Energetic Singing is a Must!

September 2, 2025

Although the calendar year begins on January 1, the “choral year” usually begins in August of September. School choirs, church choirs, and community choirs across our country are all beginning a new season of music making right about now. With that in mind, I’d like to talk about a quality I think we should bring … Read more

By: Michael O’Neal

Are the Arts Really Necessary?

August 5, 2025

Those of us involved in the Arts (orchestras, choruses, opera companies, dance companies, theatres, art galleries, etc.) are feeling an increased need these days to ‘justify’ our existence. We live in a time when government and corporate funding for the Arts is becoming more difficult, or even impossible, to obtain. I don’t think we can … Read more

By: Michael O’Neal

Robert Shaw on Commitment

July 22, 2025

One of the great joys of my musical life is that I had the opportunity to sing for many years under the baton of Maestro Robert Shaw, both as a chorus member and a soloist. In my own conducting career, I have been influenced in many ways by this amazing individual. His level of personal … Read more

By: Michael O’Neal

The Five L’s: Listen, Labor, Learn, Laugh and Love

June 25, 2025

There is a goal I attempt to achieve at every rehearsal I conduct. I call it the Five L’s, which stand for Listen, Labor, Learn, Laugh and Love. At the conclusion of a rehearsal, it is my goal that all participants (including myself) will have experienced each of these five actions to some degree.  We … Read more

By: Michael O’Neal

Is Your Voice Actually Ready to Sing?

June 23, 2025

As many choruses resume rehearsals following a summer hiatus, there are often singers who feel their voices have lost some “conditioning” during the break. It’s normal to feel this way, for singers are like athletes – we need to keep our voices (and bodies) in good singing shape. As the new performance season begins, there … Read more

By: Michael O’Neal

Why We Sing

June 20, 2025

I love to hear why people enjoy singing in a choral ensemble. Here are some of the comments that folks have shared with me. “I must. I look forward to Monday evenings with other like minds and souls…I know there have been many Monday nights that I showed up for rehearsal not in the right … Read more

By: Michael O’Neal