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How to Properly Care for Your Clergy Attire: Maintenance Tips for Longevity
Caring for your clergy attire is an important part of maintaining your appearance during services and can ensure your attire keeps its colour and shape for a long time. Here are some tips you can follow to ensure the longevity of your clergy attire. Shop Clergy Attire What are the Different Clergy Vestments? There are many different types of clergy attire for you to keep clean and maintain, ensuring that you are always looking your best and no clergy vestment is left unattended to. Some of the different types of clergy vestments you will need to keep clean include: Albs – a long-sleeved, full-length white tunic won by numerous officiants in various Christian denominations. Cassocks – a full-length black clerical coat worn by priests, bishops, and other ordained ministers. Surplices – made from loose, white linen and often between hip length and calf length, commonly worn over cassocks. Stoles – a silk vestment worn over the shoulders like a scar and hanging to the knee, generally worn by priests. Chasuble – the outermost liturgical vestment commonly worn by priests. Maniples – though not as common in modern times, priests can still opt to wear this vestment, a tasselled strip hanging from the left arm. The types of clergy vestments you wear and will need to clean will vary depending on what member of the clergy you are. Make sure to take stock of each liturgical vestment you own before commencing the cleaning process. Caring for Your Clerical Attire: Tips and Tricks There are a number of steps to follow when it comes to carrying out the proper cleaning maintenance on your various clerical vestments, ensuring that each one gets the proper care to avoid wear and tear that will damage your attire and affect its appearance. Different Clergy Attire Cleaning Methods There are a number of different ways you can tackle the cleaning of your clergy attire that will help you to remove stains, dust and odours without damaging the fabric. You can check the care labels on your vestments to determine the right course of action when it comes to the cleaning process. 1. Dry Cleaning Clergy Attire Dry cleaning your clergy attire is one of the most effective ways of cleaning your vestments effectively without causing wear and tear. You can hire a dry cleaning service or do it yourself at home to save time and money and still receive the same high-quality finish. Dry cleaning your stoles and clerical robes the first time is also beneficial in setting the colours to help them retain their vibrancy for longer without fading. Dry cleaning will remove odours, stains and wrinkles easily, leaving you looking crisp and professional at your next service. 2. Hand Washing Clergy Attire Hand washing your clerical vestments with a mild detergent can also be effective for removing stains, so long as you keep the soap solution gentle and the water lukewarm to avoid any chemical damage to your fabrics. Allow the stained vestment to soak and gently move the item back and forth in the water to loosen the dirt. If your attire is stained, pre-treat the affected area before beginning the washing process. You can spot-clean the area with the soap and water solution, dabbing gently to avoid setting the stain deeper into the fabric. You can also use a non-bleach stain remover, just make sure to test it first to ensure it won’t discolour the vestment. A lot of the time, you won’t need to wash the whole robe or vestment to remove a stain. You can spot-clean the stain as soon as possible after the accident occurs. Simply blot the area, apply one of the above-mentioned stain removal solutions, and then rinse with cold water before leaving it to dry. 3. Drying Your Clergy Attire You have to dry your clergy attire with the same care and attention as the washing process. Some drying options include: Press drying – press the vestment between two towels which will absorb any excess water from the fabric. Air drying – one of the best methods is to hang the vestment somewhere where it can hang straight. Hang it in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Steaming – you can also steam your clergy attire to remove wrinkles effectively after the washing process. 4. Storing Your Clerical Attire After cleaning and drying your clergy vestments, it’s important to store your clerical attire properly to avoid wrinkles setting in, helping you to maintain the appearance of each garment. Contoured robe hangers will help you to preserve the shape of the robes so that when you go to wear them next, they hang properly on your body. You should also keep the robes stored in a garment bag in a cool, dry place. This will prevent dust and odours from permeating the fabric, keeping them safe and protected from the elements so that they don’t lose their colour. Avoid folding the robes as this can create creases. Things to Avoid When Cleaning Clergy Attire The most important thing to do when cleaning clergy attire is to avoid any wear and tear. The fabrics used for clerical vestments are often quite fragile and so need to be treated gently to avoid any discolouration, damage, and ruination of shape. 1. Avoid Harsh Chemicals Harsh chemicals can cause permanent damage to the fabric, causing wear and tear and discolouration. Avoid using any heavy-duty cleaning materials, especially bleach. Mild soaps and eco-friendly cleaning detergents are the best course forward as these will have little to no chemicals in them, allowing you to get the cleanliness you need without any risk. 2. Avoid Ironing Clergy Attire The heat from an iron can also damage fabrics. If your care labels specify no ironing, then it’s probable that attempting to iron will burn and damage fabrics instead of eliminating wrinkles. If you do need to iron your clerical vestments, you can put a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric to mitigate some of the heat going into your clergy attire. 3. Avoid Machine Washing and Machine Drying Vestments Machine washing and machine drying cycles can often be too damaging and violent on the liturgical vestments, weakening fibres and causing them to lose their shape. The temperatures of these types of machines may also be too high, especially if you are considering washing the items with other pieces of clothing. If machine washing and drying are unavoidable, try to do a low-heat cycle and wash the vestments separately from other garments. 4. Don’t Agitate the Clergy Vestments When we say not to agitate the clergy vestments, we mean that during hand washing, it’s best to avoid any scrubbing or wringing, as these harsh movements can damage the fibres in the fabrics. This links into the above point about machine washing as the movement of the machine can also cause harsher movements that the delicate fabric won’t be able to handle. Keeping your robes clean and taking pride in your treatment of each garment will help to maintain your image and professionalism in church. By helping your vestments to last longer, you can save money and uphold the community you serve. You can talk to us today to find out more about maintaining the longevity of your clerical attire and buy new vestments from our clergy store. Shop Clergy Attire
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Seasonal Clergy Attire: Understanding Liturgical Colours and When to Wear Them
The use of liturgical colours in Christian churches dates back to the fourth century, and has become a long-standing tradition to help differentiate between the different types of religious service to give each one the weight and meaning they deserve. We’ve compiled this informative guide to the liturgical seasons and the colours associated with them so that you can be sure to acquire and wear the right colours at the right time and uphold the traditions of your church. Shop Clergy Uniform What is the History of Liturgical Seasons and Colours? As we have already mentioned, liturgical colours first began entering churches in the West from the 4th century onwards. It can be said that Constantine began the use of liturgical colours by gifting a robe of gold thread to a bishop in Jerusalem. From there, Pope Innocent III began the use of liturgical colours as we know them today in their traditional, sequential sense. Red, green, white, and black were the most common, with violet being used less frequently. The biggest difference here is that black is no longer used in modern services, though the colour was often associated with penitence, such as the Ambrosian rites in Lent. Rose as a colour used for some events of the liturgical calendar year came about in the thirteenth century, supposedly arising from the tradition of the pope blessing a golden rose at certain times of the year. The liturgical seasons meanwhile were established early in the church and were based on the life of Jesus. They also have roots that can be traced back to the Jewish calendar year that was based on the Hebrew Bible. Some similar feasts and events that can be found in the Jewish religious year include the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is related to Passover and the Feast of Weeks which corresponds with Pentecost. What are the Liturgical Seasons? Thoughts on the different liturgical seasons throughout the calendar can differ between the different denominations of Christianity. For example, Ordinary Time is not included in some Protestant traditions. Generally speaking, the liturgical seasons are: Advent – the start of the Christian year, looking towards the birth of Christ. Christmas – celebrates the birth of Jesus, and lasts from Christmas Day until Epiphany on January 6th, though it also includes up to the Baptism of the Lord on January 13th. Ordinary Time after Epiphany – runs from Epiphany to Shrove Tuesday. Lent – a period of penance and preparation before the resurrection of Jesus. It starts on Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days till Holy Saturday. These 40 days do not include Sundays. Easter – celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, and starts on Easter Sunday through to Pentecost 50 days later Pentecost – a celebration of the disciples being visited by the Holy Spirit. The feast lasts three days, but it can include 28 Sundays up until Advent. Ordinary Time after Pentecost – overlaps with some views on the duration of Pentecost, extending from after Pentecost Sunday and going on until the end of Advent. Depending on which season you are holding services in, you will need to make sure you have robes of the right colour in order to carry out the religious services properly and celebrate them in the correct manner. What are the Liturgical Colours? Each liturgical season is assigned its own colour to symbolise each feast and service. Each of the different colours are drawn from creation and represents the different blessings of God throughout the calendar year. The liturgical colours for each season are as follows: Advent – Blue/purple Christmas – White/gold Epiphany – Green Lent – Purple Easter – Red/purple for the week preceding Easter. White/gold for Easter Pentecost – Red Ordinary Time – Green What does Each of the Liturgical Colours Symbolise? Each of the liturgical colours holds a different meaning depending on the season, allowing Christians and the clergy to celebrate everything the religion stands for, while also giving people the opportunity to be a part of a greater community united in celebrating something they all believe in. Blue – is the colour of the Virgin Mary and is often associated with hope, fidelity, and aspiration. Purple – is often associated with penance, preparation, and sacrifice. Green – symbolises life, hope, and growth. White – symbolises purity, innocence, glory, and joy. Gold – generally has the same symbolic meaning as white colours. Red – is associated with blood, fire, God’s love, and passion. Understanding what each liturgical colour means is an important part of connecting with God and your religion more deeply. Celebrating the meaning of each season is an important part of finding joy and hope in your own life and then sharing this with your own community in the services you lead. Are there any Variations in Liturgical Colours for the Seasons? Occasionally, you may find that other colours are required for days in the liturgical seasons that differentiate from the common colour. Understanding what these different colours are will help you to stay on top of any robe changes and celebrate each festival and event of the liturgical season in the proper way, highlighting your dedication and faith. Advent – the colour Rose is used only on the third Sunday of Advent. Lent – rose may also be used on Laetare Sunday (the 4th Sunday). Red is worn on Palm Sunday and Good Friday. White/violet are worn on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday. Ordinary Time – other colours may be worn on feast days. For example, white can be worn on Marian feast days, and white is also the colour for the Nativity of St John the Baptist. Understanding the liturgical colours and when to wear them is one of the most important first steps you can take when beginning your new career as a member of the clergy. You can head to the Church section of our Choralia collection to browse the clergy robes and vestments we have on offer so you can begin your journey of building your collection of liturgical clergy attire and celebrate each season with the passion it deserves. Shop Clergy Uniform
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Finding the Perfect Fit: A Guide to Measuring and Customising Clergy
All members of the clergy have different needs and requirements for their clergy attire so that they can feel comfortable while performing their services in the church. We’ve put together a guide below showing you how best to measure your various clergy vestments so that you can go to work feeling your best self. Shop Clergy Vestments What are Clergy Vestments? Clergy vestments are clerical robes and assorted garments and accessories worn by members of the Christian clergy during religious services, weddings, and funerals. If you are a new member of the Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, or Catholics, you will find you require robes for your new position in your local church. The list of garments you will require includes the following: Cincture – a rope belt that holds the alb in Alb – a white full-length vestment Cassock – a long-sleeved full-length black garment Amice – a white linen cloth worn on the shoulders underneath the alb Stole – a silk vestment worn under the shoulders Chasuble – the main robe a member of the clergy wears Surplice – a loose linen vestment worn over the cassock and reaching calf to hip-length Cotta – a miniature alb that is worn over the cassock. These vestments all work together to create a cohesive whole. Having everything just the right length for your body type will go a long way to ensuring you look professional and respectable. Measuring for Your Clerical Robes Having an accurate and comprehensive guide for measuring your church robes is essential to making sure you stay comfortable, especially if you will be wearing the robes for an extended period of time. It will also help to ensure that there are no risks of tripping over the course of the day due to having robes that are just a little too long for you. There are a number of different styles of chasubles so it’s important to make sure that when you are looking for size guides, you are looking at the correct type of clergy robe. Some of the different types of chasubles are: Gothic Chasuble Monastic Chasuble Roman Chasuble Marian Chasuble Semi-Gothic Chasuble Once you’ve determined which type of chasuble you’re purchasing, you can start to take your measurements. The easiest place to start is with your height and once you’ve started your search, make sure to measure your: Back Chest Waist Arms Neck This will help your robes to hang well on your body, making sure your sleeve length isn’t overlong and covers your hands and that it isn’t too tight around the neck. When measuring for and selecting your preferred chasuble, you will also have the opportunity to add a little personal flair with the width of the robe’s collar. You will generally be looking at 1 inch for Roman-style collars and 2 inches for Anglican-style colours. Make sure to take into consideration the denomination of Christianity you are a part of, as choosing a similar collar style for your robe will help to create a sense of unity and community with your fellow clergy members. Measuring for Your Cassock Your cassock is an important part of the clerical ensemble. Like the chasuble, it does down to the foot so making sure the garment is properly length will make sure you stay safe while performing your clerical duties. Measure your height in inches as this is the most standard measurement unit used for cassocks, and make sure not to slouch. It can be a good idea for someone else to carry out the measurement for you. You should also make sure to measure all the parts of your body detailed above for robe measurements, while also including measuring around the fullest part of your tummy to ensure that the cincture belt will fit properly. After selecting whether you want a custom-made cassock or one that’s ready to be bought at your selected store, you can customise it based on the type of material you feel most comfortable in with each material offering different advantages. Polyester – durable and easily cleaned. Cotton – a lightweight material suited for warmer weather. Fabric blends – a blend of different fabrics, increasing durability and comfort. Silk – professional and comfortable. Measuring for Clerical Stoles The first thing to do when measuring for stoles is to measure down from the back of your neck and over the shoulder down to the front of your body. You can stop measurement at the place on your body where you wish the stole to come to. Make sure your measurements are even on both sides of your body so that when you order your stole, both lengths match for an even and professional feel. It’s also a good idea to have the length of the stole match the length of your chosen chasuble Your stole measurements will also depend on which kind of style you’ve opted for. Tapered stoles are often shorter. Ecclesiastical stoles are often made of silk and are 8 feet long. You can also customise your clergy stole to make it more personal to you, such as having it embroidered with a symbol of your faith. The type of stole you will need to measure for may also depend on the type of service you will be performing. These will include: White – Weddings, Baptisms and Ordinations Green – Trinity and Ordinary Time Purple – Advent, Lent, and Funerals Red – Pentecost and Saint’s Days Measuring for Other Clergy Vestments Making sure to measure for each individual element of your clerical attire is important to make sure you find the perfect fit and that all your vestments match and look professional together. Measuring for Clerical Collars Measure around the base of your neck with a flexible measuring tape. Make sure you’re only measuring your skin and not any clothes around your neck. Add 1-2 inches to the final measurement depending on how much of a relaxed fit you want for your collar. Measuring for Clerical Amices Amices will often be designed to fit a wide range of sizes, customised to be roughly 36 inches by 24 inches. Amices will have two strings allowing you to tailor the size after putting it on to make sure it fits properly and suits your body type and measurements. Measuring for a Clerical Alb Alb measurements are taken based on the length of the vestment not the overall height of the person. Measure from the top of the vertebra to the top of the shoe, taking off about 12 inches of height. You will also need to measure from shoulder to shoulder along the back and the length of your arms when the elbow is bent to get the sleeve length. Measure for Clerical Surplices and Cottas Surplices and cottas require three measurements on the back, chest, and arm to get the perfect fit and sleeve length. All surplices regardless of style use these same measurements. Traditionally, you will want a surplice that covers the full length of your arms and hangs down to your knee. Different styles of surplice for the clergy include Anglican style and Roman style. You will generally measure from the flat part of your shoulder to the place on your thigh where you would like the surplice or cotta to extend. With the right measurements, you will be all set for your career in the clergy and you will be able to enter each service feeling confident in your role. If you are looking for vestments to purchase with your new measurements, you can head to our Choralia church range to explore our range of cassocks, albs, surplices, cottas, and more. Shop Clergy Vestments
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The Psychology of Choir Robes: How Attire Influences Performance and Perception
Choir robe attire can have a distinct effect on the performance of your choristers and the impression they leave on your audience. This positive psychological effect can be achieved through functionality, colour or individual flair that helps your choir to be unique and stand out from the crowd. Read on for our guide on how choir attire can influence the singing of your members and transform perceptions of your church. Shop Choir Robes The Practical Psychology of Church Choir Robes First and foremost, the choir robes you outfit your choristers in must be comfortable. Uncomfortable clothes can distract from the performance, causing irritations and allowing singing quality to drop. Due to their long lengths and straight style, it’s important to ensure choir robes are designed with loose-fitting fabrics that are light and breathable so that your choir can move around on stage without feeling restricted and have the full capabilities of their chest, stomach and lungs so they can sing perfectly. Creating the best conditions for your choir during their performance is vital. You may want to opt for two sets of choir robes for your members. A warmer, heavier robe will keep your choir insulated in colder seasons while a lighter robe will keep them cool in the summer. The Psychological Advantages of Choir Ruffs Some choirs, particularly traditional ones, will wear ruffs as part of their choral attire ensemble. They are most commonly used nowadays to enhance the aesthetic of a choir and its performance and the uniqueness of the accessory can help choristers to feel like part of a unique community, allowing them to feel more proud of their position in the choir and put them in a more positive mood for the performance. The ornate design of the neck ruff also helps to draw attention to the chorister’s face during their performance, strengthening the vocal performance and the audience’s attention and interest. On a practical level, the neck ruff can also be used to encourage and remind your choir members to maintain the perfect posture during their performance. Good posture will help them to sing better, supporting their breathing and improving their airflow and vocal projection. Presentation of Choir Attire How each member of the choir presents their choir robes is just as important as wearing the robes. With neat, clean clothes, your choristers will be able to have more confidence in their public performances, boosting their mood and their self-image. Some tips on keeping your choir attire clean and well-presented include: Polishing shoes Laundering and ironing items of clothing worn under the robe Dry cleaning and storing choir robe in a bag to keep it from getting wrinkled Spot cleaning any stains that may have gotten onto your robe. Remember to minimise water usage to avoid damaging the fabric Hair is just as important part of your presentation as your clothes. Make sure each chorister keeps their hair neatly brushed and arranged so that they always feel their best while they are performing on stage or in church. The Psychology Behind Choir Robe Design The choir robe plays a significant role in how your choir is perceived, so it is important to make sure the design of your robes reflects the values and personality of your choir to create as authentic an experience as possible. Colour of Choir Robes Choir robe colours have similar symbolic meanings to clergy attire due to the close connections to religion and spirituality. Wearing the right colour choir robe can help to inspire a collective emotion and meaning that reflects the beliefs of the choir and gets them in the right frame of mind for their performance. Some common colours found in choir robe design include: Black – associated with sombreness and humbleness White – associated with holiness and purity Purple – associated with repentance, reflection and absolution Red – associated with passion, humanity and spiritualism Blue – associated with serenity and harmony Gold and silver – associated with introspection and wealth Cultural Significance of Choir Robes One of the main psychological advantages of dressing your choir in the same robes is the sense of equality that it invokes. Each member of the choir is just as important as the next and the design of the choir robe ensures that everyone feels included and valued. The members of your choir will come from different walks of life and different cultures. Have your robes reflect the diversity of your choir, whether that be with unique colour schemes or accessories that symbolise the heritage of your choristers such as stoles in the colours of their nation’s flag. The inclusivity of your choir robe design will have a positive psychological effect on the individual chorister, allowing them to celebrate their individuality while also being a part of the greater choral community. Building Community Through Choir Robes Having a uniform for your choir performances can be a strong way to build unity and connections between your choir members, helping them to work together as a cohesive whole. It’s important to try to put as much thought as possible into your choir robe choices and designs so that you can ensure that the final look suits and complements every single member, helping them to feel considered and comfortable in their gowns. The Performance Psychology of Choir Robes After selecting the perfect choir robe, you will be all ready for your performance in front of an audience. This can often be a nerve-wracking experience but dressing in the right outfit will help to build confidence and make your choristers feel like they belong on the stage. Wearing choir robes will help your members to immerse themself in their singing, with the harmony of the music connecting with the harmony of their choir attire to set the tone for the audience. If they feel confident and comfortable in their robes, their self-esteem will be boosted, lending more energy to their performance. If your choir feels at home in their formal attire, their morale will surge and their singing will become more empowered. Choir Robes and Audience Perception Audience perception of your choir is strongly linked to their performance and stage presence. Presenting your choir as a unified and professional whole will instill a greater impression on the audience and in a church setting, allow you to more easily form bonds with your audience based on joy, faith, and spirituality. The goal of the choir is to speak to the audience and inspire emotion within them. Colour symbolism and robe aesthetic can play a huge part in supporting the meaning of a song. You will also be representing the church as a whole during your performance, and with the right robes, the audience will feel that connection and reverence you have for your religion. The visual appeal of your choir robes as you move around on stage will also help to draw and focus the audience’s attention, encouraging them to lose themselves in your performance and become immersed in the choral experience. Wearing choir robe attire is all about forging stronger connections between your choir, the church and your audience, helping to build community and encouraging confidence and pride in your choristers so that every performance is their best. For more information on outfitting your choir, you can read our article on selecting the perfect choir robe for your group. For inspiration on colour, design and style, head to our Choralia product page and find the perfect choir attire today. Shop Choir Robes
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Fashion and Faith: The Intersection of Style and Identity in Clergy Attire
As a uniform, clergy attire is a type of fashion and fashion has always played an important role in personal culture and identity, which is no less true for faith and spirituality. Members of the clergy are expected to take pride in their appearance and fashion can play a big part in how they express their worship and connect to their larger community in the name of God. Read on to find out more about how fashion and faith intersect and enrich the Church-going experience. Shop Clergy Attire The Clergy Attire Dress Code There’s no fashion in spiritual identity without the very clerical items of clothing that make up the religious outfit. Whether it be differentiations between colour and style, culture or traditional wear, the church-going experience and the identity of religion is tied closely to each vestment worn. The History of Clerical Attire Fashion The origin of clerical attire can be traced all the way to the Roman Empire who wanted to distinguish the clergy from the common people with a formal white linen clerical shirt. Over the centuries, clerical attire became more unique and distinguished. The Catholic vestments worn by members of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches have their own roots in the fashions of the 13th century. But it wouldn’t be fashion if there weren’t constant updates and evolutions keeping the clerical attire modern and expressive of spiritual identity. New elements of clergy dress were being added as late as the nineteenth century. This is in reference to the iconic clerical collar, a detachable version of which was invented by Reverend Donald McLeod, a Presbyterian minister. Elements of Clergy Attire It can be quite confusing trying to wrap your head around all the different elements and vestments worn by various members of the Church, making clerical attire just as complex as other areas of fashion. The complexity of clerical fashion can often feel linked to exclusivity, making the clergy’s identity more unique and individual to their specific community. Elements of the clergy dress code include: Albs – an ankle-length white dress-like vestment Cassocks – an ankle-length vestment, often black and often adorned with 33 buttons to symbolise the 33 years of Jesus’ life Surplices – a white loose vestment worn over cassocks and often found to be between hip-length and calf-length Amice – a white linen vestment under the alb that is worn on the neck and shoulders Chasuble – an ornate outer vestment with no sleeves. Often worn by Catholic and High Anglican priests during Mass Dalmatic – a long, loose vestment open at the sides with wide sleeves. Typically worn by deacons and bishops Cincture – a girdle or belt vestment worn with albs or cassocks that can either be a band or a rope Stole – a scarf vestment. The priest will wear it vertically on his shoulders while a deacon will wear it diagonally from the left Tippet – a ceremonial scarf vestment that hangs straight down at the front Sustainability in Clergy Attire Sustainability is one of the big focuses of modern fashion and is starting to become a prevalent part of the future of clerical attire. This helps to ensure that the vestments worn by the clergy help to promote eco-conscious behaviours without sacrificing the traditional identities associated with the attire. Some materials used for making sustainable clerical shirts and attire include: Bamboo Recycled plastics Organic cotton Recycled fabrics Organic materials and recycling processes help to ensure there is no waste of natural resources and no harmful chemicals or synthetic fabrics that can cause pollution and harm the environment. Bringing sustainability into clerical attire and the church as a whole symbolises the strength of the clergy’s connection to God and the land. What the Bible Says About Clerical Attire The books of the Bible, such as John, indicate the importance attire has in reflecting the identity of a person and in reflecting the work of God and Jesus. The wearing of vestments also aids in the followers being able to identify the priests among them and understand their holy service. The book of Samuel mentions ‘linen ephods’. Exodus defines ephods as garments worn upon the shoulders, a mantle that in religious terms can symbolise the weight of the holy office and the responsibilities the priest has to his religious duties. The Bible also indicates fabrics and garments that shouldn’t be worn. For example, Leviticus and Deuteronomy reference not wearing wool and linen together in an outfit. Priests in the Bible would most often wear linen, including trousers, tunics and robes. The use of linen in Bible clergy attire was likely useful for keeping priests cool in hotter weather conditions as well as helping to provide modesty, providing less distraction and allowing the focus of the religion to remain firmly on God and not on his representatives. Biblical clerical dress was generally simplistic in style and fashion as the identity of spirituality and worship was by far more important than material pleasures and aesthetic. The Symbolism of Clerical Fashion The symbolism of clerical fashion is two-fold. The first is the religious symbolism of the vestments and what the priests represent while the second is the general symbolism and meaning of fashion and the influence style can have over identity. The Meaning of Fashion in Clerical Attire Fashion is a crucial part of cultures around the world and it is no less different for the culture of religion. The style of clerical attire influences how priests, bishops and their ilk are perceived and can change how they hold and present themselves, especially when they have become responsible for the religious communities they preside over. It walks a fine line between the personal identity of the individual in the clergy and the larger group community they have become a part of. When donning clerical attire, a religious leader may feel like they are stepping into a second skin, feeling more at home in themselves and celebrating their own personal beliefs and identity while also becoming part of something so much bigger than themselves. This empowerment can help to connect you with other members of your church, whether you’re the reverend leading a sermon, a member of the choir or just a regular church-goer sitting in the pews. Colour Symbolism in Traditional Catholic Dress There’s no way to talk about fashion in relation to the clergy without highlighting the significance colour has on how religious identities are perceived. Common colours found in church vestments include: Black – associated with humility, mourning and remembrance. In Christianity, black is also commonly connected to death and funerals. White – associated with purity, holiness and innocence. In Christianity, it is a common colour at baptisms and weddings. Purple – associated with penance and solemnity. It is worn at sombre celebrations and serves as a reminder to pray for absolution, especially for the departed at funerals. Red – associated with passion, sacrifice and blood, commonly in reference to the sacrifice of Jesus. Red is worn by cardinals and symbolises their devotion to the order. Green – associated with growth, life and hope. It’s commonly connected to the resurrection of Christ. Besides the meaning of each colour, they are also only worn during specific seasons and days of the year, commemorating events and celebrations. Purple for example is worn during Advent and Lent. Green vestments are worn in the Ordinary Time that takes place between Easter and Christmas and vice versa. This is in preparation for the celebrations of the birth and resurrection of Jesus, in keeping with the symbolism of life and growth. Red is often worn during celebrations that have close ties with the Holy Spirit. These include Pentecost, Good Friday, the feasts of various martyrs and confirmation. Fashion plays an intrinsic role in how religion presents itself, allowing members of the clergy to take pride in their appearance and in their connection to Christianity with each vestment carefully chosen and placed to represent their mission and devotion to God. You can learn more about the importance of clerical attire by reading our list of interesting facts about clerical shirts and collars. Head to our Choralia shop to browse our selection of clerical church dress for yourself and find the perfect garment for you. Shop Clergy Attire
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How to Select the Perfect Choir Robe
Selecting the perfect choir robes for your formal performance as a choir is entirely dependent on the individuals within the group and with the variations of colour, style and fabric material, it’s important to understand all the different parts to make the best choice for you and your choir members so that everyone is comfortable and looking their best. Shop Choir Robes Choosing the Best Choir Robe Material One of the first things you should consider when it comes to selecting your perfect choir robe is the type of fabric for the choir robe to be made out of. Polyester, cotton and wool choir robes are always popular choices as they are easily found and aren’t too pricey. These choir robes are durable and long-lasting meaning your choir can keep them and wear them for years as they will retain their quality. Some of these popular fabric types include Seville, a polyester material that’s easy to clean of stains and doesn’t get wrinkled easily and Tissue Faille which is completely made of polyester and has a silky sheen that lends itself perfectly to the showman formality of your performing choir. Tissue Faille is lightweight as well, meaning it won’t weigh heavy on your choir members’ shoulders on long days of performing. Choosing the Style of Your Choir Robe Choir robes also come in different styles and having the robes for your choir come in the same style helps to create a sense of unity and harmony for your group so the focus is never on any one individual. This allows the music of your choir to be the focus for your singers while also being the most important thing an audience notices. Many styles of choir robes come from Roman traditions, using classic and plain cassocks and cottas. There’s never anything too showy in a choir robe, allowing the music of the choir to shine brighter. Underneath the choir robe, you should wear plain black formal clothing and slacks. The robe itself will commonly be either a regular fluted robe or a traditional full-fluted robe as well as the potential of coming in a pleated style or a gathered style. There are also different styles of choir robes based on what kind of choir is performing. These include a traditional choral gown, an Old English choral gown as well as gowns for symphony choirs, melody choirs or rhythm choirs. Choosing the Right Colour for Your Choir Robes Choir robes often come in the traditional black or white but there are many colours for you to choose from that can help you to find the perfect fit that suits all members of your choir. That colour can be rooted in tradition, symbolism or simply the aesthetic choice of the choir. A black robe will often signify humility and simplicity, a good colour to choose to keep the music at the forefront of the performance. White meanwhile symbolises purity and hope in Western tradition. Other common popular colours for choir robes include purple, famously a colour associated with royalty and nobility that helps to link the choir robes to its historic and traditional roots. You can also have red robes, a colour often seen in church and used to symbolise passion and vitality, injecting spiritual meaning into your performance. Blue, gold and silver robes are also used for choirs, with the same regal meaning as purple, symbolising the wealth and value of the church in relation to its close ties to royalty. Whatever colour you choose, make sure it’s the right one for both your choir members and the values and traditions you want your choir to uphold. Ultimately, the perfect choir robe is down to yours and your choir’s personal preference. So long as the choir feels comfortable on stage in the selected robes, they will give the performance of a lifetime. Shop Choir Robes
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What is the Significance of Clerical Collars?
Clerical collars have a lot of significance throughout the history of the church with the traditions and symbolism carrying through to the present day and providing a clear mark or sign of the church to followers of Christianity. Shop Clerical Collars Now Why do Catholics Wear Clerical Collars? Some Catholics wear the classic Roman collar to signify their importance and standing in the church, marking them out as trusted and authoritative members of the Catholic community. This helps to strengthen the bonds between the church and the villages and towns the priest’s service, making them easily identifiable for anyone looking for help or counsel. The clerical collars also help to give their sermons in church more weight and value as the collar would mark the priest as a member of importance within the church, encouraging the community to see them as trustworthy and reliable when it comes to the Christian faith. It helps make these higher-ranking figures in Catholicism prove their dedication to the traditions of their faith. Who Wears Clerical Collars? Aside from priests, who are probably the most famously associated with it, the clerical collar is worn by most other ranks in the Catholic church as well. This includes bishops, deacons, reverends, pastors and seminarians who will go on to become priests. The clerical collar has also made its way to other branches and denominations of the Christian faith, helping to harmonise the different Christian sects and strengthen the bonds of unity and community in the religion. These denominations include the Anglican Church, Methodism, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Who Invented Clerical Collars? The clerical collar was invented in the late nineteenth century by Reverend Donald McLeod. He was a member of the Presbyterian faith and his collar was then adopted by Roman Catholics where it has become the norm and tradition to wear them. Before clerical collars were invented and before they became widespread throughout Catholicism and Christianity as a whole, priests and religious figures were more often identified by their cassocks. Cassocks are still worn today, upholding the traditions and history of the religion and also carry symbolic values that were maintained through the growing use of the Roman collar. The colour black for the cassocks generally represented poverty to symbolise the priest giving up worldly attachments. It also symbolises mourning and death, representing the death of the self so the priest can serve God completely. The cincture worn around the waist of the cassock meanwhile often symbolises chastity and represents the willingness of the priest, bishop or other follower to be like Jesus who was chaste himself and thus display their loyalty to their faith above all else. What do Clerical Collars Symbolise? Like the cassock, the clerical collar holds a lot of symbolism for the Catholic faith and carries spiritual significance to those already in the faith and for those in seminaries before they become fully fledged members of the Catholic Church. One of the classic meanings of the clerical collar is obedience, specifically to God. The priest has become consecrated to God and the collar symbolises their dedication to following the religious path without straying from it. It can also have the darker connotation of slavery, with the priest, bishop or other religious figure making themselves less than God with whom they have the same relationship as a servant does to a master. The chastity symbolism of the cassock cincture is translated into the white tab of the clerical collar. The colour white often symbolises purity in Western traditions which links to the importance of following the pure path of Jesus and devoting themselves to the Church, sacrificing the self for the greater whole. On a personal level, the collar acts as a reminder to the priest of his God-given mission and purpose, giving him the strength to not stray from the path he has chosen and acting as a clear symbol of his identity as a member of the Church. Clerical collars help to keep the traditions of the church strong and strengthen the individual faith of the priests, deacons and bishops who wear them. You can buy clerical collars in our church range in Choralia. Shop Clerical Collars Now
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5 Interesting Facts About Clergy Shirts and Clerical Collars
Clergy shirts worn by ministers, priests and pastors have a long and storied history, associated with the collars allowing Christian figures to be identified outside of church. From the different types of clergy shirts to the meanings of the different colours, we’ve put together some interesting facts about clergy shirts to help you learn more about Christian customs. Shop Clergy Shirts Now 1. Types of Clergy Shirts There are two common different types of clergy shirts. The first type is a tab collar clergy shirt and the second is a neckband shirt. The tab collar shirt is the classic clergy shirts that most people are familiar with involving a shirt with a fold down collar and an opening at the neck where the tab can be placed. The neckband meanwhile is typically a white band placed around the top of the shirt. Other types of clerical shirt include the tonsure which has a white band underneath a straight collar, as well as members of the clergy having the option to choose between long sleeves and short sleeves for their clerical wear. Shorter sleeves are typically more popular in the summer months. 2. History of Clerical Collars The Christian clergy first started wearing specific outfits in the 6th century before Roman Catholics started wearing cassocks in the 1100s, allowing priests, pastors and other religious figures to become more identifiable in public. Detachable clerical collars, which are still common amongst the clergy today, came into use around the 18th century in Protestant denominations and became popular amongst Catholics in the late 19th century. While clerical collars are worn by several Christian movements, they didn’t all rise to popularity at the same time. Anglicans for example, still wore a white necktie with a black coat up until the 1880’s. The origin of the clerical attire that has evolved into what is worn today began as part of a reformation to create distance from the classic Roman Catholic look around the time of the 17th century. The turned down collar fashion that arose in the late 19th century has remained the style worn by clergymen today. 3. The Significance of Clerical Collars Clerical collars are worn by priests all over the world and are a clear symbol of religious belief and also some level of importance within the church. In small rural communities, this can help to represent a pastor’s role in the community and mark them out as a figure of authority. The clerical collar is also representative of the pastor or priest having given themselves over to God and symbolising the permanence of their religion and its role in their lives. For members of the religious community to see the collar is to signal to them that the priest is always available for any religious help they might need, helping to highlight the importance of representing God both in and out of church. 4. The Colours of Clergy Shirts The colour of your clergy shirt can depend on a number of different factors, including what the person’s religious rank is. Black is the most common and traditional colour for a clergy shirt and is the colour that is most easily recognised by the wider community. White clergy shirts on the other hand aren’t worn out in public but are instead reserved for private, special ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. Maroon shirts and purple shirts are more indicative of someone’s rank within their religion. Purple shirts are commonly seen amongst bishops and senior bishops. Maroon clergy shirts are often worn by cardinals who have more seniority in a church and shouldn’t be confused with red shirts which are also assigned to bishops. 5. Religious Groups That Wear Clergy Shirts It isn’t just members of the Catholic Church who wear clergy shirts and clerical collars as part of their religion. Several Christian Protestant denominations wear clergy shirts including Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Lutherans. The classic detachable Roman collar was created by a Presbyterian minister by the name of Donald McLeod. In fact, much of the classic clerical attire that is famously seen amongst Catholic denominations originated in Protestantism such as the clerical collar. The clergy shirts are worn by all members of the clergy though throughout history there has been some attempt from groups to distinguish themselves from other religious groups. The Anglicans in particular adopted a necktie look in the mid-1800’s. Clergy shirts have a lot of their roots in tradition, providing communities with a strong religious symbol while also helping members of the clergy to have a clear way of symbolising their faith and representing their identity. This can help them to build a strong position of trust in their religious communities, as well as being a ceremonial way of showing respect for their religion and to highlight the value and importance of the various religious ceremonies. Shop Clergy Shirts Now
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Male and Female Clergy Shirts: How to Choose a Clerical Shirt
When you think of the church and those who represent it, fashion doesn’t tend to spring to mind. However, if a person puts a lot of time and effort into supporting their congregation, why shouldn’t they be able to do it in style? Of course, there are traditions to respect, but that’s not to say clergy members cannot choose a clerical shirt that suits their individual style. In fact, there is a range of men’s and ladies’ clergy shirts to choose from. But the style and looking great isn’t the only consideration. Traditions must also be adhered to. In this post, we’ll discuss the various aspects to consider when choosing a clerical shirt. Shop Clerical Shirts Now What is a Clergy Shirt? Clergy shirts have been a staple in many western countries for decades, allowing clergy members to adopt a more modern style while retaining the traditional elements of clerical attire. Traditional blazers do not have a high collar, so a clergy shirt with a collar was introduced to look like a cassock. There have been several variations of clergy shirts to suit different collar styles throughout the years. However, clerical shirts these days tend to feature a high tab collar with a square-shaped opening at the front. This allows a white plastic collar to be slid into and around the collar easily. A plastic collar not only offers convenience and comfort but also prevents stains that cloth collars can cause. Do I Need a Clergy Shirt With a Collar? Yes, you absolutely do! A collar represents an individual’s religious calling and ensures people in the community can identify them as a member of the clergy. Collars are worn all over the world and have maintained the same style for many years. A stiff, narrow white collar that’s revealed by a small square-shaped opening at the front of the clergy shirt. Detachable collars are now the go-to option for clerical clothing as it’s convenient and comfortable and allows people to clean the shirt and collar separately. With traditional designs where the shirt and collar were joined, it would often incur the expense of a brand new shirt if the collar becomes weathered or stained. Today, slip-in plastic collars are the most popular and widely-used clergy shirt collars. As we mentioned, this design enhances convenience and general comfort. Plastic also makes collars much more cost-effective, and clergy members can easily replace them with minimal expense or hassle. Are There Men and Ladies Clergy Shirts? Whether you’re looking for a clergy shirt for women or men, the process is no different from buying any other shirt. At Evess, we offer both short and long sleeve clergy shirts for men and women. The critical difference is the sizing and the style, as women’s shirts tend to run smaller than men’s. Men’s clerical shirts are sized by the circumference of your neck in inches, whereas a clergy shirt for women is in numbered sizes. One crucial thing to consider is the collar, as many people opt to size up to accommodate it. If your clerical shirt is tight, you may find the addition of the collar somewhat uncomfortable. Clergy Shirt Colours Primarily, clergy members wear black shirts with a white collar or a roman cassock with the same colours. However, various religious orders and denominations can have their own unique uses of colours to offer a sense of expression and freedom. With that said, black is the most widely used colour, as is the church’s tradition. In most cases, colours represent seniority within the order. For example, purple (Roman purple) clergy shirts are worn by bishops or senior bishops. Also, white clerical shirts are worn for special ceremonies such as funerals. Are you looking for a new clergy shirt or other clergy clothing? Evess is a leading provider of clerical clothing and accessories. Whether you’re looking for a new clergy shirt, collar, cassocks, or choir robes — we have everything you need and more. Check out our online store or get in touch if you need help. Shop Clerical Shirts Now
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As choir singing returns, how can I make sure my choir is performance ready?
5 tips to help ease your choir back into performances With the eventual reduction in covid restrictions, choirs are starting to feel the excitement of performing again. As we brace ourselves for a summer of festivals, concerts and church gatherings, we want to help prepare your group to be back to the choir singing in full swing and with no hints of being out of the limelight for a year. But how do you prepare your choir after such a substantial time away? We answer some of those questions here, hoping that this can give you the jump start to get back on the stage with confidence and clarity. Photo by Michael Maasen on Unsplash Be prepared by knowing the rules Although the restrictions are reducing, there will still be rules in place to ensure that some social distancing measures are adhered to. Not only will you see these measures in places of worship and summer festivals, but also the distances between your chorister’s. The government websites are a perfect place to look for these guides. If you give your choir group the information, then they will be better prepared from the offset. Photo by Kristina Paparo on Unsplash Socially distanced rehearsals As we mentioned before, the proper preparation can make a substantial difference for the choir concert performance day. Understanding your venue and replicating it in a socially distanced manner can help your chorister understand exactly what is expected of them. Setting up your rehearsal space correctly can prepare them and give them confidence that they can sing and be safe at the same time. Make your choir feel respected and cared for by putting their safety first. Bringing things like hand gel and disposable masks if someone forgets their own will let them know that you have their best interests at heart and give them confidence that you have their back. As we all know, confidence is critical, and rehearsals can draw out that confidence and improve performance tenfold. Adding new and modern songs to your usual repertoire can also add another level of focus for your singers. The classics will need to be practised, but the addition of some upbeat music to rehearse can get the choir moving and singing their hearts out. Doing something new is always exciting. Photo by Manuel Nägeli on Unsplash Welcoming newcomers With all of this extra time on our hands, you may find that many people have been allowed to step away from their 9 to 5’s and have given more thought to their dreams. We are all guilty of having a hobby we wish to try but have never had the time to experience it. With the instability of our current situations, more and more people realise how valuable time is. Welcoming new voices to the choir can bring a new sense of wonder. The enthusiasm from a person trying something new or trying something they have desired sometimes can bring excitement and zing that may have worn off on those who have been doing it for years. Photo by Susana Fernández on Unsplash The right attire Putting on a robe to sing is like wearing confidence. During rehearsals, everyone in jeans and tees gives a friendly, relaxed vibe to your training. Yet, nothing breeds confidence when your choir group steps onto the stage, like all donning the same robe. The matching colours of your choir’s robes not only look impressive from a spectators point of view but will also make your chorister feel like part of the group. That unity will bring everyone together, and within unity comes confidence like no other. Our robes have been created to inspire confidence and showcase the professionalism of those who wear them. Made with lightweight polyester or a polyester/silk mix, our robes are light, breathable and come in a matte or shiny finish. If you want to take it to the next level, we also have beautiful choir caps and choristers ruffs. Music. Unity. Community. We, for one, cannot wait to see and listen to choirs again and feel that the summer is going to bring with it some mind-blowing choir performances and an even stronger sense of community than before. Music has always been something that has brought people together. Since we have been apart from longer than we could have expected, we look forward to seeing your choirs achieving their goals and performing classics and modern music alike. Let’s make it a summer like no other.
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Take time to Spring clean your Easter Hymn selection ahead of Lent
As we approach Ash Wednesday, and the traditional 40 days of fasting and forgoing that Christians observe during Lent, it’s the perfect time to prepare for your choir’s Easter Hymn performance. For people who follow the Christian faith, Easter is the most important day of worship. It is a time for remembrance and contemplation of the sacrifices made by Jesus. The holy day is also a time of celebration, of renewed life and the welcoming of spring. Easter Sunday church services are filled with joyful songs, communion and shared worship as congregations celebrate the resurrection of Christ. On this day, church choirs the world over will perform in front of their congregations, raising their voices in praise of God and Jesus. So, to ensure your choir puts on a spectacular performance this Easter, why not take the time to spring clean your Easter hymn selection? Read on for our tips to make your Easter performance extra special. Play with new arrangements A great way to freshen up a performance is to play around with different arrangements of your favourite Easter Hymns. Singing in the round or in canon can create a wonderful effect as various sections of your choir sing a hymn at different times. Choosing an Easter hymn with a repeating chorus or motif makes this technique particularly effective. To conclude a song sung in the round or in canon, your choir could take two different approaches. You could opt to come together as a complete choir in a final crescendoed verse. Joining the forces of your voices in this way can create a feeling of joyful, rousing worship within your choir and the congregation. This style of conclusion is best suited to more up-tempo, celebratory hymns in a major key such as; Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Or, you could have each section fade away as they reach the conclusion of their final round of the hymn until just one section remains. This can create a very poignant moment in your performance. As the voices in your choir fade away the melancholic absence of sound allows for a moment of quiet contemplation amongst the members of the congregation as they absorb the words of the hymn and reflect on their meaning. This style of conclusion is often best suited to more subdued hymns in the minor key such as; How Deep the Father’s Love for Us. Or perhaps you could include a prolonged sforzando in a canonic fashion in your piece. Having this lead to a fadeaway but slowly coming back into the piece creates an incredibly atmospheric effect, especially in reverberant churches. Try something new Music is constantly evolving, with new sounds and genres emerging all the time. Hymns are no different. There are many people across the world producing modern songs which provide the perfect opportunity to freshen up your Easter hymn selection with a contemporary song of worship. Using contemporary songs in your choir’s Easter performance can help to engage the congregation as you’ll surprise them with songs they may not have heard before. Praise Charts have a fantastic selection of modern Easter hymns that are sure to spruce up your choir’s Easter Sunday performance. Some of the most popular contemporary Easter hymns are; At the Cross (Love Ran Red) from Chris Tomlin Resurrecting from Elevation Worship They Could Not from Sandi Patti This Is Amazing Grace from Phil Wickham Forever from Kari Jobe Modernise the classics While experimenting with new songs is a great way to spring clean your Easter hymn selection, the traditional Easter songs are popular parts of Easter services for a reason. The congregation and choir members alike will have certain expectations of what songs should be included in your Easter performance. Amazing grace is a traditional hymn sung at many Christian celebrations including Easter, and Jesus Died My Soul to Save is also a classic Christian hymn favoured at Easter. There’s no reason that a spring clean of your Easter song selection should mean completely removing these traditional favourites. However, it is a good opportunity to look at the songs that are currently in your choir’s repertoire. By taking this time before Easter to assess whether your choir’s performance of certain songs could be improved, you’ll ensure your choir puts on a pitch-perfect Easter Sunday performance. Experiment with partner songs Partner songs are performed in a similar way to songs sung in the round or in canon. However, where performances in the round feature one song sung at different times, partner songs are two different songs that work well sung together. For two songs to work when performed as a partner song, they must have the same melody and be the same length; or have a repeatable verse or chorus to bring the lengths in line. A very basic example of partner songs are She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain and When the Saints Go Marching In. These could be used in a warm-up exercise to get your choir familiar with the concept of partner songs. To begin with, it’s best to work with two songs that are in the same key to make merging them easier. As your choir becomes more proficient you can explore key changes. Go Down Moses and Joshua Fought the Battle of Jerico are two hymns that can work well together as partner songs, you can find more sheet music for hymns here. This style of performance takes some work to get right and may feel daunting for your choir at first. But, once everyone is familiar with each song on its own, putting the two together should come naturally. And the effect of creating harmonies within your choir from two different melodies is a true treat for the ears; sure to add something special to your Easter Sunday performance. Easter Sunday is traditionally a time when churches are decorated in blooms of spring flowers and congregations, clergy and choirs wear their finest and most brightly coloured clothes to service. The bright colours represent the coming of spring and the rebirth of the world. Ensure your choir looks its best this Easter by dressing your members in the Choralia traditional choir robe.
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4 ways to keep your choir performance momentum after a busy Christmas
Christmas may be over, but there’s no reason the shows have to slow down in the New Year. Read on for our guide to keeping your choir performance schedule full after Christmas. Hopefully, by now your choir has recovered from a hectic Christmas period filled with performances aplenty. The festive season is a fantastic time for choirs. Carols are synonymous with the holiday and so create the perfect opportunity for choirs to flex their vocal prowess at winter concerts. But, why should the concerts slow down just because the holidays are over? If your choir caught the performing bug over Christmas, you’ll be looking to keep the show going in the New Year. What could be better to fight off the cold weather, dark nights and January blues than a calendar full of performances? But, how do you keep that momentum up once the decorations have come down? 1. Review and Reflect on Christmas Performances Any good plan for the future starts with a look back at the past. So, take time to analyse what worked well for your choir during your busy Christmas period. Maybe you made some new connections at local performing venues. Or added some fresh songs to your repertoire. You may have experimented with some new arrangements or pushed members of the choir to explore the full reach of their vocal range. A great way to get a complete understanding of your choir’s successes and where there’s room for improvement is to talk to your choir members. While the overall goal for your choir is to put on a fantastic performance, it’s also important that the members of your choir enjoy themselves and feel comfortable within the choir unit. Take time at the beginning of your next rehearsal to sit down as a collective of singers and performers and talk openly about what went well and where there could be room for improvement. Giving everyone the opportunity to have their voice heard and feel represented in the choir will also help you to feel more connected as a choir and perform more cohesively in the future. Top tip: Try using a suggestion box to get anonymous feedback from choir members. It can help quieter members of the choir to put forward their ideas. 2. Reach out to the local community Just as your choir will have been busy over the Christmas period, performing at a range of locations in your community, so to will the venues you’ve visited. Residential homes, community hospitals and other community groups are often inundated with performances over the festive holidays. However, after the tinsel is put away, they can find a drop-off in visitors and offers of performances for the patients and residents. Taking the time to reach out to your local community and offering to perform for residents and patients at times other than Christmas will bring a welcome boost to the start of their year. These community performances also provide the perfect opportunity to test out new song selections or arrangements in front of a friendly, welcoming audience. Why not see about arranging a monthly performance for the patients of your local community hospital or residential home? The staff and patients or residents will surely welcome the regular entertainment, varied song choice, and your choir will get to hone their performing skills through the frequent shows for a live audience. 3. Find events and competitions A great way to keep things fresh and provide new challenges for your choir is to seek out new events and festivals to perform at. Regional food and music festivals tend to start being held towards the end of spring, moving into summer and most ask for applications from local performers and groups to join the festival lineup. These festivals could be a great opportunity for your choir to reach new audiences and provide an exciting new challenge for your performers. Similarly, entering your choir into choral competitions could be a fantastic way to push your choir to try new things and give them a goal to work towards. There is a range of competitions around the country, from the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition to the UK Choir Festival and the Community Choirs Festival. Or, why not think about hosting your own event or competition? You could invite a selection of other local choirs to perform on a bill with you to bring together a community of choirs. 4. Create your own special occasions for performances Christmas is a busy period when the whole community comes together. But why not plan some other events throughout the year to bring the community together? Hosting a community meal with an after-dinner performance from your choir is a great way to bring people together. Sharing in food and entertainment is a fantastic way to connect with the community and build long-lasting relationships. How about reaching out to a local charity to arrange a charity choir performance? It’s a great way to fundraise for the charity and, for your choir, it can be a brilliant opportunity to give something back to the community. Or, why not plan seasonal performances throughout the year to mark the start of the new season? Most towns and villages have a harvest fair or similar celebration, which your choir could look into partaking in or plan your own seasonal showcase. However you go about it, it is worth putting the effort into keeping your choir’s momentum up following the Christmas period. Performing regularly for an audience will help your choir to grow in confidence and skill. And, appearing at new events and festivals will draw in new and varied audiences to your performances, therefore building a reputation and following for your choir. Keep your choir looking their best for the limelight with Chorialia’s choir robes, available in a range of stunning colours.
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