How to Recruit Members for a High School Age Choral Ensemble
Choral ensembles for high school age students not only enrich the cultural experience but also foster a sense of community and creativity. If you're looking to expand and enhance your high school age choral ensemble, effective recruitment strategies are crucial. Here’s a comprehensive guide with strategies for successfully attracting new members and grow a vibrant choral community.
It has become increasingly difficult to attract students to music ensembles of any type, especially to more “classical” ones like choral groups. The culture has encouraged young people to become mere consumers of music that is more and more about the performer than the quality of music. Objective standards of beauty and value have been overshadowed by how the music makes one feel, and those feeling have become less and less honorable.
Even among church music programs, the quality of real musicianship has been sliding in many locations. Where a variety of instruments was once common, the same group of rhythm instruments is now primarily the ones being heard.
For that reason, a choral director should not be too discouraged if the choral group is small. If it has a good balance, a chorus of 24 singers will offer those students a golden opportunity that their consumer-oriented counterparts will miss, and the choral director should be satisfied and delighted with that accomplishment.
Understanding the Vision:
First and foremost, define and communicate the vision of your choral ensemble. Highlight the benefits of joining, emphasizing the opportunity for personal growth, teamwork, and the joy of music. Craft a message that resonates with the potential members, sharing stories or testimonials from existing participants to provide a real-life perspective.
Engage Through Outreach:
Make use of multiple avenues for outreach. Collaborate with the school’s guidance counselors, music teachers, and other faculty to spread the word about the choral ensemble. Host informational sessions or workshops that showcase the ensemble's achievements and goals, and invite interested students to attend. Engage with local middle school music teachers to promote a seamless transition for students already interested in music.
Utilize Social Media and Online Platforms:
In today’s digital age, social media is a powerful tool for recruitment. Create engaging content about your choral group, sharing performance clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and testimonials. Encourage current members to share their experiences on various platforms. Additionally, design a user-friendly, informative webpage that provides details about auditions, rehearsals, and the overall vision of the ensemble.
Host Open Auditions and Workshops:
Plan open auditions to allow potential members to showcase their talent in a friendly and encouraging environment. Keep the process welcoming and non-intimidating to attract diverse talent. Open auditions could even be disguised as a talent show. Consider hosting workshops that offer vocal training, tips on sight-reading, and information about the choral experience. This not only helps potential members feel prepared but also gives a glimpse into the supportive and educational nature of the group.
Create Mentorship Programs:
Establish mentorship programs where existing members can guide and support new recruits. This not only helps in skill development but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and belonging. Pairing newcomers with experienced members can ease their integration into the ensemble.
Showcase Performances and Achievements:
Highlight the achievements of the ensemble through performances, competitions, or community events. Showcase these accomplishments in school assemblies or concerts. Word-of-mouth promotion by attendees often serves as a powerful tool for recruitment.
Maintain Communication: Consistent and clear communication is key. Regularly update interested students about upcoming events, rehearsals, or any changes. Encourage open dialogue and provide opportunities for prospective members to ask questions.
Encourage Inclusivity and Diversity: First, an important word about Inclusivity and Diversity. They both must be legitimate. The words are used so much these days to include anyone who claims to be, do or know anything they desire. In the case of a choral group, the director could not Include such Diverse individuals as bullies, those who could not sing or read music, those who might join just to erode the group from the inside or those who would insist on the group behaving a certain way to please themselves.
With that in mind, a director of a choral group could then create an environment that welcomes and celebrates diversity. Ensure that all students feel valued and respected, regardless of their background or skill level. A welcoming, inclusive environment can attract a broader range of participants.
Utilize the Power of Testimonials:
Encourage existing members to share their experiences through written testimonials or video clips. Personal stories and endorsements can be influential in attracting new members.
Conclusion: In effect, these strategies amount to making the choral group “cool”. Just a Personal Note Here: When I was in high school, the junior-senior choir had about 200 members. The combined enrollment for 11th and 12th grades was less than 400. It was considered one of the “cool” classes, partly because of the teacher, but partly because there were more than a few student athletes, band members and National Honor Society members. The group had attracted and welcomed and included a legitimately diverse group of students.
At one of the teacher’s conventions I had attended, one of the seminars was about how to motivate disinterested students. The clinician said that she could make the session extremely short by telling us all we needed to know in two words. To answer the question, “How do you motivate a disinterested student”? the answer is, “You can’t”.
Sometimes, the atmosphere in a group of students has been in such a state that music groups of any sort are considered “uncool”, and it may take a while to change that mindset. One of the things that got me interested in symphonic music was a visit by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to our high school. They played some traditionally symphonic music. Then they played some pop tunes.
It may take a visit by a choral group that can sing music from the Gregorian era to a current pop tune. If they are done with the same high quality of musicianship, it may begin to erode the negative attitudes.
Recruiting members for a high school choral ensemble requires dedication, creativity, and effective communication. By implementing a multifaceted approach, including outreach, social media engagement, open auditions, mentorship programs, and showcasing achievements, you can attract enthusiastic members to create a thriving, harmonious choral community. Remember, nurturing a welcoming and inclusive environment is just as important as the music itself in creating a successful and fulfilling choral experience.
By following these strategies, your choral ensemble can flourish, offering an inspiring and rewarding musical journey to all who participate.
Salt Cellar Creations understands the challenge that maintaining a good Choral Ensemble can entail. We have a growing library of original works and arrangements of pop and traditional works. Explore the offerings HERE.
SCC can also do a custom arrangement for you or compose an original piece for you. There are two ways that this can be done; one is much more affordable than the other. And SCC is always looking for ideas of pieces to arrange or suggestions for original pieces.
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