The Effect of Choral Director Succession on Adjudicated Concert and Sight-Reading Ratings

Abstract

This study was undertaken to explore if the type of director succession (new director chosen within or outside of the school) influenced the number of superior ratings in adjudicated choral festivals. The author identified the schools meeting the selection criteria, analyzing director changes in 48 schools with 2,824 different choirs across 20 years. A significant number of concert ratings declined with a new director; however, no significant differences in sight-reading scores were in evidence. In Year 2 for the new director, a significant number of rating changes occurred resulting in significantly higher ratings for concert and sight-reading. Results are discussed in terms of implications for teacher preparation, for practicing choral educators completing transitions, and for future research.