Recruiting for the Volunteer Church Choir

No matter the size of the congregation, the choir is as integral component of the spiritual life of a church. In many churches, the choir is comprised almost entirely of dedicated volunteer members. Below, I have offered five ways to recruit for the volunteer church choir.

 

Work Collaboratively

Successful collegiate choral directors work collaboratively with their admissions department to recruit prospective students. Similarly, in the church context, the choir director should work with members of the Outreach, Evangelism, or any similar committee to ensure that prospective members are informed about the music ministry and opportunities to sing in choir. Music, no matter the style, is such an important part of worship, and should be a central element of a church’s promotional materials that go out to potential members.

Choir Members are the Best Recruiters

If you are new to a congregation, you will have to rely heavily on the existing members of the choir to sustain the choral ministry. Choir members can inform you on church history, but, more importantly, serve as points of contact for potential members in the congregation. As a staff member, some may perceive recruiting for choir as your job. Your choir members will be able to share their experiences in choir in a more authentic way. Potential members will be more comfortable joining choir if they have been invited to rehearsal by, or have a connection with, someone they already know.

Invite Potential Singers to Sing Seasonally

People often cite busyness as the main reason they are hesitant about joining choir. In reality, potential choir members in this situation want to ensure that their time will be spent productively. I offer the opportunity for potential choir members to sing through a liturgical season, most often Advent through Christmas or Lent through Easter, as a trial period. Potential members perceive this as less pressure than committing for the entire year, and more often than not, become full-year choir members.

Create Intergenerational Opportunities

At my small church, our adult choir and youth choir will collaborate at least twice a year in the Worship Service. Intergenerational collaboration, even something informal like Christmas caroling, is a simple way to illustrate the fact that singing is a lifelong endeavor. Perhaps, you will inspire a young person to be a choir member in your – or in another – congregation.

Choir is a Ministry, Not Just a Performing Ensemble

I am extremely proud of the work ethic of my volunteer choir. They come to our weekly rehearsal enthused and prepared to sing. I know they appreciate the five minutes I put aside in each rehearsal for announcements, joys and concerns, prayer, or just checking in. I know when they speak to others about choir, they mention the fellowship and togetherness right along with the repertoire we sing. If you work to create a community of singers, your choir will practically recruit itself.

 

During our Stewardship season, I was asked to say a few words about choir and the music ministry at my church. I will conclude with my closing words:

In my twenty years of conducting church choirs, I have been asked countless times by countless people if I need them in choir. Do I have enough basses? Altos? You sound great, do you really need me? It’s taken me a while, but I’ve finally found a satisfactory answer:  No. No, I don’t need you in choir. The real question is: “Do YOU need to be in choir? Do you love singing? Do you encounter God through music? Do you need to serve others and God through your singing? Does singing in choir fulfill you?”  If the answer is YES, if singing is an important part of who you are and how you approach God, then yes, I need you in choir and there is a place for you right here.