About TriangleSings!

TriangleSings! is a regional choral music website for the Triangle and Triad areas of North Carolina. Its purpose is to support, unify and promote ensemble singing by helping people discover activities and stay in touch. In the words of the late renowned conductor, Robert Shaw: "As soon as we find one another, then we can find the miracle."

Our region has a cornucopia of choral offerings. Thousands of people sing in groups, and many thousands more attend their performances. Since November 2002, TriangleSings! has provided a focus for all this activity: a home for choral music information.

What does the website offer?

There are five components:

  • Events Calendar for all types of vocal ensemble music presented to the public. Click on an event for details on the program, performers, location, time and admission.
  • Auditions & Calls Calendar for singing opportunities, with info on vocal requirements, location, works being prepared, etc.
  • Directory of ensembles, listed alphabetically and by locality, specialty/type and rehearsal day. Each "Member Group" has a page detailing musical focus, participants, conductor, recent/upcoming performances and contacts.
  • Resources, where organizations and individuals advertise choral-related goods, services and opportunities.
  • Choral Notes, an email newsletter providing reminders and announcements.

Where does information on the website come from?

Choruses, events and auditions are described by material sent to TriangleSings! by the organizations themselves via online forms. Thus, those directly involved are responsible for their listings being current, correct and complete; all opinions expressed or claims made are theirs. Submissions are checked and gently edited before being posted, to make sure information is understandable and reasonably objective.

All information in the Calendars, Chorus Directory and newsletter is free and available to web users at no cost.

What goes onto the Calendars?

The Events Calendar lists concerts, operas, sings, choral festivals, musicals — any activity that features ensemble singing and is open to the public. The events may be sponsored by music organizations, performing arts centers, schools, religious institutions, theater or dance companies, visiting performers or others. Music presented as part of a worship service generally is not eligible, though exceptions may be made for major undertakings or special circumstances.

The Auditions & Calls Calendar publishes a variety ensemble singing opportunities in the region: long-term or one-time, religious or secular, solo or group, volunteer or paid. Member Groups (see Chorus Directory below) and others are welcome to recruit singers there. Provided there's no charge or a nominal fee, workshops, sings, festivals, etc. geared more to participants than "audience" belong on this Calendar (not the Events Calendar); if such activities are longer-term or cost more than $30, they probably should be listed in a Resources ad.

Who gets into the Chorus Directory?

The Directory is for local not-for-profit ensembles meeting the general definition of chorus: "a body of singers who perform choral compositions, usually having more than one singer for each part."

Member Groups may be any type, size or level, provided their work is of interest to, and shared with, the community. They must be based within an hour and a half's drive of Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill (the Triangle), and:

  • Membership must be open to all, within a chorus's musical requirements, and not require affiliation with an educational or religious institution, residential community, etc.
  • At least once a year, the ensemble must give a public performance; in the case of groups that gather to sing with no actual performances, sessions must be open to any participants and observers.

Members agree to: keep their Directory information current; regularly post all events and calls; let singers and patrons know about TriangleSings! In addition to performances, they may use the Calendars to promote benefits or fundraisers that involve singing, and workshops or other programs open to the community. While Member Groups are encouraged to Support TriangleSings! and receive certain benefits for this, they are not required to do so.

What is the "Resources" page?

Resources connects website users with those who have goods and services to offer in: (1) Voice/Singing Services; (2) Recording, Photography and Videography; (3) Music Supplies and Accessories; (4) Choral Festivals, Workshops and Getaways. Sponsors are introduced, and their activities noted, in the Choral Notes newsletter; they also may have links on the website's homepage.

Resources also runs classified ads for choruses (music director, accompanist, etc.), and ads for singing opportunities beyond the choral "mainstream." Details are on the Resources Form.

At the end of the Resources page, there are links to various regional and national choral-related websites.

A free newsletter . . . reminders . . . discounts?

Toward the end of each month — more often as circumstances warrant — TriangleSings! sends out an e-newsletter, Choral Notes. This highlights all of the upcoming month's Events Calendar listings; makes announcements for groups and supporters; links to performance reviews lists and links Auditions & Calls for groups Suppporting TriangleSings!; offers other items of interest to the choral community.

Website users also may take advantage of RSS Feeds, and an email Reminder Service for Events Calendar listings. (For the latter, just click an icon appearing at the event date, and indicate when you'd like to be reminded.) Additionally, presenters occasionally use postings and the newsletter to offer reduced-price tickets exclusively for TriangleSings! patrons.

Who is using the website?

According to Webalizer, a user tracking service, as of late 2011 TriangleSings! was averaging approximately 110,000 "hits," 31,000 page views and 7,200 visits per month. More detailed statistics are available on request to potential grantors: contact TriangleSings!

Another measure of audience is Choral Notes subscribers, now around 2,300. Still another is the number of activities posted by local groups: more than 500 in 2010. In addition, there's anecdotal evidence that people use the website . . . through emails and comments overheard at performances:

  • "TriangleSings! is making a real difference in, and for, the choral arts. It's a great resource."
  • " . . . a truly valuable and unique service to choristers, conductors and music lovers."
  • "TriangleSings! led me to the chorus of my dreams."
  • "Don't worry, the concert starts at 8:00 - TriangleSings! says so."

Besides free publicity, what do groups that support the website get?

Organizations — Member Groups and others — that contribute at least $50 a year receive: listings/links in the Choral Notes newsletter for their singer calls and auditions; CN publicity for fundraisers, milestones and awards; advertising of special discounts; free "help wanted" ads on Resources and in CN.

In addition to cash donations, groups often support the website through Calendar Sponsorship. This enables an organization and its upcoming activity to be featured and linked in a Calendar "banner" and similarly highlighted in the newsletter. The sponsored performances appear in larger type on the homepage's "Coming Up Next" listing and in the Events Calendar. (Groups that donate $250 annually become "Sustaining Members" and may select two Calendar months to sponsor.)

Who's responsible for the service?

TriangleSings! is maintained by its founder, Carol T. Robbins, a choral singer/enthusiast who thought such a website would be a good idea (see NCMEA Award). Working with her are (usually volunteer) liaisons from about 65 Member Groups, and representatives of dozens of other ensembles and presenters: from universities and schools, places of worship, symphonies, dance and theater companies, performing arts series, etc.

Eastwood Arts provides website design, computer programming and ongoing technical assistance. Special thanks are due to CVNC, the area's online arts journal, which serves as fiscal agent so TriangleSings! may receive foundation grants.

Does TriangleSings! do anything else?

Every now and then, an opportunity arises for choral advocacy beyond the website. So, TriangleSings! launched and cosponsored the Triangle Youth Chorus Trophy, which annually (2004-2010) honored a public school ensemble; it now promotes, the Raising Voicesprogram, provided through the Youth Pro Musica Fund of Triangle Community Foundation. The website, when its budget allows, also underwrites local choral and opera programs on WCPE-FM.

How can I help TriangleSings! continue?

Monetary contributions of all sizes are invited. At present, there is no charge for listings in the Chorus Directory or Calendars. Without voluntary financial support by those who benefit — namely, presenters and individuals — this policy is impossible. Please see Supporting TriangleSings!

Along with financial help, there's getting the word out. You could:

  • Patronize our Resources sponsors.
  • Mention TriangleSings! in programs (e.g., "For information about choral music activities in and near the Triangle and Triad, visit www.trianglesings.org."). Artwork is available at Logos & Ads.
  • Add us to links on websites.
  • Subscribe to the Choral Notes newsletter, and forward it to others.
  • Ask for some TriangleSings! bookmarks to distribute to a group or at an event. No charge; just contact TriangleSings! with the quantity needed and your address.
  • Let someone who sings, or should be singing, or loves to listen to singing, know about the website.
  • Print out information, and post it at performance and rehearsal venues and other public places.

And, keep on singing, or if you're not a singer, keep on attending live performances . . . throughout the Triangle and beyond.