In his “Letters to a Symphony Chorus,” Robert Shaw identified what he considered to be the cornerstones of masterful choral technique: intonation, rhythmic precision, singing with a variety of dynamics and tone colors, communicative diction, and phrasing. Tony Thornton – a former member of the Robert Shaw Festival Singers and current Director of Choral Activities at the University of Massachusetts Amherst – will present practical rehearsal strategies and techniques that can be utilized to develop these critical ensemble skills. Excerpts from the standard choral repertoire will be used to demonstrate each technique. Seminar participants will leave the workshop with practical skill-building exercises and resources that are appropriate for all levels of development.