TXST Choirs Today!: Recent Episodes
Jonathan Babcock
The Texas State University School of Music annually hosts notable figures in choral music today. TXST Choirs Today! Dr. Jonathan Babcock of the Texas State Choral Faculty interviews our campus visitors on their music, their passion and their craft. Guests include conductors Craig Hella Johnson (Artistic Director, Conspirare), Z. Randall Stroope (Director of Choral Activities, Oklahoma State University) & Craig Jessop (conductor emeritus The Mormon Tabernacle Choir), as well as composers Gwyneth Walker and David Conte. Get one-on-one insite on rehearsal strategies, choral history and current trends from some of today's most insightful choral artists.
Prof. Max Mendez discusses his research on the Amusia disorder (tone deafness), and his use of Body Mapping as it relates to singing and the choral rehearsal.
Interviewed at the 2019 Southwest ACDA Convention, Z. Randall Stroope talks of his early mentors, balancing a career of conducting and composing and where to find great texts for composition. Musical excerpts: Sure on this shining night - Stroope Amor di alma - Stroope The Road Not Taken - Stroope
On April 5, the TXST Chorale will perform as part of the London Handel Festival virtual performance of Handel's most famous oratorio Messiah. In this episode we speak to Festival Director Samir Savant about the project.
Recorded from the floor of the 2020 TMEA Convention, Temple University professor Dr. Deb Confredo speaks with Dr. Babcock about the future of music education including technology in the classroom and the new world of remote teaching.
TXST Choirs Today speaks with Maestro Craig Jessop from the Southwestern ACDA Convention in Little Rock Arkansas. Dr. Jessop discusses his time leading the Air Force Singing Sergeants, his work with Robert Shaw and his time as Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
TMEA 2020 EDITION: Dawn Reinhuber & Brigitte Smith, directors of the San Marcos HS Men's Choir. The Choir had the honor of performing at this year's convention, and we took a little of their time at the convention to talk about their performance.
Ralph Allwood, MBE talks with us about his career as Precentor at the prestigious Eton College as well as his Eton Choir Course Program & the Rodolfus Choir.
Mr. James Cumings has been teaching choral music since 1999 at Jackson Northwest Kidder Middle School. During that time He has taken great pleasure in working with middle school singers. During the summer he directs choirs at Blue Lake Fine Arts
Craig Hella Johnson-Artistic Director of the Grammy Award Winning choral ensemble Conspirare, as well as Artist-in-Residence at TXST School of Music. Dr. Johnson talks with us about his Cantata Considering Matthew Shepard.
Renowned composer Gwyneth Walker talks about her compositional process and her career as a female composer.
In his first year as Opera Director at Texas State University, Marc Reynolds talks with guest host Francis Nieves about his production of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro in the world of Star Wars
Derrick Brookins discusses his time working with Moses Hogan as well as his work with TMEA.
Lynn Brinckmeyer talks about her latest book Advocate For Music, as well as her career as an educator.
Tim Henderson of Yelm HS Washington talks with TXST Choirs Today! while he visits the campus.
Our inaugural episode features Dr. Joey M. Martin, Director of Choral Activities at Texas State University. Dr. Martin discusses his approach to preparing the text when learning a score. William Hawley's Not One Sparrow is featured for discussion.