Today’s audiences aren’t seeking performances—they’re seeking experiences. In an era defined by the attention economy, where time and focus are the scarcest resources, passive listening is no longer enough. For choirs, this shift is not a threat but an extraordinary opportunity: How can choral organizations reimagine the concert experience for the 21st century while remaining rooted in the irreplaceable power of collective singing? 

In this session, Dr. Emily Isaacson of Classical Uprising offers five frameworks for experience design, a toolbox of low-cost strategies adaptable to any budget, and real-world examples drawn from choral, orchestral, and community-based work. Grounded in data and audience-centered thinking, these approaches help arts organizations of all sizes cut through the noise, deepen participation, and reclaim their role as essential spaces for belonging, connection, and shared meaning.