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Beginner Choral Music Theory Course on Zoom starts August 3
Dr. Doug Helvering will teach a Beginner Choral Music Theory course on Zoom. It starts Monday, August 3 at 7 PM and runs for eight weeks. You can attend in real time or view the recording later. Here's the course description:
Join us for an eight week Beginner Choral Music Theory course designed for chorus members who want to strengthen their musicianship in a supportive, accessible setting. Led by composer, conductor and educator Douglas Helvering, this course introduces the core elements of music theory through a practical, singer-focused lens. Meeting Monday evenings at 7:00 PM on Zoom throughout August and September, sessions will explore note reading, rhythm and meter, scales, intervals, chords, key signatures and other foundational concepts that directly support choral rehearsal and performance. No prior experience is required—this course is ideal for singers who are new to reading music or looking to build confidence and deepen their understanding of the music they sing. Each one-hour session is interactive and engaging, with optional practice activities to reinforce learning between classes. Recordings will be available for participants who are unable to attend a live session. The course costs $150 per person. Register at musicsh.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F46370.
Posted 6/30/2026. Expires 8/30/2026.
Manhattan Choral Ensemble seeks proposals for SATB work
The Manhattan Choral Ensemble seeks proposals from composers living within 50 miles of New York City for a short work for SATB chorus that evokes life in New York City. Proposals are due by Sunday, September 13, 2026.
The proposed work should meet the following criteria:
- Length of between two and three minutes
- A cappella for SATB chorus (no additional instruments, minimal divisi)
- Of moderate difficulty, learnable by the MCE in three hours of rehearsal
- Connected in some way to life in New York City and expressing this year's theme of "Renewal"
- A setting of a poem about New York City or reflective of New York City
- A setting of a poem by a poet strongly associated with New York City
- A wordless tone poem evoking an image of New York City
- A setting of an original poem or a newly written poem connected in some way to New York City
- A textual description of the proposed piece of approximately 400 words
- A proposed text for the piece (if the proposed piece will have a text)
- Two example pieces written by the composer that are in a similar style to the proposed piece
- A short biography of the composer
We welcome texts written by living writers. It is the responsibility of the composer to secure permission to use any texts not in the public domain. Please include in your proposal confirmation that you have permission to set any proposed texts not in the public domain.
Previous winners are ineligible. Only one proposal per composer. Proposals are due by Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Three composers will be chosen by a committee comprising MCE Director Thomas Cunningham and the Artistic Advisors to this program. Each selected composer will receive a $750 commissioning fee and a performance by the Manhattan Choral Ensemble at its concert on March 13, 2027, at the Dimenna Center for Classical Music in Manhattan. Completed works will be due to the MCE by December 15, 2026. Prior to the March performance, the composers will be asked to attend a rehearsal to discuss their piece with the choir. Additionally, one work will be voted on by the audience for an additional award on the night of the performance. The composer of the chosen work will receive an additional $250.
Electronic proposals are acceptable. There is no fee to apply. Submissions should be e-mailed to info@mce.nyc or (if not possible to send electronically) mailed to Manhattan Choral Ensemble, PO Box 3852 Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-3852.
Posted 6/18/2026. Expires 9/13/2026.
Workshop for singers and collaborative pianists August 17-22
Calling all choral singers and collaborative pianists! Love to escape the city and get out in nature during the summer?
Come join the Lab Chorus for CoLab Works at beautiful Avaloch Farm in Boscawen, NH, a new workshop for collaborative pianists and chorus. We'll be singing beautiful Brahms (and others) in a gorgeous natural setting--it's music camp for adults! Tuition for singers is less than the cost of the accommodations plus three gourmet meals a day--it's the best musical vacation on offer. Message me with any questions after checking out the website. I hope you'll apply to join us!
Think Brahms in the morning, afternoon hikes or chill time in a shady knoll, early evening chamber singing parties, and nighttime campfire jams. It's going to be all vibes!
Application deadline extended. Limited spots remaining! (Particularly seeking tenors and basses, but still open to all voice parts.) Apply at pianoworksinprogress.org/pwip-avaloch-co-lab/.
Posted 6/3/2026. Expires 8/17/2026.
Harold Rosenbaum score study sessions on Zoom
Harold Rosenbaum will host monthly workshops on Zoom dedicated to score study of selected choral works. The next one will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 10 AM to noon ET. This will help conductors at every level, plus singers and composers.
It all starts with studying the scores. A conductor must make decisions in almost every measure, and anticipate the challenges singers will have, whether they are aware of them or not. Then the conductor must find solutions to every one of them. Teaching general concepts (and there are MANY of them) to singers will expand their thinking and open up new ideas which will delight audiences and lead to more expressive and beautiful performances. But will this lead to a more tightly-knit performance.
Cost: $ 50.00 per person, paid by Zelle at 914-582-3915 or by PayPal. Please e-mail me when you have paid, so that I can send the zoom link. Repertoire: Bach Mass in B Minor and Verdi Requiem. There is no need to acquire scores, which will be shown and discussed at the meetings.
For further information please feel free to e-mail Harold at haroldrosenbaum@gmail.com.
Posted 6/1/2026. Expires 8/1/2026.
Summit, NJ church choir seeks tenor and soprano
St. John’s Lutheran Church (ELCA), Summit, NJ, has an opening for a tenor staff singer/section leader for the 2026-2027 program year.
We are also seeking a temporary soprano staff singer for September through December.
Regular call times are Sunday, 10:00-11:45 AM, and Wednesday, 7:30-9:00 PM. The pay is $80/call, $140/week on W-2. In addition to Sunday morning, the Choir sings on Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, during Holy Week, and for occasional Sunday afternoon liturgies, including Choral Vespers. St. John’s is a warm and welcoming community, and the choir comprises about 25 talented and energetic volunteers, many of whom are trained professionals who choose to sing with us because of our commitment to excellence. Singers who can sing straight-tone and have excellent sight-reading skills are preferred. To schedule an audition, e-mail a recording link to Christopher Harlow-Jennings at charlowjennings@stjohnssummit.org.
Posted 5/27/2026. Expires 7/27/2026.
It's Western Wind Workshop season
Registration is now open for this summer’s ensemble singing workshop in August at Mount Holyoke College. Register now for the weekend (3-day) segment (July 31-August 2), the 5-day segment (August 3-8), or the full 8-day session (July 31-August 8). Our 5-day June workshop at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, CT is also open for enrollment, as is registration in our May 30 Big Apple workshop at Brick Presbyterian Church. See www.westernwind.org/workshops for details.Posted 5/6/2026. Expires 8/3/2026.
Tour opportunties in 2027 with American Music Abroad
June 16-26, 2027: American Music Abroad Harmony Community Tour -- a unique international choral, band and orchestra experience bringing together community musicians for a European concert tour in Ireland. Open to adult vocalists of all backgrounds, this ensemble celebrates diverse choral repertoire while performing in iconic cultural destinations throughout Ireland.
June 27-July 7, 2027: American Music Abroad Resonance Community Tour -- a unique international choral, handbell and string performance tours bringing together community musicians for a European concert tour in Germany. Open to adult vocalists of all backgrounds, this ensemble celebrates diverse choral repertoire while performing in iconic cultural destinations throughout Germany.
July 23-August 2, 2027: American Music Abroad Independence Community Tour -- a unique international choral, band and orchestra experience bringing together community musicians for a European concert tour in Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, and Austria. Open to adult vocalists of all backgrounds, this ensemble celebrates diverse choral repertoire while performing in iconic cultural destinations throughout Europe.
Partner with American Music Abroad to design a customized European performance tour tailored to your ensemble. Visit American Music Abroad Ensemble Tours for details.
Posted 5/4/2026. Expires 11/4/2026.
PlayScore 2 sheet music scanning app
Choirs: let the PlayScore 2 sheet music scanning app teach you your part
The PlayScore 2 app (iOS, Android and Windows) uses advanced Optical Music Recognition to play music notation smoothly and accurately direct from photos, images and PDF scores. PlayScore 2 is widely used by choirs for its ability to generate part-separated practice tracks. These "playable scores" (known as PlayScore ‘Documents’) can be distributed to singers who can play them and interact with the music using just the free version of the app. PlayScore can also export scanned music directly from PlayScore 2 as Full Notation MusicXML into notation software such as Dorico, Sibelius, or MuseScore. For details, visit playscore.co.
"This app is a lifesaver because I can finally practice at home and isolate or combine voice parts and add or omit accompaniment (just like in choral weekly practice). I would not have been able to prepare for a choral concert without this remarkable app." --App Store review
Posted 4/27/2026. Expires 10/27/2026.