Accessibility links
choir choir
Stories About

choir

Monday

Choir members sing with songbooks in hand.

The North Fork Community Choir practices at the North Fork Baptist Church in Paonia, Colo., on Nov. 6 — the day after Election Day. Luna Anna Archey for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Luna Anna Archey for NPR

Seeking Common Ground

They disagree about a lot, but these singers figure out how to stay in harmony

Members of the North Fork Community Choir in Paonia, Colo., aim to set aside their opinions on big topics when they sing. When differences arise, they figure out creative solutions to stay in harmony.

Lessons in (dis)harmony: A Colorado chorus tries to make music together across the ideologic

Listen · 7:01
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5124890/nx-s1-5246630-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Louis Cole commands the pulpit as singers join in the performance at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.

Louis Cole commands the pulpit as singers join in the performance at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. Jeff Berlin hide caption

toggle caption
Jeff Berlin

Interview highlights

With a new orchestral album, Louis Cole pulls magic out of the air

Louis Cole is a prolific musician known primarily as a drummer, but whose music over the past decade has fallen in the nexus of jazz, funk and rock. Now he's in a whole new space.

With new orchestral music, Louis Cole pulls magic out of the air

Listen · 8:17
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5072600/nx-s1-34f76904-37ef-414e-a4db-7159f4420f53" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Struggling with its past, Germany's 1,000-year-old choir admits girls for the 1st time

Regensburg Cathedral, where the Regensburger Domspatzen choir performs, on July 14, 2021. Lena Mucha for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Lena Mucha for NPR

World

Struggling with its past, Germany's 1,000-year-old choir admits girls for the 1st time

Since its founding over 1,000 years ago, this Catholic music school and song group in Regensburg, Germany, has been boys only. Until now.

Struggling with its past, Germany's 1,000-year-old choir admits girls for the 1st time

Listen · 7:54
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1122712757/1123035546" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Sunday

After Its Superspreader Rehearsal, A Community Choir Struggles To Sing Together Again

The Skagit Valley Chorale in Washington held a rehearsal in early March of 2020 that became a superspreader event for COVID-19. Dicken Bettinger hide caption

toggle caption
Dicken Bettinger

National

After Its Superspreader Rehearsal, A Community Choir Struggles To Sing Together Again

KUOW

A Skagit Valley Chorale rehearsal early last year became a deadly COVID-19 superspreader event. Now, the group is figuring out how to come back together and reforge the bonds of a community choir.

After Its Superspreader Rehearsal, A Community Choir Struggles To Sing Together Again

Listen · 3:51
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1001303097/1001684864" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

In The 'Shout At Cancer Choir,' No Voice Boxes Needed To Sing Out

The Shout at Cancer choir, pictured above in 2018, is featured in Bill Brummel's new documentary, Can You Hear My Voice? Bill Brummel Productions hide caption

toggle caption
Bill Brummel Productions

Shots - Health News

In The 'Shout At Cancer Choir,' No Voice Boxes Needed To Sing Out

All the singers in this U.K. choir have undergone laryngectomies — voice box removal — to treat cancer. Singing builds lung strength, and performing together builds confidence, choir members say.

In The 'Shout At Cancer Choir,' No Voice Boxes Needed To Sing Out

Listen · 3:44
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/992993636/992993637" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Car Concerts Offer Choirs A Way To Rehearse And Perform

Tim Shantz conducts Luminous Voices' first car concert on Oct. 4, 2020. Kenton Smith hide caption

toggle caption
Kenton Smith

The Coronavirus Crisis

Car Concerts Offer Choirs A Way To Rehearse And Perform

This car choir solution is one that accomplished baritone David Newman came up with so that ensembles could sing "together." The method uses microphones, a mixer, an FM transmitter and car radios.

Car Concerts Offer Choirs A Way To Rehearse And Perform

Listen · 3:49
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/954007807/955557355" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

The Beat Goes On: High School Choirs Improvise In The Age Of Coronavirus

Camden Catholic High School's virtual choir sings "I Am With You Always," led by music director Greg Gardner. Greg Gardner and Patrick Gardner/YouTube hide caption

toggle caption
Greg Gardner and Patrick Gardner/YouTube

The Coronavirus Crisis

The Beat Goes On: High School Choirs Improvise In The Age Of Coronavirus

After cancelled musicals and spring concerts, choral directors across the country are going the extra mile to have their students' voices heard.

The Beat Goes On: High School Choirs Improvise In The Age Of Coronavirus

Listen · 3:55
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/826820085/827758375" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript