Of all the arts, choral singing is certainly the most "democratic." In the U.S. alone, some 40 million people participate regularly in a chorus and the act of joining one's voice with others seems to produce all kinds of other positive effects, according to a 2009 study by Chorus America. Singers get involved in the political process, volunteer in their communities, attend arts events, donate money to arts organizations to a greater degree than their non-singing neighbors. Young choristers do better in school and, according to their parents, have better work habits and are more creative.

It's hard to imagine that there could be a downside to choral music's broad appeal—but there may be. In general, choral groups have not reached the level of excellence of say, symphony orchestras. "There are very good choirs, but there are not enough excellent choirs that we can really excite the country," says Dale Warland, whose Dale Warland Singers epitomized the level of excellence that is possible in the choral art.

"We see it [choral singing] as something that anyone and everyone can do," he continued, "but early on in the 20^th century, we realized the potential of orchestral music and began supporting the development of professional ensembles, whereas the choral field has been very slow and in some ways has been handicapped to do the same thing. Paying for something that everyone can do has just not been in the cards."