David Underdown commented on Chris Rowbury's blog entry: Perhaps I didn't express that very well. I meant the balance between choosing a choir because of the artistic vision of the conductor and other things. I suspect there often isn't really much consideration of conductor when joining a choir. Location, peop...  morePerhaps I didn't express that very well. I meant the balance between choosing a choir because of the artistic vision of the conductor and other things. I suspect there often isn't really much consideration of conductor when joining a choir. Location, people you know who already sing with choir, maybe repertoire (which to be fair is part of the artistic vision of the choir, but may not be solely at the MD's discretion). And, particularly with a well established choir, when an MD changes, people may choose to remain with a choir for social reasons, rather than because of the artistic vision of the new MD. One other point for not having a one man band may come down to how much money the choir is spending. If the only costs are venue, MD and accompanist say, then people may be comfortable with everything going through a single person. Once you're in the position of paying an orchestra and soloists, costs mount, and it's probably better for all concerned if there's a more formal structure for accounting for the cho...    less

David Underdown commented on Chris Rowbury's blog entry: To an extent yes, but when a choir has been around a long time it may have an identity of its own that can to some extent out weighs that of the current MD. Or, consider the big symphony choruses, they will have a chorus master who prepares the choir in r...  moreTo an extent yes, but when a choir has been around a long time it may have an identity of its own that can to some extent out weighs that of the current MD. Or, consider the big symphony choruses, they will have a chorus master who prepares the choir in rehearsal week-by-week but often will not direct the final performance, and they will work with many different conductors. I think you're also underestimating the social side of an amateur choir. In a recent member survey of the choral society I now sing with, the friendships developed over many years' membership were clearly very important to many members. That said, while I may grumble about some interpretative decisions a conductor makes, I appreciate that it is ultimately their decision  less

David Underdown commented on Chris Rowbury's blog entry: I thought younger not, but I think it's useful to have some thoughts from the other side of the music stand as it were. Of course a university choir like that also has a very high membership turnover, most members will only be there 3 or 4 years before gr...  moreI thought younger not, but I think it's useful to have some thoughts from the other side of the music stand as it were. Of course a university choir like that also has a very high membership turnover, most members will only be there 3 or 4 years before graduating and moving on, which also changes the dynamic of the relationship between choir and conductor. To be fair, I've sung in choirs with a variety of setups and all have their pros and cons  

David Underdown commented on Chris Rowbury's blog entry: I only meant a committee (and as you say a constitution) are essential if you want to pursue the possible benefits of charitable status. From my experience as a singer in various choirs, it can (only can mind) be dangerous for the running of the choir to...  moreI only meant a committee (and as you say a constitution) are essential if you want to pursue the possible benefits of charitable status. From my experience as a singer in various choirs, it can (only can mind) be dangerous for the running of the choir to be too closely identified with any one person, whether they be the music director or someone else. I think it helps to have a wide variety of people involved in running things, to spread the load, and get a greater variety of fresh ideas. Also sometimes it can be that a music director has taken a choir as far as they can, and a change is needed for the good of the choir. It's in those sorts of situations where a strong committee may be needed (and here I'm thinking of the student choir I was in where the MD had been involved since the 50s, and by the 90s was clearly having a detrimental effect on recruitment)  less

David Underdown commented on Chris Rowbury's blog entry: There are advantages to having a choir registered as a charity - Gift Aid on donations and (a portion of) subscriptions. However, that also restricts the degree to which a paid music director can run the choir. In these cases, which will be common when a ...  moreThere are advantages to having a choir registered as a charity - Gift Aid on donations and (a portion of) subscriptions. However, that also restricts the degree to which a paid music director can run the choir. In these cases, which will be common when a choir is well established, a proper committee is essential. There may also come a time when for a variety of reasons an MD might have to move on. Unless choir members have input into running the choir such a transition could be difficult to manage  

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