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leagues across the county contributed establishing a cohesive and sustained community com-
recommended selections for all-campus plex. However, fostering a sense of belonging and com-
choirs. That list can be found by visiting munity within a choral ensemble is crucial for promot-
https://acda.org/repertoire/college-and- ing student engagement, retention, and the program’s
university-choirs-repertoire or by scanning overall success. This article explores strategies for
the QR code. building and maintaining a robust choral community
in the context of a 2-year college. While many of these
strategies might perhaps be obvious to many choral di-
Conclusion rectors, it always helps to reassess how we shape culture
Peisner and Tubiolo agree that the all-campus choir within our choral programs.
can be missing from the collective consciousness. If you
listen to recordings of collegiate choirs online, chances
are you will hear the university’s flagship ensemble, Understanding the 2-Year College
not the all-campus choir. At conferences, it is often Student Demographic
the same. Tubiolo notes that working with this level Students at 2-year colleges represent various life
of choir also requires a unique pedagogical skill set. experiences and educational backgrounds. Many stu-
If we can make all-campus choirs more visible within dents are recent high school graduates, while others are
the wider choral community, this will equip us all for returning to education after time in the workforce or
greater success, she adds. other life pursuits. This diversity extends to their musi-
In summary, this energizing conversation revealed cal experiences. Some students have significant choral
the depth and breadth of possibilities within the all- backgrounds, while others may be encountering struc-
campus choir setting. Correspondingly, it underscored tured music education for the first time.
the need for greater advocacy for these types of colle- The relatively short duration of students’ enroll-
giate choirs. If you lead an all-campus choir, or would ment—often limited to one or two years, though some
like to continue the conversation, please reach out by may stick around for several years—can complicate the
email: daleyc1@duq.edu. process of building an enduring community within the
choir. Unlike 4-year institutions, where students typi-
cally remain in the program for an extended period,
2-Year College Choirs 2-year colleges require choral directors to continuously

adapt to a changing membership base. This fluidity
Brandon Elliott can disrupt continuity and a sense of shared purpose
National R&R Co-Chair, within the ensemble.
2-Year College Choirs
belliott14@saddleback.edu
Recruitment and Onboarding
Effective community building begins with thought-
Building a Choral Community ful recruitment and onboarding processes. Directors
in a 2-Year College should aim to attract a diverse group of students by

by Brandon Elliott actively engaging with various campus populations and
ensuring that the choral program is accessible to stu-
The choral program within a 2-year college envi- dents with different levels of musical experience. It is
ronment presents distinct challenges and opportunities. essential to communicate that the choir is a welcoming
Students in these institutions often come from diverse space for all students, regardless of their prior exposure
backgrounds and have varying levels of musical expe- to choral music or major.
rience. This transient nature of enrollment can make Once students are recruited, the onboarding pro-

CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2024 Volume 65 Number 4 43