DEI Programming for Choirs

Why DEI Matters

Why DEI Matters

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• Artistic: expands palette, narratives, technique
• Educational: global traditions, literacy, history
• Human: validates experiences, belonging, connection

Canon vs Hidden Canon

Canon: Weighted heavily toward white, European,male composers (Bach/Brahms/Britten)

Does not represent totality of historical musical production

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Hidden Canon: historically under-programmed due to race, gender, class, colonialism, geography

Canon vs Hidden Canon

Examples:

• Maria Grever (Mexican early 20th Cent)
• Nathaniel Dett (Afro-Canadian/ American),
• Undine Smith Moore (20th Cent African-American)
• Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (Afro-British)
• Amy Beach (American late Romantic)
• Jose Nunes Nunes Garcia (Afro-Brazilian)

Categories of Underrepresented Repertoire

Categories of Underrepresented Repertoire

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• Race/Ethnicity: African American, Asian, Latin American, Indigenous

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• Gender Identity: women, trans, nonbinary

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• Geographical: Baltic, African, SE Asian, Middle Eastern

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• Other: neurodivergent, blind/low vision: Blind Tom Wiggins (Pueblo)

Ethical DEI Framework

Ethical DEI Framework

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• Representation: multiple perspectives (avoid tokenizing one composer as the representative)

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• Context: historical & cultural framing

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• Collaboration: culture-bearers (invite guest artists)

• Reciprocity: benefit both the choir and the community

DEI Program Models

DEI Program Models

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• One-Third Rule

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• Mirrors / Windows / Sliding Glass Doors

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• Consider Themes: Resilience, Women of Americas, Sacred Voices

Composer Lists

Women

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Amy Beach (Peace, I Leave with You)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK-ZXdYoxPk

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Lili Boulanger (Hymn du Soleil)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCSu97iazX4

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Dame Judith Weir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtztxHkW_6c

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Caroline Shaw (And the Swallow) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mA8UHWFg-M

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Jocelyn HagenAve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVBlkv2kEVwry

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Indigenous

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• Andrew Balfour- Cree Composer, Winnipeg, Manitoba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFXflD8_gOU

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• Jeremy Dutcher,- Wolastoqiyik Composer, New Brunswick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trfm9e-Tf88

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Latin-American

Nico Gutiérrez - Colombian-American

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZLMTmIpsVg

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Beatriz Corona Rodriguez- Cuba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvZZ7JbJ6jo

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Guido López-Gavilán - Cuba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkjNhHxuY-U

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Julio Morales-Mexico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hVx8aJa-As

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Diana Syrse- Mexico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Ewjj0iXDU

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Asian/ Pacific

Chen Yi- China

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6G2sH96ayk

Ko Matsushita - Japan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEKmXVDNn80

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Hyo-Won Woo- Korea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddI4-a7f5rI

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Zhou Long- China (married to Chen Yi)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAHC5I_ix00

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Tracy Wong- Malaysia (Graphite)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Ihf_1GB9k

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Saunder Choi- Filipino

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RUtWfSNRRY

African-American

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Florence Price https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Qy5FKENfg

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Nathaniel Dett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8sJi-uxPAc

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Margaret Bonds (collaborated with Langston Hughes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAYLjUT2ovs

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Undine Smith Moore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xW4hPPDj48

Adolphus Hailstork https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkvvSUH4yJg

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Zanaida Stewart Robles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyCzEas_HSA

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Marques L. A. Garrett (Oxford Book of Choral Music by Black Composers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5_-oDHucwM

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Rosephane Powell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g5G3nCtKU8

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Cultural Considerations

Cultural Considerations

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• Use native speakers
• Understand cultural function
• Avoid appropriation

Best Practices

Best Practices

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• Know context
• Perform with integrity
• Name cultures correctly
• Use guest artists

Commissioning

Commissioning

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• Identify emerging composers
• Use consortium models
• Reflect ensemble identity

Case Studies

Case Studies

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• Joel Thompson: Seven Last Words of the Unarmed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0PRQqoUvcs

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Tools for Conductors

Tools for Conductors

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• Composer databases:
• Institutte for Composer Diversity https://www.composerdiversity.com/
• Anna’s Composer Database

https://annascomposerdatabase.com/

• Musicspoke

https://musicspoke.com/

• Kassia Database (women)

https://www.kassiadatabase.com/

• American Composer’s Alliance

https://composers.com/

• BIPOC Voices Project

https://morebipocvoices.com/

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• DEI grants
• Year-long DEI plan

Closing Reflection

Closing Reflection

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• DEI is a craft and mindset
• How will you shape understanding?
• Whom will you elevate?