To choral singers, Handel's Messiah is as familiar—and as well loved—as their favorite pair of slippers. But what do we really know about this choral masterwork? Harvard music professor and historian Thomas Kelly talks to Chorus America about how this great oratorio came to be and why it captures our hearts like no other piece.

"Help! Is there anything I can do to reduce excessive vibrato when I sing?"

For singers, the breath is everything. This article and video clips from mezzo-soprano Ory Brown's class held at the Berkshire Choral Festival offer some helpful hints and vocal exercises to get the air moving.

The All-Night Vigil doesn't last all night anymore, but doing what it takes to perform it well certainly can keep conductors and singers up nights. Here are five tips for conquering this masterpiece:

Well...not for dummies, but for choral singers who wonder, "Do I really, really have to learn the International Phonetic Alphabet?" Of course you don’t, but your singing experience could be much more enjoyable if you do.

Vocal health expert Margaret Baroody sheds light on common medical conditions that are at the root of vocal ailments.

Use technology to your advantage. Here are several free online resources to aid and manage your singing life, as well as a few for singers who also double as teachers, section leaders, or conductors.

In many cases, we've been led to believe that the ability to sing well is a talent you're born with—not a skill you can develop. But that's simply not the case: Most everyone can improve their vocal abilities and musicianship skills.

No matter where your chorus is on the road toward artistic excellence, you can take steps to get better—a diverse sample of choruses tell their inspiring stories.

In principle, we live in a sea of air. Singing is vibrating that air: We take a breath, our abdominals engage and we send the air back up our windpipe. And that's about all there is to it. It's just that simple—and it's just that hard.