If you are a choir leader or director, there are certain things you need to know when it comes to preparing for a choir performance in Orange County. A few weeks to your performance can be exhausting especially if you had not prepared appropriately. Here is a helpful checklist to help you prepare for a successful choir performance.
Own your repertoire
There is a reason behind your repertoire. Maybe a song was performed by your choir years ago and it is a special tradition or maybe one of your pieces is by an upcoming composer. Your target audience would like to know the background information of your piece so it is important to add the details to your program. Share some of these stories with your audience after or before a performance. They will feel especially connected to you.
Sell the story
Your audience wants to know why your piece matters. Your singers or choir members must know what they are singing about. If one or more of your pieces is in a foreign language, you should get a translation so that your audience can understand. Your singers will not leave an impression if they cannot tell the story of the songs they are singing. There is more to a memorable performance than sounding great.
Vocal warmups
Before your choir performance, you should challenge your singers with warmups. If you have been sticking with the same old, boring vocal warm-ups for a long time then it is time to mix things up. Considering using warm-ups as more of a big challenge for your singers. You should try some exercises that incorporate listening skills.
Keep anxiety in check
It is important to keep in mind that some of your singers are new and can get anxious. Even if they are not new to performing for a big audience, it is never easy to do it. Stage fright is a common obstacle for everyone. There are a lot of things you can do to ease your fears. One is to start your rehearsals with relaxation activities. Simple things such as qigong moves can help. You can also try deep breathing exercises and meditation.
Making these exercises part of your routine is beneficial for everyone. You should do relaxation activities with your group on the day of your performance to help them relax and calm their nerves.
Proper dressing
If you want your performance to impress, they must look good. You may need more help here especially if you are dealing with a large group. You should ensure there are no surprises about the attire you want to use during the performance. You should go over the requirements with your singers.
If the singers are not provided with attire, you should be detailed about what they can wear and what they cannot before the day of your choir performance in Orange County. If the attire for the performance is provided, let the singers know how they should care for the outfits.