Description
Lead and conduct choirs, planning rehearsals and performances; select and arrange repertoire; teach vocal technique, diction, and musicianship; coordinate accompanists and logistics; and, when appropriate, compose or arrange choral works.
- • Use conducting gestures to communicate tempo, phrasing, dynamics, tone, and articulation to the choir.
- • Direct rehearsals and performances to achieve blend, balance, intonation, rhythm, and expressive unity.
- • Study choral scores and texts to develop musical and linguistic interpretations.
- • Apply music theory to shape harmony, voice-leading, and phrasing in choral literature.
- • Select repertoire suited to ensemble size, voicing, skill level, language abilities, and program goals.
- • Determine voicings (e.g., SATB, SSA, TTBB), divisi, tempi, and tonal balance needed for each piece.
- • Arrange or adapt music for choir, including transpositions and revoicing to fit singer ranges.
- • Create practice materials such as marked scores, rehearsal tracks, and warm-up plans.
- • Teach vocal technique, diction, breathing, and musicianship to improve ensemble sound.
- • Lead vocal warm-ups and sectional rehearsals to address specific challenges.
- • Coach pronunciation and style across languages and genres.
- • Audition and select singers; assign sections and leadership roles.
- • Choose and rehearse soloists and small ensembles as needed.
- • Position singers on risers or staging to optimize blend, balance, and sightlines.
- • Plan season calendars, programs, rehearsals, and production timelines.
- • Coordinate accompanists, instrumentalists, venues, and equipment needs.
- • Collaborate with section leaders, librarians, and sound engineers.
- • Manage music library, licensing, and distribution of scores.
- • Prepare program notes and concert communications.
- • Oversee budgets, contracts, and fundraising or grant applications.
- • Promote concerts and community engagement in collaboration with marketing staff or volunteers.
- • Record concerts or produce choral recordings.
- • Evaluate singer progress and provide constructive feedback.
- • Ensure healthy vocal use and performance etiquette.
- • Use notation and audio software to edit scores and create learning resources.
- • Plan tours, exchanges, or outreach performances and associated logistics.
- • Commission, compose, or arrange new choral works when appropriate.
- • Stay current with choral repertoire, pedagogy, and music technology.
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Related Pathways
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
