A choral leader’s job is more curator than conductor.
The ensemble belongs to the members of the ensemble. (This is true whether you intend to give them that ownership or not. Have you ever tried to teach a piece when the ensemble collectively digs in their heels against it? How did that go?)
The ensemble belongs to the members, but the conductor still has several important responsibilities. We keep the ensemble together, we select the correct repertoire, we lead, teach, and cajole them to reach their potential.
And most importantly, we envision the future of the group. Through our leadership, we make sure the ensemble stays strong in the future. The current members won’t be there at some point (at least, in school ensembles), so the future falls to us.
All of our responsibilities, I think, are forms of curation. Like museum curators shaping the experience of museum goers and meeting the needs of an overseeing board, we work to make sure that the present and future are strong for all those involved in the ensemble.