The Phenomena of Eric Whitacre: Infusing New Energy in the Choral World

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of singers participating in the choral culture that now includes the virtual choir. The guiding research question was "How does Eric Whitacre infuse the choral world with new energy?" Data was collected from thirty-eight interviews, six observation events, and three focus groups. The findings suggest Eric Whitacre infuses new energy in the choral world with his persona, the "Sing with Eric" clinic/concerts, his music, and the virtual choir. He functions in the capacity of a transformational leader providing meaning, vision, and hope for choral singers. This study adds to the existing choral music literature by providing research on the understudied choral population and its connection to the virtual choir experience. It will also benefit the study of social capital within choirs. The impact of this study will focus attention on the importance of singing in a choir, substantial or virtual, and illuminate the effect of digital technologies on compositional creativity and corporate creation of art. The benefits of shared experiences and the cooperation between individuals in this social network recognizes the importance of social capital within choirs and distinguishes choral music as an essential factor in social cohesion.