One of the beauties of choir is that the message sung often cuts across cultures and international boundaries. A traveling choir is one of the best ways to experience choir, and some of the most famous in the world - such as the Monteverdi choir - embark on truly massive worldwide tours, with current travel restrictions finding them watched by millions. What these large scale choirs show smaller community programs is that there is an audience for choir singing, and traveling internationally is a great way to show off your choral talents.
Picking a destination
Where do you want your choir to sing? Depending on the subject matter of your choir - for instance, whether you sing modern hits or you’re a more classic church-oriented group - you may decide to pick different parts of the world. For instance, the well-known Soweto Gospel Choir was set to tour New Zealand as part of a set looking towards a mixture of classic Christian gospel and historical reverence for Nelson Mandela. Elsewhere, a UK choir was set to support boy band Take That on a domestic tour. Wherever you do tour, come prepared for the country you’re setting off to. A visit to New Zealand might warrant walking gear to truly enjoy the rugged terrain of the country. Conversely, a trip to Catholic-dominated Costa Rica, a great place for a Christian choir, will yield spare time in the warm and diverse eco-tourism scene of the country. Having eco-friendly beach and sun gear, ready to hit the jungles and beaches, will ensure you’re ready to make the most of the trip.
The logistical side
Consider each and every aspect of what your choir needs to be successful. Do you work with an orchestra or just a single pianist? Do you have anyone in the group with accessibility requirements, or any minors that might require specific paperwork to comply with international law? There’s a broad range of issues that can hamper travel and need to be considered from the outset. The logistics of moving your choir and its equipment around is the primary consideration, and it’s important to look into the costs of safely getting equipment on and off planes and trains. When it comes to travel documentation and movement around the world, consider looking for legal help to make sure that every member of your choir has the right status and paperwork to be able to move to where your choir wants to go.
Developing your niche
With a taste for international travel, your choir may decide that it wants to try and broaden its appeal even further to try and find a greater diversity and number of international bookings. This has been the focus of many choir groups which the BBC terms as ‘extreme,’ owing to their curious and unique traditions. For instance, the Finnish Mieskuoro Huutajat choir have gained international recognition and interest for their uniquely masculine form of choir ‘shouting.’ Look at what makes your choir really tick and why people come to listen, and develop it further. Having a unique angle will help you to keep interest in your group at a high rate and ultimately, make your trips around the world longer, more interesting and more fruitful.
Choir is all about the message, and that message can often be carried internationally. Some of the most well renowned and successful groups have cut their teeth on international bookings, and there’s no reason you can’t do the same - no matter the size of your choir. As with all things, planning is key - do it right, and you’ll have trips that remain long in the memory.
