Choral groups are the most popular performing arts activity in the United States, according to a new study. The study, commissioned by Chorus America, found that 28.5 million Americans sing in 250,000 choruses.
Most of those groups — 200,000 — are church choirs. There are also 12,000 professional and volunteer community choruses and more than 38,000 school choruses.
The study found a link between early exposure to choral singing and adult participation in choruses. More than half of adult singers had grown up in a household that included a chorus member, and nearly 70 percent had first sung in elementary or middle school.
"Aside from the large numbers of Americans who are involved in choral singing, we think the most important finding with long-term implications is the role of education and families in early exposure to the arts," John Alexander, president of Chorus America, said in a statement.
Some of the findings suggest that choral singing leads to — or at least corresponds
with — greater participation in other activities. Singers are
much more likely than non-singers to engage in charity work, to read newspapers
and be politically involved, and to have interest in other art forms,
including visual art and theater.
