Choir Director
Comprehensive Sites
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Musicians, Singers, and Related WorkersA description of what it is like to be employed as a musician is found at this page, including the nature of the work, training, qualifications, and advancement opportunities. Specific information on musical directors is offered, and you can click on “music directors” found mid-page for specific information on employment and wages.
ChoralNetResources and communication for choir directors are plentiful at this site, dedicated to providing networking opportunities, multimedia education, and links to organizations worldwide for choral directors. Forums, a classified listing for jobs, voice training connections, reference materials, and a directory of choirs nationwide are all offered.
Hartford Institute for Religious ResearchFacts on church growth, quick information about U.S. religious life, the latest studies about congregations, and several other links make this a comprehensive start to researching careers as a religious leader. You can find information on religious life, along with leadership resources, and other useful tools, such as an online religious encyclopedia.
Occupational Titles
Choir Director
Choral Director
Music Ministry
Organist/Choir Director
Accredited Academic Programs
Princeton Review: College Majors, Church MusicSeveral college majors are useful or related to church music, including religion and biblical studies, as well as theology. Click on the one or several that interest you to be taken to lists of colleges that offer these programs, their contact information, and web sites.
Salary Levels
PayScale: Choir DirectorThe median salary of a choir director by years of experience is displayed at this page, which also shows the median salary according to employer type or city.
Professional Organizations
American Choral Directors’ AssociationWith the goal of promoting advancement and excellence in choral and choir direction, this organization provides information on offered festivals and workshops, standards for repertoire, forums, conventions, and an online journal to its professional counterpart, named the Choral Journal Interactive.
Choristers’ GuildThis organization was created to provide choral leaders with the tools needed to nurture the spiritual growth of the children they lead. You can find children’s’ choir teaching resources, training opportunities, membership benefits, music subscription services, internship details, and links to individual chapters.
YouthCueYouth Cue is a non-profit interdenominational organization of youth choir organizations, which seeks to minister to youth choir directors. Festivals, national chorus competitions, and publications are provided by this organization.
Job Opportunity Sources
ChoralNet: ClassifiedsThe classified section of ChoralNet includes links to auditions, choral-related employment, and other resources on performance opportunities.
Publications
Choral Journal InteractiveYou can click on any one of these online issues of the American Choral Directors’ Association and find feature articles as far back as 2001. Audio examples, as well as other enhancements and interactive features to the regular journal are provided at this online version, that you may find very interesting if you want to become a choir leader.
GIA MusicMusic education theory and practice are the focus of this publisher, bringing resources for music educators and directors, including conducting and leading choir and religious choral groups.
Resource PublicationsThis publication site assists those going into the ministry or already in it to follow through on their work with a host of tools and resources. Here, you can browse the publication by title or subject, find faith formation resources, resources for worship, and tools for special subjects.
Online Forums & Blogs
American Choral Directors’ Association ForumsThe forums at this site offer information about the American Choral Directors’ national convention, general discussion, a job board, repertoire and standards, and a forum specifically for students.
Choir and Choral Music WebringHope pages of choirs, choral music sites, choir director resources, and more are connected at this webring, where you can perform a search on your area of interest.
ChoralNet ForumsThe forums at this site include one addressing choral music worldwide, as well as choral music across continents. Post discussion topics, announcements, festivals, exchanges, and jobs here.
SacredMusicThis Catholic music weblog is provided by the Church Music Association of America and has individual blogs on teaching aids, articles, church documents, historical archives, and audio files.
Career Videos
ChoralNet Multimedia ResourcesThis site includes, not only podcasts and audio, but also videos of well-known choral directors and conventions in America. Links to more streaming audio and video church choirs, interviews, and documentary programs can be accessed from this single location.
