Schedule

Join the Justice Choir Songbook Sing-along session and learn songs from the Justice Choir Songbook. Learn what some of your colleagues have been doing in Portland, OR with virtual sing-alongs and sing in community with others in GALA Leadership. Download the Justice Choir Songbook in advance so you will have the music in hand.

Join us for a description of the components of the GALA 2020 Virtual Leadership Symposium and some quick tips on how the technology will work.

Are there ways to sing in the outdoors during a pandemic? Review recent studies and several choruses’ approaches to singing live.

GALA 411 advisors Eve Campbell and Rick Jung will lead attendees through a discussion about contingency planning and leadership challenges during the pandemic.

In order for choruses to accomplish transformative social justice goals, chorus organizations must themselves be welcoming and accessible spaces. This introductory session will explore A New Harmony, GALA Choruses’ workbook for facilitators and moderators leading discussions on topics including race, ability, gender identity and sexual orientation, with volunteers. By improving access to and representation in our choruses, we can all continue to create a world where all voices are free.

What does it take to generate income in a virtual performance world? In this session, we’ll explore possible revenue streams for virtual performances and the tools you’ll need to make them successful. Expect to come away with at least a few creative ideas for monetizing your virtual performances!

Learn about what we can do as directors and leaders to create more emotional safety in our rehearsals and other chorus-related activities, leading to more connection, authenticity and a stronger community. We will use a physiological and trauma-informed approach through the lens of the research of Stephen Porges, “Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe.”

Even if a chorus member’s behavior does not lead to legal action, reports of inappropriate conduct can be embarrassing to a chorus’s reputation, and devastating to the budget. This workshop will provide an explanation as to why harassment policies are important to have in place before any issues are recognized or reported. Participants will review definitions of sexual harassment and other behaviors that can affect morale. The presenters will go over advice on what elements should be included in a policy, and how to implement policy and procedures so a Chorus can defend itself in the event of an allegation or litigation.

Of/By/For/All envisions a world in which all people are empowered to share their talents to strengthen their communities. Communities in which people feel safe, welcome, and connected to the strangers who cross their paths every day. We are helping build this future by equipping civic and cultural organizations to become of, by, and for their communities. OF/BY/FOR ALL provides tools, community, accountability, and coaching on radical inclusion. You bring your own urgent desire for change.

Watch and listen to our GALA ADs perform as a virtual choir.

Grab a beverage and sing along!

Are you an artistic director who is new to GALA Choruses in the past year? Join us for a brief orientation to GALA Choruses. This round table is a space to meet other conductors in a smaller setting, ask any questions that are burning, and get to know the resources available through GALA Choruses.

A panel discussion around the issues associated with transitioning back to live rehearsals.

This roundtable discussion is intended for committees or individuals who are invested in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work in their choruses, specifically highlighting Racial Justice as a focal point. We’ll go over the 5 C’s of Change: Chorus, Committees, Creative, Collaboration, and Charge. This is a great opportunity to learn from each other no matter the make-up, size, or age of your choir or DEI committee.

A panel discussion of the issues around religious diversity in LGBT choruses.

Choruses share their most creative fall ideas for thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic in 5-minute poster sessions. Take the best ideas home!

• Civic engagement and get out the vote
• Podcast to share poetry, music and stories
• Trans choruses joint rehearsals and performance collaboration
• Murder mystery musical on Zoom
• Racial Justice: Guiding Pillars of our Social Justice Work

Kathleen Hansen (San Diego Women’s Chorus) and Thea Kano (Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC) will walk you through their processes to create their chorus’ online cabaret fundraisers, including rehearsals, obtaining sync rights, video editing, and streaming.

This session is intended for individuals serving as facilitators for their chorus' equity, access & belonging work.

This session will attempt to demystify the (sometimes intimidating) aspects of amplifying choral audio, covering the best practices of choral sound design and live sound for groups of all sizes, ensuring sonic integrity to your audiences in any venue. From microphone types, mic placement and stage monitors, to recording, we’ll address some of the common audio issues that choral groups face. We will also address collaboration with a venue’s audio crew to optimize use of audio equipment for performances & rehearsals, and get the most accurate audio reproduction of your group’s sound possible. We’ll conclude with an overview of best practices for creating outstanding audio for your next Virtual Chorus Project, including planning, preparation of guide tracks, recommended mics, getting the best performance out of your chorus, mixing and mastering.

Join us for a discussion of the considerations in producing a virtual auction fundraiser for a small to mid size chorus.

Artistic directors will meet by type of chorus to share repertoire and programming ideas.

Taking care of our own mental health through the pandemic requires our attention.

Mollie Stone will be teaching the song "Usizi"-- a powerful new composition by South African composer Bongani Magatyana, which explores the isolation experienced during COVID. Stone has written extensively about Magatyana's heroic work during the height of the AIDS epidemic in South Africa, during which he led a musical ensemble dedicated entirely to HIV-prevention education in the township of Gugulethu.

Miss Richfield 1981 will drop her mask and raise her skirt to join us as our sassy and wisecracking guest host and entertainer. Check out our live auction items under Fundraising

A panel discussion for chorus members working with the New Harmony workbook.

A key component to keeping the chorus experience relevant for everyone is to engage and include and value everyone based on their/our ever-evolving desires and limitations. Let’s explore keeping older singers on the risers rather than graduating them.

A roundtable discussion on strategies for achieving maximum impact with limited resources.

ADs, administrative management and board members will have spaces for open conversations.

Learn about a simple guided practice and choral management system that will keep choirs engaged and reaching their goals.

Learn about the copyright considerations specific to rehearsals and performances in a virtual setting.

Learn about a variety of approaches to keeping singers engaged outside of only singing. We’ll answer questions such as: How do you sustain membership? How do you entice singers to show up to a virtual rehearsal/event? How do you take advantage of this time and grow community?

Learn about the latest techniques for virtual rehearsals in Zoom and other exciting tidbits.

When we resume singing in person, our organizations will be operating in a changed - and likely more difficult - environment. What do you need to be doing now to prepare your chorus to be successful in a world that is evolving around us? We'll discuss the societal and business challenges facing us, question if our sense of mission is truly ready to meet the times, and explore the internal cultural frameworks that can inhibit how we make decisions. We'll end with a personal action plan for what comes next.

Learn more about how to make your choir a welcoming place for trans singers.

In this session, we’ll explore the many challenges concert venues are currently facing and how they’re planning to move forward in the years ahead. Tori Cook, Director of Sales & Marketing at Chorus Connection, shares her key findings after speaking with several concert venues across the country.

Join us for an update on Festival 202ONE planning.