I grew up sailing small boats near near the northern edge of the Detroit River, in a location where you might see a number of fully ladened freighters in a day. They maneuvered the tight shipping lanes between Michigan and Canada, around Belle Isle and various other challenges.
We were told two important facts about these ships. First, that specialized captains would board the ships at the southern end of Lake Huron and steer through to Lake Erie – the navigation was too challenging, so captains practiced to be good at that one stretch of water. Second, that it takes a long time to turn a ship – so, you’d best not be in the way!
Ships turn slow. If you are planning to make a big turn of a heavy ship, you might begin the process miles in advance.
That’s how to handle major changes in your choral program, too. Whether it’s a concert you want to reimagine, a change in the calendar, or any other weighty alteration to how things have been done in your world, you have to start way in advance. Maybe get a specialist to navigate you through the tricky patch, and give yourself enough lead time to make the turns happen gradually and with control.