Chanticleer, Youth, and the Choral Art

Founded in 1978, Chanticleer is a GRAMMY® Award-winning all-male vocal ensemble based in . Educating young singers has always been an important part of the group’s mission. In its early history, the group would provide master classes and workshops by request before a more dedicated education program emerged under the leadership of a new president and general director in 1999. Soon a dedicated director of education was established, charged with organizing an annual youth choral festival for select Bay Area high school . A nationwide choral festival followed, which spawned a select group of local high school singers that became known as the LAB and met regularly. Further education initiatives materialized under the director of education. To measure the effectiveness of these education efforts, surveys were completed by student-singers over four years, the results of which are revealed in the case.

Materials CHANTICLEER AN ORCHESTRA OF VOICES

This case study was prepared by Michael Alan Anderson, Associate Professor of at the Eastman School of Music. The Eastman Case Studies are developed solely as the basis for class discussion. Cases are not intended to serve as endorsements or Samplesources of primary data nor are they to serve as illustrations of effective or ineffective leadership or decision making.

The Eastman Case Studies 1 Chanticleer

Becoming a Gold Standard year, Jennings was named the group’s music director Founded in 1978 and named after the clear-singing and proceeded to shape the ensemble over some and audacious rooster from Chaucer’s Canterbury twenty years into a choral music icon. When the Tales, Chanticleer is a professional all-male vocal twelve-man group became full time in 1991, Botto’s ensemble based in San Francisco, . As a dream was achieved. By nonprofit organization, it employs twelve full-time the time Jennings retired in When a twelve- singers, a music director, a general director, and 2008, Chanticleer had won man group an office staff of four. Louis Botto, the founder of three GRAMMY® Awards, became full time Chanticleer, recognized that there were precious few captured Musical America’s in 1991, Louis choral organizations in the United States that offered Ensemble of the Year, joined Botto’s dream for singers full-time employment with health benefits and the Classical Music Hall of was keen on working toward this kind of a model. On Fame, and ranked as a top Chanticleer was the artistic side, he wanted to reawaken the sound of 10 best-selling classical achieved. the —a male singer whose voice is in the artist on Billboard Magazine. and/or soprano range—and to promote the singing Notwithstanding the growth of professional vocal of Medieval and , consistent with ensembles in the United States in the last two decades, the origin of the group’s name. Sometimes called an Chanticleer is still considered by many to be the gold “orchestra of voices,” Chanticleer typically performs standard in American choral artistry. without instrumental accompaniment and without a conductor, reflective of the earliest repertoires. Singing in the Schools Education and outreach are core values for many The group premiered on June 27, 1978 at the original professional arts organizations in the United States, chapel of the Mission Dolores in San Francisco. The including Chanticleer. Instructing the next generation program featured works by all Renaissance : Materialshas rewards that are immediately recognizable and can Guillaume Du Fay, Johannes Ockeghem, Heinrich pay dividends. Arts education enriches and inspires Isaac, , Cristóbal de Morales, William communities, and presenters themselves can grow in Byrd, and Thomas Morley. Soon, a representative of their own knowledge from public input. Choral singing California Artists Management signed Chanticleer in particular is a highly social art, involving unified and launched its touring career. Despite the artistic voices and large groups; it is unsurprising then that promise of Chanticleer, the early years were difficult. choral organizations are invested in strengthening Singers took time off from regular jobs and divided communities not only through their performances but up the receipts from concerts and record sales. Full- also through outreach programming. Training young time salaries were finally offered in 1991. The original singers can produce great social benefits: aspiring groups, numbering up to nine members, fit into a choral artists will be motivated to participate beyond van with a trailer to haul luggage. The singers shared their youth, or, if not, they may become supporters rooms and cooked family style together in order to of the arts. Professional choral organizations find cut expenses. Early venues included high school that education programs profit their singers as well. auditoriums and world-renown stages alike. Through the act of teaching, members become self- aware of their style, technique, and even shortcomings. SampleAs demand for the ensemble grew, and with the addition of countertenor Joseph Jennings to the roster Chanticleer has a longstanding and award-winning in 1983, Chanticleer’s repertoire quickly expanded to education program principally targeting high school include folk, , and contemporary music. Within a students. Prior to 2000, education initiatives were

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