MasterVoices

To spark greater human connections through musical storytelling, providing unforgettable performances that reflect the world around us and reimagine what the choral experience can be.<br><br>

We believe that – as our founder Robert Shaw wrote in 1941 – “beautiful music is not the privilege o

Goal One: • broaden our community through engagement and concert programs

Goal Two: • establish a Production Enhancement Fund to support the Artistic Director’s vision

Goal Three: • expand and deepen our board and individual donor base

In order to advance our diversity and engagement impact, MasterVoices invited its staff to attend a 3-part community engagement workshop series in 2021-2022, led by an outside consultant with a special expertise in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The leadership development components of this were multi-faceted – staff gained opportunities to interact and communicate with the board on level footing, learned about EDI issues facing the field generally, and gained opportunities for input about our own direction moving forward. We also encourage and sponsor staff to participate in individual training in areas such as database proficiency and social media management. Staff also participated in last year’s Chorus America conference. In part as a result of these opportunities, over the past year our Special Events Associate became Development Manager and Artistic Associate, and our Marketing Associate grew into the role of Marketing and Engagement Coordinator.

When the pandemic began, we were devastated to learn that choral singing was highly dangerous and would likely be the last art form able to return in-person. Committed to staying connected, and to offering up some joy in dark times, we devised a season-long project called MYTHS AND HYMNS, based on a 1998 song cycle by Adam Guettel. By dividing it into four “chapters”, each dedicated to a different facet of the search for fulfillment, we were able to employ an extraordinary array of artists, tones, and storytelling styles. Over 200 artists and groups ultimately participated, including Broadway singers Jennifer Holliday, Norm Lewis, and Shereen Pimentel; opera singers Renée Fleming, Julia Bullock, and Miles Mykkanen; gospel groups Take 6 and The Gospel Soul Children of New York; and 11 directors including Lear de Bessonet, Anne Kauffman, and Sammi Cannold, each of whom took a song and lent their particular stamp to it, working with visual artists ranging from illustrators and painters to sculptors, fabric artists, and muralists from refugee camps around the world. MYTHS AND HYMNS turned out to be one of the richest and fullest expressions of our mission to date, in terms of both artistic and humanistic values. It garnered a 2021 Drama League nomination for Outstanding Digital Concert Production, and an Emmy nomination for Entertainment Long Form, thanks to airing on PBS’ All Arts website. The virtual format gave us the opportunity to form new partnerships with artists across the U.S. and Europe, and 48% of the soloists, directors, and designers were people of color. The digital medium also let us celebrate the individuality of our Chorus members, featuring their individual faces and movements in many of the videos. The project drew over 65,000 viewers on YouTube before transferring to All Arts. For comparison, in FY19 we served 7,545 audience members. We also responded to community needs by suspending all singing dues, which we have not yet reinstated.