How to start a Gregorian Chant chior?

Question:I am an artist that teaches. My days are filled with teaching, and my nights are filled singing. ( I sing in the local opera chorus). That being said, I would love to possibly start a gregorian chant chior. It would be a good way to make extra money. Is anyone out there know how to do this?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am an artist that teaches. My days are filled with teaching, and my nights are filled singing. ( I sing in the local opera chorus). That being said, I would love to possibly start a gregorian chant chior. It would be a good way to make extra money. Is anyone out there know how to do this?

You can't have your eyes on the money. Passion comes first, then money.

Advertise for it. You will need basses, baritones, tenors, and countertenors -- all male choir if you want to be authentic. If you do music of Hildegard von Bingen, then you bring in females. It won't make a lot of money, but when do real musicians ever make a lot? At least we're in a profession that we love!

I have been a choral director since 1971, and also an organist at my Catholic Church. I have studied Gregorian Chant. A way to make money????? You have got to be kidding! If you want to learn to sing in this style, then there are MANY Catholic organizations that can connect you with monasteries and retreats in which you can explore this contemplative style of prayerful expression. So - YES, I would know how to do this - but I would do it for spiritual reasons, secondarily musical - and NO INTEREST in the though of any financial remuneration. This reminds me of a cartoon I saw recently - a couple is sitting in the lotus position at the feet of a great spiritual leader, who is dressed like Ghandi - and the guy whispers to his girlfriend, "So - do you think there's any serious money to be made in this non-material religious stuff?"

Look at all the recordings made of chant. All nuns and monks - many of whom are cloistered, and do this as a source of income for their missions, like some make bread or jelly. You can say "Gregorian chant" and "money" in the same sentence!

Sorry, there's no money in it. But here's what I would do:

First, find out if there are any churches in your area doing Latin, either Tridentine Rite or Novus Ordo in Latin. If there are, they probably already have a choir, and you can join that. If not, you need to tap into the local conservative Catholic network and see if you can start Latin masses somewhere (it's easier now; Papa Ratzi rocks!). If you want to start such an ensemble as a concert organization, you're better off doing it as a general Medieval/Renaissance specialist group, as you'll do lots of chant that way (alternatim hymns etc.), but won't have to sell a whole program of it. In either case (esp. the liturgical one) you'll be dealing with volunteers. I sing sometimes at Immaculate Conception in Cleveland OH, which is an authorized Tridentine Rite church

Some resources:
http://www.musicasacra.com/
http://www.beaufort.demon.co.uk/chant.ht...
http://www.cantemusdomino.net/
http://www.ordoantiquus.org/