still have questions around singing and the science of rehearsing and performing in person, this episode is for you! Don't miss this exclusive conversation with Dr. Jelena Srebric of the University of Maryland, one of two lead researchers on the main study that choral directors have relied upon since the pandemic began:  the International Coalition of Performing Arts Aerosol Study.  There's a lot of good news in this 3rd report, but vigilance and adhering to best practices is crucial - especially as corona has been on the rise again in many regions of the world. Click here for Report #3, presenting findings thru month five of the sixth month study.  Conversation topics includes: the summary of latest report from landmark study, Dr. Srebric's prediction for the next several months in regards to the second wave of the virus; how corona has affected musicians in Dr. Srebric's own family and how they have informed her work; what the last part of the study will... Sat, 21 Nov 2020 02:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6461656-exclusive-conversation-with-colorado-aerosol-study-lead-researcher-dr-jelena-srebric.mp3?blob_id=27052864 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6396385-are-choir-directors-allowed-to-be-as-tough-as-they-need-to-be-with-their-choristers-today-to-make-great-music-old-school-vs-warm-and-fuzzy-with-former-philadelphia-boys-choir-star-soloist-manny-carrera.mp3?blob_id=26688391 #047.  Welcome to this first CORONA CHOIR episode recorded LIVE! You can view the video episode here .  If you ever wonder whether choir directors have gone soft, compared to when WE were choristers, this episode is for you!  In some ways the pandemic is just another challenge for our choristers.  It's not as if we didn't have things working against us during pre corona times when trying to make the music.  There will be  old and new challenges post corona times. The reality is Choir Directors have always had to push their choirs to hang in, stay choral tough, raise the bar, and get the job done under impossible circumstances, inspiring them to never, never, never give up.  But is that possible with the today's general approach to raising young people?  Former Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale star soloist, and Girard Academic Music Program student and teacher alum, Manny Carrera chats with Fish about the "old days," with Philadelph... Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6396385-are-choir-directors-allowed-to-be-as-tough-as-they-need-to-be-with-their-choristers-today-to-make-great-music-old-school-vs-warm-and-fuzzy-with-former-philadelphia-boys-choir-star-soloist-manny-carrera.mp3?blob_id=26688391 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6241015-let-the-choir-kid-talk-part-2-with-pennsylvania-girlchoir-member-audim.mp3?blob_id=26067562 #046. Spoiler alert!  This is Part 2, the sequel to yesterday's cliff hanger episode (#045).  Find out Audim's decision when Steve told her that if she left the rehearsal for the upcoming world premier of The Little Dancer musical  in NYC to go to an undisclosed cheerleading practice, she would be cut from the show. (But first, be sure to listen to Part 1, episode #045.) And don't miss Audim express in her own words how important it is for young people to have music in their lives. Visit the SHOW NOTES for links related to this episode. You can also visit coronachoir.org for more resources. There you can join the email list and  be automatically entered into a drawing to tour South Africa with Steve and make music with his South African friends - all expenses paid.  Fri, 06 Nov 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6241015-let-the-choir-kid-talk-part-2-with-pennsylvania-girlchoir-member-audim.mp3?blob_id=26067562 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6240970-let-the-choir-kid-talk-part-1-with-pennsylvania-girlchoir-member-audim.mp3?blob_id=26052448 #045. If you want to be reminded of the POWER of CHOIR in a person's life, this episode is for you.  Steve lets Audim, this week's Choir Kid of the week, TALK!  Audim is a 10th grader who has been a member of Commonwealth Youthchoirs (CY) since 2nd grade.   She started out in the Find Your Instrument! ( FYI! )   program, CY's partnership with schools who don't have formal music offerings for their students.  Audim graduated from FYI! to CY's Pennsylvania Girlchoir, and never looked back.  She has made great friends while making great music, has travelled the world, has been on Good Morning America, and has performed in the musical The Little Dancer...a family holiday musical at Theatre 71 right off Broadway in New York City.   But she almost didn't.  Listen and find out Steve and Audim's "moment." It's a cliff hanger! Visit the SHOW NOTES for links related to this episode. You can also visit coronachoir.org for more resour... Thu, 05 Nov 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6240970-let-the-choir-kid-talk-part-1-with-pennsylvania-girlchoir-member-audim.mp3?blob_id=26052448 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6229093-wed-11-4-ideas-on-where-to-tour-with-your-choir-next-how-to-plan-your-best-most-inexpensive-tour-ever-and-even-how-to-tour-right-now-with-host-steve-fisher.mp3?blob_id=25923796 #044. The pandemic WILL end and our choirs WILL tour again.  Steve's prediction is that, by this summer, it will be safe to tour - depending on your tolerance for calculated risk.  But you need to start planning now.  For those choirs who don't have a tradition of touring, maybe you should start one, as a carrot to get singers to return post pandemic. And here's a bold question. Why not plan your own concert tour?  That's right, no travel agents, no tour companies.   You CAN do it yourself and end up offering your choristers their best tour yet. Not only could it cost less per day than any previous tour, but planning your own tour allows your organization to benefit financially. Today Steve gives a sneak peak at a course he'll be offering at the end of the season on how to plan your own concert tour. He also provides a list of countries that are admitting tourists without a quarantine at this moment in time and shares a great idea colleagues had for being hosted ... Wed, 04 Nov 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6229093-wed-11-4-ideas-on-where-to-tour-with-your-choir-next-how-to-plan-your-best-most-inexpensive-tour-ever-and-even-how-to-tour-right-now-with-host-steve-fisher.mp3?blob_id=25923796 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6205594-tues-11-3-when-we-put-choir-directors-including-ourselves-in-boxes-the-need-to-build-relationships-with-our-singers.mp3?blob_id=25948471 #043. It's  "Greatest Director" Tuesday with a final conversation with Jenny Hutton and a shout out to the supremely awesome Dr. Donald Dumpson.  Dr. Dumpson comes up in one of Steve's "Confessions of a Choir Director."  Even when we're making real, significant, noble efforts to rid ourselves and our choral communities of internal, societal and/or institutional racism, bias can be present. The future Dr. Hutton and Steve talk about how we all tend to put choir directors in a box - including ourselves. They wrap up talking about choral leaders having time for singers, truly partnering with them to build true relationships, and honoring what they already bring of value to the music making from their own musical and life experiences independent of us. It's a realm that is of particular interest to Jenny as a doctoral candidate, educator and human. Choral leaders need to do themselves what they tell their singers is the most important thing of all...listen.  Venerated choir... Tue, 03 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306252/6205594-tues-11-3-when-we-put-choir-directors-including-ourselves-in-boxes-the-need-to-build-relationships-with-our-singers.mp3?blob_id=25948471