A community choir workshop with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale can provide insight into the performance of Afrocentric music, raise the level of your choir’s performance, and inspire a deeper engagement with the repertoire. A workshop can be an excellent and effective way for your choir to prepare for an upcoming concert, or can be one element in a long-term project of skill development.
The Chorale can customize a workshop for your community choir, based on the following options:
Community Choir Workshop I: 60-90 minutes
Your choir prepares 1-3 pieces from the repertoire of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale in advance and works with clinician Brainerd Blyden-Taylor on elements of style and interpretation. Elements of Afrocentric performance practice are usually discussed. The singers of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale can also take part in this workshop on request.
Community Choir Workshop II: 60-90 minutes
Your choir prepares 1-3 pieces from the Afrocentric choral repertoire in advance, and works with clinician Brainerd Blyden-Taylor and members of The Chorale on elements of style and interpretation. Elements of Afrocentric performance practice are usually discussed. Your choir’s learning will be accelerated and its engagement deepened by the opportunity to be led by conductor Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, and to sing alongside the professional singers of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale.
Community Choir Workshop III for Conductors: 60-90 minutes
This workshop gives young conductors who work with community choirs or hope to start their own. Participants get feedback from renowned conductor Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, with the option of testing their skills on the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. This workshop can be especially effective when combined with Community Choir Workshop I or II in a residency of two days or longer.
Workshop + Performance: 90 minutes + performance
Your community choir workshops several pieces with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, then performs these pieces with The Chorale in concert. This option works best in community settings, where the community choir is involved in the presentation of the concert.
