Community Chorus Recruitment - Ep. 12-2026

Community Chorus Recruitment - Ep. 12-2026

From The Choral Director's Toolbox by William Baker & Jamea Sale

March 23, 2026 · 17 min

About this episode

Dr. William Baker discusses strategies for community chorus recruitment and engagement.

In Episode 64 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker turns his attention to one of the most essential elements of choral success: Community Chorus Recruitment. With practical strategies and decades of experience, he outlines how to attract, engage, and retain high-quality singers, emphasizing the importance of visibility, preparation, and meaningful community connection. From leveraging music educators and local networks to creating entry-point ensembles like summer choirs, this episode offers a roadmap for building vibrant and sustainable choral programs. This week’s listener question takes a lighter turn, as a choir member asks Dr. Baker for his annual baseball predictions. In response, he shares his enthusiasm for the game, drawing connections between music, teamwork, and the joy of performance. Today’s inspiration is Out of the Deep from John Rutter’s Requiem, performed by The William Baker Festival Singers from their 2015 Amber Waves recording, a powerful and expressive work suited for advanced ensembles. Submit your question to The Choral Director's Toolbox by writing to us at Toolbox@FestivalSingers.org.

People in this episode

Host: William Baker

Topics covered

  • Community Chorus Recruitment
  • Choral Success
  • Engagement Strategies
  • Music Education

Keywords

  • visibility
  • preparation
  • community connection
  • singers
  • vibrant choral programs

Mentioned in this episode

Products: John Rutter’s Requiem, Amber Waves recording

Books & works: The Choral Director’s Toolbox, Out of the Deep, Requiem, Amber Waves

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