Choir Fam Podcast: Recent Episodes
Dean Luethi & Matthew Myers
The Choir Fam Podcast is a venue for conversations about the current state of choral music. Hosts Dean Luethi and Matthew Myers seek to bring the worldwide choral community closer together through their discussions with a variety of guests who work with choir in its various forms. The goal of the podcast is to provide listeners with interesting tidbits of knowledge they could use in day-to-day choral rehearsals and to bring light to the ways that issues in the choral field are being observed and addressed.
"What I do with the high school choirs is important. I always tell them, 'I'm really just trying to convince you to do what you already know you can do, to give yourself to it, to create this big whole beautiful experience for yourselves. Then your audience is privileged to get to see what you can do.' That's the inner calling. It's using conducting, singing, and teaching to try to inspire people to connect with their music-making magic, just trying to connect people."
Hailed as a “composer of energized and soulful music,” Zanaida Stewart Robles is an award-winning artist whose vibrant works have been performed worldwide by professional ensembles, community choirs, educational institutions, churches, and individuals world wide. A sought-after composer, vocalist, and educator, she blends rich harmonies, rhythmic drive, and influences from gospel and jazz to progressive rock, creating music that connects deeply with performers and audiences alike. Her works are available from MusicSpoke, E.B. Marks Music, Pavane Publishing, Oxford University Press, Gentry Publications, Hinshaw Music, and Stainer and Bell.
Dr. Robles is performing arts instructor at Harvard-Westlake Upper School in Studio City, CA. She served for 2 years on the advisory board for the California Choral Directors Association as Repertoire and Resources Chair for Choral Composition. For three years, she served as chair of the board of directors for the Grammy-award-winning choral group Tonality. She also served for four years on the board of directors for the National Association of Negro Musicians.
As a concert soprano soloist, studio vocalist for film and television, and professional ensemble singer, Dr. Robles has sung throughout the United States, and in parts of Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. Some of her film, television, and video game credits include “Glee,” “Godzilla,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” and “Wicked.”
Dr. Robles holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral music from the USC Thornton School of Music, a Master of Music degree in conducting from CSU Northridge, a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from CSU Long Beach, and she is a graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
To get in touch with Zanaida, you can visit zanaidarobles.com or find her on Facebook (@zanaida.robles) or Instagram (@zanaidastewartrobles).
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“I tell composers to collaborate with a poet who takes their craft as seriously as they take their craft. It’s a very rare creative who can do both well. What most often happens is a really good composer isn’t a very good poet, or a very good poet is a mediocre composer. One side of that creative process will lose. That’s why I love to collaborate, because you bring in a separate creative mind who has different standards and who takes their craft just as seriously. It keeps both sides intellectually honest, able to not lose objectivity.”
Acclaimed as "the preeminent choral lyricist of our time," poet, author, composer, and clinician Charles Anthony Silvestri specializes in providing bespoke poetry for choral composers, especially texts in Latin, both sacred and secular.
He is the author of more than seventy published works in collaboration with over a hundred composers worldwide, including celebrated composers such as Eric Whitacre, Dan Forrest, Ola Gjeilo, Christopher Tin, and Kim Andre Arnesen; and for groups such as the King's Singers, VOCES8, San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, and the Tallis Scholars.
As a clinician, Silvestri speaks to choirs about his works, the creative process, and about his collaborative relationships with composers. He has given live and webcast presentations at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Disney Hall, and at universities and schools around the country. His poems for Eric Whitacre's Sleep and Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine have also been published as children's books. He is also the author of A Silver Thread (GIA 2019), a retrospective of almost 20 years of his lyric poetry; and his essays have been published by Business Insider and The Huffington Post. Silvestri's words have been sung by thousands of choirs around the world, and have been heard on television, radio, and Grammy-winning recordings.
In addition to writing choral lyrics, Silvestri is also an accomplished artist/painter. He is an aficionado of Irish traditional music and plays concertina in a trad band and at pub sessions around the world. Retired from the classroom in 2025, he is a veteran teacher with almost four decades of experience teaching kindergarten through college. He currently lives, writes, and makes music in Lawrence, Kansas.
To get in touch with Tony, you can find him on Facebook (@CharlesAnthonySilvestri) or Instagram (@tony_silvestri) or visit his website, charlesanthonysilvestri.com/
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"Secondary trauma is when you experience trauma second-hand. The trauma might not have happened to you specifically, but somebody shares with you their firsthand trauma and it impacts you emotionally, maybe physically. We don’t realize that we are very compassionate, empathic people, and we sometimes take it on without meaning to. It can impact us. I don’t think I can think of a teacher who’s never dealt with it.“
Dr. Lynn Ryan began reading music before she learned how to read English. A lifelong musician, she loves to bring the power and joy of music to singers and audiences alike! Lynn is a skilled conductor, soprano, pianist, and horn player – in addition to whatever instrument is lying around!
She has taught in Great Falls for the past fourteen years. As director of the C.M. Russell High School Choirs for ten years she developed a thriving program, leading the Chanteur Choir to four northwest regional conference performances and national recognition as finalists for the American Prize in Choral Music. Currently Lynn enjoys teaching 5th and 6th grade instrumental music at seven different elementary schools. She is also founding artistic director of the non-profit choral arts organization, the Electric City Choral Union. She is an advocate for creating singing opportunities that provide community and high-level artistry. She has served on the Northwest ACDA board, organizes the MCDA Central Montana Youth Sing, and enjoys guest conducting and adjudicating choral music all over the Pacific Northwest.
Lynn earned her bachelor’s degree in K-12 Choral Music Education from Pacific Lutheran University, her Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University, and Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from St. Leo University in Tampa, Florida.
Outside of school she plays piano and handbells at her church and frequently collaborates with her choral director husband, Patrick. Together they have three children who are budding musicians themselves!
To get in touch with Lynn, you can email her at lynn_ryan@gfps.k12.mt.us, find her on Facebook (@lynn.fransenryan) or visit electriccitychoralunion.org .
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"For years, I felt that there was no connection with my hands and the sound. My perception of conducting at the time was that everything needs to be free and relaxed, no tension - and no tension when you sing. There has to be tension when you sing and conduct, because if there's no tension in the body, you're basically bones and skin on the ground. It's a matter of where the tension is. Is it good tension? Is it bad tension? There's an idea of feeling a sense of weight in the gesture, in the breath."
Dr. Gary Seighman is a Professor, Director of Choral Activities, and Chair of the Music Department at Trinity University. Under his leadership, Trinity’s choirs have earned numerous accolades, including invited performances at state and national conferences, tours across the United States and abroad, unique artistic collaborations, and commercial recordings. A charismatic and passionate artist, Seighman is highly sought after as a clinician, guest conductor, and speaker. He received the 2023 Innovative Concert Programming Award from the Texas Choral Directors Association and, more recently, the Guy H. Ranson Memorial Award for excellence in teaching, research, and service from the Carlos Alvarez School of Arts and Humanities. He is honored to conduct the 2025–2026 Texas Private School All-State Choir.
Since 2015, he has conducted in East Asia six times, including leading the Peking University Summer Opera Program, offering graduate masterclasses in Taiwan, and participating in engagements in Japan. In 2019, he was artist-in-residence at University College Dublin, with additional work in London, Cambridge, and Liverpool. He served as chorusmaster at the Classical Music Festival in Vienna (2018) and led the TU Chamber Singers on a 2024 tour of the U.K. and France, featuring a live-broadcast evensong from Winchester Cathedral. His Carnegie Hall conducting debut came in 2022, followed by returns in 2023 and 2025 to conduct the National Honor Choir.
In 2021–2022, Seighman served as a TU Public Humanities Faculty Fellow. He has authored over a dozen publications in book chapters and peer-reviewed journals, released a published conducting masterclass video with Forward Motion, and presented more than thirty sessions at conferences nationwide. Always eager to explore new artistic and creative outlets, Seighman has been signed as a model and actor with Avant Agency since 2018, appearing in print, online, on billboards, and in radio and television. His new book The Choir Playbook: Tools for the Imaginative Conductor is available from GIA Publications. In his spare time, he coaches soccer, softball, and baseball for his children, Gabrielle and Justin.
To get in touch with Gary, you can find him on Instagram (@gary_seighman) or Facebook (@gary.seighman) or email him at gseighma@trinity.edu.
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“We really wanted our choirs to be more embedded in the community. When I moved to Syracuse, I thought, ‘what does that mean for me?’ There are a lot of teachers out there who are just itching for a professional or pre-professional experience. They’ve been teaching notes all day. You know they want to come and sing, do something meaningful for their community.”
Dr. Wendy K. Moy is a conductor, soprano, educator, and nonprofit founder whose work centers on the culture of choral communities and the power of singing to foster belonging. She serves as Associate Professor and Chair of Music Education at Syracuse University, where she teaches conducting, choral literature, and music education courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and directs the Syracuse University Oratorio Society.
Dr. Moy is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Chorosynthesis Singers, the 2024 American Prize winners in Choral Performance, and the founder and artistic director of Ensemble Sonora, a semi-professional treble choir dedicated to performing music that engages with the issues and stories shaping our communities. Her research on singing communities is published in Resurrecting Song (Routledge) and in Oxford University Press's Together in Music. A third-place American Prize winner in Choral Conducting, she has led ensembles across the United States, Brazil, and China.
To get in touch with Wendy, you can visit her website, wendymoy.com, or find her on Instagram (@maestramoy) or Facebook (@wendy.moy1).
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“I really care a lot about what the student wants to get out of our time together: finding a nice, healthy, balanced phonation that they identify with, that they feel is their true sound, not something I’m forcing them to sound like. More than anything I want my students to feel confident and empowered in making their own voice sound out loud. I just want people to feel joyful and confident participating in the creation of art with their voice.”
Mandy Matthews is an active Brooklyn based cross-genre singer and teacher. She performs regularly in musical theater cabaret nights, pop and jazz a cappella small groups, and sings with multiple choirs including The Marble Choir (NYC), The Young New Yorker's Chorus, and The Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers. Throughout her undergrad and master’s studies, she appeared regularly in operatic, cabaret, and musical productions. Mandy has music directed multiple youth music theater productions around the country, served as a high school choral director, maintained a private voice, piano, and theory studio since 2016, and has guest taught at various academies, universities, and conservatories. In 2023, she co-founded Berklee College of Music/Boston Conservatory’s first ever student chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She graduated with her masters of music in vocal pedagogy from The Boston Conservatory in 2024, and a bachelors in voice performance from Northern Arizona University in 2018.
To get in touch with Mandy, you can visit her website, mandymatthews.com, find her on Instagram (@mandymatthews_voice), or email her at outloudmusiclessons@gmail.com.
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“I shortlisted it to about 10 or 11 poems. I printed them all out on big pieces of paper, and I did visual sketches of what the piece might look like. I would lay them out on the ground, mix them around, and play with what kind of arc it would look like. I’d decide which texts would be the big, climactic moments in the piece, and once I have those two or three big moments, I look at what kind of vibe or style fits between those, and I take my best stab at making that transition."
Dylan Trần (1994—) is an artist based between Vietnam and the U.S. He views music as a form of world-building, poignantly evoking nuanced atmospheres in a way that is both intimately expressive and boldly energetic. His compositional practice strikes a balance between welcoming and challenging, having curated a unique musical language that is equally rewarding to performers and audiences.
Born in a rural parish hospital, one of eleven children, and raised in a double-wide trailer in central Louisiana, Dylan’s first dream was to be a rockstar / actor / tennis pro / and Pokémon-trainer. At 14 years old, he put those dreams on hold and joined his high school choir. Since then, he has been commissioned by HULU, the Oxford American Journal, TAAF, and more. He has conducted and coached ensembles throughout the U.S. and in Europe and has volunteered for music programs across the country and in Vietnam. His pieces have been performed all over the U.S. and his arrangements have been performed in Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, India, and the U.K.
Prioritizing ethical, equitable community engagement and well-being, Dylan insists on leaving a positive, tangible impact wherever he works. He has developed and is constantly refining an artistic practice that involves the ongoing redistribution of funds, resources, and recognition.
To get in touch with Dylan, you can find him on Instagram (@dylantranmusic) or visit his website (dylantranmusic.com)
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“There’s three things we have in music: the choir, the rehearsals, and the concerts. We put the people first, not the product. There’s a lot of coaches who have this collateral damage thing about winning, and we choral directors have this collateral damage thing about getting a superior rating. It just doesn’t work that way. I put the kids first, and it’s amazing how my rehearsals changed.”
Dr. J. Edmund Hughes [b.1947] retired from the Music Faculty of Chandler-Gilbert Community College in August, 2011 after a teaching career which began in 1971. While at CGCC, he taught choir, music theory, conducting, and organized two on-campus choral festivals per year. From 1990 - 2011, he was the Director of Music at Velda Rose United Methodist Church in Mesa. Prior to his appointment at CGCC, he taught at Tucson High School, California State University-Fresno and Phoenix College. Most recently he was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA), where he directed the Chorale.
His choirs have had the distinction of performing at ACDA, NAfME, and Arizona MEA conventions. In April, 2017 he directed “Requiem” by John Rutter, in his Carnegie Hall debut.
He has also presented lectures and demonstrations on special interest sessions at ACDA and AMEA conventions. In 2002 he received the Arizona Outstanding Choral Educator Award by ACDA, and in 2005 he was honored as the Arizona Music Educator of the Year by AMEA. He received the first Lifetime Achievement Award granted by the University of Arizona Choral Music Department (December, 2011) and the Lifetime Achievement Award from AMEA (February 2012). Most recently (2024) he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Arizona School of Music, and in 2026 the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arizona Choral Educators.
Dr. Hughes is a past President of Arizona ACDA, has served AMEA in numerous capacities. Dr. Hughes has over 40 choral compositions in print, which are published with Santa Barbara Music Publishing Co., Walton Music, Pavane Publishing, and Colla Voce Music, Inc. He received his Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate Degrees from the University of Arizona with doctoral studies at the University of Southern California.
Dr. Hughes now lives in Eugene, OR with his wife, Carole, and their rescue dog, Bailey. He has 3 children. His hobbies are weight lifting, biking and jogging. He remains quite active in the choral field by adjudicating, directing honor choirs, presenting workshops, clinics and composing.
To get in touch with Ed, you can email him at jedmundhughes@gmail.com or find him on Facebook (@jedmund.hughes5).
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“There’s still so much we can say through choral music, and a good portion of the music that gets put on the concert stage revolves around similar themes that are timeless, that humans are always wrestling with. At the same time, life moves on, and I think choral music in the last couple years has been a really important response to where we are as a society. An artist’s impetus is to respond to events, feelings, and all those sorts of things that get our heart racing.” - Timothy Takach
“I’ve realized over the years that if I want my music to live and be performed in a bigger way, I had to figure out how to refine those musical ideas to make them accessible to more musicians. That has been a big part of what we’ve been doing in our own personal work, but we’ve been helping our composers through Graphite do that as well, saying, ‘this is an amazing idea. I love this sound. Is there a way you can make it simpler so more people can be successful with it?’” - Jocelyn Hagen
Jocelyn Hagen composes music that has been described as “simply magical” (Fanfare Magazine) and “dramatic and deeply moving” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis/St. Paul). She is a pioneer in the field of composition, pushing the expectations of musicians and audiences with large-scale multimedia works, electro-acoustic music, dance, and opera. Her melodic music is rhythmically driven and texturally complex, rich in color and deeply heartfelt. A champion of the female spirit, many of her projects focus on the stories of women. She is a co-founder of Graphite Publishing and the band Nation, singing her heart out every chance she gets.
Inspired by narrative, magical realism, speculative fiction and making better humans through art, the music of Timothy C. Takach is a mainstay in the concert world. Applauded for his melodic lines, text choices and rich, intriguing harmonies, his compositions are performed worldwide. He is a co-founder of Cantus, Graphite Publishing and Nation, and he is a co-creator of the theatrical production All is Calm: the Christmas Truce of 1914. Takach has frequent work as a composer-in-residence, presenter, conductor, clinician and lecturer.
To get in touch with Jocelyn & Tim, you can find them both on Facebook (@JocelynHagenMus and @timothyctakach.composer). Jocelyn is also on Instagram (@jocelynhagenmus) and TikTok (@jocelynhagen). You can also subscribe to their YouTube channels (@JocelynHagenComposer & @TimothyCTakach) and visit their websites to subscribe to their newsletters: jocelynhagen.com and timothyctakach.com.
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“Nobody really teaches you how to write for the voice because every voice is different. We’re given these standard ranges, which is fine for harmony exercises that aren’t meant to be sung. The information we have guiding us is half-knowledge that’s more dangerous than nothing at all. It’s a question of ‘how can you empathize with the singer?’ As a composer, I work with them to create a composite work of art that incorporates their expressive agencies.”
Raphael Fusco is an Italian-American composer, keyboardist, and conductor praised as “a lively player and fine improviser” (Los Angeles Times), “one of the most outstanding composers of his generation” (El Mundo), and “a leader in the opera world today” (OperaWire). His compositions span opera, orchestral, choral, art song, and chamber works, that blend expressive lyricism and vibrant textures with structural clarity and dramatic depth. He has received commissions from the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Cecilia Chorus of New York, I Cantori NY, Hartford Chorale, and members of the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera Orchestras, with premieres at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Casa Milà (Barcelona), the Oriental Art Center (Shanghai), and ÉgliseSaint-Séverin (Paris).
Fusco has won awards from the NATS Art Song Composition, Phoenix Boys Choir New Works Rising Competition, American Prize, Notre Dame University Liturgy Alive Composition Competition, Ruzickova Composition Competition, Fyfe Choral Composition, and Aliénor Harpsichord Competition.
As a pianist and harpsichordist, he has performed with the New York Philharmonic, American Ballet Theatre, and Branford Marsalis. Fusco studied with David Loeb, Robert Cuckson, and Carl Schachter at the Mannes College of Music in New York, Giulio Castagnoli in the G. Verdi Conservatory of Turin, Philip Lasser and Narcis Bonet at the École Normale in Paris. He holds a doctorate from the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, where his artistic research explored empathy and expressive agency in vocal composition.
To get in touch with Raphael, you can find him on Facebook (@raphael.fusco.9), Instagram (@fuscoraphael), and YouTube (@RaphaelFusco) as well as visit his website: raphaelfusco.com.
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“If you give attention to the right behaviors, they will multiply. If they sing well and supported and you encourage that, that is going to multiply. If you give attention to the bad behaviors – and that doesn't just mean behavior things like talking out of turn – even though it's being criticized, because it gets attention it will multiply . This is true in life. Whatever you think is positive and you want to multiply, give it attention, give it love, nurture it, and it will multiply."
Sherry Blevins is a sought-after artist, award-winning composer, lyricist, as well as an award-winning music educator and conductor. She has over 40 published choral works with 7 different publishing houses including her own series with Hinshaw Music and has been honored to compose for and work with a variety of ensembles around the world including Vancouver, Canada, Lucca, Italy, Bejing, China, Western Alaska, and across the continental United States. She premiered her work “Awaken” at Carnegie Hall with National Concerts in 2024 and conducted her own choral suite, “Tipping Point” at Carnegie Hall in 2025. She was recently honored to be included in GIA's 2025 book, Choral Repertoire by Women Composers. She is also Founder and Artistic Director of the International Choral Composers Institute which hosted 40 composers and lyricists in its inaugural year.
According to Hinshaw Music, “Sherry Blevins, a luminary in the world of choral composition and education, orchestrates harmonies that resonate with the soul. Her musical expertise is surpassed only by her dedication to nurturing the next generation of voices, making her a revered figure in both composition and education.”
Ms. Blevins has a bachelor’s degree in music education with a principal in voice from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a master’s degree in choral conducting from Appalachian State University. Her hope is that whether through composing or teaching, that the music she shares will bring hope, life, and light to others.
You can find Sherry Blevins’ work wherever music is sold and you may contact her at sherryblevinsmusic.com.
To get in touch with Sherry, you can email her at sherryblevinsmusic@gmail.com, find her on Facebook (@sherry.blevins.18), or visit her website.
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"I have to say that the best experience was to conduct choirs on many levels, with amateurs who loved what they did, it was a pleasure working with them just because of that, and also working with higher-level groups and being able to do other things. I started teaching children from 6 years old up to 20. I had non-auditioned groups and more advanced students. That for me was my best teaching experience."
Tiago Marques studied Piano, Guitar, Singing and Choral Conducting at the Academia de Amadores de Música (AAM) and the Escola Artística de Música do Conservatório Nacional (EAMCN), Portugal's largest and most prestigious school in primary to secondary music education. Between 1992 and 1996 he got a Bachelor's Degree in Composition at the Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa (ESML), studying under Christopher Bochmann and António Pinho Vargas.
Between 1997 and 2002 he studied Choir Conducting at the Utrechts Conservatorium and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under Daniel Reuss, Jos Vermunt and Jos van Veldhoven. His Bachelor's Degree's final exam included both classical music and close-harmony (jazz, latin and pop music for vocal ensembles), a genre in which he has been specializing for many years while singing in, conducting and writing for several choirs and vocal groups. He followed summer courses and workshops in this genre with, among others, Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Kim Nazarian and Lauren Kinhan (New York Voices), Michele Weir and Phil Mattson (P.M. Singers), Anders Edenroth and Peder Karlson (The Real Group), Ward Swingle and Jonathan Rathbone (The Swingle Singers) and Jens Johanssen (Vocal Line). In 2011 and 2012 he got two Master's Degrees in Choral Conducting (both Performance and Teaching) at the ESML.
Between 1994 and 1997 he taught Choir, Chamber Music and Harmony and Musical Analysis at the AAM and the Escola de Música do Orfeão de Leiria. Since 2005 he has been a Choir teacher at EAMCN, heading the Ensemble Music Department since 2024.
In Portugal, the Netherlands and Czechia he conducted several choirs and sang in high level ensembles of music genres such as early music, opera, contemporary and close-harmony. At the moment he conducts Musaico, an advanced choir in the EAMCN, and Coro da Ermida, both of which have been gold medallists in international competitions.
Tiago Marques is also a composer and arranger, having a number of works performed and recorded by choirs and vocal ensembles in Portugal, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Czechia, as well as an award at the International Vocal Group Festival in Tilburg (2004) for Best Arrangement.
To get in touch with Tiago, you can find him on Facebook (@tpnmarques).
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“I didn’t want conducting to be only about telling people what to do and they respond. I’ve been in situations like that, and it’s sometimes very effective, but it wasn’t something that I felt I could ever do naturally. I can bring my full artistry to something even when everyone else in the room is attempting to bring their full artistry. We get their imaginations and their color spectrum. If they’re just fitting into my ideas only, it’s a one-dimensional kind of experience.”
Acclaimed for crafting thought-provoking musical journeys that create deep connections between performers and listeners, Craig Hella Johnson is the founding artistic director and conductor of Conspirare, a GRAMMY®-winning choir and nonprofit performing arts and music education organization that believes in the power of music to change lives, inspire peace, and foster belonging. Founded in 1991 in Austin, Texas, by Johnson and a band of dedicated supporters, Conspirare has become a force for musical and human connection.
Johnson has held leadership roles as Music Director for the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, Creative Partner at the Oregon Bach Festival, and currently serves as Artist in Residence at Texas State University. A celebrated guest conductor of choral and orchestral works, he is also a published composer, arranger, and educator, recognized with the 2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities at Texas State University.
His concert-length composition Considering Matthew Shepard, premiered and recorded by Conspirare, continues to reach audiences nationally and internationally. Johnson’s accomplishments have been honored with numerous awards, including a 2015 GRAMMY® for Best Choral Performance with Conspirare, Chorus America’s Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art, Texas State Musician of the Year, the Matthew Shepard Foundation’s Dennis Dougherty Award for Community Leadership, and Wartburg College’s 2023 Graven Award.
To get in touch with Craig, you can email him through Conspirare (info@conspirare.org) or find him on Facebook (@CraigHellaJohnson).
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Thank you for listening to our show this season!!
Here are the favorite choral pieces from our guests in the sixth season:Christ lag in Todesbanden by Johann Sebastian Bach
Agnus Dei - Samuel Barber
Missa Solemnis - Ludwig van Beethoven
Chichester Psalms - Leonard Bernstein
Ein Deutsches Requiem - Johannes Brahms
Os Justi - Anton Bruckner
A Jubilant Song - Norman Dello-Joio
Requiem - Maurice Duruflé
“Kyrie” from Requiem - Maurice Duruflé
All Things New - Elaine Hagenberg
The Seasons - Joseph Haydn
Dirait-on - Morten Lauridsen
Sure on This Shining Night - Morten Lauridsen
Requiem - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Carmina Burana - Carl Orff
All-Night Vigil - Sergei Rachmaninoff
I Will Lift Thine Eyes - Jake Runestad
At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners - Williametta Spencer
Dum Transisset Sabbatum - John Taverner
Perhaps - Dale Trumbore - 2x
Dona Nobis Pacem - Ralph Vaughan Williams
I Thank You God for Most This Amazing Day - Eric Whitacre
Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine - Eric Whitacre
Annelies - James Whitbourn
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing - arr. Mack Wilberg
Here are the composers that our guests suggested you check out:Kim André Arnesen
Alex Berko
Margaret Bonds
Johannes Brahms
Jennifer Lucy Cook
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani
Kate Crellin
Kenter Davies
Norman Dello Joio
Laura Farnell
Robert Gibson
Matt Goldstein
Anthony Gray
Joseph Haydn
Cyrillus Kreek
David Mailman
Joanna Marsh
Felix Mendelssohn
Darius Milhaud
MaryAnne Muglia (our guest on Choir Fam Ep. 124)
Nyi Nyi Myin
Stephen Paulus
Henry Purcell
Judy Rose
Moira Smiley
Diana Syrse
Timothy Takach (our guest on Choir Fam Ep. 34-35)
Patrick Vu
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“It’s not until you’re leading an ensemble that you really figure out how to make the music happen and how to motivate the people around you. It’s humbling in a lot of ways, and it’s so gratifying. As a conductor, you’re providing the framework for musicians to do their best work. Both in the way that you structure rehearsal and the gestures that you are showing the music through, you’re creating a scaffolding, inviting people in, and collaborating together. Ideally, you’re creating a situation where everybody has ownership of the musical process and the musical result as well.”
Grant Gershon currently celebrates his 25th season as the Kiki and David Gindler Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, which he has turned into the "best-by-far major chorus in America” (Los Angeles Times). Earlier in 2026, Grant and the Chorale were honored to receive their second Grammy™ Award for Best Choral Performance, and they have been nominated 3 times in the last 5 years in this category. In 2025 the Chorale was featured on the Academy Awards ceremony, broadcast to over 19 million viewers around the world.
A champion of new music, Grant led the world premiere of John Adams’ Girls of the Golden West at the San Francisco Opera. He also conducted its European premier at the Dutch National Opera. As Resident Conductor of LA Opera, Grant conducted the West Coast premiere of Philip Glass’s Satyagraha, and he led the world premiere of Daniel Catán’s Il Postino, subsequently released on Sony Classical Records.
Among the highpoints of his tenure with the LA Master Chorale, he twice opened the famed Salzburg Festival—with Orlando di Lasso’s Lagrime di San Pietro in 2019 and Heinrich Schütz’ Music to Accompany a Departure in 2023. He and the Chorale also performed these works to enormous acclaim in London, Paris, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago and New Zealand.
Grant’s discography with the Chorale includes recordings of music by Billy Childs, Nico Muhly, Henrik Gorecki, David Lang, and Steve Reich. He has also led the Chorale in performances for motion picture soundtracks, including, at the request of John Williams, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
In New York, Grant has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Trinity Wall Street. Other major appearances include performances at the Ravinia, Aspen, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Salzburg, and Vienna festivals; Teatro Colon in Buenos Aries, the Barbican in London and the Paris Philharmonie. He has worked closely with numerous legendary conductors, including Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, Gustavo Dudamel, Zubin Mehta, Simon Rattle, and his mentor, Esa-Pekka Salonen.
To get in touch with Grant, you can email him at ggershon@lamasterchorale.org or find him on Instagram (@the_gershmeister).
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“This is a way to understand how the voice operates in all its parts – perceptually, physiologically, and acoustically -- so that we can learn to stop doing things that are unnecessary for a particular outcome. A lot of people get worried when they hear anything talking about muscles or working the voice or effort, that we’re talking about doing it all all the time. Why do we do what we do in this profession, and how can we utilize some of this science- and evidence-based knowledge to help ourselves not eliminate the things we say but inform them?”
Dr. Brian J. Winnie is the Director of Choral Studies at Western Illinois University, where he supervises the graduate choral conducting program, teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting and choral literature, and conducts the Chamber Singers and the flagship ensemble, the University Singers. He previously served as the Director of Choral Activities & Voice and was chair of the music department at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. Prior to his tenure in higher education, Dr. Winnie was the Artistic Director of ChoralSounds NW, a community choir based in Burien, WA, and he taught for seven years in public education at both the middle and high school levels.
An active festival conductor and adjudicator, Dr. Winnie has been artist-in-residence in Ekaterinburg, Russia and has worked with festival choirs throughout the United States. He is a frequent guest lecturer/workshop leader and has presented on "Contemporary Vocal Technique in the Choral Rehearsal," "Redefining the Choral Warm-Up," and "21st-Century Choral Pedagogy." Dr. Winnie has published articles in the Voice and Speech Review, Choral Journal, Voice Foundation Newsletter, International Choral Bulletin, and ChorTeach, and he is the editor and contributing author to The Choral Conductor's Companion and The Voice Teacher's Cookbook: Creative Recipes for Teachers of Singing both published by Meredith Music Publications and distributed by GIA Publications.
Choirs under his direction have performed at state conventions and received accolades in both international and national competitions.
A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Winnie received his B.S. in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University, Master of Music Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. He is a certified Estill Master Trainer, Mentor, & Course Instructor.
To get in touch with Brian, you can visit his website or With One Voice's website or find him on Facebook (@bwinnie2).
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“One of my favorite parts of teaching younger students is getting to see them experience things for the first time. I was their introduction to choir a lot of the time, their first choir teacher. I got to see them have those moments like, ‘Whoa, we can do this, we can sing together, we can sound really cool.’ Eventually, they can tell you, ‘we were not singing with tall vowels right there.’ They call each other out on it. With kids that young, a lot of it is just that they’re not used to that soundscape; they’re not used to singing in a group. That exposure helps raise the ability level.”
Molly Toups is a second-year graduate student at Louisiana State University (LSU) currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she graduated summa cum laude from LSU in 2018, earning her undergraduate degree in vocal music education and obtaining a University Medal. Throughout her studies, she has performed with the LSU A Cappella Choir, LSU Chorale, LSU Chamber Singers, and LSU Gospel Choir. Additionally, she has conducted the LSU Chamber Singers and LSU Chorale while obtaining her graduate degree.
Ms. Toups taught music and choir in local public schools for six years before returning to graduate studies. In her most recent position, she worked as choir director and music teacher at Copper Mill Elementary in Zachary Community School District from 2021 to 2024. During her tenure there, the choral program doubled in size. Her choirs consistently achieved superior ratings at assessments, and her students were frequently selected for honor choirs at the local, state, regional, and national levels. She has been an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA), previously serving as Elementary Co-Chair and Secretary of her local choral directors’ association. She recently served as guest clinician for the LMEA District VIII Elementary Honor Choir in February 2025, and she has been a frequent adjudicator for honor choir auditions and vocal rallies.
Ms. Toups has sung with a variety of choral ensembles in recent years, including Red Shift Choir, Opus Ensemble, VIVA, and the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus. She currently serves as the music director at Christ the King Catholic Church at LSU and is a cantor at various churches within the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
Ms. Toups believes in providing quality musical opportunities for all students and fostering a life-long pursuit of learning. She has completed Level I of Kodály training and Levels I, II, and III of Orff Schulwerk certification.
To get in touch with Molly, you can email her at mollytoups1@gmail.com.
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“What most people want to get out of choir is to feel a progression, that they slowly master the craft of choral music. For every warm-up, I boil it down to make it simple but also find the sweet spot where I can challenge the singers to get out of their comfort zone or dare to fail. The bravery to fail is crucial to the music making we’ll be doing after the warm-up. Exercises that are on the brink of what is doable will have them on the edge of their seat in a playful spirit. It’s always with a smile, always fun. If you make a mistake, no one will judge you. We can’t grow if we don’t make mistakes.”
Jonas Rasmussen (b. 1992) is a Danish conductor, composer, content creator and educator who has quickly established himself as one of the most distinctive choral voices of his generation. Known for his ability to combine artistic ambition with playfulness and accessibility, he is the Artistic Director of Ensemble Novum, Academic Choir Aarhus and Youth Choir Aarhus U, and teaches classical choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus.
Jonas’ ensembles have won some of the most prestigious international choral prizes, including the World Choral Championship in Tokyo (2019), the Grand Prix at the Rimini International Choral Competition (2018), the European Broadcasting Union’s competition Let the Peoples Sing in Barcelona (2019), and the World Choral Cup in Barcelona (2022). In 2023 and again in 2025, he brought home multiple gold medals at the European Choir Games, Europe’s biggest choral competition. Both his ensembles choirs are now ranked in the top 10 on INTERKULTUR’s official top 1000 list of choirs from all around the world – with Youth Choir Aarhus U as #2 and Academic Choir Aarhus as #8.
Education and mentorship are central to Jonas’ work. In 2025, he started to post content online for a wider international audience and the response has been remarkable. In the first 10 months, Jonas has achieved just short of 350.000 followers across platforms and that number is quickly growing. He is frequently invited as a workshop leader for choral organizations in Denmark and abroad where his engaging style and ability to connect with singers of all levels are widely appreciated.
Jonas’ vision is to position choral music as a living, evolving art form – not a museum piece, but something that constantly redefines itself through collaboration, innovation, and community. Whether on the concert stage, in a classroom, or online, his work is driven by the belief that choir singing is one of the most powerful ways to create meaning and connection between people.
To get in touch with Jonas, you can find him on Instagram (@choirconductor).
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“In many choirs, the tenors and basses were a minority. The tenors and basses at the middle level are disparate; they’re not like each other in any way. Sometimes there’s a common range of only about a minor third. I made it my goal to see if I could write music for that type of choir. Rule #1: the tenors and basses will have separate parts, and it will be in their range. I thought, ‘why not put altos and basses on the same part, just in octave unison, and do it for the entire song with no exceptions?’ We called it SAB with optional tenor. Now I’ve got 11 songs out with that voicing.”
Dan Davison was the Choir Director at Ballou Junior High in Puyallup, Washington, from 1979 to 2019. In addition to having taught the four ensembles at the school, he had numerous teaching and mentoring responsibilities.
Currently, he sings professionally with Male Ensemble Northwest.
Dan was born in 1956 in Sacramento, California, but he has lived in the greater Seattle area since 1965. Since 1979, he has lived in Puyallup, Washington, with his wife, Cathy, who was also a public school teacher. He attended public schools in the Bellevue School District and then attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, where he received his Bachelor's degree, studying under Maurice Skones. He continued his education and received a Master's In Music from Western Washington University, studying with Bruce Pullan.
Dan's tenure as Choir Director at Ballou Junior High School acquainted him well with the complexities of the adolescent voice. His experience ranges from working with treble choirs to tenor-bass choirs to mixed choir, He also worked with vocal jazz ensembles and his Jazz Choir performed at the ACDA Northwest Convention in Seattle in 2010. Dan is an experienced church choir director and has directed choirs at Western Washington University and Pacific Lutheran University. Dan also directed the Northwest ACDA Youth Choir (grades 7-9) for the 2014 ACDA Northwest Convention.
Dan is a published composer, with numerous works available from Walton Music, BriLee Music, Pavane Publishing, and Anchor Music. Mr. Davison received numerous awards for his role in music education, including the 1996 State Of Washington Christa McAuliffe Educator Of The Year, The Educator Citizen Of The Year in 2010 for Communities In Schools In Puyallup, Washington, and also the "Outstanding Choral Director Award" for 2010 from the Washington chapter of The American Choral Directors Association.
To get in touch with Dan, you can email him at dandavison@comcast.net.
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“There were a whole bunch of these women who were publishing music during their liftetime in 17th-century Italy. I find it's important that young women know that they were composers other than Hildegard and Fanny Hensel who were writing. These women's voices were buried for so many years, and yet they were writing in the same styles as their male contemporaries. We can learn about our times now by looking to the past and to think critically about who we're lifting up and whose voices we are amplifying now based on how things have progressed over history.”
Dr. Meredith Bowen is an Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Michigan State University where she teaches graduate choral literature, conducting at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and conducts the auditioned treble ensemble, Mosaic. Bowen works to expand the choral canon and amplify marginalized voices by editing, restoring, and publishing editions of historical music by women. She is an active guest conductor, presenter, and clinician and is founding singer and Artistic Administrator for mirabai, a professional women’s ensemble dedicated to amplifying women’s voices through commissioning, performing, and recording. Her editions of music by 17th-century composers are published by Boosey & Hawkes and MusicSpoke. Prior to joining MSU, Bowen was the Director of Choral Studies at Radford University in Radford, VA, taught public school in Lansing, MI, and led a variety of community choirs throughout MI. She earned her B.S. in Music Education from West Chester University, and both an M.M., and a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University.
To get in touch with Meredith, you can email her at bowenmer@msu.edu or find her on Facebook (@mybowen), Instagram (@emwhybee), or TikTok (@m.y.bowen).
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“I remember when I performed at Carnegie Hall for the first time. It was transformative. I remember taking the stage and just being in complete awe. I looked out, and it was just incredible. When I heard the sound, it was even more incredible. I used to say that my favorite part of my job was standing right at the stage door and watching every choir singer come and take the stage for the first time. They would look out and just be in complete awe. Now that I’m production manager, my new favorite part of my job is when conductors come off the stage and I get to tell them, ‘turn around, go back, they’re still clapping for you.’” - Eric Spiegel
“Living abroad gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation for my home country. It taught me a lot about other cultures and how to work with different people and have a certain cultural sensitivity and sensibility. I could not recommend it enough. We’re trying to grow and enhance the kinds of international opportunities that we provide. It’s such a collaborative, educational experience that goes way beyond one or two concerts. We know for many people who travel with us, it might be their first time in Europe. We try to make sure that it’s special in every possible way that we can.” - James Redcay
A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, James Redcay joined MidAmerica Productions in April of 2015. A graduate of New York University, Redcay spent years in New York City as an accomplished pianist, composer and teacher, performing and composing for numerous concerts and institutions. During this time Redcay also held the position of Composer-in-Residence at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. After graduating from NYU, Redcay moved abroad to Macao, where he taught music at the Conservatory of Macao and created and managed large-scale arts and entertainment programs and daily operations for Sands China Ltd., a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands. After six fruitful years, Redcay relocated to the United States and now resides in Michigan.
Eric Spiegel holds a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, with experience teaching middle and high school vocal/general music. As a performer, Eric has sung and acted in choirs, jazz groups, a cappella ensembles, and musicals across the United States and around the world. Eric conducted the Brooklyn, NY chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir for seven seasons, including in performances at David Geffen Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and has served as MidAmerica Productions’ head of production for concerts at Carnegie Hall since 2023.
To get in touch with James & Eric, you can visit midamerica-music.com or find MidAmerica on Facebook (@midamerica.productions) or Instagram (@midamericaproductions)
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"Every single workshop I give is all about excellence, singing well, singing properly, and achieving the very best we can achieve. Why do we it? We don't do it because we'll be paid millions and millions of pounds. It's not cash-motivated. We do it because there is a higher purpose, a higher calling that makes us do it. I got offered a graduate scheme at university, so I could have been a corporate sellout. I'd probably arguably work less hours than I do in music, but I didn't do that. I don't have any regrets, because on an evening, I go home, I look myself in the mirror, and I can say to myself, 'we did some good stuff today.'"
Caius Lee is the Director of College Music at Worcester College, Oxford, where he leads the internationally acclaimed College Choir and Boys’ Choir, alongside the Jericho Youth Choir and the All Sorts Community Choir. He oversees an extensive portfolio of collegiate, community, and outreach initiatives under the Music at Worcester banner, including the groundbreaking Oxford Choral Experience and New Instrument learning scheme. Furthermore, he is a guest lecturer for the Institute of Sacred Music at St Stephen’s House and the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).
Caius began his musical career as a chorister at Bradford Cathedral aged 11, later becoming the Cathedral Organ Scholar at 15. At 17, he joined Leeds Cathedral, concurrently holding the Idlewild Conducting Scholarship and the Cathedral Organ Scholarship. He was appointed Assistant Organist a year later, serving as the Diocesan Organist and Director of Music for the annual Lourdes pilgrimage.
Caius read Music at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, as the Neville Burston Organ Scholar. During his time at university, he founded the Addamus Choral Programme (formerly the Florence International Singing Programme). Addamus facilitates several annual courses and has performed at prestigious venues including Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Saint-Sulpice, Florence Cathedral, and the Vatican. Most recently, the programme launched the inaugural Italian Choral Programme, providing aspiring young professionals with the opportunity to perform at the Vatican, Florence Cathedral, Milan Cathedral and the Pantheon under the tutelage of a distinguished faculty, including Bob Chilcott, James Jordan, and Lorenzo Donati.
To get in touch with Caius, you can find the Addamus Choral Programme on Facebook (@addamuschoralprogramme) or Instagram (@addamus_official) or email him at caius.lee@worc.ox.ac.uk.
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“Burnout is when you reach a point where there is no mystery in the music making anymore and you’re just redoing what you’ve always done. You’re reheating it. Self-exploration should be the goal of every musician. The idea of staying connected to sound through listening and really fantasizing is essential. You have to believe there’s magic in the room, and then magic happens. What a gift it is to share music with other people in that room at that time.”
GRAMMY-nominated conductor James Jordan is recognized and praised throughout the musical world as one of America’s pre-eminent conductors, writers and innovators in choral music. He was described as a “visionary” by The Choral Journal, which cited his book Evoking Sound as a “must read.” His more than 60 books explore both the philosophical and spiritual basis of musicianship, as well as aspects of choral rehearsal teaching and learning. His latest book, The Conductor's Triangle, will be released in January 2026. He served as director of the Westminster Conducting Institute for 12 years and is Director of the Choral Institute at Oxford to be held this summer at Worcester College Oxford. He is also Conductor and Artistic Director of The Same Stream Choir and conductor of The Nexus Choral Artists.
He is founder of The Choral Academy, an online resource offering courses in Pedagogy, Conducting and Private Conducting Study. He has also created The Evoking Sound Virtual Classroom that houses his lectures and teaching as a resource, with contributions by Simon Carrington, Weston Noble and others.
James Jordan holds a BM from Susquehanna University, a MM in choral conducting and a Ph.D in the Psychology of Music from Temple University where he was a student of Edwin Gordon. He is a conducting student of the legendary teacher Elaine Brown. He holds several conducting certificates from Chorstudio Wilhelm Ehman earned in St. Moritz, Switzerland. He has attended the Laban Institute of Movement Studies in New York. He was a finalist in the Stokowski Conducting Competition sponsored by The Philadelphia Orchestra.
James Jordan’s research beginning in 1980 regarding applications of Laban to rhythm pedagogy and conducting are pioneering. His books regarding the Application of Music Learning Theory to the Choral rehearsal have revolutionized choral teaching and Learning. His most recent book on this subject, Intonational Solfege (GIA) presents an approach for teaching Intonation skills to choirs. Dr. Jordan is exclusively published by GIA Publications.
James Jordan has been the major author regarding the application of vocal technique to the choral rehearsal. He was a student of Frauke Haasemann and has continued and advanced her work. He explores connections into voice science in the book, The Anatomy of Tone and most recently in the extensive text, Essentials of the Choral Warm-Up (GIA).
Dr. Jordan has recorded over 20 CDs with the Westminster Williamson Voices, The Same Stream, and The Westminster Choir. James Jordan is also one of the hosts of the nationally syndicated radio program Sounds Choral on WWFM.org.
Dr. Jordan’s career and publications have been devoted to innovative educational changes in the choral art which have been embraced around the world. His residencies, master classes and guest conducting have taken him throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and China.
To get in touch with Jim, you can visit thechoralacademy.com, email him at jevoke@mac.com, or find him on Instagram (@wckonductor) or X (@jevoke).
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"Singing in a choir, you're trying to about five things at the same time, and sometimes you're not even doing it in the language you have spoken your entire life. Sometimes I had to just start with rhythm on one pitch and then build that step by step by step. In the process, I was always trying to teach voice. If the voice mechanism shuts down, that's where you get into problems and they stop engaging. You have to let people in rehearsals make mistakes, especially early on. It's so important. If you think rhythm, tone, rhythm-tone-text, rhythm-tone-dynamics, rhythm-tone-articulation, rhythm-tone-expression, that's six times I should have gone through that section. Then I saw that these kids were actually digging it, getting into it, and they felt that they were learning something."
For the past 40 years, Richard Zielinski has taught at five universities, worked as a music director in numerous churches, and has conducted orchestras, choruses and stage productions throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. Zielinski recently retired as the Director of Choral Activities, Chair of Graduate Choral Studies at the University of Oklahoma and as Director of Music Ministries at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. Prior to his appointment at the University of Oklahoma, Richard directed choral programs at University of South Florida (Tampa), Indiana State University (Terre Haute), Mercer University, (Macon, Georgia), State University of New York at Plattsburgh.
He has also served as Music Director for the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Elgin Choral Union (IL), Vermilion Festival Chorus (IL), and Terre Haute Masterworks Chorale (IN).
In 2005, Richard founded and serves as conductor of the Zielinski Singers. This 40-voice professional chorus combines the talents of the finest choral singers in the United States producing performances, tours and recordings of choral works by American composers.
Richard currently serves as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the 51st Classical Music Festival and Orchestra located at the Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria. He is also a recipient of the Gold Medal of Achievement for his artistic achievements and musical contributions in Eisenstadt, Austria as principal conductor and artistic director of the Classical Music Festival. In 2025 Zielinski was awarded the honorary badge “Meritorious for Polish Culture” from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland for his 32 years of artistic work in Poland.
In 2012, Zielinski and members of the city of Norman, Oklahoma, founded a professional orchestra, The Norman PHILharmonic. The PHIL’s mission is four-fold: to be an innovative and standard-setting orchestra, to commission new works from American composers, to collaborate with area arts programs, and to excite the youth of America about symphonic music.
Throughout his career Zielinski has collaborated with composers Norman Dello Joio, Libby Larsen, John Mackey, Michael Daugherty, Samuel Adler, Eleanor Daley, Marek Jasinski, Rosephanye Powell, Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, James Oliverio, Stephen Paulus, Krzysztof Penderecki and has commissioned numerous works from many of these composers.
To get in touch with Rick, you can find him on Facebook (@richard.zielinski.77) or visit richardzielinski.com.
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“If you have opportunities to have them take over the work, you can engage them in a way with chaos circles. I love doing chaos circles when they’re teaching themselves the music. Sometimes you see students who are usually very shy really step up to the challenge of becoming leaders, You get to see students in a way that they don’t always present themselves if you can get them moving around and engaging the brain that way.”
Dr. Jenny Bent is Professor of Music and Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Sonoma State University. With degrees from Boston University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Bent's expertise spans voice performance, choral conducting, and choral literature. Described by the San Francisco Classical Voice as “superb” with “excellent diction and well-controlled dynamics,” Dr. Bent’s choirs have earned unanimous superior ratings and command performances at festivals throughout California and have performed under her baton at such venues as Carnegie Hall in New York City and Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Her ensemble SonoVoce was recently honored to perform at the CA All-State Music Educators Conference (CASMEC).
Recognized for her achievements as a choral educator, Dr. Bent received the 2019 CMEA Bay Section Outstanding Choral Educator Award and the 2023 CMEA Pearson/Scott Foresman/Silver Burdett Choral Educator Award. She brings over a decade of high school teaching experience, notably at the Marin School of the Arts.
Beyond her academic work, Dr. Bent contributes to the choral music community as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and conference presenter for organizations including CMEA, ACDA, and Golden State. From 2016-2023, she served on the board of the California Choral Directors Association (CCDA), and she currently holds the positions of Repertoire & Resources Collegiate Choirs Coordinator for National ACDA and Western Region Representative for the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO). From 2007-2014, Dr. Bent shared her passion for choral music as a host of "The Choir Loft" on KRCB-FM. She is also a proud (and semi-obnoxious) baseball mom whose favorite moments are watching her two sons do what they love.
To get in touch with Jenny, you can email her at bentje@sonoma.edu or find her on Facebook (@jenny.bent.5)
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“Middle school kids really are very concrete learners. Abstract thought isn’t there yet. Give them the ability to see ‘I’m not the only one having problems on page 10. I must be normal because everybody’s having problems on page 10.’ Or, if it is a kid who’s the only one who’s having a problem, let’s figure out what the problem is. Let the kids have some voice in helping problem-solve rehearsal issues. The teacher is the expert, but that doesn’t mean that you know everything. Sometimes a kid knows a lot of stuff, but it is just sounds different or is coming from a different angle.”
Gretchen Harrison, National ACDA Chairperson for Repertoire and Resources, is a Missouri-born, Kansas-educated, veteran choral educator, conductor and clinician.. Proud to come from a strong choral music heritage, Harrison is the middle generation of a 3-generation ACDA family. She follows in her dad’s footsteps as “teacher-mentor” with joy! She loves a rehearsal based on love, excellence, urgency, laughter, respect, high expectations, silliness and, hopefully, dark chocolate! Harrison has served ACDA as State Chair for JHMS Repertoire and Standards (KS), as the National Chair for JHMS Repertoire and Standards, then Resources, as the first Youth Choirs Coordinator and, now, as the National Chair. Harrison earned degrees from Wichita State University (BME) and the University of Missouri–Kansas City (MME) and has 60+ additional hours of study. Professionally, Harrison retired after teaching public school middle school choir for 34 years. She is the 2023 recipient of the “Harry Robert Wilson Award”, an award by the Kansas ACDA chapter to recognize lifelong achievement. She is the administrator in the Allegro Choirs of Kansas City community choir program. Harrison is married to a retired band director and mom to two wonderful humans and “Gigi” to a wonderful grandson–with another on the way. She loves her family, cooking, baking, her dog and reading.
To get in touch with Gretchen, you can email her at nationalrr@acda.org, follow the ACDA Repertoire Collective Facebook page (@RepertoireResources), or find her on Facebook (@gretchen.harrison) or Instagram (@gretchenharrison).
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“Going into high school, I did everything possible to avoid the performing arts. My vice principal called me into the office and said, ‘you can’t have an open period. I’m gonig to put you in choir.’ Within weeks, it became a life-changing experience for me – I discovered a community, a way to express myself. I knew by the end of my junior year in high school that this is what I wanted to do.” - Brandon Elliott
“If you are coming as a conductor to composing, you already have a resource that a lot of composers lack. You know what your singers need. You have already identified a lack in the repertoire that you’re looking for, something that you might fill as a composer. If you can get into that mindset with your own ensemble, you’ll be so ready, so prepared to take that on for other groups.” - Dale Trumbore
Dale Trumbore is a Los Angeles-based composer and writer whose music has been called “devastatingly beautiful” (The Washington Post) and praised for its “soaring melodies and beguiling harmonies deployed with finesse” (The New York Times). Trumbore's compositions have been performed widely in the U.S. and internationally by Atlanta Master Chorale, the Chicago Symphony's MusicNOW ensemble, Conspirare and the Miró Quartet, Los Angeles Children's Chorus, Los Angeles Master Chorale, National Youth Choir of Scotland, Pasadena Symphony, Phoenix Chorale, and Seraphic Fire.
Trumbore is the recipient of ACDA’s inaugural Raymond W. Brock Competition for Professional Composers, an ASCAP Morton Gould Award, and a Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grant. She has written extensively about working through creative blocks and establishing a career in music in essays and in two books, Composing a Living (cowritten with Brandon Elliott) and Staying Composed. Learn more about Trumbore’s music and writing at daletrumbore.com.
Dr. Brandon Elliott is a conductor, educator, and consultant specializing in creative and strategic leadership in the arts and entertainment industry. He is a Professor of Music at Saddleback College and Founder & Artistic Director of Choral Arts Initiative, an award-winning ensemble dedicated to contemporary choral music. A sought-after consultant and Fulbright Specialist, he advises on artist management, organizational change, career development, and the evolving music industry.
To get in touch with Dale, you can visit her website, daletrumbore.com, where you can also sign up for her newsletter. To get in touch with Brandon, visit his website, brandon-elliott.com, which also provides links to his social media accounts.
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“My job is to make people love choral music as much as I do, and that’s a lot. I really love choral music. My job is to say ‘you should care about this.’ You might care about it because it’s ravishingly beautiful or because it has a story to tell you. Even if you’re not a person who relates to choral music, you can relate to stories. We’re going to weave some sort of through-line through this program that tells you something about life that we hope resonates with you whether you’re a musician or not.”
Joshua Habermann is in his seventeenth season as Artistic Director of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, one of the nation’s premiere professional chamber choirs. Since joining the ensemble, he has broadened its repertoire to include choral-orchestral masterworks and unique concert experiences ranging from early music to new commissions. Under his leadership, the Desert Chorale has been featured at regional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, and its summer and winter festivals are among America’s largest choral events.
Habermann’s experience with symphonic choruses spans over three decades, encompassing the full range of the choral-orchestral repertoire. From 2011 to 2022 he was director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, where highlights included Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, the Requiem Masses of Mozart, Brahms, and Verdi, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, Bernstein’s Kaddish Symphony, Rachmaninov’s The Bells, and Vaughan-Williams’ Sea Symphony. He is a frequent guest conductor, and in 2022-2023 prepared Handel’s Messiah, Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe, and Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem for the San Francisco Symphony.
A passionate advocate for music education, Joshua Habermann is a regular clinician for state and national events and has led honor choirs and choral festivals in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. In 2024, he conducted Cantatas 72, 73 and 92 for Bach Santiago (Chile), a concert series dedicated to the first full cycle of Bach Cantatas in South America. He currently teaches choral literature at the University of North Texas.
As a singer (tenor), Habermann has performed with the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus under Helmuth Rilling and Conspirare under Craig Hella Johnson. Recording credits include Requiem and Threshold of Night, both GRAMMY® nominees for best choral recording. Recordings as a conductor include The Road Home and Rachmaninov’s All Night Vigil with the Desert Chorale.
To get in touch with Joshua, you can find him on Facebook (@joshua.habermann) or visit the Santa Fe Desert Chorale website, desertchorale.org.
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“You’re not going to ask a bunch of choir directors to donate to your organization — you’re going to have to go find other people who probably don’t have the type of experience with choir that choral leaders do. It’s about trying to translate not just your own personal love of choir but the reason that your choir exists, what it does for its community and its participants, the impact that your choir has on various spheres of influences. How do you translate your value to intersect with what they value so that they can look at you and say ‘you’re a cause that I want to support’?”
Alex Gartner is an educator, conductor, and composer based in Pensacola, Florida. He serves as the Artistic & Executive Director of the Pensacola Children's Chorus, where he oversees 9 resident choirs and 5 regional choirs comprised of nearly 300 singers. Combined, these programs reach an audience of 25,000 individuals, including 5,000 youth, throughout Northwest Florida.
Gartner is an active clinician, workshop presenter, and guest conductor. He has served in leadership positions with the American Choral Directors Association and Americans for the Arts, and his choirs are active throughout Northwest Florida, the United States, and the world. An accomplished composer, his arrangements are available through Santa Barbara Music Publishing, the Lorenz Corporation, Choristers Guild, Alfred Music Publishing, and MusicSpoke.
To get in touch with Alex, you can visit his website, alexgartner.com, or the Pensacola Children's Chorus website, pensacolasings.org. You can also email him at agartner@acda.org.
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“It's hard to focus on anything educationally if certain basic needs aren't being met, so you're trying to navigate and be proactive as much as possible. I have students who have their own needs and things they're going through that are influencing the classroom. Every year, every group, it's a different dynamic. Every student in this group deserves the opportunity to have a good experience with this. Now, they've got to buy in a little bit. They've got to own their piece of it. You can't do it all for them, but they all deserve the opportunity to succeed in that class."
Philip Brown is the director of vocal music at Liberty High School. Additionally he looks forward to collaborations and projects with the Allegro Youth Choirs of Kansas City. He graduated summa cum laude from Bethany College (KS), majoring in K-12 music education and vocal performance. He later received his M.M. degree in music education from Northern Arizona University.
Before returning back to Missouri, Philip started his school teaching in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado (Arvada West High School). Then in Minnesota, he taught at 4 different high schools in the twin cities area over the course of twenty years. Additionally, he spent 15 years conducting the high school choirs with the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs organization.
Philip was honored as the 2011 ACDA-MN Young Director of the Year. He was selected as the Director of Note for Minnesota by Choral Director Magazine in 2012. In 2013 he received the VocalEssence/ACDA-MN Creative Programming Award for his repertoire philosophy and programming. Philip was named the Bethany College (KS) Gold Award recipient in 2015 and was the Winner of the Youth Choir Conducting Division for The American Prize 2016, and again in 2020. He was the featured community member in the Eden Prairie Lifestyle Magazine for 2020. He conducted the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs - Treble Singers at the 2019 National ACDA Conference in his hometown of Kansas City, and the Cantanti Singers at the 2025 National ACDA Conference in Dallas.
His choral groups have been selected for performances at state, regional, and national conferences for ACDA, NAfME, and Chorus America. Choirs under his conducting have collaborated with the Minnesota Oratorio Society, Minnesota Choral Artists - The Singers, Great Northern Union, VocalEssence, Northern Lights Chorale, Cantus, National Lutheran Choir, Singers in Accord, and multiple university choirs. His choirs have consistently received superior ratings, best in class awards, and grand sweepstakes awards at various music festivals and competitions.
Philip has given presentations and clinics on: rehearsal techniques that energize and engage singers, small ensemble singing strengthening the full ensemble, incorporating technology in the music rehearsal, student-driven assessments, and commissioning new choral works. He is an active clinician and guest conductor, is professionally affiliated with ACDA and NAfME, and is the High School Repertoire & Resource chair for ACDA.
To get in touch with Philip, you can find him on Facebook (@philip.m.brown.79) or email him at philip.m.brown.79@gmail.com. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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“I was one of those people that had some biases against pop music. Being in show choirs and seeing the ways that the songs were transformed and arranged really opened my eyes to different styles of music and changed my perspective. I no longer view popular music as being all that different from classical music or film scores. There's just something about arranging: taking all these pieces of a song and figuring out how to put them together. It's almost like doing a puzzle. It unlocks some of the same parts of my brain.”
Garrett Breeze is a Nashville-based composer best known for his catalog of more than 1,500 choral arrangements of popular music, including more than 1,000 written for competitive show choirs. For the past 15 years, Garrett has been actively involved in the show choir community as an arranger, show designer, clinician, and adjudicator, working with hundreds of choirs across the country. His music is published by Breeze Tunes and Shawnee Press and regularly appears on J.W. Pepper’s Editor’s Choice and other recommended lists.
As a skilled freelance orchestrator and music preparer, Garrett has contributed to a wide range of media projects, including 12 large-format films, Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir, and popular video games like World of Warcraft and Overwatch. He has also worked with renowned artists such as Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jordan Smith, Kristin Chenoweth, Michael W. Smith, Santino Fontana, Sutton Foster, and Tauren Wells. His original production music has been featured globally in commercials on all major television networks and in well-known TV shows such as Access Hollywood, Judge Judy, and Lego Masters.
Garrett holds a Bachelor’s degree in Media Music from Brigham Young University and a Master’s degree in Commercial Composition and Arranging from Belmont University. He is host of the Selling Sheet Music Podcast and currently serves as ACDA’s Contemporary/Commercial Co-Chair representing Show Choirs.
To get in touch with Garrett, you can email him at garrett@breezetunes.com or visit his website, breezetunes.com.
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“The Spanish language is not treated with the attention and nuance that we often do for many of the languages used for singing auditions. There’s this myth that Americans can't make certain sounds, but in other rehearsals, we work really hard at intense French and German sounds. A lot of composers who aren't familiar with the language set the text in ways that don't make sense and change the meaning. I'd like to keep working at repairing the positionality of Spanish in academic places.”
Dr. Ryan R. Fellman is an American conductor based out of the greater Atlanta area. At Kennesaw State University he conducts the Chamber Singers, University Chorale, Men's Ensemble, and Community and Alumni Chorus. He also teaches courses in conducting and choral literature.
A recent graduate from Michigan State University, Fellman studied under Drs. David Rayl, Sandra Snow, Jonathan Reed, and Derrick Fox. There he served as assistant conductor to several prominent university ensembles including the University Chorale, Choral Union, Singing Spartans, and the Opera Theatre program. Prior to his time at Michigan State, Fellman earned a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Ithaca College, studying under Dr. Janet Galván.
From 2013-2019, he served as Director of Choirs at Oñate High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico, significantly expanding the program's enrollment and fostering collaborations with notable choral artists and composers.
Fellman has guest conducted choirs and orchestras across the United States in California, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. He was selected as a conducting fellow for the Chorus America Choral-Orchestral Conducting Academy in 2023 and 2025.
Fellman holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where he sang in The Concordia Choir under the direction of Dr. René Clausen.
Outside of his career, Fellman enjoys traveling and spending time with his beautiful Heeler-Lab companion, Shadow.
To get in touch with Ryan, you can find him on Facebook (@rrfellman) or Instagram (@ryanrfellman)
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“I ask them to sing with maximum efficiency, accessing their singer’s formant, and from there, we’ll ask for specific sounds. Sometimes conductors get stuck asking them to blend, to listen. When we do that, it’s like giving them an 8-pack of Crayola and asking them to color. Instead, we start the rehearsal with a 64-pack and then throughout the rehearsal we might pick out the light blue #2 to color that section of the music. They’re able to access the full breadth of their vocal powers in the rehearsal.”
Francis Cathlina, D.M.A. (he/him) is a Vietnamese-American conductor and educator, renowned for his innovative approach to choral music. His concerts invite audiences into a world where choral artistry becomes a powerful storytelling medium.
Dr. Cathlina is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Memphis, where he received the 2025 Dean’s Award for Creative Achievement. He oversees the Choral Area, leads the MM/DMA Choral Conducting program, and conducts the University Singers.
A two-time GRAMMY-nominated educator, Dr. Cathlina draws deeply from his Eastern heritage. His work reflects a commitment to excellence and collaboration. In 2025, he will serve on the conducting faculty for Brazil’s FIMUS Festival and work in the Philippines as part of ACDA’s International Conductors Exchange Program. Early recognition came from the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA), which named him a “Young Director of Distinction.”
Cathlina’s teaching philosophy centers on developing masterful technicians, expressive communicators, and thoughtful citizens. Under his direction, the UofM University Singers have been invited to perform for national conferences. Recent engagements involve All-State choirs in Mississippi and Kentucky, the International Mu Phi Convention Chorus, and a Carnegie Hall debut.
Dr. Cathlina's research focuses on choral tone and conducting gesture. He has presented over 69 sessions worldwide. He is published in international journals. In 2025, he served as the Headliner for the Ohio and Alabama choral conferences. In 2023, he co-led Conducting Masterclasses in Greece with the University of Macedonia and Ionian University.
Dr. Cathlina earned a DMA in conducting with a vocal pedagogy cognate from the University of North Texas, an MM from Michigan State University, and a BME from Baylor University. Before his doctorate, he taught in Texas public schools. Beyond the podium, Dr. Cathlina is an avid pickleball player. He, his husband Kyle, and their dog Coco call Memphis, Tennessee, their home.
To get in touch with Francis, you can find him on Instagram (@francis.cathlina) or Facebook (@franciscathlina), on his website (franciscathlina.com), or via email: franciscathlina@gmail.com.
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"In my third year of teaching, I started to have vocal problems. I was taking voice lessons. I was singing professionally. It was feeling great. Suddenly my voice was gone, and I couldn't get it back. I took a leave of absence to get some speech language therapy. That's why I'm so passionate about using our voices in the choral ensemble in an effective way and having us as conductors find how to use that voice so that they don't need to manipulate things.
Dr. Jennaya Robison is the Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir (Minneapolis, MN) and an in-demand conductor, educator, and soprano. Known for her dynamic leadership and commitment to intergenerational and globally engaged choral artistry, she has conducted choirs, workshops, and festivals across the United States, Europe, and southern Africa. She is a frequent guest conductor for All-State and honor choirs and is highly sought after for her work in worship, education, and community-based choral initiatives.
From 2020 to 2023, Robison served as the Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Associate Professor and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory. Prior to that, she was Associate Professor of Choral Music at Luther College. She holds a Master of Music in conducting and voice from the University of New Mexico and a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Arizona.
Robison is deeply committed to voice pedagogy within the choral ensemble, cultivating expressive singing and honoring the unique vocal potential of each singer. She is also an active composer and arranger, editing the National Lutheran Choir Series with MorningStar Music and the Jennaya Robison Series with Pavane Publishing. She serves as national chair for Music in Worship for the American Choral Directors Association.
To get in touch with Jennaya, you can visit the National Lutheran Choir website, nlca.com, or visit their YouTube channel (@NLChoir). You can also find Jennaya on Facebook (@jennaya.robison) or Instagram (@jennayarobison).
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“I love the way that contemporary a cappella engages singers who might not necessarily see themselves as ‘choral singers’ to be able to sing together and maybe discover a love of more traditional choral music. For me, it’s all about engaging more singers. Group singing is such a beautiful community, and I’ve seen the ways it can really change lives, create beautiful spaces for self-expression, and do some good for the world in a time where we really need it."
Rob Dietz is a multi award-winning singer and vocal percussionist who has been arranging, composing, teaching, and performing contemporary a cappella music for over twenty years. Based in Los Angeles, Rob is best known for his work as an arranger and group coach on NBC’s The Sing-Off. His arrangements have been performed by top-tier vocal artists, including Grammy-winning groups Pentatonix and The Swingles, as well as VoicePlay, Kings Return, and many more.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in music with an outside field in business from Ithaca College in 2010. While at Ithaca, Rob had the honor of directing the all male-identified group, Ithacappella, with whom he twice advanced to the finals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.
As a performer, Rob is an internationally recognized vocal percussionist, with credits including Glee (FOX) and The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Rob has a deep passion for a cappella education, and is a founding co-director (along with Ben Bram and Avi Kaplan) of A Cappella Academy. In 2016, he launched Legacy, a youth a cappella group in Los Angeles. In 2023, he transitioned Legacy into Academy Choir: Los Angeles, a larger ensemble blending contemporary a cappella with modern choral music.
In addition to directing his own groups, Rob is a sought-after clinician and presenter, having conducted honor ensembles at regional and state festivals. He is also the author of A Cappella 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Contemporary A Cappella Singing.
Alongside his work in contemporary a cappella, Rob is also an accomplished choral composer, with works published by Hal Leonard, Alfred, GIA Publications, and Heritage. Rob currently serves as the national repertoire and resources co-chair for Contemporary/Commercial music for the American Choral Directors Association
To get in touch with Rob, you can visit robdietzmusic.com or find him on Instagram (@rdietz55) or Facebook (@rdietz2).
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“We were all asking ourselves, ‘what can we do to counter this, what’s happening in the world? How can I help my singers understand and navigate what is happening in our country right now?’ I made this huge shift in my thinking about what choral music should be and why we should be doing it. It's not just ‘what are you singing and is it gorgeous?’ but ‘how are you making a difference? How are you impacting the world?’”
Dr. Joy Hirokawa is the Artistic/Executive Director of the Mosaic Youth Chorus, established in 2023 to provide an opportunity for diverse youth to create community, build empathy, and affect positive social change through artistic and expressive choral singing. She is a passionate advocate for giving youth voice through the choral medium and is nationally recognized as a leader in youth choral music. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University, and both a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor’s degree with honors in Music Education from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Hirokawa has taught at all levels from K – Post Grad and frequently appears as a clinician and guest conductor. She is a published author and arranger of choral music. She was the ACDA National Repertoire and Resources Chair for Children & Community Youth Choirs from 2019 – 2025. Mosaic Youth Chorus was awarded the Chorus America 2025 Education and Community Engagement Award.
To get in touch with Joy, you can visit the Mosaic Youth Chorus website or Facebook page (@mosaicyouth) or email her at joy@mosaicyouthchorus.org.
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“My mantra for my teaching is: I want to create good humans while also creating good musicians. I tell every ensemble that on the first day of school. What they care about is 'Does Mr. Brown see me? Does he value me? Does he care for me?' Then they'll start singing. I care more about the human heart than I care about the perfection of the music. Yes, I care about the music, but if my students aren't in the right mental headspace, then the music won't come.”
Jeremy Brown is serving his third year at McKinney Boyd as the associate director of choirs. He conducts Lyric and Meistersingers as well as instructs the AP Music Theory course. Before Boyd, he was the associate director of choirs at Haltom High School in Birdville Independent School District. Choirs under the direction of Jeremy Brown have received consistent superior and excellent ratings at UIL Choir Evaluations. He is a product of great choral music, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Texas Tech School of Music.
Mr. Brown is passionate about choral music education and conducting. He has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the DFW Metroplex. In 2020 he served as a student conductor for the 2020 Summer TCDA Convention Choral Conducting Workshop. Also, he served as a conducting fellow for the Atlanta Summer Choral Conducting Institute in Summer 2022. Along with conducting, Mr. Brown performs in three choral ensembles in the DFW area- Brothers in Song, Orpheus Chamber Singers and New American Voices.
In 2025, Mr. Brown published an article within the TMEA Southwestern Musician Magazine titled Emotional Intelligence in Tenor Bass Choirs. Within this article, he provided insight into the tenor-bass choral experience. Mr. Brown is a proud member of TMEA, ACDA and Phi Mu Alpha. Mr. Brown currently resides in Dallas with his wife Nikki.
To get in touch with Jeremy, you can find him on Facebook (@jeremy.brown.797432) or Instagram (@jbrown_legend) or search for McKinney Boyd Choir on Facebook or Instagram (@BoydChoirs).
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“Start with the way that you structure your rehearsal, your classroom, your feedback. In terms of feedback, we talk about not giving people more than three pieces of information to work on. Working memory is affected by ADHD in particular. ‘Here's what you're doing well, here's what you can improve on, here's how you can improve it.’ That structure helps with their ability to anticipate what you're going to say and quickly implement that into their own music making.”
Dr. Peter Haley serves as Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Ohio University, where he conducts the Ohio University Singers and Singing Men of Ohio and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting, choral literature, and music education. He previously spent seven years as a high school choir director in North Carolina where his students were consistently chosen for honor choirs on the local, state, and regional level, while being immersed in a program that stressed collaborative music-making and artistic excellence.
Dr. Haley’s research interests include pedagogy for neurodivergent learners in the choral rehearsal, and Arvo Pärt’s sacred choral music. He has been invited to present at state and regional ACDA and MEA conferences and served as a clinician or adjudicator in Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina. He has served as a pastoral musician for Baptist, Presbyterian, Reformed Jewish, and United Methodist congregations and held leadership roles on the Executive Board of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians and the Southern Region Conference of the American Choral Directors Association.
Dr. Haley holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of South Carolina, as well as a B.A. in Music from Wingate University and an M.M. in Church Music from Samford University. He has the honor of being the second-best teacher in his house, behind his wife, Ashley, and is a proud parent to Patrick and Libby Kay.
To get in touch with Peter, you can e-mail him at pahaley@ohio.edu or find him on Instagram: (@peterallenhaley).
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“We’re often put in positions that make us uncomfortable with the inner struggle of how to keep our job and have our program recognized enough to get support versus how to carry out our true mission with students. If I’m trying to continue to fall in love with the choral art, I think the way to do that is looking for literature that will balance the soul-searching and academic needs of the students and the entertaining needs of the audiences. Looking for literature for all of those reasons often reignites my own curiosity and interest.”
Dr. Kristina Ploeger-Hekmatpanah is a Full Professor of Music serving as Director of Choral Activities and Undergraduate Music Education at Eastern Washington University. She has earned degrees from Edmonds Community College, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, and the University of Kentucky. She was the Artistic Director of the Spokane Area Youth Choirs, and the Director of Spokane Symphony’s Chorale & Chamber Choir. Previously in Spokane, Kristina taught Choral Methods at Gonzaga University, observed student teachers for Whitworth College, and taught Middle School Choir at St. George’s School and High School Choir at West Valley High School in the Spokane Valley. Before moving to the Spokane area, she taught at Everett HS, Ephrata HS, and AC Davis HS. Kristina has served on the WA ACDA Board as an R&S chair in world music, children’s chorus, university, and jazz, and is the current President-Elect of WA ACDA. She has presented numerous times for state and all-northwest MENC/WMEA conventions and twelve WA-ACDA Summer Institutes. Directing Honor Groups and All-State Choirs in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Kentucky, from Elementary through High School levels; as well as presenting at festivals and conferences in WA, MA, OR, ID, FL, and KY has given her the opportunity to work with a wonderful array of choristers and directors. The Spokane Arts Commission of the City of Spokane has awarded Kristina the “Arts in Education Award,” and the “Arts Organization Award” for her work with the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus. Kristina also received Spokane’s “YWCA Woman of Achievement in Arts and Culture Award.”
To get in touch with Kristina, you can e-mail her at kploeger@ewu.edu.
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Thank you for listening to our show this season!!
Here are the favorite choral pieces from our guests in the fifth season:Christmas Oratorio, Johann Sebastian Bach
Mass in B Minor, Johann Sebastian Bach (x2)
Trois Chansons Bretonnes, Henk Badings
The Sweetheart of the Sun, Eric William Barnum
Ein Deutsches Requiem, Johannes Brahms
The Music Makers, Edward Elgar
The Ground, Ola Gjeilo
Kalinda, Sydney Guillaume
Measure Me, Sky, Elaine Hagenberg
Messiah, George Frideric Handel
Las Amarillas, Stephen Hatfield
Gloucester Service, Herbert Howells
Where the Light Begins, Susan LaBarr
O Magnum Mysterium, Morten Lauridsen
Symphony No. 2 (The Resurrection), Gustav Mahler
Elijah, Felix Mendelssohn
Vespers of 1610 , Claudio Monteverdi
Exaudi, Jocelyn Morlock
Ave Verum Corpus, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Lacrimosa (from Requiem), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mori quasi il mio core, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
The Call, Roxana Panufnik
I Was Glad, Hubert Hastings Parry
Bogoroditse Devo (from All-Night Vigil), Sergei Rachmaninoff
To the Hands, Caroline Shaw
God So Loved the World (from The Crucifixion), John Stainer
If Ye Love Me, Thomas Tallis
Dona Nobis Pacem, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Va Pensiero (from Nabucco), Giuseppe Verdi
Here are the composers that our guests suggested you check out:Dominick Argento
Johann Sebastian Bach
Benjamin Britten
Saunder Choi
Jennifer Lucy Cook
Rob Dietz
Reena Esmail (our guest on Episode 50)
Rachel Fogerty
Joshua Hines
Kevin Johnson
Susan LaBarr
Andrew Lippa
Ryan Main
Ily Matthew Maniano
Francis Poulenc
Zanaida Robles (x2)
R. Murray Schafer
Robert Schumann
Caroline Shaw
Barbara Strozzi
Tracy Wong (our guest on Episode 58)
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“More competitions are being organized, and it has become a way for these conductors and choirs to work on their skills. By joining these competitions, the rate of their progress accelerated. People join choirs for different reasons. For most of us, we started only because we loved singing, because we found a place where we can share our voice with friends with the same interest. This desire to join competitions would just be a product of years of singing with a choir.”
Mark Anthony Carpio is recognized as one of the most respected figures in choral music today. He is a faculty member of the Conducting and Choral Ensemble Department of the University of the Philippines College of Music, where he earned his Master’s degree in Choral Conducting and his Bachelor’s degree in Piano.
In 2001, Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion, National Artist for Music, chose Mark to succeed her as choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, also known as the “Madz.” Since then, he has continuously led the already much-awarded choir to even greater heights, including placing first in several prestigious choral competitions in Europe. Under his leadership, the group has been invited as guest choir in several international choral conferences in the USA and South America, among others.
In 2007, under the baton of Mark, the Philippine Madrigal Singers won, for the second time, the grand prize in the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in Arezzo, Italy. This victory makes them the first of the only four choirs in the world to win the grand prize twice.
In 2009, UNESCO designated the group as a UNESCO Artist for Peace. This title is given to celebrity advocates charged with the mission of embodying and raising awareness of the UNESCO ideals, which include peace, security, fundamental human rights, and freedom.
In the Philippines, he regularly collaborates with the Philippine Choral Directors Association, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, for music and choral education programs. He heads the Andrea O. Veneracion Sing Philippines Foundation, which spearheads choral music development initiatives including the Sing Philippines Youth Choir, whose singers come from all over the country.
Mark has adjudicated in different choral festivals and competitions and presented around the world, including Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Italy, Latvia and the US. Locally, he has been the chairman of the board of jurors of the biennial Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival and the 1st Asia Choral Grand Prix (2019).
He also directs the Consortium of Voices, a choral society of young choristers, consisting of the Kilyawan Boys Choir, Kilyawan Male Choir and the Voces Auroræ Girls Choir.
To get in touch with Mark, you can find him on Facebook (@markanthonycarpio) or visit the Philippine Madrigal Singers website.
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“We had 10 sopranos, 4 altos, 2 tenors, and 1 bass, and they were all volunteers. We were spending hours trying to learn this music that we didn’t have the numbers for, so I ended up writing almost 100 church arrangements, and I made the voice leading very stepwise. Being that close to the music made me a better writer because I’m not just writing for ensembles I don’t hear regularly. I’m there in the rehearsal process, and I know what’s hard and what might be easier to grab onto.”
MaryAnne Muglia (she/her) is a composer, vocalist, and educator based in Arizona. She arranges and writes contemporary choral music, vocal jazz, and indie-influenced original songs. Her music has been performed by ensembles across the country, including Lyyra, Chanticleer, The King’s Return, Säje Voices, and more. Recent commissions include works for community choirs, professional vocal groups, and student ensembles of all levels.
MaryAnne’s arrangements and compositions have been published by Alfred Music, Graphite Publishing, Anchor Music, Hal Leonard, and Shawnee Press, and she has self-published over 25,000 copies of her work to date. She is the founder of Red Letter Daze, a professional vocal group with over 200,000 followers online and multiple Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) recognitions. With Red Letter Daze, she has headlined major events including the NAU Jazz Madrigal Festival and the BOSS Festival (Boston Sings), sharing her original work and signature vocal arrangements with audiences nationwide.
Her viral videos—including harmony breakdowns and arrangements of “The Parting Glass,” “The Sound of Silence,” “Carol of the Bells,” —have garnered millions of views across platforms. She also directs the Vocal Jazz and A Cappella programs at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and teaches at A Cappella Academy, a premier summer intensive for young vocalists founded by Avi Kaplan, Ben Bram, and Rob Dietz.
To get in touch with MaryAnne, you can visit her website (maryannemuglia.com) or find her on Instagram (@maryanne.muglia).
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“We ended up forming a new string orchestra at the high school, and I led every rehearsal and conducted every concert. I remember the very first day. I looked at my teacher and said, ‘how do you start them? Do I breathe?’ I tried something, and it didn’t work. Then I did the sniff, and everyone came in. Now I teach conducting, and what I want to give the students is a sandbox where they can make mistakes and figure out what works for them.”
Conductor Albert Pinsonneault is the Associate Director of Choral Studies at the University of Wisconsin, where he teaches choir, conducting, and the graduate choral literature seminar. He is also founder and artistic director of the Madison Choral Project, a 24-voice professional chamber choir based in Madison, Wisconsin. A fierce advocate for new music, he has commissioned and premiered dozens of new works for choir. He received second place in the American Prize for Professional Choirs in 2020, performed at Midwestern ACDA Regional conferences (2018, 2020), presented at ACDA National in 2017, and headlined the Iowa Choral Directors Association state conference in 2024. His booklet Choral Intonation is published through Graphite and in active use at over 150 high schools, universities, churches, and community choruses.
Dr. Pinsonneault was Director of Choral Activities at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota where he oversaw a large undergraduate choral program involving 200 student musicians, a nationally televised Christmas program, and a history of international travel. From 2015-2019 he was Associate Director of Choral Organizations at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he helped administer a distinguished doctoral program in choral conducting, led two choirs, taught the graduate choral literature sequence, and served on dissertation committees.
A native of Minnesota, Dr. Pinsonneault attended St. Olaf College (BM Piano Performance) and the University of Minnesota (MM Choral Conducting) before completing his studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (DMA Choral Conducting, minor in Music Theory).
To get in touch with Bert, you can e-mail him at bert.pinsonneault@wisc.edu.
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“Everything changed for the gay choral movement because they had twins: music and mission. They weren’t just there for the music, and they weren’t just there for the mission. I’ve been feeding my twins every day, and I feed them equally. Audiences that are interested in just music for music making are dying out. There are a lot more reasons to get them in: many concerts can reach into the community and be of service.”
Tim Seelig is a conductor, speaker, author and educator. He is the Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and Conductor Emeritus of the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, Texas. He serves as founding conductor of the Portland Sage Singers.
Dr. Seelig holds four degrees, including a Diploma from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. He has eight books and DVDs on choral technique published by Hal Leonard Music, several of which are best-sellers. His memoir, Tale of Two Tims, was published in 2020. He made his operatic debut in St. Gallen, Switzerland and solo debut at Carnegie Hall. He has been conducting at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for 30 years, including an upcoming appearance at Lincoln Center in November 2025.
He has conducted over 60 recordings which have been on Billboard Top Ten and iTunes Top Ten classical charts. His choruses have been the topic of three documentaries. The first PBS documentary was awarded the national Emmy for best documentary. The most recent had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, won the Audience Favorite and is streaming on Paramount +.
He has commissioned major choral works for 35 years. Some of these include the first AIDS Requiem, When We No Longer Touch; Sing for the Cure for the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation featuring Dr. Maya Angelou; “Testimony,” by Stephen Schwartz and the 2022 “Songs of the Phoenix” by Andrew Lippa, Stephen Schwartz and Stephen Sondheim.
Aside from guest-conducting, he is often seen trading in his podium for the speaking stage. He won the Moth Grand Slam and his recent TEDx Talk has passed 100K views.
Fun facts: he conducted the Guinness Book of World Records Longest Choral Concert and carried the Olympic torch as a community Hero. He has not run since.
He is the proud grandfather of the amazing Clara Skye, Eden Mae, Cora Rose, and Ivy Hope.
To get in touch with Tim, you can find him on Facebook (@tim.seelig) or email him at tgseelig@gmail.com.
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"I start every morning at the junior high, and we co-teach together. It's great for alignment in the program, for familiarity with the students and getting to know them and hopefully continuing in choir. Our students see that we collaborate. I like that they can see that because it shows them how to go about relationships. People need be modeled how to treat each other and work together and talk to each other.” -Daniel Gutierrez
"It was super rewarding to be so invested in those pieces, and that's something that our middle schoolers are getting with conference performances. They're getting a set of songs for an extended period of time. We try to get our students to really invest so it can have an impact on them and in turn have an impact on the audience. That journey is just something that the kids don't forget, and that's why I keep submitting for conferences." - Blake Richter
Daniel Gutierrez, the head choir director at Nixa High School, is an acclaimed conductor, clinician, and speaker nationwide. He has earned several prestigious awards, including Teacher of the Year for Springfield Public Schools, a finalist for the state award, the Springfield Rotary Award for Community Service, and honors from the Springfield Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Daniel has received the Missouri Choral Directors Association Podium Award. His choirs are renowned, frequently winning at music festivals and performing at notable conferences, including regional and national ACDA events and the National Conference for MS/JH Choral Music.
Blake Richter is a middle school choir director in his hometown of Nixa, Missouri. Blake directs over 250 seventh and eighth grade students in his various ensembles at Nixa Junior High. Blake’s choirs have been selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference multiple times. In 2017, Blake was named one of Missouri’s 32 Regional Teachers of the Year, in 2019, Blake was awarded the Prelude Award from the Missouri Choral Directors Association for demonstrating exemplary work as a young choral professional, and in 2020, Blake was named a Semifinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. In his spare time, Blake runs his Blake Richter Productions business which specializes in video production, audio engineering, photography, and music composition.
To get in touch with the Choir Guys, you can find them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. You can find Danny on Instagram and find Blake on X, TikTok, and Instagram (@drrichternixa).
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“I think during my formative years, shying away from my true self – my authentic self – that's definitely shaped how I approach being in front of choirs, using choir as a platform to really encourage kids to be themselves. I think there's a vulnerability to singing where it really is an avenue to accessing the truest parts of ourselves, and so that's kind of my life mission now that I get to be in front of choirs.”
Chris Maunu is a conductor, educator, and composer dedicated to inspiring young singers and shaping the future of choral music. Based in Portland, Oregon, he serves as Artistic Director of the acclaimed Pacific Youth Choir, Affiliate Faculty at Portland State University, and Artistic Director of the professional ensemble Choro in Schola. Previously, he spent 17 years as the Director of Choral Activities at Arvada West High School in Colorado and 7 years as Co-Artistic Director of the professional Anima Chamber Ensemble.
A four-time GRAMMY® Music Educator of the Year Finalist and two-time CMA® Foundation National Music Teacher of Excellence honoree, Chris is a passionate advocate for music education. Choirs under his direction have received national and international acclaim, performing at over a dozen major conferences, including National and Regional ACDA events. His ensembles have earned prestigious honors such as the American Prize in Choral Performance and the Gold Diploma at the Rimini International Choral Competition.
In high demand as a guest conductor and clinician, Chris recently conducted the 2025 National 11-12 HS Honor Choir at the National ACDA Conference in Dallas, TX to great acclaim. As a composer, his award-winning works have been performed worldwide. He also serves as editor of the Pacific Youth Choir Choral Series with Pavane Publishing. An active member of NAfME and ACDA, Chris is the NWACDA Chair for Community Youth Choirs and frequently presents at both the regional and national levels. His writings appear in the Choral Journal, and he is a contributing author to A Choral Conductor’s Companion.
Chris holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Bachelor of Music Education from Northern State University. Most importantly, Mr. Maunu shares his life with his beautiful wife Aleisha, and their children Bodhi and Astraea.
To get in touch with Chris, you can find him on Facebook (@chris.maunu) or Instagram (@chrismaunu) or visit his website, chrismaunu.com.
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“You never know what anybody's potential is. I think about that now as a teacher, that we are expecting 17-, 18-year-olds to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. It’s so early in your life to make those decisions, and so much can change during those really formative years. I want to help them to be the best version of themselves in the field and achieve the goals that they would like to do.”
Jennifer Sengin is the Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Professor of Choral Music and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory (UMKC) where she leads the graduate choral conducting program and conducts the flagship ensemble, Conservatory Singers, and the Choral Union. In addition to ensembles, Dr. Sengin teaches graduate choral conducting and choral literature. In the summer of 2024, Dr. Sengin received the inaugural Newcomer Award from the Missouri Choral Directors Association.
Prior to coming to UMKC, Dr. Sengin most recently served as the Associate Director of Choral Activities at Georgia State University. Under her direction, the GSU Treble Choir won first place in The American Prize and Dr. Sengin received 2nd place in conducting. The Treble Choir has been invited to perform at the National Collegiate Choral Organization Conference and twice at the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference. While at GSU, Dr. Sengin received two university-wide awards – the 2022-23 Non-Tenure Track Faculty Achievement Award and the 2021-22 GSU Instructional Effectiveness Award.
An active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, Dr. Sengin has conducted honor choirs throughout the country. Future engagements include guest conducting the Duruflé Requiem at Carnegie Hall with National Concerts.
She recently participated as a Conducting Fellow with the American Choral Directors Association International Conductor Exchange Program to Germany where she led workshops in Hannover and Berlin. Dr. Sengin has presented sessions and served as a panelist at international, national, regional, and state conferences. In 2024, Dr. Sengin traveled to Helsinki, Finland to co-present at the International Society for Music Education World Conference. She currently serves on the National Board of the National Collegiate Choral Organization and as the Repertoire and Resource Chair for Youth and Student Activities for the ACDA Southwestern Region. She also sings in the award-winning professional ensemble, mirabai.
Dr. Sengin holds degrees from The College of New Jersey (BM Music Education), Ithaca College (MM Choral Conducting), and Michigan State University (DMA Choral Conducting).
To get in touch with Jennifer, you can email her at jsengin@umkc.edu.
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“Sometimes my students ask me if I worry about the future of choral music with advanced technology, AI, but I really am not concerned at all. The way that I see it, the act of making music with each other, the need to connect with each other – I don't see that going away anytime soon. To connect through honest, authentic communication that is not a digital platform – people want that. I'm excited for the future of choral music.”
Dr. Michael Murphy is the director of choral activities and a professor in Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Music, where he teaches choral conducting, ensembles, repertoire and methods courses, and oversees the graduate conducting program.
Before joining the School of Music faculty in 2017, Murphy was the director of choral activities and associate professor at the University of Idaho for nine years. During this time, he was founder and artistic director of the Idaho Bach Festival and was recognized with the UI Faculty Award for outstanding scholarship, teaching and engagement.
He is an active clinician, adjudicator and author, and research interests include training and developing the holistic conductor, rehearsal techniques, new choral compositions and investing and creating impactful connections in our global community through music.
Murphy's international conducting and teaching experiences include Austria, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, Germany, Norway, Panama and Sweden. The Confucius Institute awarded Murphy with the "Understanding China Fellowship" and asked him to serve as visiting scholar at Sun Yat-sen University, South China University of Technology and Guangzhou University of Foreign Studies.
Murphy is the coauthor and editor of "Conducting Primer in Practice," has been published several times in "Choral Journal" and contributed to volume four of "Teaching Music Through Performance in Choir."
As a passionate champion of music for all, Murphy has experience teaching all ages and levels and several auditioned and non auditioned collegiate, community, school and church choirs. His choirs have been invited to perform for several state and regional American Choral Directors Association and The National Association for Music Education conferences. He also has held several international, national and state leadership positions in International Choral Conductors Federation, ACDA, NAfME, and National Collegiate Choral Organization.
Murphy received his degrees in conducting and choral music education from Florida State University and East Carolina University.
To get in touch with Michael, you can email him at murphymt2@sfasu.edu or find him on Facebook or Instagram.
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“I think the hardest thing in the world is to write easy music that still is eloquent. A piece relies on strength of idea and not strength of technique or difficulty. That underlying idea is so rich with potential and can be developed in so many beautiful ways within a 3-minute work or a 70-minute work. The pieces I'm the most proud of are the pieces where I've gotten down to the simplest necessary means to say something rich and full and profound.”
Dan Forrest (b. 1978) has been described as having “an undoubted gift for writing beautiful music….that is truly magical” (NY Concert Review), with works hailed as “magnificent, very cleverly constructed sound sculpture” (Classical Voice), and “superb writing…full of spine-tingling moments” (Salt Lake Tribune). His music has sold millions of copies, has received numerous awards and distinctions, and has become well established in the repertoire of choirs around the world via festivals, recordings, radio/TV broadcasts, and premieres in prominent international venues.
Dan’s work ranges from small choral works to instrumental solo works, wind ensemble works, and extended multi-movement works for chorus and orchestra. His Requiem for the Living (2013) and Jubilate Deo (2016) have become standard choral/orchestral repertoire for ensembles around the world, with LUX (2018), the breath of life (2020), and his new CREATION oratorio (2023) also receiving critical acclaim.
Dan holds a doctorate in composition and a master’s degree in piano performance, and served for several years as a professor and department head (music theory and composition) in higher education. He currently serves as Editor at Beckenhorst Press, Chair of the American Choral Director’s Association Composition Initiatives Committee, adjunct Faculty at Furman University, and Artist-In-Residence at Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church (Greenville, SC). Details about Dan and his work can be found at www.danforrest.com.
To get in touch with Dan, you can visit his website or find him on Facebook (@danforrestcomposer) or Instagram (@danforrestmusic).
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“I want students to function in a studio recording session and a live performance, which are very, very different worlds. I want them to be able to do not just jazz, not just classical, not just gospel, but everything so that they can be hired to sing backgrounds for Beyoncé one day and the next day be singing with Andrea Bocelli on tour. I try to give them the most well-rounded experience I can.”
A native of Holguín, Cuba, Cindy Ellis immigrated to the United States in 2005. She earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Jazz Voice from Florida International University and her Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri. Mrs. Ellis is a full time choral director at Miami Arts Studio, a 6th-12th grade public performing arts magnet school in Miami, FL. Her middle school and high school ensembles have been featured at numerous venues throughout the country. These include Carnegie Hall (2018 and 2024), and the Florida, Southern, and National Conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. In 2022, Mrs. Ellis’ students performed in Los Angeles for the Summit of the Americas, a meeting hosted by President Joe Biden that brought together 40 Presidents and leaders from the Americas and Caribbean. Additionally, in the last 7 years, the students have recorded and performed background vocals for Gloria and Emilio Estefan and several music award shows including the AMAs, Latin American Music Awards and the Latin GRAMMY Awards. In 2024 Mrs. Ellis conducted her students at the Miami show of Jacob Collier’s DJESSE Volume 4 World Tour.
Beyond her school responsibilities, she frequently performs, conducts honor choirs and teaches masterclasses for music directors and students from elementary to college throughout North America. As a jazz vocal soloist and alto with the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers, she collaborated with Jacob Collier for performances at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and recording projects including a performance alongside Coldplay for NBC’s Saturday Night Live and the 2024 BBC Proms Music Festival in London, UK.
In 2020, Mrs. Ellis was published by GIA Publications as a contributing author on “Teaching with Heart,” and in 2022, she served as instructional design editor and contributing author of “Teaching Beyond the Music,” the second edition in the series. Ellis is Miami Arts Studio’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, a 2025 Grammy Music Educator Semi-Finalist, and currently serves as the World Musics & Cultures Coordinator for the American Choral Directors Association Southern Region.
To get in touch with Cindy, you can find her on Instagram (@cindycellis) or Facebook (@ccellis) or email her at cindycellis@icloud.com. You can follow MAS Vocal on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or Spotify (@masvocal) or on YouTube (@masvocal2765).
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“Students will often refer to voice lessons, to choir rehearsal, as therapy. I felt that there was something to that. I wanted to make the connection between individual therapy and voice lessons and group therapy and the choral rehearsal. What is it about the choral organism that becomes a space that can be therapeutic? I found a lot of commonalities in group and individual counseling and what we do.”
Dr. Sarah J. Graham was just promoted to Professor of Music at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, where she teaches courses in music, humanities, ethics, and conducts the Concert Choir. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Whitworth University, a Master of Arts in Classroom Teaching and English from Pacific Lutheran University, and both a Masters and Doctorate in Music Conducting from Michigan State University. She is currently finishing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Capella University in Minneapolis. Dr. Graham has been teaching for over thirty years, twenty of which have been in higher education. Much of her current work has to do with mental health and teaching pedagogy. She recently spent her sabbatical working on an internship in counseling and compiling a 15-week guide for incorporating “Mental Health Moments” into the classroom. At LC State, Graham is a co-founder of the Black History Experience, and a member of the President’s Campus and Community Commission. She lives in Lewiston with her daughter and their Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Henry.
To get in touch with Sarah, you can find her on Facebook (@drsjg) or Instagram (@drbooncha) or email her at sjgraham@lcsc.edu .
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“One of the things we know about the brain is that information that is acquired through problem solving is more likely to be retained. I might start rehearsal by saying 'take out the piece in D major,' 'let's start in the climactic moment of the Brahms,' 'take out the piece where fire is used as a metaphor for passion.' You start with a problem, so you're already engaging neurons. This works at any age."
Sharon J. Paul holds the Robert M. Trotter Chair of Music at the University of Oregon, where she currently serves as Department Head of Music Performance and Director of Choral Activities. Her teaching includes graduate courses in choral conducting, repertoire, and pedagogy, along with conducting the internationally award-winning Chamber Choir.
In March 2020, Oxford University Press published Dr. Paul’s book, Art & Science in the Choral Rehearsal, which features many of the creative and evidence-based teaching strategies she has cultivated over her career.
The University of Oregon Chamber Choir has placed first or second in four international choral competitions, most recently winning first prize in the Chamber Choir category at the Grand Prix of Nations Competition in Gothenburg, Sweden in August 2019.
The Chamber Choir became a resident ensemble of the Oregon Bach Festival in 2014, performing each summer under conductors such as Helmuth Rilling, Matthew Halls, John Nelson, Jane Glover, and Joann Falletta.
University of Oregon choirs under Dr. Paul’s direction have performed at the National Association for Music Education’s state and divisional conferences, and at ACDA Northwestern Division conferences.
Dr. Paul has presented interest sessions at regional, state, division, national, and international conferences. She appears frequently as adjudicator, clinician, teacher, and honor choir director throughout the United States and abroad. In 2019, she received Oregon ACDA’s Podium Award for “outstanding contributions to the choral arts,” and in the fall of 2014 she received the University of Oregon’s Fund for Faculty Excellence Award.
Dr. Paul completed her DMA in Choral Conducting at Stanford University, her MFA in Conducting from UCLA, and her BA in Music from Pomona College.
To get in touch with Sharon, you can email her at sjpaul@uoregon.edu or find her on Facebook (@sharon.paul.50).
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“You never know someone else’s story. You never know what the experience of a concert or hearing a piece is to somebody. You don’t know how that affects them. So much of my music and why I do what I do is to facilitate these moments of connection between choristers, to give autonomy to choristers to feel like co-composers of my music themselves each time they’re performing the work. I always tend to seek out music, texts, stories, ideas that facilitate that.”
Composer, improviser, and vocalist Katerina Gimon's uniquely dynamic, poignant, and eclectic compositional style has earned her a reputation as a distinct voice in contemporary Canadian composition and beyond. Her music has earned her several honours including multiple SOCAN Awards, nominations for Western Canadian Composer of the Year, and a Barbara Pentland Award for Outstanding Composition.
In her music, Katerina draws influence from a myriad of places — from the Ukrainian folk music of her heritage to indie rock, as well as from her roots as a songwriter. Her compositions are performed widely across Canada, the United States, and internationally, with notable performances at Carnegie Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Recent commissions include new music for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Youth Choir, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and re:Naissance Opera. Katerina is the composer-in-residence for Myriad Ensemble and is based in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia.
In addition to her composing work, Katerina is also a founding member (vocalist, electronics, co-composer) of dynamic new music and AR/VR collective Chroma Mixed Media alongside multi-media artists David Storen and Brian Topp. Excited by the ever-evolving landscape of technology in today’s society, Chroma endeavours to explore new avenues and intersections for artistic expression by combining various art forms and new technologies to explore new possibilities and challenge audience expectations.
Katerina holds a Master of Music in Composition from the University of British Columbia ('17) and an Honours Bachelor of Music degree in Composition and Improvisation from Wilfrid Laurier University ('15). When she isn’t making music, Katerina enjoys playing board games, puzzling, adventuring outdoors, and relaxing with her husband and their two cats.
To get in touch with Katerina, you can find visit her website, katerinagimon.com, or find her on Instagram (@katgimon) or Facebook (@kgimon).
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“People may live in a place that's very different from us, but they have the same hopes, dreams, fears, and struggles with everyday life that we all do at some level. All the parents want education for their kids. Everyone wants a home, wants good food to eat, loves a good laugh and a good joke, loves to play and be silly together. If you find that out as a young person, you are less likely to quickly judge in a negative way someone who is different from you.”
Nationally recognized as a leader in the field of youth choral conductors, Emily Ellsworth enjoys an active schedule as guest conductor and clinician both nationally and abroad. She has conducted all-state choirs and festivals in over 30 states, honor choirs for the Northwest, North Central, Southwest and Western regions of the American Choral Directors Association, and the 2019 national children’s honor choir for ACDA’s 60th anniversary conference. International appearances include festival choirs in Ireland, England, Hong Kong, Grand Cayman Island, Greece, and presentations for the national association of choral directors in Brazil.
Collegiate work most recently includes teaching Conducting III at Elmhurst University, conducting the Elmhurst University Concert Choir, joining the Luther College choral faculty as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music, and conducting the University Singers at Northwestern University. She served as Artistic Director of Anima (Ah-nee-mah)–Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus from 1996–2018. She conducted Anima on several national conferences for both ACDA and Chorus America, led concert tours to six continents, and produced nine CD recordings. Ms. Ellsworth has served as music panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, and spent 20 years as a professional singer and voice teacher in various college and university settings.
Her home base of Chicago has featured Ms. Ellsworth’s preparation of dozens of youth and women's ensembles for major musical organizations, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Berlin Philharmonic, and Ravinia Festival, and many more.
Ms. Ellsworth holds vocal performance degrees from Macalester College under Dr. Dale Warland and the University of Southern California, as well as the Artist Teacher Certificate from the Choral Music Experience Choral Teacher Training Institute. Her primary choral mentors are Drs. Dale Warland and Doreen Rao. More information can be found at emilyellsworth.net.
To get in touch with Emily, you can find her on Facebook (@emily.ellsworth.50) or visit her website.
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“A big part of being a musician is believing in yourself and saying ‘yes’ to the little opportunities that come your way. Sometimes we can get down on ourselves. We think, ‘I'm not cut out for that.’ Believe in yourself and what you can do, no matter what the situation... Don't be afraid to say ‘yes,’ to try out for that show or audition for that ensemble. Encourage your students to do the same thing because you never know where those opportunities are going to take you.”
Jessica Koenig loves sharing her passion for music and the relationships it forges with people of all ages and backgrounds. She joined choir at the age of 9 and has never stopped singing! At age 17 she was selected as a featured soloist during Pope John Paul II’s visit to St. Louis. Jessica went on to receive her BS in Music Education from William Jewell College in 2003. After several moves, she spent 13 years teaching general music at a private K-8 school where her children’s choir consistently had 60-80 students. They were featured in choral festivals, twice performed the Star Spangled Banner at Harlem Globetrotters games, and led music at countless church services.
Jessica accepted a public middle school choir position in 2022 in order to reach a more dynamic group of families. During her second year there, her treble ensemble was one of two middle school choirs to achieve a Superior-Plus rating at the Illinois Grade School Music Association’s State Organization Festival and also shared the stage with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. Jessica’s choirs are known for their pure sound and strong tonality.
She became the Co-Artistic Director of Kantorei in 2024. Kantorei is the premier 4th-12th grade community choir in Rockford, IL. This organization is committed to offering an excellent choral education to all students who love to sing without the barriers of cost and is funded completely on donations. Jessica lives in Rockford, IL with her three talented children. Find more information about Kantorei at kantorei.com.
To get in touch with Jessica, you can e-mail her at jessica.leigh.koenig@gmail.com or visit kantorei.com.
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“In science, they're not tied to an outcome. They're open to the possibilities of what is going to result from an experiment. How freeing is that – not to be tied to a specific outcome. I've really tried to adopt that in my own personal life, the idea of just growing, learning, and being open. So many things are out of my control, so I might as well just be ready to go for the ride. I guess what I would tell young people is just equip yourself, make the best informed decision you can, then be at peace with it.”
Dr. Julie Yu, an award-winning choral conductor and music educator, leads the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University as Director of Choral Activities and Canterbury Voices as Artistic Director. In these roles, she conducts and guides the acclaimed 150-voice Canterbury Voices ensemble and shapes the artistic vision of OCU’s four major choirs, including the Chamber Choir and Ad Astra women’s chorus. She also teaches conducting and graduate choral curriculum courses.
Dr. Yu’s choirs have performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and internationally in Austria, Czech Republic, France, and more. She was an ACDA International Conducting Exchange Fellow to Kenya in 2019 and has led All-State choruses across the United States.
A sought-after presenter, conductor, and clinician, Dr. Yu has shared her expertise at state and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, and European Music Educators Association. She is a past president of the ACDA’s Southwestern Region and has been featured at events such as the International Dublin Choral Festival and European Music Educators Association Conference.
Dr. Yu holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of North Texas, a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Oklahoma State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.
To get in touch with Julie, you can find her on Instagram (@julieyuoppenheim) or Facebook (@julie.yuoppenheim).
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“Your first year is not going to be perfect. You're not going to feel like you're having a lot of success a lot of the time because you're figuring out how to work within a school system, how to work with other teachers, with parents, with students that may not be too much younger than you if you start teaching high school. So you do your best, and you do a lot of reflection at the end of every day, at the end of every week, and you just prepare to wake up and then try something different.”
Ross Cawthon is a graduate teaching assistant at Louisiana State University, where he is progressing towards a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting with a minor emphasis in Music Education. He is the instructor of record for undergraduate choral conducting and a teaching assistant for the LSU A Cappella Choir and LSU Chamber Singers. Additionally, he is the Music Director at University Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge. Before coming to LSU, Ross was the Director of Choirs at DeLand High School in Deland, Florida, where he taught choir, piano, AP Music Theory and IB Music. The DeLand High Chorus has performed across the US, and was invited to sing at the Florida Music Educators Association conference in 2023.
In addition to his choral interests, Ross has a passion for the poetry and music of J.R.R. Tolkien, barbecue, and exercising. He lives in Baton Rouge with his wife Kristina, who is a singer and licensed speech-language pathologist.
To get in touch with Ross, you can find him on Instagram (@rossisastore) or Facebook (@ross.cawthon.3).
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“Going back for a master’s was exhilarating. So many of the things that I had been doing in my studio were corroborated with education. On the flip side, I had a lot of moments where I thought, “I've been doing that wrong. I should change that.” Having had years doing a lot of my own education—I attended conferences and did everything I could to soak up anything available to me—going back to school and having it corroborated and defined was career-changing.”
Award-winning coloratura soprano Alisa Toy has an impressive thirty-year performing and teaching career. She currently teaches and performs at Washington State University as a Lecturer of Voice. Internationally, Alisa soloed in Great Britain, Canada, Pakistan, and Italy, including a concert for Pope Benedict XVI with the Rome Symphony Orchestra. Some of her past favorite soloing opportunities include Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass, along with multiple performances of Handel’s Messiah and Judas Maccabeus. Opera and musical theatre roles include Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Gertrude in Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretel, Maria in Bernstein’s West Side Story, and Grace in Strouse’s Annie.
As a choral conductor, Alisa currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Lewis and Clark State College Concert Choir, the Assistant Conductor of the Palouse Choral Society, and previously served as the Artistic Director for the Columbus Choral Society.
Memorable performances for her include the world premiere of John Purifoy’s Chronicles of Blue and Gray in New York’s Carnegie Hall and the world premiere of Benjamin Harlan’s The Seven Last Words of Christ in New Orleans. She frequently serves in her church as a soloist, choral conductor, and organist/pianist.
Alisa holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting from the University of Idaho and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Mississippi University for Women. Alisa enjoyed teaching K-12 music for several years in public and private schools and enjoys teaching voice through her private studio, Singingtoy Studio in addition to her appointment at WSU. She is currently working on her Ph.D.
To get in touch with Alisa, you can email her at alisa.toy@wsu.edu, find her on Facebook (@toysrusfamily), or follow the SingingToy Studio on Facebook.
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"I think in many ways the pattern is the least important part of conducting. It’s much more about showing what the music should be doing, not beating four. If it were just a matter of keeping time, we could use a flashing red light. That's not what your job is. Your job is to encourage and show the music physically. I believe very strongly that the conducting gesture is nothing more than your vocal process externalized.”
Chester L. Alwes holds degrees in music from Hanover College, Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining the University of Illinois faculty in 1982, he taught at the College of Wooster and the University of Rochester/Eastman School of Music. Prior to his retirement in 2011 from the University of Illinois, Dr. Alwes taught graduate courses in choral literature, seminars on the works of J. S Bach and Henry Purcell and graduate and undergraduate conducting. From 1982-2009, he was conductor of the U. of I. Concert Choir, taking over the Women’s Glee Club prior to his retirement. In addition, he frequently conducted the University’s Oratorio Society, Summer Chorus, and the Illinois Summer Youth Music Senior Chorus.
In 1996, he founded the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana (BACH), an ensemble drawn from the University and local community that specialized in music of the 17th and 18th centuries. As a choral conductor, Dr. Alwes was known for his innovative programming, his sensitivity to tone and musical line, and his dedication to the musical growth of his singers.
He is the author of A History of Western Choral Music (2 vols., Oxford University Press, 2015-16), Handel’s Messiah: the Complete Solo Variants (Roger Dean Music, 2009), the chapter on Choral Music of the Romantic era in the Cambridge Companion to Choral Music, Andre De Quadros, ed. (Cambridge University Press, 2012), articles on choral music and numerous choral compositions and arrangements (70+).
To get in touch with Chet, you can find him on Facebook (@calwes) or email him at calwes@illinois.edu.
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“You have to create the bridge between the instructor and the student. Talk about your passion about the music, why you're performing it, why the piece is so special, and mix some humor in there. Once that engagement happens, everything you teach is automatically transferred because all the performers want that excellence for themselves, which is different than just telling people what to do. When you can inspire them to really want it, that's when the results become infinitely spectacular.”
Luke McEndarfer is a GRAMMY Award-winning American conductor and one of the most compelling visionaries in the classical music world today. His dynamic career spanning over two decades has been shaped by an unwavering commitment to ambitious innovation, artistic creativity, and musical excellence. Currently, he serves as Artistic Director, President and CEO of the National Children’s Chorus, one of the fastest-growing and most successful youth arts organizations in the United States.
In 2004, McEndarfer was appointed director of the acclaimed Paulist Choristers, and in 2008 his dream to create the National Children’s Chorus took flight. Since then, the NCC has grown from only sixteen families in Los Angeles to over one thousand across the country. McEndarfer’s Senior Division vocalists are GRAMMY Award-winning, having received music’s highest honor for Best Choral Performance in 2022. In 2020, McEndarfer initiated the building of a new annual opera camp in Vail, Colorado, that would grow to engage developing voices in the art of opera, curated with an extraordinary curriculum designed exclusively for youth education.
McEndarfer’s background and experience encompass numerous conducting appearances on both coasts featuring adult choral and symphonic masterworks. Equally at home in the studio, he has worked on several motion picture soundtracks, such as Escape from Tomorrow, Snowmen, and Imagine That. Television credits include conducting performances and studio appearances with CNN, CBS, ABC, and Fox, as well as NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Since the age of six, McEndarfer has studied piano extensively, winning competitions and musical honors with the Music Teachers’ Association of California. He is a two-time graduate of UCLA, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and a Master of Music degree in conducting.
To get in touch with Luke, you can find him on Facebook or Instagram (@LukeMcEndarfer) or find the National Children's Chorus on their website (nationalchildrenschorus.com), on Instagram (@nationalchildrenschorus), or on Facebook (@nationalchildrenschorus).
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
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“I said, ‘I really wish a book existed with more women composers in it’... This book is so important in 2024 with equality and inclusivity being at the forefront of our profession. I think that this is timely, and I think it's a great representation of where we're going in our profession right now especially given the fact that I see a lot more programming to be equal with male composers and women composers.”
Alan Troy Davis is a conductor, music educator, tenor, and voice teacher with extensive experience in both academic and community music settings. He has completed the coursework for a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree in choral conducting at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and is currently finalizing his doctoral document. He also holds a Master of Music (M.M.) in Choral Conducting from California State University–Los Angeles, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education from Portland State University, and a Bachelor of Musical Arts (B.M.A.) in Music from Pacific Lutheran University.
Davis has taught in public high schools across Oregon, Colorado, and California and has directed a variety of church and community ensembles. His research interests focus on choral intonation, conducting pedagogy and score study, vocal pedagogy within choral rehearsals, Renaissance and Baroque performance practices and repertoire, and the exploration of choral repertoire by women composers.
As a compiler and contributing author, Davis is playing a key role in the forthcoming book Choral Repertoire by Women Composers, scheduled for publication by GIA Publications, Inc. in January 2025. In addition, he will co-present an interest session titled In Her Voice: Highlighting Female Composers at the 2025 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Conference in Dallas, Texas.
To get in touch with Alan, you can find him on Instagram (@thechoralgeek) or Facebook (@alantdavis) or email him at alantroydavis@gmail.com.
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
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"I have always been very intentional about my programming. My students sit in front of me, they're 18 to 22 years old, but I would have programmed for their 35-, 40-year-old self, for when the hard times come. What are we singing? What is this choir mama feeding them that eventually, when the hard times come, bubbles up in their spirit to help them get through the harder times?"
Dr. Pearl Shangkuan is a highly sought-after conductor, lecturer and clinician who has led performances and workshops on six continents. She is the National President-elect of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), having previously served on the Board of Directors of Chorus America, as well as ACDA central division president and ACDA Michigan state president. She is the chorus director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, a Grammy-nominated professional orchestra and Professor Emerita of Music at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Appointed in 2022 as the Editor of Hinshaw Music, a major choral music publisher in North America, she also has a signature choral series with earthsongs and is the music editor of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Choral series published by GIA. She was an invited guest lecturer at the World Symposium for Choral Music held in Seoul, South Korea and her guest conducting engagements regularly take her to Europe, Asia, and across North America.
Dr. Shangkuan has served on the jury of several international choral competitions in Europe and Asia. She has conducted numerous All State choirs and has headlined several ACDA state and other professional conferences. She has commissioned and premiered numerous choral works and her choirs have performed at ACDA national, division and state conferences.
In 2023, the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) gave her its Honorary Life Member Award for “distinguished leadership and extraordinary service to the choral community, both nationally and internationally.”
To get in touch with Pearl, you can find her on Facebook (@pearl.shangkuan) or email her at pshangkuan@hinshawmusic.com or pearl.shangkuan@calvin.edu.
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
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“I don't have a sound that I'm trying to make the choir fit into. I'm trying to understand and uncover the palette of sounds that are in front of me and then expand our sense of what we can sound like. This happens through the community building process, because the more we honor each individual and allow them to bring themselves into that rehearsal space, then the fuller and richer we are.”
Dr. Joel Tranquilla (he/him/his) is a conductor and music educator noted for his versatile musicianship and creative programming. Originally from Fredericton, Joel is thrilled to have returned home to assume the position of Artistic Director of the Halifax Camerata Singers and Chorus Master of Symphony Nova Scotia. Formative choral experiences include touring with the American Boychoir as a boy soprano and singing as a member of the Nova Scotia and National Youth Choirs. He holds degrees from Mount Allison University, the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University where his doctoral research was in the area of Canadian choral-orchestral works.
Joel relocated to Nova Scotia in 2023 after spending nine years as the Director of Choral Activities at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC, where he oversaw a program of six choirs and taught various courses within the School of the Arts, Media and Culture. Joel led the TWU Chamber Choir on tours to Ottawa, New York City, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan. In addition to his work at TWU, Joel served as the Artistic Director of the Valley Festival Singers in Abbotsford and was the conductor of the award-winning Coastal Sound Youth Choir in Coquitlam. A singing member of the Canadian Chamber Choir since 2007, he was named the ensemble’s Associate Conductor in 2013. As such, he contributes to the programming and long-term artistic visioning of that organization. Prior to his time on the West Coast, Joel lived and worked in Windsor, Ontario, serving as the conductor of several local ensembles including the Windsor Symphony Orchestra Chorus. In high demand as an adjudicator and clinician across the country, Joel is a past Guest Conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Choir and the Manitoba Provincial Honour Choir, and was the Assistant Conductor of the 2012 National Youth Choir.
Major works conducted include Poulenc’s Gloria, Vaughan Williams’ Hodie, Ramirez’s Navidad nuestra, Mendelssohn’s St. Paul, Handel’s Alexander’s Feast, Requiems by Fauré and Duruflé, Bach’s St. John Passion, and Allan Bevan’s oratorio Nou Goth Sonne Under Wode. In spring 2023, Joel conducted the premiere of a new oratorio by David Squires and made his Carnegie Hall debut in a program featuring Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs.
Joel believes in the power of choral music to build and strengthen community. His wife, Meghan is an audiologist, and they have three precocious children: Everett, Penelope, and Felix.
To get in touch with Joel, you can visit the Halifax Camerata Singers website at halifaxcamerata.org or find them on Facebook (@HalifaxCamerataSingers) or Instagram (@halifaxcameratasingers). You can also find the Canadian Chamber Choir at their website canadianchamberchoir.ca, on Facebook (@CanadianChamberChoir) or Instagram (@
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
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“Historically, in higher education and in music in general, it was a male-dominated podium expectation. When we step on the podium as women-identifying conductors, we're breaking that image. There's a long way to go, and WiCHEd is working on bringing a supportive community together, helping the next generation figure out how to navigate this complicated web.”
Coreen Duffy is associate professor of conducting and director of choral activities at the University of Colorado Boulder where she conducts the CU Boulder Chamber Singers and oversees the choral program. Her duties at the College of Music include leading the graduate program in choral conducting at both the master’s and doctoral levels.
Duffy is also artistic director of the Seicento Baroque Ensemble, a Boulder-based semi-professional choral ensemble committed to working with period instruments and historically-informed performance practice.
Prior to her appointment at CU Boulder, Duffy served on the faculties of the University of Montana and the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Under her direction, the University of Montana Chamber Chorale performed at the Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition, the 75th Anniversary Festival of Music at the Hochschule für Musik Saar, Cadogan Hall and Southwark Cathedral, Carnegie Hall, the Northwest Conference of the American Choral Directors Association, and the Montana International Choral Festival.
Duffy is an active clinician and composer: Her works are published by ECS Publishing, Hinshaw Music, Pavane Publishing and Walton Music. She specializes in Jewish choral music and has presented sessions on the subject internationally including the international conference of the European Center for Jewish Music (EZJM) in Hannover, Germany, and national conferences of the College Music Society, National Association for Music Education, National Collegiate Choral Organization, North American Jewish Choral Festival and ACDA.
Duffy is vice president of the National Collegiate Choral Organization and recently served as president-elect of the Northwestern ACDA and Northwest representative of the NAfME National Choral Council.
Duffy earned her DMA in choral music from the USC Thornton School of Music, Her MM in conducting from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, Juris Doctor at the University of Michigan Law School and her BMA and BA with honors in English from the University of Michigan.
To get in touch with Coreen, you can email her at coreen.duffy@colorado.edu. You can also find her on Facebook or Instagram (@coreenduffy).
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
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“When people talk about what skills kids are lacking in America these days, two of the skills that come up a lot are the ability to listen to each other and have some empathy for each other. Some people would say it’s not just kids that are lacking those skills; it might be what is really missing from our society. I think choir is the best subject to teach those skills.”
Hailed by The Oregonian for providing “the finest choral concerts in Portland in recent memory,” Ethan Sperry is the Director of Choral Activities at Portland State University, where he conducts the world-renowned Chamber Choir and leads undergraduate and graduate programs in conducting. He is also the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Oregon Repertory Singers, one of America’s most distinguished adult choruses. Choirs under his direction have performed at over a dozen ACDA and NAfME Conferences, won over thirty awards and medals at international choir competitions on four continents, and sung at The Hollywood Bowl, The Kennedy Center, and the United Nations. Under his direction in 2013 The Portland State Chamber Choir became the first American Choir ever to win the Grand Prix at the Seghizzi International Choral Contest in Italy, and in 2017 they became the first American choir to win the Grand Prix at the Bali International Choral Festival, the largest choral gathering in Asia. Sperry has recorded albums for the Naxos and Gothic labels.
A prolific arranger of World Music for choirs, Dr. Sperry is the editor of the Global Rhythms series for Earthsongs Music, one of the best-selling choral series in the world, and is also published by Hal Leonard. Sperry is also a frequent collaborator with film composer AR Rahman and has appeared as a guest conductor for him numerous times including at Bollywood Night at the Hollywood Bowl and the 2008 Filmfare Awards, the Indian equivalent of the Oscars. He also serves as a consultant for the KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, the first classical music school in India, which opened in 2009.
He has earned a bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Harvard College and Masters and Doctoral degrees in Choral Conducting from the University of Southern California. Prior to moving to Oregon, Sperry served for 10 years on the faculty of Miami University in Ohio where he conducted the Men’s Glee Club, Collegiate Chorale, and Global Rhythms Ensemble. He has also served as Artistic Administrator of the Arad Philharmonic Chorus in Romania and Conductor of the Coeur Regional de Guadeloupe, the only Symphonic Chorus in the French West Indies.
To get in touch with Ethan, you can email him at ethansperry@gmail.com. You can find the Portland State University Chamber Choir on Facebook (@psuchamberchoir), Instagram (@psuchamberchoir), or Tiktok (@psuchamberchoir), and you can find the Oregon Repertory Singers on Facebook (@OregonRepertorySingers) or Instagram (@orsingers).
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Thank you for listening to our show this season!!
Here are the favorite choral pieces from our guests in the fourth season:St. John Passion, Johann Sebastian Bach
St. Matthew Passion, Johann Sebastian BachAve Maria, Franz Biebl
Requiem, Johannes Brahms
“Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen” from Requiem, Johannes Brahms
No Time, Susan Brumfield
I Sing Because I’m Happy, Rollo Dilworth
Requiem,Gabriel Fauré
African American Requiem, Damien Geter
Gloucester Service, Herbert Howells
La Guerre, Clément Janequin
Sweet Rivers, Shawn Kirchner
O Magnum Mysterium, Morten Lauridsen (x2)
Le Cantique des cantiques, Daniel-LesurCoenantibus autem illis, Juan de Lienas
I Am Harvey Milk, Andrew Lippa
Miserere, James MacMillan
Mass for Double Choir, Frank Martin
Terza Messa, Marianna MartinesLight of the East, Byung-Hee Oh
Sicut Cervus, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Tu Es Petrus, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
The Road Home, Stephen Paulus
Let My Love Be Heard, Jake Runestad
Abendfeier in Venedig, Clara Schumann
And the Swallow, Caroline Shaw
Fiddler’s Hymn, Pete Sutherland
Alleluia, Randall Thompson
Earth Song, Frank Ticheli
The Sacred Veil, Eric Whitacre
Serenade to Music, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Here are the composers that our guests suggested you check out:Johann Sebastian Bach
Michael Barrett, see Choir Fam Episode 97
Amy Bernon
Sherry Blevins
Margaret Bonds
Johannes Brahms
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani
Maurice Duruflé
Gabriel Fauré
Dan Forrest
J.D. Frizzell, see Choir Fam Episode 91
Katerina Gimon
Laura Hawley
Franz Joseph Haydn
Darius Lim
Andrew Lippa
Cecilia MacDowall
Joanna Marsh
Frank Martin
Selga Mence
Kyle Pederson
Florence Price
Zanaida Robles (x2)
Marie-Claire Saindon
Caroline Shaw
Ken Steven (x2), see Choir Fam Episode 98
Peteris Vasks
Tracy Wong (x3), see Choir FamEpisode 58
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“For me, choral music is all about the people. I write for the choristers. I've gone through that phase in my life where I've written only for myself, where I had a lot of things I needed to express and every note that went on a page was for me. Now I'm in a phase where I want to adore every note that's on the page. I want every note that's on the page to represent me well and to reflect who I am -- somebody who sees herself in partnership with conductors, in partnership with choristers, making music together.”
Canadian composer and educator Sarah Quartel is known for her fresh and exciting approach to choral music. Deeply inspired by the life-changing relationships that can occur while making choral music, Sarah writes in a way that connects singer to singer, ensemble to conductor, and performer to audience. Her works are performed by choirs across the world, and she has been commissioned by groups including the American Choral Directors Association, the National Children's Chorus of the United States of America, and New Dublin Voices. Since 2018 she has been exclusively published by Oxford University Press, and she continues to work as a clinician and conductor at music education and choral events at home and abroad.
To get in touch with Sarah, you can visit sarahquartel.com
or email her at sarah.k.quartel@gmail.com. You can listen to her music on Spotify or SoundCloud (@sarahquartel) or find her on Facebook (@sarah.quartel).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
“No one cared about my accolades coming in as a freshman. It’s not enough just to be good, because everyone is good. It forced me not to ride on my natural ability and to buckle down to figure out things like theory, music history, and performance practice. It made me realize that being an individual is paramount, and you have to prove why you are different from everyone else. What about your ability to emote a song or interpret a piece is going to set you apart?”
Trey McLaughlin was born in Augusta, GA, where he graduated from John S. Davidson Magnet School in 2002. While in high school, Trey was a member of the non-profit performing arts organization, Creative Impressions, serving as both President and Student Director.
Trey is a 2008 graduate of Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music in Columbus, GA. During his time at CSU, Trey was a member of its University Singers and Chorale. Trey is a member and past president of the professional music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and he is a former director of G.E.N.E.S.I.S. -- the Columbus State University Gospel Choir. In May of 2008, Mr. McLaughlin obtained a Bachelor of Science in Music Performance with an emphasis in Vocal Pedagogy.
In 2014, Mr. McLaughlin began his international career, conducting a Master Class and performing at the L’Opéra de Massy in Massy, France. In October of 2015, Trey conducted a 300-voice choir in Krakow, Poland, as the guest clinician of the annual 7x Festival. At home, Trey has been extended the honor of serving as the guest clinician for Honor Choruses throughout the state of Georgia.
Trey is a passionate solo vocalist -- recognizing the beauty of and fusing together an eclectic mix of musical genres for all those who encounter his artistry. He composes and performs original works and prolifically arranged covers with his own recording and touring ensemble, The Sounds of Zamar.
Trey currently serves as Director of Worship and Arts at Tabernacle Baptist Church of Augusta, Georgia, where he stewards and oversees 12 ministries and approximately 250 volunteers. Mr. McLaughlin has taught as adjunct faculty at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, teaching graduate level courses where he continues his passion for writing and arranging music, teaching piano, and conducting classes in vocal technique. Trey was recognized by the Augusta Arts Council as its 2018 Artist of the Year. His international, national and local work in the arts continues to provide rich cultural, artistic experiences for all who encounter his programming.
To get in touch with Trey, you can visit treymclaughlin.com or find him on Facebook (@trey.mclaughlin.503) or Instagram (@treymclaughlin)
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
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“In Indonesia, choral singing has just been really popular recently, maybe around ten years. It has become a lifestyle. Everyone wants to be part of a choir because choir is very interesting - you can go on tour, you can do concerts... What drives the choir most is joining a competition: they will have a goal they want to achieve, an opportunity to go abroad, building connection and building the ecosystem better to support each other.”
Hailing from Medan, composer Ken Steven (b. 1993) is known for his fusion of Indonesian colours and elements with modern techniques and harmonies. He received his undergraduate degree in church music from The Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, Philippines, and completed his Master of Music degree from California Baptist University, USA.
Since returning to Indonesia, his creative activity and work have made important contributions to the development of choral music in Indonesia. His music is picking up and starting to make an impact on the international choral music scene. His music is available through several publishers including Pavane, Hal Leonard, Earthsongs, and Walton.
Currently, he serves as the Director of Studies at SMK Methodist Charles Wesley Music Vocational School in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. He is also the conductor of Medan Community Male Choir, founded in 2015, and has led the choir to achieve many international awards in choral festivals and competitions.
To get in touch with Ken, you can email him at st.25_ken@hotmail.com or find him on Facebook (@ken.steven) or Instagram (@st.25ken).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
“As choral conductors, we're first and foremost educators, and we have to realize that we have to come with compassion in everything that we do when we listen to choirs. All too often we sit there thinking, ‘the intonation wasn't so great, or maybe their phrase endings could be better,’ but we don't understand what people are working with. No two choirs are the same. No choir operates in the same context.”
Dr. Michael Joseph Barrett is the conductor of the University of Pretoria (Tuks) Camerata and a senior lecturer in Choral Conducting in the Department of Music. He obtained the degrees BMus in Performing Arts and MMus (Performing Arts), specializing in choral conducting, in 2008, both from the University of Pretoria. He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and a Performance Licentiate in Singing, both received in 2008, from Unisa. In 2017, Michael was awarded a Doctorate of Music degree (Performing Arts) in Choral Performance by the University of Pretoria.
Michael’s choirs have won numerous national and international awards, as well as choral competitions all over the world, including the Grand Prix of Nations; the 8th World Choir Games; the St Petersburg Choral Competition; the Llangollen (Shlangoshlen) International Musical Eisteddfod (ICEtedfud); and the International Youth Music Festival. In 2017, Tuks Camerata was invited to perform at the World Choral Symposium in Barcelona, Spain.
The choir has released three CDs, which were all nominated for South African Music Awards. In March, the Tuks Camerata will perform as an invited choir to the National ACDA Conference in Dallas.
Michael is an active composer and arranger whose music is published internationally by Santa Barbara Music Publishers and Walton Music. He is regularly invited to present workshops and adjudicate choral competitions both locally and abroad. He is also the executive director and co-producer of Capital Singers, South Africa’s largest community choir project.
To get in touch with Michael, you can email him or find him on Instagram (@mbarrett1310) or Facebook (@michael.j.barrett.54). You can also visit the Tuks Camerata website or follow them on Instagram (@tuks_camerata), Facebook (@UPCamerata), or YouTube (@universityofpretoriacamera357). To support the Tuks Camerata's travel to National ACDA 2025, visit their funding website.
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
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Dr. David Fryling is director of choral activities at Hofstra University, where he conducts both the select Hofstra Chorale and Hofstra Chamber Choir and teaches beginning and advanced studies in choral conducting, as well as graduate-level studies in choral conducting and choral literature. In addition, he is an adjunct professor for the Hofstra School of Education, and has served as music director and conductor of the Hofstra Opera Theater. In fall 2014 David was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame as the “Educator of Note” in recognition of his years of leadership in the Long Island music education community, and in the spring of 2017 David was named the winner of the American Prize in Conducting in two categories: community chorus and college & university.
In fall 2013 David founded the eVoco Voice Collective, a nonprofit organization of singers of the highest musical, technical, and expressive abilities, who together believe in the transformative and educational power of music.
From 2007 to 2013, David served as coordinator of the Vocal Artists program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, where he was conductor and music director of the World Youth Honors Choir and Festival Choir & Orchestra.
Before his appointment at Hofstra, David served as music director and conductor of the University of Michigan Arts Chorale and assistant conductor of the Michigan Chamber Singers, University Choir, and the internationally acclaimed Michigan Men’s Glee Club. While in Ann Arbor, he was also the music director and conductor of the Michigan Youth Women’s Chorus, a year-round all-state honors choir composed of select high school sopranos and altos from across Michigan.
In addition to his professional teaching and conducting responsibilities, David is the current President of the American Choral Directors Association.
To get in touch with Dave, you can find him on Facebook (@david.fryling) or Instagram (@davidnfryling) or email him at david.n.fryling@hofstra.edu or Dfryling@acda.org.
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Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
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“A lot of what I end up teaching with regards to all of music, but certainly improvisation, has to do with becoming comfortable. You can do all kinds of different technical exercises, improvisation exercises, conceptual brain project exercises, all of which serve to help the musician become comfortable and fluid with their musical expression so that they feel free enough to act on a musical impulse or a musical gesture, to respond freely to the moment.”
The first year of the pandemic was a deeply creative time for Vermont based fiddle composer and song-writer Lissa Schneckenburger. When everything shut down (including her touring schedule), writing music became an essential outlet. Schneckenburger explains, “I had to write music to process my experience of living through such a difficult time. It was my life line”. The result was what Schneckenburger jokingly calls “overflowing bucketfuls of music” and enough new material for several album releases. The first album, Falling Forward, is a collection of Schneckenburger’s original fiddle tunes and two traditional New England songs, released in March 2023.
Lissa hired a star powered all female cast of musicians to record her compositions, and Falling Forward was recorded in December of 2022. The ensemble included fiddling producer Katie McNally, pianist Rachel Aucoin, bass player Mali Obomsawin, cellist Natalie Haas, and accordion player Karen Tweed. “These women are my heroes,” Schneckenburger says, “they are leaders in the acoustic music world, and it was such an honor to record with them.” The tunes range from lively to somber and introspective. Many reflect the tone of a riotous fiddle party with floorboards thumping, bow hair flying, and instruments and dancers in every corner. Falling Forward provides music for both meditation and release. Both of which feel appropriate in processing our collective experience as a society over the last few years.
During the past few decades, Schneckenburger has made music showcasing everything from traditional dance tunes, to original songs. The latter inspired by her experience as a foster and adoptive parent. Falling Forward has blended her love of traditional music with her love of writing, in her first fiddle forward album release in over a decade.
To get in touch with Lissa, you can find visit her website, https://lissafiddle.com/, or find her on Instagram (@lissafiddle), Facebook (@lissafiddle), or Tiktok (@lissafiddle).
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Dan Bain's Sleepy Time Mumbles
Are podcasts TOO interesting? Need a podcast you CAN miss? Every episode Dan Bain...
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“That's my job: to take the foundation of what they have – love of singing and basic vocal technique – and then just refine it, to challenge them to start being more musical artists themselves. I personally do a lot of giving the kids choices: ‘If it's not in the music, how do we want to sing this? What are your thoughts?’ We listen, we reflect. I really want them to have ownership of what we're doing.”
Karla McClain (she/her) is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent/Young Adulthood Music in her 24th year of teaching. Currently, she teaches Choir and General Music at Illing Middle School in Manchester, CT. Prior to teaching in Manchester, Karla taught at Irving A. Robbins Middle School and East Farms Elementary in Farmington, CT, in West Hartford, CT and Hilliard, OH. She also is the former director of the Canticum Choir of the Connecticut Children’s Chorus at the Hartt School of Music, Community Division. Karla is also an active staff member at Laurel Music Camp in Plymouth, Connecticut. Karla is an active presenter and clinician and has presented for state, regional, and national conferences. Her choirs have been Featured Showcase Ensembles for the CMEA State Conference. Karla has served on the Diversity Initiatives Committee of CT-ACDA and was the Co-Chair of Middle School Repertoire and Resources. She is a past member of the Professional Development Committee for CMEA. She is a frequent adjudicator for Regionals and All-State. As a performer, she has remained active by singing as a soloist and section leader, currently with the South Church Chancel Choir in New Britain. She has also performed in several musical theater groups. Karla received her Bachelor of Music in education from Ohio Wesleyan University, and her Master of Science in Music Education from Central Connecticut State University. In 2021, she was selected as the CT- ACDA Choral Director of the Year. She has a passion for using music technology and global music to engage students. She lives in Cromwell, CT with her husband and 2 children.
To get in touch with Karla, you can find her on Instagram (@karlachips) or Twitter (@karlachips).
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“My goal is that no child will leave my classroom thinking they can't sing. If I have a coworker say, ‘I can't sing,’ I'm like, ‘no, no. First, give me 15 minutes and a piano and I will show you that you can. Second, you can't say that because if you say that, then the kids think it's okay to say that.’ I'm really fighting all day to prove to them that yes, they can sing, and it's cool, so do it. That foundational skill is just confidence and belief in their instrument.”
Bethany Main is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Conservatory of Music and Dance, where she received her Master’s and Bachelor’s of Music Education. She teaches general music in Kansas City. She also directs the 6th-9th grade choir, Intermezzo, with the Youth Chorus of Kansas City.
In addition to teaching, Bethany is a composer and author. She has written her first children’s book titled “Our First Day of Music,” featuring an original song. Her piece, “Becoming You,” was selected for the JW Pepper’s Editor’s Choice distinction, as was her piece, "Be Who You Are," written in collaboration with Ryan Main.
Bethany is an active presenter and honor choir clinician, and has presented at numerous conferences and led various honor choirs. She is a two-time Olathe School District finalist for Teacher of the Year, and the recipient of East Central KMEA’s “Outstanding Young Educator” award in 2021. Previously, she taught music and directed the Special Chorus at Manchester Park Elementary in the Olathe School district, serving students in grades K-5. During her tenure at Manchester Park, her students performed with distinction at the Kansas Music Educators Association state conference. Bethany is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the Kansas Music Educators Association.
When Bethany isn’t teaching music, she can be found running, cross stitching, or snuggling on the couch with her husband Ryan and their two dogs, Pippa and Missy.
To get in touch with Bethany, you can find her on Instagram (@mrsmainsmusicians) or TeachersPayTeachers (@mrsmainsmusicians) or visit her website: mrsmainsmusicians.com.
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“I wanted to get kids to work more collaboratively. We say we’re a collaborative group, but the conductor is behind the piano teaching the choir parts rather than saying, ‘here's the part I want you to learn. Go learn it. Here are the expectations and come back and self-assess yourself.’ So, I designed performance tasks. I'll work on as a group first, so they have some capacity for it. Then I'll have them break into sectionals and go reinforce it.”
William Gunn is the director of music at Plymouth Regional High School where he conducts the Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and teaches a year long guitar elective. He is also the music director of the Pemigewasset Choral Society in Plymouth, NH, and a teaching lecturer in music education at Plymouth State University. Mr. Gunn received his bachelor of music in music education from Ithaca College and his masters of music in conducting from Colorado State University. Mr. Gunn has studied conducting with Wes Kenney, Dwight Bigler, Steve Peterson, and Eric Hammer. Mr. Gunn is the immediate past president of New Hampshire ACDA and serves as the Treble Choir Chair for the NHMEA All-State Festival.
To get in touch with Will, you can find him on Instagram @willdotg or email him at wgunn@pemibaker.org.
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“At the end of that first year, I did a pops concert. I developed the formula that I use now, which is to make it sound a lot like the actual songs. You give a lot of soloists opportunities to sing solos, especially in the verses which are harder because of the syncopation. We had a band that we hired: some horns, a rhythm section. The kids loved it, and we had 750 people come watch it.”
J.D. Frizzell is the Director of Fine Arts and Director of Vocal Music at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, TN. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting from The University of Kentucky. Dr. Frizzell earned the double Master's in Music Theory/Composition and Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi, where he also earned the bachelor's degree in Music History and Literature.
In 2024, Frizzell was named a national finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Frizzell was chosen by the Tennessee Music Educators Association as the 2011 Outstanding Young Music Educator. Additionally, he was awarded the Dr. Clair E. Cox Award for Teaching Excellence in both 2011 and again in 2023.
As the Director of Fine Arts at Briarcrest, Dr. Frizzell leads a faculty of twelve full time faculty-artists and is responsible for coordinating curriculum, instruction, and budgets for all of the fine arts programs (K2-12th grade). He also serves as an advocate and school liaison for all of the visual art, instrumental music, vocal music, dance, theatre, and technical production programs. As the Director of Vocal Music, he teaches the Men’s Choir, Advanced Women’s Choir, and OneVoice.
A leader in the contemporary a cappella movement, he is the co-founder and President of The A Cappella Education Association, a nonprofit dedicated to helping groups around the world. He also founded the National A Cappella and Choral Convention. His high school a cappella group, OneVoice, is a SONY Recording Artist. They were the winners of the Macy’s A Cappella Challenge judged by Pentatonix, contestants on America’s Got Talent, performers at The Emmys, and collaborators with Foreigner and The Swingles. Their music has been streamed, downloaded, and viewed over 120 million times. Dr. Frizzell co-authored the books “A Cappella Warm Ups for Pop and Jazz Choirs” and “Teaching Music Through Performance in Contemporary A Cappella”.
Dr. Frizzell is active as a presenter, adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor. As an active member of TNMEA, NATS, ACDA, and WTVMEA, he has served in multiple volunteer capacities. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation named him one of “Memphis’ Finest” for his philanthropic efforts. He is also a professional member of the Recording Academy. He lives in Memphis, TN with his wife, Emily and sons Henry and Elliott.
For commission, conducting, workshop, or other booking information, please visit www.jdfrizzell.net.
To get in touch with J.D., you can visit his website or find him on Facebook (@jdfrizzellmusic) or Instagram (@jdfrizzell1983).
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“Uniformity is a two-edged sword, isn't it? Within a choir you need uniformity or you're not going to get a good blend, but within that uniformity, I want as much individuality as possible. I do a lot of 16th-Century music, early 17th-Century music, which has very, very high, passionate stakes. The individual has to come through. That's what makes it interesting.”
Robert Hollingworth was a chorister at Hereford Cathedral, set up his first solo-voice ensemble at the age of 16 and read music at New College, Oxford, followed by a year at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In place of a conventional academic career he has spent 40 years directing vocal groups, notably I Fagiolini, which he founded at university in 1986.
Nearly 30 CDs and DVDs have included first recordings of works and collections by Byrd, Croce, Tomkins, Andrea Gabrieli and more. Recent releases include the multi-award winning Striggio 40-part mass, 'Amuse-Bouche' (French 20th century music including premiers of Francaix and Milhaud), and in 2017 'Monteverdi - The Other Vespers' which also featured the University of York’s music department's choir, The 24.
Winning the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Ensemble Award, Gramophone Awards and the Diapason D'Or de l'Annee, the group is 'In Association' at the University of York Music Department where, as well as teaching Undergraduate projects, Robert runs the MA in solo-voice ensemble singing.
As a freelancer conductor, Robert has directed the English Concert, Academy of Ancient Music and the BBC Concert Orchestra; among European choirs, Accentus (France), NDR Chor and RIAS Kammerchor (Germany), National Chamber Choir of Ireland, Voces8, BBC Singers and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. He writes and presents programmes for Radio 3 including The Early Music Show and Discovering Music. During lockdown, he created and presented a new youtube series for choral music enthusiasts called 'SingTheScore'.
He is the newly appointed director of Stour Music, taking over after 65 years from Alfred and Mark Deller.
He founded and presents the UK's top choral music podcast 'Choral Chihuahua' with Eamonn Dougan and Nicholas Mulroy.
To get in touch with Robert, look for I Fagiolini on YouTube (@ifagiolini), Facebook (@ifagiolini), Instagram (@i_fagiolini), or their website, ifagiolini.com.
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“The folks who I think are really doing incredible work around the world, not just for one festival or for one tour, but for decades, are the folks who are trying to literally make the world a better place through choral music. How many opportunities can we provide for them so they can feel like they're part of that bigger family to help legitimize the hard work and the experiences that they're having in their corner of the world?”
T. J. HARPER is Associate Professor of Music and Specialist in Choral Music Performance, Choral Pedagogy, Conducting, and Vocal Performance at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Choirs under the direction of Dr. Harper have performed at Carnegie Hall in 2022, NAfME division and national conferences, ACDA conferences, and International performances by invitation including Costa Rica, Austria, Czech Republic, Spain, and Italy.
Dr. Harper maintains an active schedule in the US and abroad as a guest conductor, clinician, and jury member. Recent engagements include headlining the China National Choral Conference and conducting the Beijing Harmonia Choir; Master classes for El Sistema and conducting the Venezuela National Choir.
He has been engaged as a lecturer, presenter, and guest speaker at the 2015 Yale University International Choral Music Symposium; the 2015 European Choir Games in Magdeburg, Germany; Harvard University, Hofstra University, and the New England ACDA Collegiate Choral Conference.
Dr. Harper is the Associate Director for the Jeju International Choral Festival in Jeju, South Korea, Associate Director for the Icheon World Choral Festival in Icheon, South Korea, the Associate Director for the San Juan Canta Choral Festival and Competition in San Juan, Argentina, the Associate Director for the World Youth Choir Festival and Competition in Jeju, South Korea.
Dr. Harper recently held positions as Board Member for the International Federation of Choral Music (IFCM), the past Chair of the ACDA Standing Committee on International Activities, and the Director of the ACDA International Conductors Exchange Program (ICEP).
Dr. Harper received the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) from the University of Southern California, his Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from California State University, Northridge and his B.A. in Choral Conducting from California State University, Fresno.
To get in touch with T. J., you can find him on Instagram (@conductortj) or Facebook (@harper.tj).
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“I haven’t moved exclusively to doing multicultural music in our classroom, but I have done a lot of music that has a positive message that they can relate to. If this song has nothing to do with them, no matter how much I love it, no matter how epic or famous this is, the students will have a hard time connecting to it. I’m not saying that everything needs to be in English or be immediately accessible or understandable, but I do think there needs to be something in there that connects to their lives.”
Matthew Chi Lee is in his 9th year as director of choirs at John P. Stevens (JPS) High School in Edison, New Jersey. He is a native of Edison and holds degrees in music education from Northwestern University and Florida State University. Recently, the John P. Stevens High School Chamber Choir has performed at the 2024 ACDA National Conference as well as the 2023 ACDA Eastern Conference. He serves on the New Jersey ACDA Board as High School Youth Choirs R&R Chair and the NJMEA Choral Procedures Board. Matt also serves as the assistant conductor at Christ Church in Summit, NJ. He has been invited to be a guest conductor and clinician in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. As a chorister he has performed in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the South of France. His Independent Study Project at FSU focused on Multicultural Choral Music and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in the high school choir program, and he is interested in selecting repertoire that highlights living composers as well as the diverse musical traditions of the world.
To get in touch with Matt, you can find him on Instagram (@matthewchileemusic) or Facebook (@matthewchileemusic). You can also visit his school choir's website, jpschoir.org.
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Tim Seelig is a conductor, singer, speaker and educator. He continues a busy schedule of appearances across the U.S. He conducted LGBTQ+ choruses for 35 years and is Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and Conductor Emeritus of the Turtle Creek Chorale.
Dr. Seelig holds four degrees, including the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas and the Diploma from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He has written 6 books on choral technique, several of which are best-sellers, and his memoir, Tale of Two Tims: Big Ol’ Baptist, Big Ol’ Gay.Dr. Seelig has conducted at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for 25 years. He conducted the Guinness Book Of World Record's Longest Choral Concert and carried the Olympic torch in 1996 as a community Hero.
He has conducted over 50 recordings which have been on Billboard Top Ten and iTunes Top Ten classical charts. His choruses have been the topic of three documentaries. The PBS documentary, After Goodbye: An AIDS Story was awarded the national Emmy for best documentary.
He is the proud grandfather of the amazing Clara Skye, Eden Mae, Cora Rose, Ivy Hope.
To get in touch with Tim, you can find him on Facebook (@tim.seelig) or email him at tgseelig@gmail.com.
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“I have fallen deeply in love with looking at a piece, seeing what it is, and realizing that there are no real absolutes in music. There are no rules. You have to look at each piece of music for what it is and consider it in its historical and cultural context and then find out enough about the composer. It feels like a journey, a rabbit hole that go down.”
Dr. Elizabeth Schauer serves as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Arizona, where she is in her twentieth year of teaching. An award-winning educator, Dr. Schauer directs the Symphonic Choir and teaches graduate courses in conducting and choral literature. In addition, she served as Chancel Choir director at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. She came to the University of Arizona following ten years as Director of Choral Activities at Adams State College in Colorado.
Dr. Schauer is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, presenter and guest conductor throughout the United States, including recently for performances at Carnegie Hall and with Georgia, Connecticut and New Mexico All-State Choirs. Choirs under her direction have been selected by audition and invited to perform on local, state and regional conferences of American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, and American Guild of Organists. In addition her choirs have been featured on the ACDA National YouTube Channel and the Community Concert Series of KUAT-FM Classical Radio, and are regularly invited to collaborate, notably with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Arizona Symphony and the UA Wind Ensemble.
She has presented sessions at the national conventions of American Choral Directors Association, Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and College Music Society; regional conferences of ACDA, and state conferences of ACDA and National Association for Music Education. Dr. Schauer holds degrees from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Westminster Choir College, and University of Michigan.
To get in touch with Betsy, you can find her on Facebook: @betsy.schauer.9. You can find more about the University of Arizona choral program on Facebook (@uarizonachoirs) or Instagram (@uarizonachoirs) or visit their website: choral.music.arizona.edu, where you can find their Distinguished Speakers Series and discover more information about the DEI Choral Literature Intensive.
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“I grew up thinking that we should sound like the music we're singing. There was never one right way for me. There are those great choral traditions where they sing everything a certain way. I never wanted to be that way. We can do seven different pieces in seven entirely different styles. You would think, 'is that the same choir?' That's something that my choirs take seriously.”
Recipient of the President’s Award from the California Music Educators Association honoring "extraordinary accomplishments in music education," Dr. Jonathan Talberg serves as Director of Choral Activities at the Bob Cole Conservatory, where he is conductor of the international award-winning Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir and the CSULB University Choir. Recent career highlights include leading the Chamber Choir to first place at the Austrian Spittal International Choir Festival and the "Choir of the World" competition in Wales. Additionally, he and the choir have performed with groups as diverse as the Kronos Quartet, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Pacific Symphony and the Rolling Stones.
A passionate advocate for choral music education, Dr. Talberg is regularly engaged to conduct honor choirs across the US, including numerous all-state choruses, and Music Education conference choirs. His choirs have performed in venues throughout Europe and Asia.
A past-president of the California Choral Directors Association, he serves as an editor at Pavane Music Publishing, where a choral series dedicated to outstanding quality, collegiate-level music is published under his name.
Of the many hats he wears each day, the one he is most proud of is mentor to the next generation of choral musicians. Alumni of the Bob Cole Conservatory Choral Studies program are teaching at elementary, middle and high schools, churches, community colleges and four-year universities throughout the country. Scores of alumni are professional singers and/or currently earning—or have finished—their doctorates at some of the finest institutions in the country.
Dr. Talberg received his BM from Chapman University, his MM and DMA from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops, and the May Festival Chorus.
To get in touch with Jonathan, you can email him at jonathan.talberg@csulb.edu or find him on Instagram: @jonathantalberg .
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“I’ve really enjoyed getting into classrooms to affirm my colleagues. I seek whenever I do a visit to say something that is both positive and true. I could just be positive, but if it’s not truthful, students can sense that. I’ve really enjoyed getting to bop in, see great teaching in action, and affirm my colleagues in front of their students.”
Dr. Brett D. Epperson is Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Hastings College. He directs the Hastings College Choir and teaches courses in conducting, vocal pedagogy, diction and studio voice. Brett also serves as director of the adult Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church of Hastings.
Prior to his career in higher education, Brett was a public school music educator for nearly a decade. Epperson led choral programs at Yutan Public Schools (Nebraska), Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and East High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. Under his leadership at Lincoln East, the choral program tripled in enrollment, East Singers was selected as a featured concert choir at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Conference and Epperson was the recipient of a Lincoln Public Schools Inspire Award for implementing an Adaptive Music program. Epperson has also served as a graduate assistant within the College of Music at Florida State University, was an adjunct instructor of voice at Doane University (Nebraska), and is a previous Artistic Director-Conductor of the Lincoln Lutheran Choir.
Dr. Epperson is active as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator and collaborative keyboardist, with appearances across the United States, the Caribbean and Europe. In June 2023, Epperson traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, where he was a featured conductor as part of AVoice4Peace choral festival. As a vocalist, he has sung with Grammy-nominated choral ensembles and has been a featured soloist in choral-orchestral performances across the Midwest and South. Galaxy Music Corporation released his first published composition in 2022.
Brett earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Education-Choral Conducting from Florida State University.
To get in touch with Brett, you can find him on Facebook (@brettdepperson) or Instagram (@brettdepperson).
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"Choral programs don't exist in a vacuum. They exist in a place, and they exist in a place that serves a people. That people group is always bigger than choir. The first thing that you've gotta do is answer the question, 'how are my people, how is my place going to be served by choral music?' and then build that. You've gotta build that one step at a time."
Joshua Cheney, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is the Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. He is responsible for the leadership and administration of GWU Choirs, to include the direction of Concert Choir, Men’s Chorale, Handbell Ensemble, and the Worship Ensemble. Joshua also teaches courses in conducting, voice, and guitar.
In addition to his work in teaching, Joshua currently serves as the Interim Music Minister for the First Baptist Church of Asheville, North Carolina. In this role he participates in worship planning and leads the Adult Choir in rehearsal and worship. Joshua is an active performer and has sung professionally with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir, Bel Canto Company, the Red Shift Choir, and Coro Vocati. Joshua is a regular clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, having directed honor choirs, adjudicated choral festivals, and given lectures at professional conferences throughout the South. Previous appointments include service as the Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, the Assistant Director of Music and Worship at the First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Choral Music Educator at John M. Morehead High School in Eden, North Carolina, and the Choral Music Educator at Harnett Central Middle School in Angier, North Carolina.
Joshua holds the B.A. in Music Education from Campbell University, the M.M. in Choral Conducting and Church Music from Mercer University, and the D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University. Joshua is married to Rebekah Cheney, who serves as the Director of Annual Giving at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Joshua and Rebekah reside in Asheville, North Carolina.
To get in touch with Joshua, you can find him on Instagram (@jcheneyconductor or @gardnerwebbchoirs) or email him at mailto:jcheney1@gardner-webb.edu .
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.
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“Octave displacement is a really big thing with adolescent singers. Make a game out of it - I’ll have them match me, match me up an octave, match me down an octave - versus scolding when you’re in the middle of rep and someone is singing too low and you just point and say ‘that’s too low.’ That’s a little ambiguous for the average 13-year-old. To give them the strength to identify it themselves is practicing the skill we want to see played out in the repertoire.”
Since 2006, Mr. Oakes has served as Director of Choral Music and Music Instructor at The Baylor School, a grade 6-12 independent day and boarding school in Chattanooga. Under his direction, the choral program has grown to include over 200 participants in four student choirs and a faculty choir. In 2015, he was awarded Baylor's Glenn Ireland Chair for Distinguished Teaching and starts his service as Chair of Baylor’s Fine Arts Department beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.
Mr. Oakes also serves as Artistic Director of the Chattanooga Boys Choir, a music education and performance organization founded in 1954 which now includes over 120 choristers ages 8-18 in five ensembles. Including innovative performance opportunities and collaborative community initiatives, the CBC maintains a performance calendar of thirty appearances annually. The choir has performed and toured extensively, including performance tours to Europe, Canada, and Cuba. Recording opportunities for the CBC have included commercially-released recordings with Stephen Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, and the grammy-nominated NAXOS recording of Maurice Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.
He is the former President of the ACDA’s Southern Region and in 2012, he was selected as one of seven conductors chosen to represent the United States at the inaugural ACDA International Conductor Exchange Program in Cuba.
As a conductor/clinician, he has conducted numerous honor choirs and festivals throughout the United States, including ACDA regional honor choirs. A lifelong advocate for music in worship, he has served churches in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee and as a clinician/conductor for children and youth choirs at Lake Junaluska, Massanetta Springs, and Montreat church music conferences.
Mr. Oakes earned the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Florida and the Master of Sacred Music degree in Choral Conducting from Emory University. He has contributed articles to Choral Journal and a chapter in the textbook Choral Pedagogy (3rd edition) by Robert Sataloff and Brenda Smith.
To get in touch with Vic, you can visit chattanoogaboyschoir.org or baylorschool.org.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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“I started to see the possibilities of what a youth community choir could be. Seeing that profound impact on a young woman was very transformative for me. After two or three years, everything that I did had more layers. There was a new potential of enhancement and community impact. The things that make me go like a volcano are about community, access to programs, and how to break barriers for participation.”
Dr. Marcela Molina has been leading the Tucson Girls Chorus since 2006, first serving as Artistic Director and taking the helm as Executive Director in 2011. Under Dr. Molina’s guidance, the Tucson Girls Chorus has grown significantly in programming and community engagement. With her leadership, the TGC has transformed into a vibrant and collaborative organization that creates access to inclusive programming for youth, and provides resources to music educators and support to their classrooms all year-round. Dr. Molina is also the Director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
Dr. Molina was an honoree in Tucson's 40 under 40 for her significant achievements and contributions in her profession and community and was one of eight in the state of Arizona chosen for Cox Hispanic Heritage Month. She was selected as a finalist for the Woman of Influence Awards in the category Arts and Culture Champion and under Molina’s leadership, the Tucson Girls Chorus was awarded the 2017 Copper Cactus award for Charitable Business sponsored by the Tucson Metro Chamber.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Marcela Molina holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and the University of Arizona. She has contributed articles to Antiphon, and the books Teaching through Performance in Choir, Volume 2 and Choral Reflections: Insights from American Choral Conductor-Teachers. She was named 2019 Choral Director of the Year by Arizona American Choral Directors Association (AzACDA), and she often serves as a clinician and guest conductor for choral festivals. Dr. Molina has served on the board of the AzACDA as well as standing committees for ACDA Western Division. She currently serves on the board of Chorus America.
To get in touch with Marcela, you can email her at mmolina@tucsongirlschorus.org or visit tucsongirlschorus.org. She's also on Facebook (@marcela.molina.1612147) and Instagram (@molinamarch).
Marcela recommends checking out the following composers: Colombian arranger JorgeAlejandro Salazar, Puerto Rican composer Diana Saez, and MelanieDeMore. About DeMore, Marcela writes, "I love unison singing to build tone and use it as a canvas of creative added writing from the singers, if composer allows."
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.
The Story Chaser
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“If a student has been unsuccessful at elementary and middle school, by the time they get to high school, it’s really hard to shift and course correct. But if they haven’t been successful at elementary and you get them at the middle school level, you really do have the potential to shift that course in a monumental way, to reshape their views about whether they are indeed successful and worthwhile. You really have such a big role to play.”
Jessica Nápoles is Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of North Texas. She teaches undergraduate coursework in choral methods, conducts the Concert Choir, and mentors graduate students in research. Dr. Nápoles served as Interim division chair for Conducting & Ensembles in 2019-2020 and Interim division chair for Music Education in Fall of 2020. A native of Florida with a Cuban-American background, Dr. Napoles taught middle school chorus in the public schools of Miami and Orlando, FL. She received her bachelor of music education, master of music education, and PhD in music education from the Florida State University. Prior to her appointment at UNT, she taught at the University of Utah for 11 years.
Dr. Nápoles is an active choral conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, frequently engaging in guest conducting opportunities locally, regionally, and nationally. She has conducted All State and honor choirs in 20 states across the United States. She has conducted the Southern, North Central/Central, Eastern, and Western division honor choirs for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). In 2019, Dr. Nápoles made her Carnegie Hall debut as choral conductor for the WorldStrides OnStage Honors Performance Series. She was asked to return every year since.
In addition to her choral conducting invitations, Dr. Nápoles is a well known researcher, with numerous publications in journals such as the Journal of Research in Music Education, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and the International Journal of Music Education. She served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Research in Music Education, the premier research journal in music education, the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, and the Journal of Music Teacher Education. Her research interests center on testing practitioner practices empirically, expressive conducting, burnout, and teacher talk. She has presented at conferences on these topics nationally and internationally. She is presently serving on NAfME’s Executive board of the Society for Research in Music Education.
Dr. Nápoles is meaningfully engaged with the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) at the national level. She is currently the Chair of the Research Standing Committee. Additionally, she served as Assistant Conference Chair for the 2019 and 2021 conferences, the Honor Choir Coordinator for the 2015 and 2017 conferences, and she is currently the co-chair of the 2025 Dallas national conference. Dr
The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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“Contemporary commercial music is closer to the students’ everyday musical culture. There’s that component of culturally relevant pedagogy that both show choir and vocal jazz meet. They are a bit more naturally motivating to a majority of students, and we honor the musical culture of the United States and our popular styles from the last 100 years when we teach these things."
Ryan Deignan is Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Minnesota Duluth where he leads the flagship University Singers and the award-winning vocal jazz ensemble Lake Effect and teaches voice lessons, ear training, and vocal pedagogy. Deignan is the Artistic Director of the Twin Ports Choral Project and was a fellow at the 2022 Baylor International Choral Conducting Masterclass.
In addition to teaching and conducting, Deignan performs as a professional vocalist. He performed with the Madison Choral Project in 2023 and sang with the new Baton Rouge choir Red Shift in their 2020 Southern ACDA performance, where he also served as tenor soloist. Deignan sang with Dallas’ Orpheus Chamber Singers and Dallas Bach Society, and community choir Denton Bach Society as tenor soloist for their performance of Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle.At the high school level, Deignan was Director of Choirs for the West Des Moines Valley High School choral program of 350 students, seven traditional choirs, two show choirs, and four jazz choirs. Under his direction, Valley Singers performed at the 2016 North Central ACDA Convention in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Prior to West Des Moines, Deignan was Associate Director of Vocal Music at Cedar Rapids Washington High School where he led a Slice of Jazz to the 2012 Iowa Vocal Jazz Championship.
Deignan holds a BA in Vocal Performance from Luther College, an MA in Music Education from the University of Iowa and DMA in Choral Studies with a cognate field in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of North Texas.
To get in touch with Ryan, you can email him at rpdeignan@gmail.com or find him on Facebook (@rdeignan) or Instagram (@rpdeignan).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Roots Music Rambler
Hear great conversations with the artists behind the music you love, new music and more!
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"I didn’t want to do any middle level teaching because of behavior, but I ended up teaching eight years at Patrick Henry Junior High. I loved every moment of it. I learned that if the kids loved and trusted you, they would do anything for you. It was just so much fun to take what they were willing to give and do some good work with them. It all translated into how they behaved in choir."
Cathleen Britton has been making music her entire life. She grew up in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and then studied music at The University of South Dakota, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master’s Degree in Music Education. Britton has spent her career largely in Sioux Falls directing middle and high school vocal music programs. Her concert choirs have been selected repeatedly to perform at regional conventions, college music festivals and even at Carnegie Hall. Show choirs directed by Britton have received top awards at competitions in a multi‐state area. Outside school, Britton directed the Asbury Methodist Adult Choir for 15 years and was vocal conductor at the Augustana Summer Music Camp. She has served as Clinician and Festival Conductor at numerous conventions and competitions throughout the state and region. She traveled to Muscat, Oman as a festival conductor for the TAISM Festival of Choirs.
Britton has fostered the growth of vocal music programs through her work in the American Choral Directors’ Association where she has served as Repertory and Standards Chairperson for Vocal Jazz and Show Choir, Publicity Chair, and Convention Clinician for the North Central Division of the ACDA. She also held the office of State President of the South Dakota Chapter of ACDA. In 1996, Britton received the Encore Award for excellence and achievement in choral music and in 2008 was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her peers in the American Choral Directors’ Association‐South Dakota Chapter. Britton was honored as the South Dakota recipient of the National Federation of High Schools 2011 Outstanding Music Educator Award. She was their North Central regional recipient for the same award in 2017, and in 2020, she received a national citation from NFHS.
To get in touch with Cathy, you can find her on Facebook (@cathy.clark.britton) or Instagram (@catbritton).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Roots Music Rambler
Hear great conversations with the artists behind the music you love, new music and more!
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"The greatest lesson that I learned as a gig singer is that your career and reputation are built one chance at a time. You get one chance and one chance only. If I want people to go out on a limb for me and recommend me for a gig, then I have to make sure that I'm protecting their reputation as well as my own. That starts with never being late, always being prepared, and almost never missing a note."
Dr. Stephen Caldwell is Associate Professor and Outgoing Chair of the Faculty Senate at the University of Arkansas. He is a nationally recognized conducting pedagogue and scholar, in demand as a clinician, conductor, and composer. At Arkansas, he conducts the nationally renowned Schola Cantorum, teaches the undergraduate sequence in conducting technique, graduate conducting lessons, and the graduate sequence in Choral History and Literature.
Since his arrival in 2012, he has twice been awarded the Associated Student Government's “Top 10 Most Outstanding Faculty Award," he has received “The Golden Tusk” from the Division of Student affairs, he is a 4-time Outstanding Mentor, the inaugural recipient of the Paul Cronan Award for Excellence in Teaching with Technology and was named one of the “Top 10 Artistic People to Watch” in Northwest Arkansas.
Under his direction and leadership, the Schola Cantorum has become one of the leading collegiate choirs in America, appearing at numerous conferences of NCCO, SWACDA, and ArkCDA, while touring internationally to the Republic of Serbia, Belgium, Germany, and Puerto Rico, and collecting more than half a million views on YouTube.
He has conducted more than 40 works with orchestra and has prepared choirs for performance with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Delaware Symphony, Arkansas Philharmonic, and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. He has presented interest sessions at multiple regional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and the National Collegiate Choral Organization and was an ACDA International Conducting Exchange Fellow in Kenya.
He has conducted District, Region and All-State choirs across the country and his original, multi award-winning compositions and arrangements are performed throughout the world.
Dr. Caldwell holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado, two Master of Music Degrees from Temple University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University.
To get in touch with Stephen, you can email him at stephenc@uark.edu. You can find him on X (@DrC_UArk) or Instagram (@stephen_caldwell). Visit the University of Arkansas Choirs YouTube page for more information about the UArk Choirs: @uofascholacantorum .
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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Thank you for listening to our show this season!!
Here are the favorite choral pieces from our guests in the second season:Sommerpsalm, Waldemar Åhlén
Christmas Oratorio, Johann Sebastian Bach
Komm, Jesu, Komm; Johann Sebastian Bach
Agnus Dei, Samuel Barber
Bluegrass Mass, Carol Barnett
Afternoon on a Hill, Eric Barnum
Missa Solemnis, Ludwig van Beethoven
The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee, Jean Berger
Chichester Psalms, Leonard Bernstein(x2)
Ave Maria, Franz Biebl
Ballad of the Brown King, Margaret Bonds
Credo, Margaret Bonds
Schicksalslied, Johannes Brahms
The New Colossus, Saunder Choi
Underneath My Foot, Jennifer Lucy Cook
Prayer of St. Francis, Robert Delgado
Requiem, Maurice Duruflé (x2)
When the Violin, Reena Esmail
Imagine Me, Kirk Franklin
Done Made My Vow, Adolphus Hailstork
I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, Adolphus Hailstork
Messiah, George Frideric Handel
Zadok the Priest, George Frideric Handel
Song of Democracy, Howard Hanson
Bring Us, O Lord God; William Harris
Lux Aeterna, Morten Lauridsen (x3)
Sure on This Shining Night, Morten Lauridsen
Fire Dance of Luna, Darius Lim
Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection," Gustav Mahler (x2)
The Awakening, Joseph M. Martin
Stabat Mater, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
And So I Go On, Jake Runestad
Selig Sind die Toten, Heinrich Schütz
Curse Upon Iron, Veljo Tormis
Eternity, Alvin Trotman
In the Middle, Dale Trumbore(x2)
Requiem, Giuseppe Verdi
O Quam Gloriosum, Tomás Luís de Victoria
Here are the composers that our guests suggested you check out:Amy Beach
Brittney Benton
Arron Bratt
Stephen Chatman
Samuel Coleridge Taylor
Eleanor Daley
William Dawson
R. Nathaniel Dett
Melissa Dunphy (see Choir Fam Episode 72)
Maurice Duruflé
Leon Firšt
José Maurício Nunes Garcia
Carlo Gesualdo
Edie Hill
Shabaka Hutchings
Juliette Lai
Guillaume de Machaut
Joanne Metcalf
Rosephanye Powell
Florence Price
Marie-Claire Saindon
Valerie Showers Crescenz
Heather Sorenson
Billy Strayhorn
Gerald Thompson
Alvin Trotman
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Brandon Waddles
Ruth Watson Henderson
Mary Lou Williams
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
We want to hear from you! We'd love all our listeners to answer our Season 3 lightning-round questions for us to share with our audience. We are looking forward to getting to know you better.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com with the following info:
- Subject Line: Choir Fam Minisode
- First and last name, pronouns optional
- City and state you live in
- School where you teach or study, choral organization you work with, etc.
- Answer any and all of our lightning round questions:
a. Beach or Mountain vacation?
b. What was your favorite subject in HS that was NOT music?
c. If you could go to a concert to hear any performer (living or dead), who would you pick?
d. What is the best kind of sandwich?
e. If you had to pick one favorite choral piece, what would it be?
f. What is one composer that you feel needs more attention?
g. What is your favorite memory associated with choral music?
h. What projects are you working on right now that you’re excited about?
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Choir Fam Minisode 3 includes Lightning Round answers from two of our Choir Fam listeners:
Stephen SalamunovichRenton, Washington
Anneliese ZookGarfield, Washington
We want to hear from you! We'd love all our listeners to answer our Season 1 lightning-round questions for us to share with our audience. We are looking forward to getting to know you better.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com with the following info:
- Subject Line: Choir Fam Minisode
- First and last name, pronouns optional
- City and state you live in
- School where you teach or study, choral organization you work with, etc.
- Answer any and all of our lightning round questions:
a. When you were in high school, who was your favorite musical artist?
b. If you could pick any career, other than music, what would it be?
c. Dogs or cats?
d. If you could be an extra in any movie you’ve seen, what movie would be?
e. If you had to pick one favorite choral piece, what would it be?
f. What is one composer that you feel needs more attention?
g. What is your favorite memory associated with choral music?
h. What projects are you working on right now that you’re excited about?
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“The number one thing that I look for when I meet a younger conductor is imagination, someone who comes with ideas but also has a story to tell with the music. Often younger conductors are really worried about technique, the way they look, the way they rehearse, but it starts with imagination. What do you want to communicate? People are so worried about technique that they hide themselves. We want to see the person. Who are you and what do you have to say?”
Prof. Jean-Sébastien Vallée is a renowned Canadian-American conductor, scholar, and pedagogue known for his expertise in vocal, choral, and orchestral repertoires. With an illustrious career spanning over several decades, Dr. Vallée has conducted numerous ensembles across North America, Europe, and Asia, and has prepared choruses for some of the world's most prestigious orchestras including the Toronto Symphony, the Montreal Symphony, the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Currently serving as Associate Professor of Music, Director of Choral Studies, and Coordinator of the Ensembles & Conducting Area at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, and as Artistic Director of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Dr. Vallée is a sought-after conductor and pedagogue. He has previously served as the Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, and was on the choral faculty of the University of Redlands. Dr. Vallée holds degrees from Laval University, Sherbrooke University, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a doctorate in conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Maestro Vallée's passion for contemporary music is evident in his work, as he makes it a priority to premiere and commission works by young composers and program rarely performed repertoire. Dr. Vallée has presented his research at several national and international conferences, including the American Choral Directors Association Conventions, Festival 500 in Newfoundland, the National Collegiate Choral Organization conference, Podium—the national convention of Choral Canada, the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, and the World Symposium on Choral Music in Spain (2017), New Zealand (2020), and Portugal (2022).
Maestro Vallée's recordings have been broadcast internationally and include Lux (ATMA, 2017), Requiem (ATMA, 2018 – requiems by Fauré and Duruflé), and Distance (ATMA, 2021). His recent engagements include concerts at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, a tour with the National Choir of Canada, and concerts with l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Chorus.
To get in touch with Jean-Sébastien, you can visit his website jsvallee.com or find him on Facebook (@sebastien.vallee) or Instagram (@jsvallee).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your
The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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“We are there to be servants of our community. A lot of amateur choirs can become bowling leagues; they show up on Wednesday night, they have a great time, and that’s the reason they do it. I think the trick is to satisfy the needs of our singers, develop them as artists and people, but also make the focus constantly about reaching out to our audience: how do I find pieces that are going to meet my singers where they are, challenge them pedagogically, and bring people to my concert and make it impactful?”
Erick Lichte enjoys a diverse career as a conductor, composer, and record producer.
As a founding member, singer, and Artistic Director of the male vocal ensemble Cantus, Lichte created and sustained one of only two full-time vocal ensembles in the United States. From 2000-2009, Lichte’s programming and artistic direction were heard in over 60 concerts a year and he has collaborated with artists such as Bobby McFerrin, the Boston Pops, and Minnesota Orchestra.
In January 2013, he began his tenure as Artistic Director of Vancouver, Canada’s Chor Leoni Men’s Choir. Since that time, he has grown the choir into one of the most active and popular amateur choirs in North America, performing over 35 concerts a year. His first recording with Chor Leoni, Wandering Heart, received a perfect five-star review from the UK’s prestigious Choir and Organ Magazine. In the summer of 2018, he led Chor Leoni to multiple awards and Grand Prix appearances at both the Singapore and Bali International Choral Competitions. In 2020, his world premiere recording of When There Is Peace: an Armistice Oratorio was nominated for a JUNO Award.
His work with Cantus and Chor Leoni garnered him both the 2009 and 2019 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, the highest honour from the professional choral organization Chorus America. He is only the second conductor to have ever won this award with two ensembles.
Lichte is an active proponent of new music and has commissioned over 300 new works from composers such as Lee Hoiby, Eriks Esenvalds, Gavin Bryars, Jocelyn Morlock, Steven Sametz, Edie Hill, Mary Ellen Childs, and Zachary Wadsworth among many others.
As a record producer, Lichte has made over 30 albums. His recent release for Naxos of the choral music of Eriks Esenvalds spent multiple weeks as the number one classical album on the Billboard charts.
He is also an active composer and arranger, especially known for co-creating All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 which has toured North America annually and been performed on three continents. The work’s 2018 off-Broadway run in Greenwich Village garnered Lichte a Drama Desk Award for both his composing and his musical direction. In November 2020, a filmed version of this production will air across the United States distributed through PBS.
To get in touch with Erick, you can reach out on Instagram (@ericklichte) or on Facebook (@erick.lichte). You can also check out Chor Leoni's YouTube page (
The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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“So many people view conducting as a reflection of the music, and if that works for them, that's great. I view conducting as a reflection of the movement. Undergrads aren't always predisposed to musical language, but they are already predisposed to the language that Laban uses: time, space, weight, flow. Instead of saying 'that's not marcato enough,' you could instead say 'that's not heavy enough’ or ‘direct enough.’ That's language that we're already familiar with as people.”
Dr. Eric Rubinstein is Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Nazareth University, where he directs the Chamber Singers and Treble Choir and teaches additional coursework in conducting and music education. Prior to his appointment at Nazareth, Dr. Rubinstein served as Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College (CUNY).
Ensembles under his direction have been recognized across New York and New England for performances of the highest artistic caliber. Program highlights with the Nazareth Chamber Singers include a performance tour of Poland, a year-long partnership with Nazareth’s Department of Theatre and Dance, and an invited performance at the 2023 NYSSMA Winter Conference. Dr. Rubinstein led the Queens College Treble Choir to invited performances at the 2022 ACDA Eastern Division Conference in Boston, MA and as the demonstration choir for the 2019 NYSSMA Winter Conference conducting masterclass. The Treble Choir was also honored in 2022 by The American Prize.
As a secondary school choral director, Dr. Rubinstein amassed a decade of high school teaching in Monticello and Westhampton Beach, NY, where he concurrently served on the music education faculty at CUNY Brooklyn College. Under his direction, the choirs were honored to perform at Carnegie Hall, Chautauqua Institute, and abroad, and were featured at the 2015 NY-ACDA Conference at the Eastman School of Music. Dr. Rubinstein has also served on the artistic faculty for the New York State Summer School of the Arts, and remains active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for various choral festivals and conferences.
Dr. Rubinstein is a member of NAfME and ACDA, where he also serves as a New York- ACDA Repertoire & Resources co-chair for LGBTQIA+ Choral Music. He holds Choral Conducting and Music Education degrees from Louisiana State University (D.M.A), Michigan State University (M.M.), and SUNY Fredonia (B.M.).
To get in touch with Eric, you can email him at erubins6@naz.edu or find him on Facebook: https://facebook.com/erubinstein .
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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"The question I had to ask myself was, 'Do you want to change who you are as a composer just so can match a particular sound that is in fashion or is expected of you in the concert hall world or do you want to say true to yourself as an artist?'" Time and time again, whenever this question pops up, it's always you turn towards yourself and ask yourself who you are and you stay true to who you are. You don't change your sound based on what is in vogue in the music world. Be true to yourself. Be the best version of yourself and don't try to be a second-rate version of anyone else."
Christopher Tin is a two-time Grammy-winning composer of concert and media music. His music has been performed and premiered in many of the world's most prestigious venues: Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Hollywood Bowl, the United Nations, and Carnegie Hall, where he had an entire concert devoted to his music. He has also been performed by ensembles diverse as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Metropole Orkest, and US Air Force Band.
His song "Baba Yetu", originally written for the video game Civilization IV, is a modern choral standard, and the first piece of music written for a video game ever to win a Grammy Award. His debut album, the multi-lingual song cycle Calling All Dawns, won him a second Grammy in 2011 for Best Classical Crossover Album, and his follow-up release The Drop That Contained the Sea debuted at #1 on Billboard's classical charts, and premiered to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium. His third album To Shiver the Sky also debuted at #1, and was funded by a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign that raised $221,415, smashing all previous classical music crowdfunding records. His fourth album, The Lost Birds, is a collaboration with acclaimed British vocal ensemble VOCES8 and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2023.
Tin is signed to an exclusive record deal with Universal under their legendary Decca label, published by Concord and Boosey & Hawkes, and is a Yamaha artist. He works out of his own custom-built studio in Santa Monica, CA.
To get in touch with Chris, you can visit his website, christophertin.com, or find him on Instagram (@christophertinmusic) or Facebook (@christophertinmusic).
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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“The music that I fell in love with that made me want to be a musician when I was a young teenager was not loved because it’s super difficult. That’s not the reason you love music. You love music that makes you feel and makes you think. If something is challenging, that feeling of reaching the finish line and being able to create a performance that you’re proud of is super rewarding. If something is impossible, that doesn’t excite me.”
Born in Australia and raised in an immigrant family, Melissa Dunphy herself immigrated to the United States in 2003 and has since become an award-winning and acclaimed composer specializing in vocal, political, and theatrical music. She first came to national attention when her large-scale work the Gonzales Cantata was featured in The The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, National Review, and on Fox News and The Rachel Maddow Show, where host Rachel Maddow described it as “the coolest thing you’ve ever seen on this show.”. Other notable works include the song cycle Tesla's Pigeon, which won first place in the NATS Art Song Composition Award, and choral work What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach? which won the Simon Carrington Chamber Singers Competition and has been performed nationally by ensembles including Chanticleer and Cantus.
Dunphy is the recipient of a 2020 Opera America Discovery Grant for Alice Tierney, an opera commissioned by Oberlin Conservatory which premiered in 2023 at Oberlin and Opera Columbus. She has been composer-in-residence for the Immaculata Symphony Orchestra, Volti, and the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, and her commissions include works for the BBC Singers, VOCES8, Mendelssohn Chorus, and the Kennett Symphony. Dunphy is also a Barrymore Award-nominated theater composer and is Director of Music Composition for the O'Neill National Puppetry Conference.
Dunphy has a Ph.D. in composition from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.M. from West Chester University and is on faculty at Rutgers University. She is president of the board of directors for Wildflower Composers and serves on the board of Lyric Fest. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Matt; the Dunphys are currently the owners and developers of the Hannah Callowhill Stage, a new performance venue in Old City Philadelphia which they hope to open in 2026 for the 250th anniversary of the birth of America, and co-hosts of the popular podcast The Boghouse about their adventures in Philadelphia colonial archaeology.
To get in touch with Melissa, you can visit her website, melissadunphy.com or find her on Instagram (@mormolyke) or Facebook (@mormolyke).
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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“You can’t be a good teacher, you can’t be a good conductor, without being a good human being... I’m grateful that I have stuck with so many of the things that felt true to me. I’m honest and vulnerable but also still open to learning from other people, because everything that I do is not right. If I realize it’s not right, I need to ‘fess up to it really quickly.”
A Virginia native, Marques L. A. Garrett is Associate Professor of Choral Studies at the University of North Texas. He earned his PhD in Music Education (Choral Conducting) at Florida State University.
An active conductor, Dr. Garrett is the founding conductor of the Nebraska Festival Singers. He has served as a guest conductor or clinician with several school, church, community, and festival/honor choirs throughout the country. In addition to his conducting classes at UNT, he leads conducting workshops at other universities and conferences.
A versatile voice that performs both as a baritone and countertenor, Dr. Garrett has sung with several community, church, and university groups as both a chorister and soloist. He was the countertenor soloist in the European premiere of Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo in Limerick, Ireland. Currently, he sings with the Festival Singers of Florida and Jason Max Ferdinand Singers.
Dr. Garrett is an avid composer of choral and solo-vocal music whose compositions have been performed to acclaim by high school all-state, collegiate, and professional choirs including Seraphic Fire and the Oakwood University Aeolians. His compositions are available through several publishers.
To get in touch with Marques, you can visit his website, mlagmusic.com or find him on Facebook (@marques.l.a.garrett) or Snapchat/Instagram/X (@mlagmusic).
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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“My professional career comes from something that I did not study. I think it’s called the hidden curriculum - things that you learn that are not on your schedule that are many times equally or more important as things on the schedule. Now, don’ t tell your students not to study and only spend time doing whatever they do. The combination is the secret - the inspiration you get from your fellow students and teachers.”
Born in Stockholm, Anders Edenroth started playing piano and singing in choirs at an early age. From ages 10 to 20 studying at Adolf Fredrik’s School of Music in Stockholm he experienced a strong focus on choir singing. Continuing with five years of studies at The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, he and his fellow-students formed an a cappella quintet – The Real Group. In the two years following their Masters qualifications, all five group members studied together on a specially-designed postgraduate course resulting in a diploma of the highest standing.
For The Real Group Anders Edenroth has written and published many original songs, and arrangements of well-known standards, constantly exploring the development of new vocal textures and the integration of vocal percussion and rhythmic effects. He has been awarded several grants from The Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs and Swedish Performing Rights Society (STIM). He has also worked as a keyboard player within the jazz and pop domain and as a writer of television scores and music for commercials. Over the years he has engineered and produced albums for many artists as well as arranging music for other vocal groups, for big bands, symphony orchestras and stage shows. Since 1989 he has been a full-time singer performing with The Real Group in more than 40 countries and has recorded 20 albums, many of which he also produced. Anders is also much appreciated for his many masterclass workshops, both at the two major TRG Festivals, and at venues on their international tours.
His off-stage interests include cooking (which leaks into some of his compositional ideas) and environmental conservation. One of his favourite influences is Stevie Wonder although he listens to all kinds of music. He thinks that if not a musician, his creative instincts might have manifested as an inventor and he plans to one day publish a book entitled ‘Incredible Inventions’ or ‘Totally Ingenius’.
To get in touch with Anders, you can visit his website, www.andersedenroth.com, or find him on Facebook (@anders.edenroth) or Instagram (@andersedenroth).
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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"When you're singing choral music, you can't be thinking about all those other things that are going on in your life. It takes incredible mental focus. People would say to me, 'how do you have time to sing in a choir when you're working on a doctorate?' and I would tell them that for me, it's like getting a mental holiday. It revives me. It refreshes me. It fills a different part of my soul and my brain and actually helps in all the other things that I was able to accomplish."
Dr. Elizabeth Chilton was named the inaugural Chancellor of the WSU Pullman campus in the fall of 2021. Chilton joined WSU as provost and executive vice president in July of 2020 and began serving in her dual role in January 2022.
A first-generation college student, Chilton earned her PhD at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, after earning her BA at the University at Albany, State University of New York at Albany.
From 2017 to 2020 she served as dean of the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences at Binghamton University, one of the largest universities in the SUNY system. Prior to her tenure at Binghamton, Chilton spent nearly 16 years as a professor and leader at the University of Massachusetts. She served as a professor, anthropology department chair and associate vice chancellor for research and engagement, among other roles. She worked toward making the institutions she’s served more accessible, diverse, and inclusive.
After earning her PhD, Chilton got her start in academia at Harvard University, where she was a tenure track assistant professor and served as the Associate Curator for the Archeology of Northeastern North America at the institution’s Peabody Museum.
In addition to her administrative roles, Chilton is a respected author, teacher, and scholar of New England archeology and Native American studies.
Chilton serves as president of the Archaeology Division of the American Anthropological Association, and has served as a faculty fellow for the Higher Education Leadership Programs for Women, or HERS, which aims to create and sustain a diverse network of bold women leaders. She’s been involved in more than a dozen conferences since 1999, serving as an organizer as well as a moderator and panelist, and is the author of dozens of peer-reviewed book chapters and journal articles.
To get in touch with Elizabeth, you can find her on Twitter (@EChiltonWSU) or Instagram (@echiltonwsu). You can also email her at pullman@wsu.edu.
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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“Being text-focused has been really beneficial and a change from the way I’ve seen concerts programmed in the past: ‘Do the keys align? What is the soundscape?’ Those things are important, but for these concerts, the message that we’re putting out there has to be priority. We are choral musicians, and we have words and stories to share, and those have to take precedent.”
Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake works as a conductor, composer/arranger, vocal contractor, singer, and music activist. Blake is the Founding Artistic Director of Tonality, an award-winning choral ensemble focused on spreading a message of unity, peace, and social justice through a culturally diverse choral setting. He also serves as Principal Associate Conductor of the National Children’s Chorus.
As an arranger, Blake’s “Wade in the Water” was a featured arrangement at the 2013 North Carolina Music Educators Association convention and is published with Santa Barbara Music Publishing. His choral arrangements are published by Alliance Music Publishing and Walton Music Publishing. Other musical activities include an opera conducting premiere at the 2019 Prototype Festival in New York City, preparing choirs for live performances with UCLA Center for the Art of Performance, and vocally arranging for a nationally televised performance during the 2022 MLB All-Star Game.
Recent film and TV credits include singing on the soundtrack of Jordan Peele’s “Us,” Disney’s “Lion King,” and Pixar’s “Spies in Disguise,” and leading sessions for Warner Bros "Space Jam: A New Legacy" and Netflix film "Escape from Spiderhead." Blake also worked as the choral contractor and vocal arranger for Andy Grammer’s performance at the 2019 ARDYs (Radio Disney Awards). Blake recently prepared singers for the 2020 Grammy Awards and performed at the 92nd Academy Awards.
Blake completed the Doctorate in Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California in 2019, the Master of Music degree at the University of California Los Angeles in 2014, and the Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in Vocal Performance at Wake Forest University in 2010.
To get in touch with Alex, you can find him on Instagram: @alexanderlblake. To learn more about Tonality, look for @ourtonality on Instagram or Facebook.
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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Ryan W. Holder is currently in his eighteenth year as the Associate Director of Choral Studies at Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ), where he directs Vox Astra and the Northern Voices and High Altitude vocal jazz ensembles, teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting and choral methods, supervises choral student teachers, and serves as the adviser for the NAU student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and the three contemporary a cappella groups. In addition, he is the coordinator of the annual Jazz/Madrigal festival, which brings in over 85 high schools and 145 choirs every year.
Dr. Holder has given lectures and presentations at local, state, and regional ACDA and NAfME conventions, including a lecture on “Making the Transition from Classical to Vocal Jazz”. His vocal jazz ensembles have also been invited to perform throughout the Southwest, including performances at state and regional ACDA conferences, and was one of only three vocal jazz ensembles selected to perform at the 2012 Jazz Educators Network Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ryan has served as the Arizona State ACDA President as well as on the ACDA National Committee on Educational Technology. He also serves as the director of music at The Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona, Arizona where he is the founding artistic director of the Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers.
Dr. Holder received his DMA degree from the University of Miami in addition to bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Oregon University and University of Northern Colorado, respectively.
To get in touch with Ryan, you can email him at Ryan.Holder@nau.edu or find him on Instagram (@the_ryan_holder).
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
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“I really thought I wanted to be a high school teacher, but the first job I got was in elementary. That turned out to be the best ‘teaching-me’ experience I could have had, because I learned that if one could get music across to people without much background, you can get it across to anybody.”
Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt is Professor Emerita of Choral Studies at the University of Toronto where she held the Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting and received the inaugural Teaching Excellence Award in 2013. Previously she taught at the Ohio State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, after receiving her doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also holds degrees from the University of Toronto and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Her teaching experiences range from teaching public school to directing community ensembles and church choirs. From 2013 – 2018, she was Artistic Director of Exultate Chamber Singers in Toronto.
A native Canadian, she has performed with her university choirs at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and at Podium, the national conference of Choral Canada. She has conducted honors choruses throughout Canada and the U.S., including almost 40 all-state high school choirs. She has directed choral festivals at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and throughout Europe.
Dr. Apfelstadt has published numerous articles and book chapters, including contributions to Wisdom, Wit and Will: Women Choral Conductors on their Art (GIA Publications, 2009) and Conducting Successful Women’s Choirs (GIA, 2012). She is co-editor of Teaching Music through Performance in Choir, v. 5, published by GIA (2019), and a contributing author to Volume 4 of the same series. Her book on the life and work of Canadian composer Ruth Watson Henderson, I Didn’t Want It To be Boring (Toronto: Prism Publishers) won Choral Canada’s award for the Outstanding Choral Publication in 2018. She is Feature Articles Editor for Anacrusis (Choral Canada) and an Editorial Mentor for The Choral Scholar (NCCO). She also serves on the Board of Chorus America.
A Life Member of ACDA, Dr. Apfelstadt served as National President from 2007 – 2009 and as Interim Executive Director from 2020 – 2021. She has received leadership awards from NC-ACDA, Ohio CDA, ACDA Central Region, ACDA Midwestern Region, and Choirs Ontario.
To get in touch with Hilary, you can email her at hilary.apfelstadt@utoronto.ca or find her on Facebook (@HilaryJApfelstadt).
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The Story Chaser
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“We were doing some Anglican chant, and we went on to the Hogan ‘Ride On, King Jesus.’ It was as if it was the first time we had ever seen light. It was a revelation for me and for the singers and led to a lot of rebranding of who we are, our values, whose music is important, and the right balance we should be striving for. I felt like I had finally found a place where I could express my full musical identity because it had been fragmented in every other professional setting.”
Arreon A. Harley-Emerson graduated from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, with bachelor’s degrees in Music Theory & Composition and Vocal Performance (opera). He received master’s of music degrees in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from the University of Delaware School of Music and is a doctoral candidate and University Fellow at the Boyer School of Music and Dance at Temple University in Philadelphia. He has had the opportunity to conduct in venues such as St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, The Kimmel Center for the Arts in Philadelphia, and the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore.
Mr. Harley-Emerson has held a number of teaching and artistic director positions. He served as Director of Music and Operations of the Choir School of Delaware from June 2013 through December 2022. In this position, he was responsible for the musical components of the renowned Choir School program as well as serving as Executive Director, managing the day-to-day operations of the organization.
An avid researcher and presenter, Mr. Harley-Emerson has contributed a chapter to The Oxford Handbook for Choral Pedagogy entitled “The Gang Mentality of Choirs: How Choirs Have the Capacity to Change Lives.” He also has a TEDx Talk with the same title and contributed to the research literature regarding culturally responsive choral and classroom practice.
Committed to the principles of Access, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Restorative Practice (ADEIBR), Mr. Harley-Emerson has established a thriving consultancy to assist arts and culture nonprofit organizations in remaining relevant in the 21st century. His work includes longitudinal studies, strategic planning, Board Excellence training, resource and asset development, and board diversification. Mr. Harley-Emerson currently serves as the National Chair of the American Choral Directors Association’s Diversity Initiatives Committee. An active member of the Wilmington, Delaware community, Mr. Harley-Emerson is on the Delaware Arts Alliance’s Board of Directors, where he serves as President of the Board and chairs the Advancement Committee, which is tasked with fundraising, membership development, and DEIB.
To get in touch with Arreon, you can visit his website, equitysings.com. You can also find him on Facebook (@EquitySings) or Instagram (@equitysings). Learn more about Arreon's pro choir, Elevation, at elevatevocalarts.org.
Choir
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“If people think you value them, they will do anything in the world to make the music for you."
André J. Thomas is an Associate Artist with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Thomas is Professor Emeritus of Music at Florida State University. He was visiting Professor of Choral Conducting at Yale University from 2020-2022. He also served as faculty member at the University of Texas, Austin.
Dr. Thomas received his degrees from Friends University (B.A.), Northwestern University (M. M.), and The University of Illinois (D.M.A). He is in demand as a choral adjudicator, clinician, and director of Honor/All-State Choirs throughout North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and Africa Dr. Thomas has conducted choirs at the state, division, and national conventions of the Music Educators National Conference (NAFME) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). His international conducting credits are extensive. They include conductor/clinician for the International Federation of Choral Musicians' summer residency of the World Youth Choir in the Republic of China and the Philippines. He was also the conductor of the World Youth Choir's winter residency in Europe and a premier performance by an American choir (Florida State University Singers) in Vietnam.
He is a highly respected guest conductor who has led numerous prestigious orchestras and choirs around the world, including the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England, the Berlin Radio Choir and the North German Radio Choir in Germany, the Netherlands Radio Choir, The Bulgarian Radio Choir and Orchestra, the Seoul Metropolitan Chorus, Ansan City Choir, Jeju Provincial Seogwipo Chorale in South Korea, the Charlotte Symphony, China's People's Liberation Orchestra, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony. He also served as the Artistic Director of the Tallahassee Community Chorus for 31 seasons.
Thomas has also distinguished himself as a composer/arranger. Hinshaw Music Company, Mark Foster Music Company, Fitzsimons Music Company, Lawson Gould, Earthsongs, Choristers Guild, and Heritage Music Company publish his compositions and arrangements. Dr. Thomas has produced two instructional videos—What They See Is What You Get on choral conducting, with Rodney Eichenberger, and Body, Mind, Spirit, Voice on adolescent voices, with Anton Armstrong. His recent book, Way Over in Beulah Lan': Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual, has quickly become a significant source in this area of study.
Various musical organizations have recognized Thomas. The African Diaspora Sacred Music honored Dr. Thomas as a Living Legend. In 2011, Chorus America recognized Thomas' dedication to and accomplishments in the choral arts, presenting him with its Distinguished Service Award. In March 2017, ACDA presented Thomas with its highest honor, the Robert Shaw Award, and in November of 2017, NCCO (National Collegiate Choral Organization) presented Thomas with its Lifetime Achievement Award. In January 2019, he was inducted into the Florida Music Educator's Hall of Fame. In 20
The Story Chaser
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“Let your passion guide you. That has been such a huge help to me in this journey because I know that I’m doing it because I love to do it. Don’t get caught up in going through the motions. It’s easy to be on autopilot and push things to the back of your mind so you can keep putting out work, good performances, or good rehearsals, but always try to be in tune with yourself and listen to what your body needs.”
B.E. (Brittney Elizabeth) Boykin is a native of Alexandria, Virginia, and comes from a musical family. At the age of 7, she began piano lessons and continued her studies through high school under the tutelage of Mrs. Alma Sanford. Mrs. Sanford guided her through various competitions, such as the NAACP’s ACT-SO competition where she garnered 1st place for 3 consecutive years in the local competition, as well as being awarded The Washington Post “Music and Dance Award” in the spring of 2007.
Boykin then pursued her classical piano studies at Spelman College under the leadership of Dr. Rachel Chung. After graduating Spelman College in 2011 with a B.A. in Music, Boykin continued her studies at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey. During her time at Westminster, she was awarded the R and R Young Composition Prize just a few months shy of graduating with her M.M. in Sacred Music with a concentration in choral studies in May, 2013.
Boykin’s choral piece, “We Sing as One,” was commissioned to celebrate Spelman College’s 133rd Anniversary of its founding at the 2014 Founders Day Convocation. She has also been featured as the conductor/composer-in-residence for the 2017 Harry T. Burleigh Commemorative Spiritual Festival at Tennessee State University. Boykin has been commissioned and collaborated with several organizations, including a number of ACDA divisions, the Minnesota Opera and the Kennedy Center. She obtained her Ph.D. from Georgia State University with an emphasis in Music Education and is currently an Assistant Professor of Music at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
To get in touch with Brittney, you can find her on Instagram (@_klavia) or Facebook (@klaviapress). You can also visit her websites, klaviapress.com and beboykin.com.
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Excerpt from "Stardust" by B.E. Boykin, performed by the WSU Treble Choir, Matthew Myers, conductor. Available from Graphite Publishing: https://graphitepublishing.com/product/stardust/
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“It’s people first. You need to address the humans that are there in front of you and help them be where they are. There are some kids who are hungry, who haven’t had anything since their last meal at school the day before or the week before. The human part of them has to feel safe before they can care about whether that’s a late sixteenth note.”
Dr. Lynn M. Brinckmeyer recently retired as Professor of Music, Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication and Director of Choral Music Education at Texas State University. During 2006-2008 she served as President for The National Association for Music Education (formerly MENC). Other past offices include: President for the Northwest Division of MENC, Music Educators Journal Editorial Board, and Washington Music Educators Association General Music Curriculum Chair. In addition to chairing the Eastern Washington University Music Department for six years and conducting the EWU Concert Choir, Dr. Brinckmeyer received the Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame, the MENC Northwest Division Distinguished Service Award and she was designated a Lowell Mason Fellow for outstanding contributions to the field of music education.
Dr. Brinckmeyer’s research initiatives continue to focus on developing young voices, music from across the globe and music advocacy. She published five books: Wander the USA with Warm-Ups!, The Wonder of Music with John Jacobson, Rhythm Rescue!, Wander the World with Warm-ups with Hal Leonard Publishing and Advocate for Music with Oxford University Press. In Washington she conducted the Eastern Washington University Girls’ Chorus and the South Hill Children’s Chorus. During her time at Texas State University Dr. Brinckmeyer was a co-founder/Artistic Director of the Hill Country Youth Chorus.
Dr. Brinckmeyer’s degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Music Education from Eastern New Mexico University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from The University of Kansas. In New Mexico she taught elementary music and middle school choir, then moved to higher education in the Pacific Northwest. At Texas State University Dr. Brinckmeyer teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral music education, and she directed the Texas State treble ensemble, Aurora Voce. Each summer Dr. Brinckmeyer serves as a long time staff member for the World Music Drumming workshops. She has conducted all state choirs and honor choirs, lectured, presented master classes and performed in forty-nine states in the United States and 20+ countries, including China, Brazil, South Africa, Cuba, Peru and Australia. In addition to serving music teachers and students across the globe Dr. Brinckmeyer mentors teachers and other professionals as a Life Mastery Certified Coach/Consultant.
To get in touch with Lynn, you can email her at lynnbrinckmeyer@gmail.com or lbrinckmeyer@txstate.edu. You can get more information about her program Love Teaching Even More by reaching out to her.
Choir Fam wants to hea
The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
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Roots Music Rambler
Hear great conversations with the artists behind the music you love, new music and more!
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
“Social practice is the ability to let peer groups problem-solve together and work things through. This is what I try to practice a lot of in the learning stages of music making. The phrase I use is ‘You learn music with us so that someday you can go learn music and make it without us.’ If they’re not identifying how to problem-solve and correct on their own, they are less likely to go out and be able to do that independently.”
Joseph Svendsen is the Director of Choral Studies and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he conducts the UNLV Singers and Collegium and teaches graduate coursework in conducting and choral literature, working with students seeking the MM in Choral Conducting. During his tenure at UNLV the choirs have toured internationally and regionally and performed at professional conferences and festivals in the southwestern United States. The choirs host the Desert Rose Choral Festival, a one-day festival chorus of high school students drawn from across the southwest.
Svendsen is the artistic director of the Las Vegas Master Singers, a 90-voice volunteer ensemble that serves as the symphony chorus for the Las Vegas Philharmonic and provides the choruses for Opera Las Vegas’s main stage productions. The chorus regularly collaborates with Las Vegas and regional orchestras, choirs, and solo artists and commissions works about life in Nevada through its New Voices outreach program. Svendsen is also music minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Summerlin, Nevada, where the church’s choral scholars recently completed a residency at St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire, England. An active clinician, he has served as an invited conductor in eight countries and seven states, with choirs ranging from middle school through adulthood.
Svendsen is an advocate of critical pedagogy and agency building in the choral rehearsal, developing student musicianship, independence, and engagement through the teaching of diverse repertoire. He has presented on this subject for conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Education, as well as several university and school district guest lectures and residencies. He is the 2023 recipient of the UNLV College of Fine Arts Outstanding Teaching Award.
Svendsen is a proud alumnus of Luther College, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Texas Tech University, from which he earned his DMA in Choral Conducting. From 2007-2013 he taught high school vocal music in Fort Dodge, Iowa. His choral mentors and teachers include Richard Bjella, Chester Alwes, Craig Arnold, and Timothy Peter.
To get in touch with Joe, you can email him at joseph.svendsen@unlv.edu or find him on Instagram (@joseph.svendsen) or Twitter (@josephsvendsen).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us.
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The Story Chaser
This is a journey along the way of writing my first book. I will be telling some...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Roots Music Rambler
Hear great conversations with the artists behind the music you love, new music and more!
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
“It’s powerful to see [the Dallas Street Choir] perform. It’s powerful to see the invisible become visible. Both the audience reaction to take an invisible, isolated population and see them for the very first time in many ways, but it’s also powerful for them to be seen.”
Jonathan Palant is Associate Dean of the Arts and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Texas at Dallas and is founder and conductor of the Credo Community Choir, a 140-member adult mixed choir, and the Dallas Street Choir, a musical outlet for those affected by homelessness. In addition, Dr. Palant is Director of Music at Kessler Park United Methodist Church, and is employed by the Dallas Independent School District to mentor middle and high school vocal music teachers.
From 2007-2011, he served as Artistic Director of Dallas’ Turtle Creek Chorale. Prior to that, Palant held collegiate teaching positions at Western Kentucky University and Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan. He taught secondary choral music at University School, an all-boys independent school in Cleveland, Ohio, and San Pasqual High School in Escondido, California.
Dr. Palant currently serves as president of the National Alliance for Music In Vulnerable Communities, Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Southwest American Choral Directors Association (SWACDA), and sits on the board of directors of the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses. He has also served on the state board of the Michigan chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and Youth First Texas where he was founder and conductor of Dallas PUMP!, a choir serving at-risk youth.
Dr. Palant holds degrees from Michigan State University, Temple University and the University of Michigan.
Both Palant’s book, Brothers, Sing On! Conducting the Tenor-Bass Choirand Brothers, Sing On! The Jonathan Palant Choral Series are published by Hal Leonard.
To get in touch with Jonathan, you can email him at jonathanpalant@gmail.com or find him on Facebook (@jpalant).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us.
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“As first-year teachers, we have more power than we think we do. Our voice is heard more because we’re the new person in town. As young teachers, I think that our confidence is still growing. We’re still learning to navigate what to ask and how to ask admin... You can always ask for something, and the worst thing they’re going to say is ‘no’ or ‘not yet.’”
Christina Hall is a master's student in Choral Conducting at Arizona State University. Concurrently, she is in her third season as a soprano in the GRAMMY-award winning Phoenix Chorale. Christina served as the choir director at Millennium High School in Goodyear, Arizona, for four years teaching choir and class guitar and founded the first piano curriculum in the district. She is a native of Walla Walla, Washington, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Choral Music Education at Northern Arizona University. While in Flagstaff, Christina directed the Living Christ Lutheran Church Choir for three years and performed at Carnegie Hall in December 2019.
Vocally, she trained with Dr. Judith Cloud and performed as a backup singer for Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman. An active member of the American Choral Directors Association, Christina frequently attends state, regional, and national conferences and recently presented at the AzACDA State Conference on Program Advocacy. She serves her second term as the Youth Repertoire & Resources Coordinator for the Western Region of the American Choral Directors Association and first year as the AzACDA Vocal Jazz Chair.
To get in touch with Christina, you can find her on Instagram (@challmusic) or Facebook (@christina.hall.213), visit her website (https://www.challmusic.com), or email her at cihall1@asu.edu.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us.
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"The timbre of the singing voice [in Malaysian music] is definitely different from singing Western art music mainly because of the language itself. The way the language is being spoken accesses a different space in our whole instrument. If you want sing the music of a different culture or language in that particular tone, listen to how a person would speak the language, and you won't go far from it."
Dr. Tracy Wong is a Malaysian-Canadian choral conductor, music educator, composer, vocalist, and pianist. Dr. Wong is passionate about helping choral leaders and educators to provide unique experiences for their singers and students through collaborative commissions, customized workshops, festivals, and artist residencies. She does this through focusing on the balance of performance practice considerations, vocal and acoustic explorations, and choral artistry and heart.
Currently residing in Ontario, Canada, Dr. Wong is the Assistant Professor of Choral Studies at Western University, where she conducts Chorale and Les Choristes ensembles and teaches choral conducting. Dr. Wong holds Doctor in Musical Arts and Master in Music Performance (Choral Conducting) degrees from the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt. She is also a two-time recipient of the Elmer Iseler National Graduate Fellowship in Choral Conducting.
As an active choral artist, Tracy collaborates regularly with choral organizations on conducting events, commissioned projects, and residences, and her compositions are widely published and performed internationally. As a composer/arranger, she advocates for repertoire-based music education by writing pieces that are teaching tools for singers to develop vocal technique, musicianship skills, and artistry. As part of her continued search to define her Chinese-Malaysian-Canadian identity, Tracy’s music also shows the coming-together of different languages and musical elements that continue to influence her composition writing. A large number of her self-published works are on the Tracy Wong Series at Graphite Marketplace.
To get in touch with Tracy, you can find her on her website, tracywongmusic.com, and join her mailing list. You can also find her on Facebook (@tracywongmusic) or Instagram (@thewongnote).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us.
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"The repertoire will always have some sort of example of something that you're talking about in music theory, and it helps really build that connection between the studying of music and the doing of music. The more and more I teach theory, the more little leaves I uncover, and I'm able to help students make that connection more and more every year."
John Guarente is Professor of Choral Ensembles and Music Theory at South Puget Sound Community College. He leads the SPSCC Choirs and teaches courses in music theory, popular music, and music appreciation.
Dr. Guarente previously served on the faculty at Lakeland University in Wisconsin and the College of Central Florida. He has held teaching and conducting positions with schools and organizations including the University of Miami, Miami Choral Academy, Marion Civic Chorale, the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami, and Highland Park Community Chorus.
An active composer and arranger, John has fulfilled commissions for colleges and universities including Florida International University and Hawai'i Pacific University. In 2020, he wrote the music and lyrics for SPSCC's Alma Mater, "The Waves of South Puget Sound." John has prepared and conducted choirs for groundbreaking recording artists such as Passion Pit and Juanes. In working with adult and collegiate choirs, Dr. Guarente has conducted numerous major works including Handel's Judas Maccabaeus, Saint-Saëns's Oratorio de Noël, Mozart's "Coronation" Mass, Faure's Requiem, and Vivaldi's Gloria. As a baritone soloist, his singing engagements have included such choral-orchestral literature as Orff's Carmina Burana, Handel's Messiah, Dvorak's Te Deum, and Szymanowski's Stabat Mater.
John received his doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Miami, and holds a master of music in choral conducting and a bachelor of arts degree in music from Rutgers University. He is an inductee of Pi Kappa Lambda: The National Music Honor Society, and is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, the College Music Society, and the National Association for Music Education.
To get in touch with John, you can find him on Facebook (@johnguarente), Twitter ( @johnguarente), or Instagram (@johnguarente). You can also email him at jguarente@spscc.edu.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us.
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"My entire philosophy of choral music is that of all forms of music it is the one that has the capacity to produce a state of transcendence, and as a composer that is my primary function. Bear in mind, I don't write music for choirs; I write music for people. If you perform the music correctly, it can open a gateway, a higher state of consciousness."
Born in 1964 in Dublin, Ireland, Michael is a composer of music and lyrics, film maker and runs the three connected vocal ensembles that he founded ANÚNA, M’ANAM and Systir. Michael's music combines elements of modality and contemporary compositional practices. He specializes in the composition of music for voices.
His extensive output includes a number of pieces that have entered the standard repertoire of choirs all over the world. His settings of Irish language texts in particular fuse modality, alternating time signatures and medieval tonal colours in a unique fashion that is instantly recognisable as his work. While he is deeply passionate about creating music in the Irish language his music is expansive, spanning genres, languages and exploring the links between film making and musical creativity.
Michael's music spans a huge range of textures, encompassing larger scale occasional pieces such as “Agnus Dei” (2005) commissioned by Chanticleer, and “Maalaulu” (2021), commissioned by Tampere Vocal Festival. Many of his compositions have entered the standard choral repertoire for choirs across the world including “Incantations”, “Dúlamán”, “One Last Song” and “Hinbarra”.
In 2017 Michael was the recipient of the University College Dublin Alumni Award in Arts/Humanities and was visiting Eminent Scholar at the Music Department of Florida Atlantic University (2011-2013). In 2019 he became part of the UCD Creative Fellows. He was Artistic Director of the Tampere Vocal Festival (2021) and in 2022 was invited to give a presentation on the genesis of his compositions at the Nordic Choral Directors Conference in Reykjavík. His film “Mutability and Transcendence” was premiered at the World Symposium on Choral Music 2023 in Istanbul.
Michael has produced and recorded nineteen albums for ANÚNA and M’ANAM. ANÚNA (1993), Celtic Origins (2007) and Christmas Memories (2008) have featured in the US Billboard Charts. Deep Dead Blue (1999) was nominated for a Classical Brit Award and went top five in the UK Classical Charts.
To get in touch with Michael, you can visit his website: https://www.michaelmcglynn.com/
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us.
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"The first year is the worst. The kids will want everything that’s not you, and that’s OK. They don’t want to know what you know until they know that you care about them, so you just wear them down with kindness and that sense of wonder about music. That’s my trick. I try and find what they wonder about music and then find ways to hook that into the materials I’m choosing.”
Monika Tabor serves as Director of Choirs for Lake Stevens High School and as advisor for LSHS Associate Student Body government. She has a love for vocal jazz that was instilled in her by her junior high school and high school music teachers in Marysville and Lake Stevens. Teaching in public schools since 2004, she has taught vocal jazz, choral music, musical theater, general music/music history, as well as stagecraft and sound design. Her music direction credits include Godspell and Mamma Mia! wiith LSHS Drama, as well as You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, Pippin, and White Christmas with Prairie High School in Vancouver, WA. Tabor earned her B.A. in Music from the University of Washington and her teacher certification was earned from Western Washington University. She recently earned her Master of Educational Leadership and principal certification from Eastern Washington University. Currently serving as President-Elect for Washington State American Choral Directors Association (WAACDA.org), she has also participated as an active member of The National Association for Music Education, and Washington Music Educators. She is often invited to work as a guest clinician for middle and high school level solos and choral groups. Tabor was recognized in 2018 by the Gateway Middle School PTSA (Everett, WA) with their Outstanding Educator Award and in 2020 by the Mount Pilchuck Educators Association as their Music Educator of the Year.
To get in touch with Monika, you can find her on Instagram: @lshs_tabor or @lakechoirfam .
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us.
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Xiaosha Lin is currently assistant professor and director of choral activities at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Prior to her appointment at Whitworth, she served as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Toledo and Assistant Conductor at Hong Kong Baptist University.
Known as a dynamic conductor with her engaging rehearsal approach and expressive conducting, Lin was selected as a conducting fellow in several prestigious programs where she worked with Simon Carrington, Edith Copley, David Hayes, and Lucinda Carver. She was one of the semi-finalists in the national ACDA Graduate Student Conducting Competition in Kansas City, MO. As a chorister, she has performed regularly at the Kimmel Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center under the batons of Yannick Nézet Séguin, Alan Gilbert, Simon Rattle, and Jane Glover.
Lin is a sought-after conductor, adjudicator, and choral clinician in both the U.S. and China, where she was invited to workshops and clinics for all levels of choirs. She has frequently adjudicated in middle and high school choral festivals in Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions.
Lin’s international background makes her an open-minded, sensitive, and well-rounded musician and educator. She is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community through choral music. She recently received the Inclusive Excellence Faculty Award for the 2022-2023 academic year at Whitworth University and currently serves as a member of the Diversity Initiative Committee at WA-ACDA.
Lin received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at Michigan State University, Master of Music in Choral Conducting at Westminster Choir College, Master of Arts in Music at Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong), and Bachelor of Music Education at Xinghai Conservatory of Music (China).
To get in touch with Xiaosha, you can find her on Instagram (@xiaosha_lin) or email her at xlin@whitworth.edu.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us.
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"The choir totally operates in Estonian. Luckily I think my musicianship is good enough that I can fall back on those skills even when I don't understand most of what the conductor says in rehearsals. When we start singing again, I can pick it up and improve on what we're doing. Sometimes I get what's happening based on context, and I'm also learning the language enough to pick up on what's going on."
John William (or JW) Mathre is a full-time professional singer living in Tallinn, Estonia. Originally from Taylorsville, KY, he completed a dual emphasis Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory/Composition and Music Industry from Eastern Kentucky University in 2017, and then continued on to complete a dual emphasis Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from The University of Southern Mississippi, finishing in the spring of 2020.
Before coming to Europe, John worked as a freelance chorister and soloist for churches and project ensembles around Louisville, KY and sang with the city’s premier professional ensemble, the Louisville Chamber Choir. At the start of 2023 he moved abroad, accepting a position singing with the Estonian National Male Choir, the largest full-time professional men’s choir in the world. In university and professional choirs John has toured across the US and in several different countries around the world. He has experience in all forms of vocal ensembles and enjoys performing across many genres, eras, styles, and languages.
Outside of music, John is an avid rock climber and fitness enthusiast, and loves spending time outdoors and visiting new places.
To get in touch with John, you can email him at john_mathre@outlook.com or follow him on Instagram: @jw_mathre.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"I had already taught about a third of the students that we had at the opening of the school. We were able to hit the ground running. We spent a lot of time getting to know each other and team building. We built our own culture and have decided what we want to be." - John Parezo
"It's been a really cool experience for me to teach elementary students for the first time. What's still blowing my mind every week is how musical and tuneful and brilliant these little people really are and how quickly they soak things up like sponges. They just learn so fast." - Stephanie Schumacher
Stephanie Schumacher is wrapping up her first season with Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota as the conductor of both Children's Chorus and Treble Choir and the Director of Education and Enrichment. Honors Choirs is a nonprofit organization that serves about 300 students in grades 1-12 from all over southeast Minnesota. Stephanie holds a bachelor of arts in music education from Concordia College, where she studied with Dr. Rene Clausen. She has spent the last twelve years in the public schools, teaching everything from middle school band to high school chamber choir and directing musicals. Under her direction, many of her singers have participated in the MN All-State Choirs and ACDA Honor Choirs. At the height of the pandemic, her high school concert choir was selected to perform at the Minnesota Music Education Association Conference and was able to perform via videorecording, socially distanced and masked. This summer Stephanie will begin a three-year term as the Southeast District Chair for ACDA of Minnesota. She frequently serves as an adjudicator for MMEA, ACDA, and various local contests. Stephanie has sung with the Choral Arts Ensemble in Rochester, Minnesota, for past 15 seasons and serves as Alto I section leader. Stephanie lives in Zumbrota, Minnesota, with her husband, Aaron, who is also a choir director, and their children, Kate and Will.
John Parezo currently serves as the choir and show choir director at Jefferson High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In just two years as a new school, the choir department has already grown in size and has started to be recognized for musical excellence in competitive show choirs and vocal jazz ensembles. Prior to the opening of Jefferson in 2021, John worked at Roosevelt High School as the assistant choir director for six years. He was the director of Roosevelt High School’s Chorale, RiderChor and Capitol Harmony show choir. He also co-conducted Mixed and Freshman Choruses. Under his direction, the Roosevelt RiderChor was invited to participate in and served as a featured performance choir for several festivals and conferences. Capitol Harmony show choir earned several grand champion placements in unisex division competition along with numerous evening finals placements. John is currently the All-State Show Choir Chair for the South Dakota High School Activities Association and President-Elect for South Dakota Region II Music. John was named Roosevelt High School Assistant Director of the Year for both the 2018-19 and the 2016-17 school years. He was also the 2017 SD-ACDA Overture Award recipient - an award given to outstanding choral directors in their first five years of teaching.
To get in touch with Steph, you can find her on Instagram (@honorschoirs) or visit honorschoirs.org. To get in touch with John, find him on Instagram (@sfjeffersonchoirs) or visit jeffersonchoirs.com.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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We want to hear from you! We'd love all our listeners to answer our Season 2 lightning-round questions for us to share with our audience. We are looking forward to getting to know you better.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com with the following info:
- Subject Line: Choir Fam Minisode
- First and last name, pronouns optional
- City and state you live in
- School where you teach or study, choral organization you work with, etc.
- Answer any and all of our lightning round questions:
a. When you were in high school, who was your favorite musical artist?
b. If you could pick any career, other than music, what would it be?
c. Dogs or cats?
d. If you could be an extra in any movie you’ve seen, what movie would be?
e. If you had to pick one favorite choral piece, what would it be?
f. What is one composer that you feel needs more attention?
g. What is your favorite memory associated with choral music?
h. What projects are you working on right now that you’re excited about?
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Thank you for listening to our show this season!!
Here are the favorite choral pieces from our guests in the second season:Even When He Is Silent, Kim André Arnesen
St. Matthew Passion, Johann Sebastian Bach
Chichester Psalms, Leonard Bernstein
Prayer of the Children, Kurt Bestor, arr. Andrea Klouse
Ave Maria, Franz Biebl (x2)
Ein Deutsches Requiem, Johannes Brahms
Geistliches Lied, Johannes Brahms
Hymn to St. Cecilia, Benjamin Britten
Pamugun, Francisco Feliciano
Flight, Matthew Lyon Hazard
Nunc Dimittis, Gustav Holst
Little Child, Robert Kechley
O Magnum Mysterium, Morten Lauridsen
Sure on This Shining Night , Morten Lauridsen (x2)There Is a King in You, Donald Lawrence
Mass for Double Choir, Frank Martin
Jauchzet dem Herrn, Felix Mendelssohn
Coronation Mass, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Ecstasies Above, Tarik O’Regan
The Beatitudes, Arvo Pärt
The Nightingale, Uģis Prauliņš
God Will Give Orders/Sweet Child, Sarah Quartel
Loch Lomond, Jonathan Quick
Vigilia, Einojuhani Rautavaara
Peace of Wild Things, Jake Runestad
Omnia Sol, Z. Randall Stroope
If Ye Love Me, Thomas Tallis
Moonlight Sound Design, Raimonds Tiguls
Baba Yetu, Christopher Tin
The Lost Birds, Christopher Tin
To See It (from How to Go On), Dale Trumbore
Give Over Thine Own Willing, Gwyneth Walker
St. Martin de Porres, Mary Lou Williams
Here are the composers that our guests suggested you check out:Nilo Alcala (see Choir Fam Episode 26)
Elizabeth Alexander
Juhi Bansal
Carol Barnett
Hildegard von Bingen
Dan Bukvich
Dave Cazier
Saunder Choi
Jennifer Lucy Cook
Viet Cuong
Melissa Dunphy
Reena Esmail (see Choir Fam Episode 50)
Francisco Feliciano
Kirk Franklin
Adolphus Hailstork
Adam de la Halle
Christopher Harris
Victor C. Johnson
Cristian Larios
Donald Lawrence
Mark A. Miller
Undine Smith Moore
Krzysztof Penderecki
Rosephanye Powell
Sarah Quartel
Marek Raczyński
Heinrich Schütz
Joan Szymko
Karen Thomas
Dylan Trần
Veljo Tormis
Dale Trumbore (x3, See Choir Fam Episode 16)
Reginald Unterseher (See Choir Fam Episode 38)
Patrick Vu
Mary Lou Williams (x2)Tracy Wong
Reginal Wright (See Choir Fam Episode 48)
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
Choir Fam Minisode 2 includes Lightning Round answers from four of our Choir Fam listeners:
Dan WallsRockford, Illinois
Choir teacher at Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois
Christina FangmanPasco, Washington
Music teacher at Amon Creek Elementary School in Kennewick, Washington
We want to hear from you! We'd love all our listeners to answer our Season 1 lightning-round questions for us to share with our audience. We are looking forward to getting to know you better.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com with the following info:
- Subject Line: Choir Fam Minisode
- First and last name, pronouns optional
- City and state you live in
- School where you teach or study, choral organization you work with, etc.
- Answer any and all of our lightning round questions:
a. Do you have a favorite flavor of ice cream?
b. What is your favorite guilty-pleasure tv show?
c. If you could pick between being able to fly and being invisible, which would you pick and why?
d. Tacos or hamburgers?
e. If you had to pick one favorite choral piece, what would it be?
f. What is one composer that you feel needs more attention?
g. What is your favorite memory associated with choral music?
h. What projects are you working on right now that you’re excited about?
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"In choir we have a chance to learn to embody a different culture through its language. When you're singing pieces in another language, there's a moment where you have to feel that you speak that language if only for a few words, if only a few moments. I think that has the capacity to create a kind of empathy regardless of whether that's your culture or not. To embody it does create this empathy that I really believe in as a way to make our world a little closer for the right reasons."
Indian-American composer Reena Esmail works between the worlds of Indian and Western classical music, and brings communities together through the creation of equitable musical spaces.
Esmail’s life and music was profiled on Season 3 of PBS Great Performances series Now Hear This, as well as Frame of Mind, a podcast from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Esmail divides her attention evenly between orchestral, chamber and choral work. She has written commissions for ensembles including the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Kronos Quartet, and her music has featured on multiple Grammy-nominated albums, including The Singing Guitar by Conspirare, BRUITS by Imani Winds, and Healing Modes by Brooklyn Rider. Many of her choral works are published by Oxford University Press.
Esmail is the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s 2020-2025 Swan Family Artist in Residence, and was Seattle Symphony’s 2020-21 Composer-in-Residence. She also holds awards/fellowships from United States Artists, the S&R Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Kennedy Center.
Esmail holds degrees in composition from The Juilliard School (BM’05) and the Yale School of Music (MM’11, MMA’14, DMA’18). Her primary teachers have included Susan Botti, Aaron Jay Kernis, Christopher Theofanidis, Christopher Rouse and Samuel Adler. She received a Fulbright-Nehru grant to study Hindustani music in India. Her Hindustani music teachers include Srimati Lakshmi Shankar and Gaurav Mazumdar, and she currently studies and collaborates with Saili Oak. Her doctoral thesis, entitled Finding Common Ground: Uniting Practices in Hindustani and Western Art Musicians explores the methods and challenges of the collaborative process between Hindustani musicians and Western composers.
Esmail was Composer-in-Residence for Street Symphony (2016-18) and is currently an Artistic Director of Shastra, a non-profit organization that promotes cross-cultural music connecting music traditions of India and the West.
She currently resides in her hometown of Los Angeles, California.
To get in touch with Reena, you can find her on Instagram (@reenaesmail) or check out her website: https://www.reenaesmail.com.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"My goal as an artist, conductor, and thought leader is to make sure that we always start with 'why are we singing? Are we picking these pieces because people are telling us that we should, because they’ve been prescribed by lists? Are we picking these pieces because these are culturally relevant topics for the people who are part of our communities of singing? Why are we doing it?' Sometimes we should ask, 'Why are we still doing it?'"
Adrian Dunn is a critically acclaimed singer, composer, and conductor. Mr. Dunn holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree in Voice from The Music Conservatory at Roosevelt University with additional musical studies in opera at The Sibelius Academy of Music in Finland.
His most recent composition and concert work Emancipation recently aired on PBS as a 1 hour special featuring The Adrian Dunn Singers & Dunn’s Rize Orchestra. In 2022 he made his Ravinia Festival Chicago Symphony Orchestra composer debut with a choral commission of Going Home from the Dvorak New World Symphony. He and The Adrian Dunn Singers performed the film score for the 2022 major motion picture, Honk for Jesus. In 2022 Mr. Dunn won The American Prize in Composition for Requiem from The Mass for the Unarmed Child and was named in the Top 10 Classical music & Jazz performances of 2021 by Chicago Tribune. He made his composer and conducting debut with The Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra in June 2021. Mr. Dunn is a MacArthur grant recipient for his original work Hopera: A Hip Hop Opera. Mr. Dunn is writing his first full length opera: The 42 Project on the life of Black Major League Baseball star Jackie Robinson.
Mr. Dunn has sung with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and Blossom Festival Chorus. He sung the lead role in the 2017 Chicago premiere of the Paul Laurence Dunbar opera The Poet and in 2016. He has opened for international Hip Hop Recording Artist The Roots at Indiana University. He was awarded the 2015 Album Producer of the Year for AME Live featuring the AME International Mass Choir from the Rhythm of Gospel Awards.
He is currently the Director of Choral Programs & voice faculty member at The Colburn School.
To get in touch with Adrian, you can find him on Instagram and YouTube (@theadriandunn). You can check out his website https://www.adriandunn.com to learn more about his music, see tour schedules, and learn more about the advocacy organization Black Music Matters.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"The middle school was a three-story building. At the bottom were all of the 'rough' kids. There was a second floor that was moderate. All the kids who had resources had their classes on the third floor. I'm teaching choir down in the bottom where there's a fight every 90 seconds. Over the course of my five years there we ended up through the choir program merging the entire school from top to bottom. It was one of the most memorable, rewarding experiences of my entire life."
Reginal Wright was born in Henderson, Texas. His life as a musician began in his middle school band as a trombonist. As a 20-year educator, Reginal has earned many awards including Outstanding Teacher, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and a nomination for the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award. Reginal also earned the 2018 Educator of the Year Award for the Mansfield School District.
Reginal has performed music in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria as well as Munich, Germany and throughout the United States. As a conductor, he is a sought after clinician in both Gospel and Classical genres. He has enjoyed the opportunity to conduct Honor Choirs for many school districts throughout the United States. He also serves as a clinician in many Texas All State Choir camps and All State Choirs. Reginal is also an aspiring composer, writing music that caters to school and church choirs.
Reginal received both his Bachelor and Masters of Music Education Degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He is currently the head choral director at Mansfield High School. His choirs are consistent sweepstakes winners in both concert and sight reading contests. Choirs under his direction also earn “Outstanding in Class” awards at National Music Festivals. In 2012 and 2022 the Mansfield High School A Cappella Women’s choir was honored as SWACDA honor choir. In 2018, the Mansfield Varsity Men’s Choir performed at the prestigious Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio. He is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association and served as Vocal Chair for TMEA Region 5 from 2014-2017. He was recently appointed Artistic Director of the Arlington Master Chorale.
Reginal resides in Arlington with his wife Renetta, son Gabrien, daughter Reece and Yorkie Cooper.
To get in touch with Reginal, you can find him on Facebook (@reginalwrightmusic and @reginal.wright.39) and Instagram (@regwright). You can check out his website at https://www.reginalwright.com/ .
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"I try to be flexible with the way I write for people. For me it's a service when I get commissions, so I want to be able to serve the community that I'm working with in the same way that I would tailor a lesson to my classes depending on what the students need. I would do the same for what an organization needs with composition."
Conductor/Composer/Producer Anthony J. Maglione is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, East Carolina University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the Director of Choral Studies and holds the Robert H. McKee Chair of Music at William Jewell College. Under his direction, the Concert Choir was twice named Runner Up (2nd Place) for the American Prize in Choral Performance, College/University Division. In addition to his responsibilities at William Jewell College, he serves as Director of Music and Choir Master at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Conductor Emeritus of the Freelance Ensemble Artists of NJ Symphony Orchestra, and has served on the summer faculty of Westminster Choir College since 2011. Anthony also serves as the conducting teacher for Artefact Institute.
An active composer, Anthony’s choral works are growing in popularity and are published on GIA’s “Evoking Sound” choral series. In the last several years his music has appeared at state and national-level conventions, on TV, in video games, and has been recorded on Gothic Records, Albany Records, and Centaur Records. Anthony's cantata "The Wedding of Solomon" premiered at the 2018 American Guild of Organists National Convention. In 2019, his work "On Life" was premiered by the Miami University Men's Glee Club at the National ACDA Conference. In early 2020, Verdigris Ensemble premiered his extended dramatic work "Dust Bowl" as part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project in Dallas, TX. He is currently slated for several more premieres throughout the United States during the remainder of 2023.
As a producer, Anthony lends his ears to recording projects around the country and recently received national attention through his production work with Sam Brukhman and Veridigris Ensemble on "Betty's Notebook" by Nicholas Reeves.
As a tenor, Anthony has appeared with many ensembles and currently performs and records with The Same Stream, the GRAMMY-nominated St. Tikhon Choir, and made his debut with Portland-based Capella Romana on the 2021-2022 season.
A sought after clinician, Anthony teaches workshops regularly and has conducted All-State and honor choirs throughout the US.
You can learn more about Anthony at his website: https://anthonymaglione.com/ .
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"I first spend time building trust between me and then ensemble and then having them build trust within the ensemble. If they don't trust me, we won't be able to do a particular level or type of music. We spend so much time learning to work together." - Matthew Gardner
"I entered my teaching career with all these ideals about teaching choral music, but what if they don't receive those ideals? There's a certain truth of listening to where your students are in the moment that you're there and then gaining the trust to be able to implement more of your ideals." - Taylor Stricklin
Matthew Gardner is the choral director at Austin High School in Decatur, AL, where he teaches AP Music Theory and conducts the Chamber Choir, Treble Choir, Tenor-Bass Choir, and Show Choir. He is co-founder of the Huntsville Summer Music program, which provides music education students practical teaching and conducting experience before they begin their careers. Matthew served as coordinator and conductor of the program’s chorus and wind band. Matthew is an active performer in professional choral ensembles such as Coro Vocati in Atlanta, GA, Valley Consort in Huntsville, AL, and the Cahaba Chamber Chorale in Birmingham, AL. In addition to his full-time teaching, Matthew is an adjunct instructor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He has served as conductor of the UAH Concert Choir as well as the substitute conductor of the UAH Chamber Choir. Matthew also serves as Director of Music Ministries at Valley United Methodist Church in Huntsville, AL. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Alabama in Huntsville as well as a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University.
Taylor Stricklin is the Choral Director at Vestavia Hills High School. Mr. Stricklin is a native of Birmingham, AL and earned his Bachelor of Choral Music Education degree from Samford University. In the Spring of 2020, he graduated with a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University, where he served as conductor of Chamber Singers and assistant conductor of the Tiger Glee Club. Prior to graduate study, Taylor taught choral music at Dauphin (daw-fin) Junior High School and Enterprise High School in Enterprise, AL . He currently sings in several professional ensembles, Red Shift, based in Baton Rouge, LA and the Cahaba Chamber Chorale, based in Birmingham. Since the summer of 2018, Taylor has also served as the Assistant Conductor of Iron City Singers, a community choir based in Birmingham.
You can find Matthew on Facebook (@matthew.gardner.54) or Instagram (@mcgardner93). You can also find Taylor on Facebook (@tstricklin2) or Instagram (@tstrick17 and @vestaviahillschoir).
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"That was the beginning of me working with a homeless women's choir. As someone who grew up doing music my whole life, it was just part of my DNA. This broke open everything I had ever thought or experienced about music, and it gave me some really new opportunities and new ways to look at the power and purpose of singing. For the people I was working with, it was part of what would get them through a day or week, and that was really powerful."
Amanda Weber currently serves as Director of Worship and the Arts at Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis, where she oversees a wealth of arts programming. Her work explores the intersections of art, spirituality, and justice and their impact on community.
With a deep love for teaching, Weber has served as adjunct professor for Concordia University St. Paul and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She co-facilitated a Social Justice and Music January-term course at St. Olaf College and was a Vocal Instructor for theology students at Yale Divinity School. Weber also taught high school at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Hartford, CT.
Weber is the Founder and Artistic Director of Voices of Hope, an organization that builds choral singing communities in correctional facilities in the state of Minnesota. Weber’s doctoral dissertation, which focused on this work, was awarded the Julius Herford Dissertation Prize in 2018. She has presented on the topic of incarceration and choral singing at numerous conferences and was also invited to speak for a TEDx Minneapolis Salon in 2016.
Weber’s interest in using music as a tool for social justice grew through her work at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, DC, where she founded Bethany’s Women of Praise, a choir for homeless women.
Weber received a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota in 2018, a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting at the Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music in 2013, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Art at Luther College in 2008.
You can find out more about Amanda by visiting amandakateweber.com and learn more about Voices of Hope at www.wearevoicesofhope.org. You can also find Amanda on Facebook (@amanda.weber.731) or Instagram (@we6er).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Beth Philemon is a choir teacher, business owner, product manager, dog-owner, gluten-free-pizza-obsessed traveler and lover of all things beautiful and ugly. A national board certified teacher, she has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Trevecca University, a master’s degree in choral conducting from Northern Arizona University, and a master’s of business administration from North Carolina State University. She is the founder of Choir Baton, a collaborative Instagram space, podcast, newsletter, and online membership featuring courses on teaching musicianship and ensemble skills. She resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.
You can find Beth on Instagram and TikTok: @bethphilemon and @choirbaton. You can also visit the Choir Baton website: https://www.choirbaton.com/
Check out the brand-new Choir Baton course: How to Teach Choir for Life-Long Musicianship - An On-Demand Course for Teachers with step-by-step instruction on how to address individual skills, use collaborative frameworks, accelerate student growth, and empower lifelong musicianship to keep #MorePeopleSinging. Choir Fam listeners get 25% off with this link: https://www.choirbaton.com/offers/oZCe2W53?coupon_code=CHOIRFAM25 or go to ChoirBaton.com and use the code CHOIRFAM25 at checkout.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"It gave me some amazing opportunities, just that one phone call, that one chance. For my grad students, that's one of the things that I really try to model and mentor and teach them: you can be a fantastic musician, but if you aren't one that seizes the moment or takes the initiative, it makes a difference."
John Dickson is Professor Emeritus and former Director of Choral Studies at Louisiana State University’s School of Music. Holding the School of Music’s first Chair as the Edward G. and Catherine M. Galante Chair for Choral Music Education, he conducted the A Cappella Choir and supervised the masters and doctoral programs in choral conducting. Recently retired after forty-four years of collegiate teaching, he continues his conducting through workshops and festivals, and as the founding artistic director and conductor of Coro Vocati, one of Atlanta’s most accomplished professional chamber choirs. He also serves as one of the principal guest artists for KI Concerts.
As a conducting pedagogue, he has presented masterclasses before the Association of British Choral Directors, the American Choral Directors Association, the Royal Northern Music Conservatory (Mancester), and the Russian State Music Conservatories of St. Petersburg and Moscow. He has conducted festivals and workshops in England, Wales, Scotland, Finland, France, Italy, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Canada, and throughout the U. S. For three decades his choirs have been featured at conventions of the ACDA, ABCD, Texas Music Educators Association, and the National Collegiate Choral Organization.
Appointed as a Visiting Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge University in 1992, Dr. Dickson sang with Sir David Willcocks and The Bach Choir; a second post-doctoral fellowship in 1998 allowed him to serve as principal rehearsal conductor under musical director David Hill. For his summer conducting institutes Dr. Dickson has co-directed with British friends and colleagues Stephen Cleobury, David Hill and Bob Chilcott. He is the Founding Director of the C. S. Lewis Choral Institute, featuring a professional chorus for its triennial symposium in Oxford and Cambridge. He holds the D.M.A. degree in choral conducting from The University of Texas, at Austin, the M.M. degree in musicology from Baylor University, and has done post-doctoral study at Cambridge University, Cambridge.
You can email John at jdickson@lsu.edu.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"I call it 'choral confession.' They come up to you and tell you their history with choir: 'I don't read sheet music.' 'I'm not a soloist.' These are wonderful capable singers, musically creative individuals that love what they do and contribute so much. My hope is that a book like this can give them the confidence to look at themselves and say 'I'm not just the blending voice that maybe my seventh grade choir teacher told me I am. I'm a contributor."
Matthew Bumbach is a sought-after conductor, composer, adjudicator, and clinician who has worked throughout North America, Europe, and Africa. He is the Director of Music Ministries at Shallowford Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. Matthew has performed and recorded with such artists as Gloria Estefan, Time for Three, and Broadway's star Rachel Potter. He has published research in NCCO’s The Choral Scholar, Chorus America’s Research Memorandum Series, ACDA’s The Choral Journal, and several state and regional journals. Matthew’s choral arrangements are published by Hal Leonard. In 2022, Dr. Bumbach coauthored A Quick Start Guide To Choral Singing (GIA Publications) with Dr. Dean Luethi. Matthew lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Dr. Melissa Bumbach, and their twin daughters, Rachel and Selena.
To get in touch with Matt, you can find him on Facebook (@mbbumbach) or email him at mbumbach@shallowford.org.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"It is important for our members to be seen in spaces that they've traditionally not been welcome to. When you feel that you belong in a space, it changes something inside of you... You learn to use your voice by singing, and then you have the confidence to go use it in ways that dramatically impact your life and the lives of others."
Erin Guinup’s pursuit of creative, uplifting, and service-oriented work is the driving force behind her varied career. She is the founding Executive and Artistic Director of the Tacoma Refugee Choir which has included singers from 66 countries and performed for over 40,000 people. With the choir, she has spoken at TEDxSeattle, been featured on PBS, and presented on hope in diverse communities for Starbucks and the Global Migrant Festival in Singapore. She has led national community singing events, spoken at national conferences for NATS, ACDA, and Chorus America, and presented workshops on the voice of leadership for Amazon and small business groups. Erin is a classically-trained soprano and has been featured with groups including Symphony Tacoma, Ensign Symphony and Tacoma Concert Band singing Puccini’s La Bohème, Handel’s Messiah, Carmina Burana, Disney’s Frozen, and her own original songs. Her internationally performed one-woman show about female composers was praised as “an amazing tour-de-force” and another show was described as “life-changing”. A sought-after teacher in classical and contemporary vocal technique and contributing author for three books, Erin’s voice students have found success on Broadway, operatic stages, radio and television. Other career highlights include directing the world premiere of Orson Scott Card and Mark Mitchell’s He is There; performing as Mary Poppins; conducting Rob Gardner’s Lamb of God; hearing her choral works performed by other choirs; and singing with Israeli-Palestinian choir Common Ground Voices in Jerusalem and Germany. Erin was recently recognized as an American Leadership Forum fellow, OL Reign Legend, one of Tacoma’s Most Inspiring Women and one of five Women to Watch by South Sound Magazine. She became a Senior Fellow of the Tacoma/Pierce County chapter of the American Leadership Forum in 2022.
To get in touch with Erin, you can find her on Facebook (@erin.guinup) or visit the Tacoma Refugee Choir website, https://www.refugeechoir.org/ .
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"It's not about only 'what do you hear,' it's about how you hear. What is the color of the sound you hear? What do you hear in the vocal mechanism? What are some of the things that they are doing that maybe are reflected in my conducting? Is my conducting reflective of the music? Is my conducting causing the issues?"
Jo-Michael Scheibe, a Southern California native, has spent years cultivating his passion for choral music and higher education. Mike, currently retired, recently chaired the Thornton School of Music’s Department of Choral and Sacred Music at the University of Southern California, where he conducted the USC Chamber Singers, taught choral conducting and choral methods, and supervised the graduate and undergraduate choral program. Before his time at USC, he spent fifteen years in Miami directing Choral Studies at University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
Dr. Scheibe has prepared many choruses at USC and around the world. These include works with Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra, Helmuth Rilling, Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony, Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Formosa Singers in Taiwan. Under his leadership, ensembles have performed at National ACDA Conventions and National Conventions of the Music Educators National Conference. Walton, Albany, Colla Voce Music, and Naxos publish recordings of Scheibe’s ensembles.
Dr. Scheibe received his B.A. and M.M. degrees from California State University at Long Beach and D.M.A. from USC.
A champion of contemporary music, Scheibe regularly commissions and performs new works of choral literature. He has helped to launch careers of promising young composers and to promote music by international composers largely unknown in the United States. Music publishers Walton, Colla Voce Music and Santa Barbara distribute the Jo-Michael Scheibe Choral Series internationally. Composers in his series include Eric Whitacre, Susan LaBarr, Stacey V. Gibbs, David Dickau, and many others.
To get in touch with Mike, you can find him on Facebook (@drjomichaelscheibe) or send him an email at jscheibe@usc.edu.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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One Action
Highlighting expert sustainability voices and inspiring stories of impact from MENA.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Smells Like Humans
Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
"The feeling that I got from being part of a good, and solid and warm choir culture was a big one for me. The feeling of being the person that has a hand in creating that space for somebody else and also sharing my love for music in the same breath just really appealed to me. I never saw myself going for anything else, really, except for music ed."
Alana Scott is a fervent curator of sounds, committed to sharing rich stories through the crafts of education, composition and songwriting. The Louisiana-native educator/musician treats personal experience as an opportunity to explore, honor and challenge personally formative traditions through her crafts. She currently holds the position of head choir director at a junior high in the greater Houston area, and cherishes sharing her love of her crafts with her students. Her compositions serve as vibrant melodies flecked with material retrieved through life’s lessons as a black southern woman of intersectionality– described as “boldly voiced” and “well-crafted”. Her most recently premiered work, “Joy” for string quartet, was premiered in July 2022 at the Tampa Museum of Modern Art.
To get in touch with Alana, you can find her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/alana.scott.315) or email her at alanascott4@gmail.com .
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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One Action
Highlighting expert sustainability voices and inspiring stories of impact from MENA.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Smells Like Humans
Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
"I was in this limbo place, and I took a church job and a community chorus job. [I thought,] 'I need a piece that does this thing, and I can't find one, so I might as well just write it.' I discovered that I really liked it. It became central to me fairly quickly. Writing has always been a fairly need-driven activity rather than something that I just did off the top of my head."
Reginald Unterseher is Music Director and Composer-in-Residence at Shalom United Church of Christ, Richland, Washington. His works are published by Oxford University Press, Walton Music, MusicSpoke.com, and his web site, as well as in the Justice Choir Songbook.
He was the Washington State Music Teacher’s Association’s “Composer of the Year” for 2013. Mr. Unterseher’s compositions are regularly performed throughout the world and have been featured at regional and national ACDA and NAfME conventions in the US as well as at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Reginald Unterseher has always been drawn to composing pieces about the natural world and current events. His career path has careened between being a ski instructor, an opera and music theater performer, an at-home dad to three children, a conductor, and voice teacher. He has served WA ACDA and NW ACDA in several R&R roles over the last 20 years. He is a founding member of Northwest Choral Publishing. Reg has had more of his compositions performed in a nuclear reactor than any other composer in history, living or dead. He is originally from Walla Walla, Washington.
To get in touch with Reg, you can visit his website, https://www.reginaldunterseher.com .
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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One Action
Highlighting expert sustainability voices and inspiring stories of impact from MENA.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Smells Like Humans
Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
"As someone who moves at a million miles per hour, choir -- music -- is the one thing that does make time stop for me. I knew that I needed to be in the arts. I have to be a teacher, I have to be a conductor, so that I can live in this endless moment that is quite finite but feels like infinity. I want to live in this forever."
Coty Raven Morris is a proud alumnus of Texas State University- San Marcos where she studied with Drs. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Jonathan Bacock, and Joey Martin. She received her Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University in the Spring of 2020 under Drs. David Rayl, Jonathan Reed, and Sandra Snow.
She is currently the Visiting Assistant Professor of Choir, Music Education, and Social Justice at Portland State University. Prior to this, she was the Director of Choirs at Crosby High School in the Houston area and has served as the Outreach Choir Director at the MSU Community Music School and Music Director at Grand Ledge United Methodist Church. Her choirs received consistent Sweepstakes & Division I ratings at UIL and choral festivals.
Morris was the recipient of the Hays CISD Linebarger Academic Recognition Award for 2013 & Galena Park ISD's Dazzling Diamond Award in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 for outstanding mentorship and leadership in her field. She is the Northwest Choral representative for the National Association for Music Education as well as the Community Choir Chair for Northwest region of the American Choral Directors Association.
A newly published author and composer, Morris is a sought after clinician and speaker across the country. She has recently served as the Clinician and Headliner for Florida ACDA, Washington MEA, and Minnesota ACDA as well as the Keynote speaker for the city of Lake Oswego’s Juneteenth festival.
Her future engagements include the Alaska All State Treble Choir and the Oregon Middle School Tenor Bass Choir. Morris has been a choir member of the South Texas Vocal Artists and Mirabai and has devoted over a decade of summers to working as a camp director at the Texas State, Northeastern and Lamar University summer camps.
Coty Raven Morris the Founder of Being Human Together, a budding community rooted in music education striving to normalize difficult topics in our field through conversation and connection. BHT seeks to discuss traditionally taboo topics like mental health, systemic oppression, diversity, and inclusivity.
To get in touch with Coty, you can visit her website, https://cotyravenmorris.com or find her on Instagram and Tiktok: @cotyraven.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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One Action
Highlighting expert sustainability voices and inspiring stories of impact from MENA.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Smells Like Humans
Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
"As a realist, it's hard for me to be a dreamer, but I think when you're creative, you have to be. You have to find those ways to surround yourself with people who speak opportunity into your life. That's something that I'm really focusing on: how to find a neat path forward that isn't necessarily set in stone."
Skip Stradtman is a choral composer and arranger based out of Tuscaloosa, AL. He is pursuing a DMA in music composition at the University of Alabama, where he serves as graduate assistant for the University Singers. He completed his Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of Alabama and his Bachelor of Music Education and Sacred Music Certificate from the Florida State University, where he graduated summa cum laude. As a composer, Skip specializes in writing in the "traditional choral" and "contemporary a cappella” styles for middle school, high school, collegiate, and community vocal ensembles. His works have been featured in multiple concerts and reading sessions at various ACDA conferences. From 2016-2018 and prior to his studies at UA, Skip was the choral director at East River High School in Orlando, FL. Skip also served as assistant choral director and staff accompanist at The Geneva School in Orlando, FL from 2018-2019.
To get in touch with Skip, you can visit his website, https://skipstradtmanmusic.com, find him on MusicSpoke (https://musicspoke.com/composer/skipstradtman), or reach out on Facebook (@skipper.stradtman) or Instagram (@sstradtman).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"I'm an only child. I grew up in rural North Dakota in the country, and I spent a lot of time by myself and at the piano bench and in my own head. I hold my ideas very close to the chest. I don't let them out until I'm pretty sure I know what they're going to be. Learning to collaborate was something I actively had to go after and figure out." - Jocelyn Hagen
Jocelyn Hagen composes music that has been described as “simply magical” (Fanfare Magazine) and “dramatic and deeply moving” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis/St. Paul). She is a pioneer in the field of composition, pushing the expectations of musicians and audiences with large-scale multimedia works, electro-acoustic music, dance, and opera. Her melodic music is rhythmically driven and texturally complex, rich in color and deeply heartfelt. A champion of the female spirit, many of her projects focus on the stories of women. She is a co-founder of Graphite Publishing and the band Nation, singing her heart out every chance she gets.
Inspired by narrative, magical realism, speculative fiction and making better humans through art, the music of Timothy C. Takach has become a mainstay in the concert world. Applauded for his melodic lines, text choices and rich, intriguing harmonies, his compositions are performed worldwide. He is a co-founder of Cantus, Graphite Publishing and Nation, and he is a co-creator of the theatrical production All is Calm: the Christmas Truce of 1914. Takach has frequent work as a composer-in-residence, presenter, conductor, clinician and lecturer.
You can learn more about Jocelyn & Tim by subscribing to their YouTube pages, visiting their websites to join their newsletter lists, or reaching out on Facebook or Instagram.
Websites: https://www.jocelynhagen.com/, https://timothyctakach.com/
YouTube: @JocelynHagenComposer, @TimothyCTakach
Facebook: @JocelynHagenMus, @timothyctakach.composer
Instagram: @jocelynhagenmus
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
"A lot of our projects and our pieces seek to empower people and to bring stories to the surface that don't always get told. We have a literal stage to put these ideas forth, and we're able to ask our audiences for a little more out of them." - Timothy Takach
Jocelyn Hagen composes music that has been described as “simply magical” (Fanfare Magazine) and “dramatic and deeply moving” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis/St. Paul). She is a pioneer in the field of composition, pushing the expectations of musicians and audiences with large-scale multimedia works, electro-acoustic music, dance, and opera. Her melodic music is rhythmically driven and texturally complex, rich in color and deeply heartfelt. A champion of the female spirit, many of her projects focus on the stories of women. She is a co-founder of Graphite Publishing and the band Nation, singing her heart out every chance she gets.
Inspired by narrative, magical realism, speculative fiction and making better humans through art, the music of Timothy C. Takach has become a mainstay in the concert world. Applauded for his melodic lines, text choices and rich, intriguing harmonies, his compositions are performed worldwide. He is a co-founder of Cantus, Graphite Publishing and Nation, and he is a co-creator of the theatrical production All is Calm: the Christmas Truce of 1914. Takach has frequent work as a composer-in-residence, presenter, conductor, clinician and lecturer.
You can learn more about Jocelyn & Tim by subscribing to their YouTube pages, visiting their websites to join their newsletter lists, or reaching out on Facebook or Instagram.
Websites: https://www.jocelynhagen.com/, https://timothyctakach.com/
YouTube: @JocelynHagenComposer, @TimothyCTakach
Facebook: @JocelynHagenMus, @timothyctakach.composer
Instagram: @jocelynhagenmus
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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On the Choir Fam Holiday Special, Dean and Matt discuss making music during the busy holiday season and also look back on some favorite winter memories from their childhoods. We wish all our listeners a happy holiday season! We hope you all can enjoy some rest and relaxation as your semesters wind down.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"We’ve found other ways to make music by centering on the creative process and composition – collective composition in particular. Bringing young people together to meet across difference and to put music at the center as a tool for them to engage in dialogue has just been greater than I could have imagined."
Alysia Lee receives national recognition for advancing access, equity, and decolonization with leaders, organizations, and communities. Her methods center on youth, anti-racism, creativity, and justice.
Alysia is the inaugural President of the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, the bold hyperlocal grantmaker stewarding public funds to support the success of Baltimore’s young people. Lee is the Founder and Artistic Director of Sister Cities Girlchoir (SCG), the El Sistema-inspired, girl empowerment choral academy in Philadelphia, Camden, and Baltimore in its tenth season. SCG is an award-winning and trendsetting choral education program with performance credits from Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and numerous school and community stages.
Lee has an emerging voice as a choral composer. She is the series editor of Hal Leonard’s Exigence for Young Voices, the new choral series uplifting Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian composers for young choir ensembles. Her piece ‘Say Her Name’ is published by Hal Leonard. She has recent composition commissions from Baltimore Choral Arts, Portland Lesbian Choir, and GALA Choruses. Lee is also a Board member of Chorus America and a National Advisor to ArtsEdSEL. Lee is formerly the education program supervisor for Fine Arts Education for the Maryland State Department of Education across five arts disciplines: music, dance, visual art, theatre, and media arts.
Recent recognitions include awards from The Kennedy Center, The Knight Foundation, National Association of University Women, Stockton Bartol Foundation, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and BEQ Pride. Recent speaking/facilitation engagements include the U.S. Department of Education, The Kennedy Center, VH-1 Save the Music, Carnegie Hall, Arts Education Partnership, TEDX, many colleges and universities, and national and state professional associations.
A Baltimore native, Lee is an alumna of Maryland public schools (Baltimore County Public Schools). She earned her graduate degree from Peabody Conservatory. Alysia also completed Executive Education programs at Harvard University and La Salle University.
To get in touch with Alysia, follow her on Instagram: @alysiadlee.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"The skill set of the executive director is actually the activation of knowledge in the organization rather than the specialization of the knowledge itself. I’m better served in clearing the road so that the artistry can come through. The outcome of that is really exceptional experiences for students and their teachers."
Robyn Hilger is beginning her second year as executive director of the American Choral Directors Association. A native Oklahoman, Hilger is a classically trained clarinetist. She graduated with high honors in 1999 from Oklahoma City University with a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education. She earned her master’s degree in school administration from the University of Central Oklahoma and is currently pursuing her doctorate of education in administration and leadership at Southern Nazarene University. She is a National Board-Certified Teacher in early adolescence/young adult music with specialization in band.
The overarching theme of her work is meeting the identified needs of historically marginalized and under-resourced communities. Robyn began her career as the band and strings teacher at Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School,
in Oklahoma’s largest urban school district, where she created the fine arts department. In 2006, she was recognized as Oklahoma’s State Teacher of the Year and she served as Oklahoma’s Ambassador of Teaching, traveling more than 20,000 miles delivering some 200 workshops and speeches focused on teaching, advocacy, and education policy.
In 2007, she joined the staff of the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools as the chief programs officer. In 2013, she supported the launch of El Sistema Oklahoma as a volunteer. In 2014, she was asked to join the organization as the executive director. El Sistema Oklahoma facilitates the development of empowered youth who use music to make strong positive change in their lives, their communities, and the world. El Sistema Oklahoma operates every day after-school and is completely free for participating families.
In 2017, she was named New Fundraiser of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Oklahoma City Chapter. Robyn also serves on the advisory board for the Oklahoma Youth Orchestras and is a board member for Oklahoma Youth Sing! (formerly known as the Norman Children’s Chorus).
Robyn is a connector of people, organizations, and opportunities. She lives in Oklahoma City with her husband Stephen and their three cats.
To get in touch with Robyn, you can add her on Facebook (@robynhilger or @robynhilgeracda) or email her at executivedirector@acda.org.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Choir Fam Minisode 1 includes Lightning Round answers from four of our Choir Fam listeners:
Jessica KoenigRockford, Illinois
Choir and piano lab teacher at Harlem Middle School
Kayla MommsenPullman, Washington
Choral music education student at Washington State University
James RodrigueBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Choral conducting graduate student at Louisiana State University and co-founder of Opus Vocal Ensemble in New Orleans, Louisiana
Ben MorganHouston, Texas
Assistant Choir Director at Porter High School in New Caney Independent School District
We want to hear from you! We'd love all our listeners to answer our Season 1 lightning-round questions for us to share with our audience. We are looking forward to getting to know you better.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com with the following info:
- Subject Line: Choir Fam Minisode
- First and last name, pronouns optional
- City and state you live in
- School where you teach or study, choral organization you work with, etc.
- Answer any and all of our lightning round questions:
a. Do you have a favorite flavor of ice cream?
b. What is your favorite guilty-pleasure tv show?
c. If you could pick between being able to fly and being invisible, which would you pick and why?
d. Tacos or hamburgers?
e. If you had to pick one favorite choral piece, what would it be?
f. What is one composer that you feel needs more attention?
g. What is your favorite memory associated with choral music?
h. What projects are you working on right now that you’re excited about?
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"It's really easy for a teacher to work 80, 90, 100 hours a week. What does that do to a person? When I'm exhausted, I'm a less effective communicator. I am less prepared to deal with the emotional challenges of the classroom. I am less likely to give grace when I'm tired. Giving 100% of yourself is not an effective educational strategy. You can't give everything."
Benjamin Hawkinson is Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Millikin University. There he conducts numerous ensembles including the University Choir, the True Blue Chorale (TB) and Millikin's premier vocal jazz ensemble OneVoice. Additional teaching responsibilities include courses in High School Choral Methods and Conducting. Ensembles under his direction have toured across the region with One Voice recently being invited to perform at the 2022 Jazz Educators Network in Dallas, TX, and at the Illinois Music Educators Conference in 2023. Recently Dr. Hawkinson served as guest conductor for the Millikin Decatur Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, and served as chorus master for Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe.
Dr. Hawkinson is an active clinician, presenter, and researcher. Common presentation topics include vocal improvisation practices of the late Italian Renaissance, interdisciplinary interactions between music and the social sciences, and mitigating burnout through time new perspectives in time management.
Dr. Hawkinson holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from Texas Tech University, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Northern Arizona University.
To get in touch with Ben, you can email him at bhawkinson@millikin.edu. You can also find him on Instagram (@hawkinsonben) or Facebook (@ben.hawkinson.14).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Get The Fluff Out - Listen, laugh and enjoy GenX Music + Talk
Get The Fluff Out! is a fun GenX Music + Talk podcast releasing 4 episodes per month
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
"When I was teaching high school, I really wanted to do some comprehensive and interdisciplinary lessons and didn't have the time to do that for all of my music. Now I have some time to do that research. Inspired Choir is a place that I get to share well-researched information on individual pieces of music."
Dr. Colleen McNickle is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Arkansas State University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate music education courses and conducts Scarlet Voices and the Singing Statesmen. With a PhD in Music Education and Choral Cognate from Michigan State University, Colleen’s scholarly interests include music educator wellness and interdisciplinary choral education. Colleen previously taught middle school and high school choirs, piano, ukulele, and music theory in Illinois and earned her BA in Music Education from Augustana College and her MME in Music Education from the University of Illinois.
An active clinician, Colleen has presented research and practice sessions at the Symposium for LGBTQ Studies and Music Education, Music and Wellbeing Conference, Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Learning and Teaching, the Big Ten Academic Alliance Music Education Conference, the American Choral Directors Association North Central Conference, the New Directions in Music Education Conference and at state music educator conferences in Michigan, Texas, Iowa, Ohio, and Virginia. Upcoming engagements include directing the ArkCDA Region 1 Junior Tenor/Bass Honor Choir in November and presenting 'TikTok and Choir: An Unexpected Pairing' and 'Connecting with the Chor-US: Building Ensemble through Social Emotional Learning' at the 2023 American Choral Directors Association National Conference.
To get in touch with Colleen, you can find her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
(@inspiredchoir), visit her website, http://www.inspiredchoir.com, or send her an email: hello@inspiredchoir.com.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
Queens On A Roll
This podcast was created to educate & inspire people about the ably different...
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Belated Binge: Harry Potter
Join this Re-Binge of Harry Potter for Theories, Headcanons, Adult Humor & Spell Puns!
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"The International Conductors Exchange Program was a profound experience. What was unique was the chance to work with Cuban choirs, not just take an American choir and perform in a spectacular setting. It really is a life-changing cultural exchange. There's nothing like international travel to broaden your horizons."
John F. Warren is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Syracuse University, where he conducts choirs, and teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting, choral literature, and rehearsal techniques.
During his fifteen-year tenure, Syracuse choirs have performed at two state and three Eastern Region American Choral Director Association Conferences, including Rochester, New York in 2020, and toured throughout the Northeast United States and Canada, as well as Europe and South America. In 2017, the Syracuse University Singers performed for the National Conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2015, Singers won the Grand Prix at the Florilegé Vocal de Tours in France, which entitled them to compete in Varna, Bulgaria in May 2016 as a finalist in the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing. Dr. Warren travelled back to Varna to judge the 2017 International Choir Competition. The choir’s first album, Mysteries and Wonders is available on ITunes and Amazon.com. Dr. Warren is a regular guest conductor with Symphoria, the professional orchestra of Syracuse, New York, having most recently conducted a program of music by J. S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, and Mahler.
He was the NYACDA Choral Director of the Year in 2016 and is a 2011 recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. Prior to coming to Syracuse, Dr. Warren was the Director of Choral Activities at Erskine College in South Carolina, where he was awarded the Younts Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005.
Dr. Warren serves ACDA on the Standing Committee on International Activities, and is NYACDA Vice President. Dr. Warren has lectured, adjudicated and conducted festival choirs throughout the Eastern United States, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cuba and France, and has published research in the Choral Journal and the International Choral Bulletin.
To get in touch with John, you can find him on Facebook (@john.warren.7524) or send him an email: jfwarr01@syr.edu .
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Spread Love FM
Spread Love FM great conversations with an eclectic mix of artists and neighbors alike!
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
"If you can give students really clear directions about what they're doing with their bodies at all times, then their minds are much more likely to be focused. By the end of the rehearsal, there's all this energy. That comes if you're able to grab their attention and have everyone participate in a visual and kinesthetic way."
Dr. Reed Criddle is Director of Choral Activities at Utah Valley University, where he conducts the Chamber Choir and Men's Choir and teaches conducting and voice. In recognition of his innovative pedagogy and professional work as a composer and conductor, Utah Valley University has presented him with the School of the Arts Dean’s Award, two Faculty Senate Excellence Awards, and the Presidential Fellowship Award.
As a conductor and U.S. Fulbright Senior Scholar, he has directed ensembles, conducted research, and led workshops throughout Europe, Asia, Cuba, and the United States. Dr. Criddle has served as president of the Utah chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. UVU choirs under his direction have performed many times at the national conference of NCCO, the western division conference of ACDA, and state conferences of the ACDA and NAfME.
Dr. Criddle’s compositions have been performed worldwide by a large variety of ensembles like Musikhochschüle Lübeck Kammerchor (Germany), Beijing Queer Chorus (China), Hollywood Master Chorale (California), National University of Singapore International Festival Chorus, and Auckland Welsh Choir (New Zealand). He has recently guest-lectured at institutions such as the Hochschüle für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar (Germany), California State University (Los Angeles), Taipei University of the Arts (Taiwan), Foguangshan Buddhist College (Taiwan), and the Technical University of Kenya. His compositions and arrangements are available through Earthsongs, Hal Leonard, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, and North Star Music.
He is a graduate of Stanford University, the Eastman School of Music, and the University of Michigan.
To get in touch with Reed, you can find him on Facebook (@reed.criddle) or Instagram (@reedcriddle).
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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Queens On A Roll
This podcast was created to educate & inspire people about the ably different...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Dr. Jacob Funk is director of choirs at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. He came to Clark from the University of Missouri—Kansas City where he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting. During his doctoral study he was a Graduate Assistant to the Choral Department, Associate Conductor of the Conservatory Concert Choir and co-conductor of the University Singers. While at UMKC he also served as Opera Chorus Master and the director of Canticum Novum. Jacob earned his masters degree in choral conducting from the University of British Columbia, and his undergraduate degree in vocal performance from John Brown University. Jacob has taught 5-12 grade vocal music in the state of Kansas. He served on the music faculty of John Brown University and Northwest Arkansas Community College, and served as the Associate Choir Master at Grace Episcopal Church in Siloam Springs, AR, where he conducted the Adult Choir and oversaw the Grace Children’s Choir School.
To get in touch with Jacob, you can email him at jfunk@clark.edu.
Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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The James McMahon Music Podcast
This is the podcast of the UK music journalist James McMahon. Former Features Editor of...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
"A lot of my choral works get inspiration from Philippine indigenous chants. We have 7000+ islands with different cultures and soundscapes, and that is itself is a very rich jump-off point for a new composition. I contact a tribe, interview them, ask permission to use a folk chant, and recompose it in a manner that is respectful of the original form of the chant but with something new added to it."
Trailblazing composer and artist Nilo Alcala is carving a legacy for Philippine Arts internationally. He is the first Philippine-born composer to receive the COPLAND HOUSE Residency Award (2017), as well as to be commissioned by Grammy-winner Los Angeles Master Chorale. He is also the first Filipino-American artist to be featured as Musical America Worldwide's Artist of the Month, and be awarded The American Prize in the Professional Division, Major Choral Works Category. He has received two Ani Ng Dangal (Harvest of Honor) awards from two Philippine Presidents.
His commissions include San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, Asia-Europe Foundation; Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival; Korean Ministry of Culture; National Music Competition for Young Artists, Manila Symphony Orchestra, the Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra, and many other ensembles. Other notable performances include the World Youth Choir, Asia Pacific Youth Choir, San Francisco Girls Chorus, the U.P. Symphony Orchestra, the Metro Manila Community Orchestra, and the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.
Alcala's virtuosic choral works have been performed by numerous winning ensembles in prestigious competitions and festivals in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He was member and composer-in-residence of the Philippine Madrigal Singers (UNESCO Artist for Peace). An Asian Cultural Council grantee, Alcala was a Billy Joel Fellow at Syracuse University where he received the Irene L. Crooker Music Award.
Alcala was composer-mentor from 2016 to 2019 of Pasadena Master Chorale’s “Listening to the Future” program for promising high school composers. In 2022, in cooperation with the Rotary Club University District (Quezon City, Philippines) Alcala has established the Rotary Club University District-Nilo Alcala Arts Scholarships or RCUD-NAAS for student artists.
To get in touch with Nilo, you can visit his website, www.niloalcala.com, or you can find him on Instagram or Twitter: @alcalanilo.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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We want to hear from you! We'd love all our listeners to answer our Season 1 lightning-round questions for us to share with our audience. We are looking forward to getting to know you better.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com with the following info:
- Subject Line: Choir Fam Minisode
- First and last name, pronouns optional
- City and state you live in
- School where you teach or study, choral organization you work with, etc.
- Answer any and all of our lightning round questions:
a. Do you have a favorite flavor of ice cream?
b. What is your favorite guilty-pleasure tv show?
c. If you could pick between being able to fly and being invisible, which would you pick and why?
d. Tacos or hamburgers?
e. If you had to pick one favorite choral piece, what would it be?
f. What is one composer that you feel needs more attention?
g. What is your favorite memory associated with choral music?
h. What projects are you working on right now that you’re excited about?
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Photo in episode artwork by Trace Hudson from Pexels
Thank you for listening to our show this season!!
Here are the favorite choral pieces from our guests in the first season:Even When He Is Silent, Kim André Arnesen
The Gift I Leave You, Kim André Arnesen
Bist du bei mir, J. S. Bach
Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf, J. S. Bach
St. Matthew Passion, J. S. Bach
Warrior, Kim Baryluk
Chichester Psalms, Leonard Bernstein
Hymn to St. Cecilia, Benjamin Britten
War Requiem, Benjamin Britten
In the Beginning, Aaron Copland (x2)
Ka Huliau ‘Ana, Palani Vaughan, Randie Fong
On the Strangest Sea, Daniel Hall
O Magnum Mysterium, Morten Lauridsen
Be Not Afraid, Knut Nystedt
Threshold of Night, Tarik O’Regan
The Road Home, Stephen Paulus
To Touch the Sky (Mvt. 9: Most Noble Evergreen), Kevin Puts
Bogoroditse Devo, Sergei Rachmaninoff
Gospel Mass, Robert Ray
Let My Love be Heard, Jake Runestad (x2)
Concerto for Choir, Alfred Schnittke
Symphony of Psalms, Igor Stravinsky
Path of Miracles, Joby Talbot (x2)
Sea Symphony, Ralph Vaughan Williams
As Vesta Was from Latmos Hill Descending, Thomas Weelkes
A Boy and a Girl, Eric Whitacre
Cloudburst, Eric Whitacre
Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine, Eric Whitacre
Here are the composers that our guests suggested you check out:Amy F. Bernon
Abbie Betinis
B. E. Boykin (x2)
Maddalena Casulana
William Dawson
Ashi Day
Rob Dietz
Melissa Dunphy
Antonin Dvorak
Ēriks Ešenvalds
Reena Esmail
Laura Farnell
Ryan Gunderson
Jocelyn Hagen
Elaine Hagenberg
Bo Holten
David Lang
Undine Smith Moore
MaryAnne Muglia
Kyle Pederson
Rosephanye Powell
Sarah Quartel
Zanaida Robles
Kentaro Sato
Moira Smiley
Ingrid Stölzel
Z. Randall Stroope
Joby Talbot
Randall Thompson
Dale Trumbore
Gwyneth Walker
Tracy Wong
Manuel de Zumaya
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"Smart kids are good thinkers. They don't like to make mistakes, but they're going to. So many of them are perfectionists, as are many musicians. The beauty is giving students a chance to explore, to fail, and try again - all the time figuring out what it means to be okay with being uncomfortable. Beautiful things come out of that vulnerability."
Heath Weber is Dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Morningside University. During his tenure at Morningside, he has served as Associate Dean for Performing Arts, Music Department Chair, Director of Choral Activities, and artistic director for the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Performance Series. Prior to his appointment at Morningside, Heath Weber worked in public school music education at all levels, K-12.
A South Dakota native, he found his home in Sioux City, Iowa, first teaching at East High School for 10 years before assuming his position at Morningside. His comprehensive choral program at East was the largest student organization in Iowa, engaging one-third of the student body at EHS. His competitive show choir, The Headliners, was voted one of America’s top three favorite show choirs in Parade Magazine’s first contest.
As a performer, Weber has performed as a member of the GRAMMY-nominated South Dakota Chorale, an organization for which he has also served as Board President. Additionally, he has performed as a bass/baritone soloist with the South Dakota Symphony, The Sioux City Symphony, Opera South Dakota, and Together in Hope Choral Singers.
Weber has directed camps for gifted and talented students for nearly three decades. Each year, Morningside University hosts The Catalyst Collective, a two-week immersive experience offering students an opportunity to learn various academic pursuits from Morningside faculty, receive leadership development opportunities, and intense performing arts training for high-ability youth from all over the country.
To get in touch with Heath, you can email him at weberh@morningside.edu or find him on Instagram: @weberday. You can also check out the Morningside School of Visual and Performing Arts at @msideperforms on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.
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"Being part of an ensemble taught me to look not just at my line but at all the music. The composer gives you so much information in the orchestra that you don't get from just the vocal line. That really informs your character. It allows me to be more fun and more creative if I can focus on being part of the whole at any given time."
Bass Benjamin Sieverding of Minneapolis, MN has gained notice for his “resonant, expressive bass” (StarTribune). He most recently made his Metropolitan Opera debut as one of the Offstage Voices/Jury in Brett Dean’s Hamlet. In 2022, he also made his Intermountain Opera Bozeman debut as Mr. Noble (Pish-Tush) in The Montana Mikado. In 2021, he made his Tulsa Opera debut as Betto in Gianni Schicchi and his Omaha Symphony debut performing excerpts from Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah. In 2020, he was slated to return to Minnesota Opera to sing the roles of Bull and Neal in the world premiere of Edward Tulane, to make his Austin Opera debut as the Mandarin in Turandot, reprise the Dough’s Mate in Companionship with Virginia Arts Festival, reprise Doctor Grenvil in La traviata with Out of the Box Opera, and return to Mill City Summer Opera as Sparafucile/Ceprano in Rigoletto. Mr. Sieverding has performed several roles with Minnesota Opera including Alfred Austrian in The Fix, Prison Warden George Benton in Dead Man Walking, Colline in La bohème, Frère Laurent in Roméo et Juliette, Sacristan in Tosca, and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte. Other recent performances include appearances with South Dakota State Symphony, Madison Opera, Glacier Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Fort Worth Opera, Opera in the Heights, Opera South Dakota, Lakes Area Music Festival, and Madison Symphony Orchestra. In the upcoming season, Mr. Sieverding returns to Minnesota Opera, The Metropolitan Opera, and Madison Opera.
To get in touch with Ben, you can visit his website: www.benjaminsieverding.com.
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"It's not about the notes. It's not about the rhythms. It's about connection. It's about getting a connection with each other, a connection to the conductor, and a connection to the music -- and discovering that it's a relationship with the music that will make a huge difference. I'm there as facilitator to make that happen."
Dr. Edith A. Copley is regents professor emeritus at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, where she conducted the Shrine of the Ages Choir, Chamber Singers, and University Singers and taught undergraduate and graduate conducting, choral methods, and graduate choral literature. Her choirs have performed at state, region, and national choral conferences, in Carnegie Hall, and have toured internationally. Prior to her 31-year tenure at NAU, she taught secondary choral music in Iowa and later in Vienna, Austria at the American International School. Copley has received numerous honors, including the NAU Centennial Teacher of the Year, Arizona Music Educator of the Year, Arizona ACDA Outstanding Choral Director, and The Weston H. Noble Award from her alma mater, Luther College. She has served ACDA as a state and regional president, and interest session chair for the 2011, 2019 and 2021 national conferences. Copley is currently ACDA national president-elect. She has conducted all-state choirs in over 30 states, ACDA and NAfME national honor choirs, and international choral festivals in Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Luxembourg, Tasmania, England, Australia, China, Oman and Turkey.
To get in touch with Edith, you can email her at ec@nau.edu or find her on Facebook @edith.copley.9 .
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"In mentoring a new teacher, I ask, 'How do we bring the music home to the students? Really, what is our job as music educators?' I believe my job as a music educator is to create better people. That's what I try to instill within my student teachers."
Barbara Tappa just completed her 15th year at Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington, and her 23rd year of teaching overall. During her time at Ferris she led a comprehensive program with six choirs, including mixed choirs, treble choirs, a tenor/bass choir, show choir, and jazz choir. She has just begun her retirement from her position. A graduate of Western Washington University, she has directed junior and senior high school choirs in Moses Lake, Bothell and Woodinville, WA; Anaheim, CA; and Havelock, NC. She was an elementary teacher at Oslo International School in Oslo, Norway, and, more recently, taught elementary music at St. Charles Catholic School in Spokane. Barbara has been a cantor and choir director at Catholic churches in the United States, Japan, and Norway. She has directed festival choirs in Washington and Montana and adjudicated Solo and Ensemble contests. She is the conductor of Le Donne, a Spokane area women’s choir. She sings with Spokane Choral Artists, Le Donne, is the Music Director at St. Charles Catholic Parish, and has performed in a number of musical theatre productions throughout her career. Barbara has served as Choral Representative and then President of the Eastern Washington Music Educators Association, as the Eastern Liaison for Washington American Choral Directors Association, and as Choral Curriculum Officer for Washington Music Educators. In 2016 Barbara was the Washington State High School Music Educator of the Year. She currently serves as president of Washington’s ACDA chapter.
To get in touch with Barbara, you can email her at btappa@comcast.net.
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"My tunnel vision of choral music just exploded. I was able to learn so much about all these different cultures that were in my school and the music that represented them. That's where I really learned that students have to have some representation to make them feel that they're really part of this community."
Amanda Stevenson is currently the 4th and 5th grade vocal music teacher at Titan Hill Intermediate School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Recently, Ms. Stevenson was the Founding Artistic Director for the Omaha Children’s Choir - an organization she founded to provide all singers with an appreciation and understanding of the city’s diversity and to inspire change by the power of choral music. Over the last 7 years, Ms. Stevenson created an inclusive and diverse repertoire that truly reflected the singers represented in Omaha Children’s Choir. She led the organization to launch the Voices Creating Change initiative which gives voice to the issues of our time and uses music as a tool to inspire social change in the community. Ms. Stevenson also taught middle school vocal music in Iowa. Ms. Stevenson holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Iowa Wesleyan University and a Master of Music with an emphasis in choral music education from Western Illinois University. She is currently working on a Master of Arts in Teaching, Leadership, and Cultural Competency through the University of Iowa. She lives in Omaha with her husband, 4 children, and their dog Oscar.
To get in touch with Amanda, you can find her on Instagram or Twitter (@amandastvnsn) or on Facebook (@amandarstevenson).
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"We all get this exposure to popular music as young children, and when we get to the academy, we're quickly taught that popular music is less worthy, less valuable. The idea that started to settle with me is that we don't tear down the choir model that we have, but we start to add to it and allow different avenues."
Matthew Bumbach (he/him) is known for heartfelt choral programming that engages singers and audiences alike. He uses choral performance to develop the whole person and equips students with the tools to think deeply, create imaginatively, and lead transparently. For this purpose, he focuses not only on quality performance that is culturally informed and carefully polished, but an ethical path to excellence. Dr. Bumbach works to create an inclusive environment that focuses on equity and justice so that all students receive an equitable experience.
With a research interest that focuses on the confluence of classical choral music and popular musical styles Dr. Bumbach frequently writes, presents, and lectures on bluegrass style, fusion choral works, technology integration in choral performance, and storytelling in virtual choir videos. He has published articles in ACDA’s The Choral Journal, NCCO’s Choral Scholar, Chorus America’s Research Memorandum Series, SDMEA’s South Dakota Musician, and FMEA’s Florida Music Director. His choral compositions have been performed by the Virginia Chorale, Florida Singing Sons Boychoir, the Orlando Chorale, Fredonia State University Chamber Singers, College of Central Florida, University of Miami, and several middle and high school choirs. His published choral music is carried by Hal Leonard and his independent publications can be found at sheetmusicplus.com.
Dr. Bumbach has taught middle school, high school, community college, and university choirs in Florida and South Dakota. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Stetson University, his Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the University of South Florida, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
Dr. Bumbach lives in Clarksville, AR, with his wife and twin daughters.
To get in touch with Matthew, you can email him at mbumbach@ozarks.edu or find him on Facebook (@mbbumbach) or Instagram (@drbumbach) .
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"Quality breeds quantity. If we establish really high expectations, people will be attracted to that, and they're going to want to be a part of it. I just led with some sort of blind enthusiasm that you can only have as a new teacher. I just wanted to go for it."
Aubrey Dunham just completed her first year as choir director at South Salem High School in Salem, Oregon. At South, she directs 6 curricular ensembles and serves as the vocal music director for South’s musical productions. Previous to her time at South, Aubrey served as choral director and Instructional Coach for Fine Arts at Riverside Brookfield High School in Riverside, Illinois, for five years and choral director at Plainfield East High School in Plainfield, Illinois, for eight years. Her choirs from Riverside Brookfield and Plainfield East performed at Illinois Music Education Conferences and Illinois ACDA conferences.
Aubrey previously served as the Senior High School Repertoire and Resources Chair and the Treble Choirs Repertoire and Resource Chair for the Illinois ACDA Chapter. In November 2019, Aubrey was the guest conductor for the ILMEA District 2 Junior High Treble Ensemble at Augustana College. Aubrey completed her Masters Degree in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music and holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Western Illinois University. She lives and breathes the choral arts but loves to get out and enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
To get in touch with Aubrey, you can find her choral program on Facebook or Instagram (@southsalemchoir).
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"In the times that we are in, trying to reach students, encouraging them to be themselves, and giving them that safe space is so important. I've learned so much about how unwelcoming the world is for some of my students, and I like that they feel comfortable and safe in my classroom."
Sara Bray is entering her seventh year as the choral director at St. Amant High School in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota and her master's degree in choral conducting from the University of North Dakota. Sara currently serves as the High School Coordinator for the District IV Choral Directors Association where she organizes the Louisiana Music Educators Association round one auditions as well as the District IV Honor Choir. Sara is an active performer, singing soprano with the Baton Rouge Early Vocal Ensemble and performing on stage with Ascension Community Theatre. She has also music directed stage productions with ACT and the St. Amant High School Theatre.
To get in touch with Sara, you can find her on Facebook (@sara.ottemanbray) or email her at sara.bray@apsb.org .
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"My elementary music teacher took a chance on me. She was the one who opened music up to me, and it was incredible. I've come from being the mentee to the mentor. I just want to pass on that information and let people feel what I felt as a young student."
Kimberly Barclay Ritzer is in her 31st year as director of the Green Valley High School Choirs in Henderson, Nevada, opening the school in 1991. She is in her 32nd year as a teacher for the Clark County School District. She is a 1990 graduate of UNLV where she received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. In 2021 she received her Master's Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Phoenix. Kim currently serves as the CCSD Task Force Chair for High School Choir and Facility Chair for the district's Secondary Fine Arts Programs. In addition, Kim chairs the Green Valley High School (GVHS) Performing Arts Department and has taught Secondary Choral Methods at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has served three terms as president of the Nevada Music Educators Association and three terms as Nevada ACDA president. She is currently Past-President of the American Choral Directors Western Division and Secretary of the Nevada ACDA chapter.
The GVHS Concert Choir performed at the 1998 ACDA Western Region Convention in Reno; the Madrigal Singers performed at the 2005 ACDA National Convention in Los Angeles; the 2009 ACDA National Convention in Oklahoma City; the 2014 ACDA Western Region Conference in Santa Barbara, and the ACDA Western Region Conference in Long Beach in 2022. In June 2021, she was appointed Western Division Representative to the NAfME Council for Choral Education.
Kim's honors and recognitions are many. In November 2001, Kim was named the Henderson Chamber of Commerce "Most Outstanding Educator," and in February of 2002, she was named "Nevada Music Educator of the Year.” In 2004, she was named “Outstanding Alumni for the College of Fine Arts” by the UNLV Alumni Association and was a finalist in the “Heart of Education” Awards for the Clark County School District in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020. Kim was also a 2021 semi-finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award.
To get in touch with Kim, you can find her on Facebook (@kimberly.b.ritzer) or Instagram (@ilvtosing) or email her at ritzek@nv.ccsd.net .
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"The text is so crucial to my process. I try and derive every little detail -- rhythm and harmony and melody and the overall mood and tone and textures and timbres of the piece -- from the text itself. The text is really at the heart of everything I do."
Dale Trumbore is a Los Angeles-based composer and writer whose music has been called "devastatingly beautiful" (The Washington Post) and praised for its "soaring melodies and beguiling harmonies deployed with finesse" (The New York Times). Trumbore's compositions have been performed widely in the U.S. and internationally by the Chicago Symphony's MusicNOW ensemble, Los Angeles Children's Chorus, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Modesto Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, Phoenix Chorale, Tonality, and VocalEssence.
The recipient of ACDA’s inaugural Raymond W. Brock Competition for Professional Composers, an ASCAP Morton Gould Award, and a Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grant, Trumbore has also served as Composer in Residence for Choral Chameleon. She has been awarded artist residencies at Copland House, the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, the Tusen Takk Foundation, and Ucross. Her choral works have been commissioned for premieres at national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Organists, Chorus America, and National Collegiate Choral Organization, and her music is available through Boosey & Hawkes, G. Schirmer, and Graphite Marketplace.
Trumbore is passionate about setting to music poems, prose, and found text by living writers. She has written extensively about working through creative blocks and establishing a career in music in essays for Cantate Magazine, the Center for New Music, and NewMusicBox. Her first book, Staying Composed: Overcoming Anxiety and Self-Doubt Within a Creative Life, was hailed by writer Angela Myles Beeching as a "treasure trove of practical strategies for moving your artistic career forward... not only for composers, but for performers, writers, and any other creatives." Trumbore's short fiction is published or forthcoming from Southern Indiana Review, New Delta Review, and F(r)iction. She is currently working on a collection of short stories.
Trumbore holds a dual degree in Music Composition (B.M.) and English (B.A.) from the University of Maryland, as well as a Master of Music degree in Composition from the University of Southern California. A New Jersey native, Trumbore currently lives in Azusa, CA with her spouse and their three cats.
To get in touch with Dale, you can visit her website -- daletrumbore.com -- or use her contact form.
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"Receiving the news that I would need to have vocal cord surgery was really hard. I love teaching and singing. I need my voice for both of those things that are literally my entire life. I'm extremely grateful for my ENT, and her expertise helped me feel comfortable and eased my fears."
Aubrey Nelson is active as a music educator, singer, and flutist in the Houston, TX area. She is a high school choir director and AP Music Theory teacher in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, and will soon begin her fifth year as a public school music teacher. As a singer, she has performed with Houston-based ensembles Bach Society Houston, Chorus Angelorum, Casulana Women’s Choir, and Suono Chamber Choir. Aubrey received her Bachelor's degree in Music Composition from University of South Carolina, where she also studied flute and voice, and her Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University. Outside of music, she loves food, reading, running, and her 2 orange cats Norah and Dandelion!
To get in touch with Aubrey, you can find her on Facebook (@aubbbs) or Instagram (@aubsjnels). You can also email her at aubreyjnelson@gmail.com.
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"Through breaking down stereotypes and saying 'this is who I am'...my students in turn would be their authentic selves and break down some of their own stereotypes about how they're supposed to sound... and be more open to the journey of being creative through choral music."
Angelica Brooks is an acclaimed choral director and music educator. With a passion for excellence in music and education, Mrs. Brooks’ résumé exhibits service, equity, and drive. She has taught at all levels and served various student populations. Angelica Brooks was recently the Director of Choral Activities at Bowie High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland where she taught choir, drama, and music theory.
Mrs. Brooks earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Media Management from the Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. She completed her Master of Music with a focus in Vocal Pedagogy from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Mrs. Brooks also holds a Administration I Certificate from McDaniels College. She is currently a DMA Candidate in the Music Teaching and Learning program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA and serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in the Music Education Department.
A member of the National Association for Music Education Equity Committee and the American Choral Directors Association, Angelica has served as an honor choir guest conductor, choral festival adjudicator, and presenter at statewide and local music conferences. Mrs. Brooks has been honored to serve her professional community as a mentor teacher, curriculum writer, and professional development presenter. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.
To get in touch with Angelica, you can find her on Facebook (@angelica.brooks) or Instagram (@angelica_brooks) or visit www.angelicabrooks.com. Information about The Table Music Education Conference is available at www.thetablemec.com.
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"Education is an opportunity for self-reflection, a beautiful time to look inwards and ask 'Who am I? Why am I here? Do I really want to be here?' Those answers for me have been, 'yes, I really want to do this. I want to effect change in this world in a positive way.'"
Dr. Raul Dominguez was recently accepted as a Fellow for the Cleveland Institute of Music's inaugural Future of Music Faculty Fellowship, sponsored by the Sphinx Organization. He is also the founder of the Choral Conductors Colloquium which provides its 900+ subscribers with opportunities to learn from choral music’s finest conductors; subscribers are made up of choral musicians representing every continent (except Antarctica) and 54 different countries. Next fall, Raul will continue his role as the Associate Artistic Director of the Denver Gay Men's Chorus and serve as the Director of Choral Activities at Regis University in Denver, CO. His primary research focus is the choral music of the United Mexican States.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado Boulder (CU), where he studied with Dr. Gregory Gentry, and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Ithaca College, where he studied with Dr. Janet Galván. Prior to Ithaca, he was the Choir Director at Clear Lake HS in his hometown of Houston, TX, for four years. He earned Bachelor of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Oklahoma City University, where he studied with Dr. Randi Von Ellefson and Judith Willoughby.
To get in touch with Raul, you can find him on Instagram (@raulconducts) or visit raulconducts.com.
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"I came to Alexander Technique trying to see if there was a way that I could experience less pain when I conduct. Over time, I retaught myself. It's not a quick process, because nothing about Alexander Technique is a quick fix, but I do experience less pain."
Dr. Angelica Dunsavage serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Tennessee State University, where she conducts the TSU University Choir and the Meistersingers. Prior to her appointment at TSU, Dr. Dunsavage taught music education and choral/vocal classes at Washington State University. Dr. Dunsavage received her DMA in Choral Conducting and Music Education from University of Arizona. She received her MM in Choral Conducting from Bowling Green State University, and her BS in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her conducting mentors include Dr. Elizabeth Schauer, Dr. Bruce Chamberlain, Dr. Mark Munson, and Dr. Sandra Stegman.
Dr. Dunsavage currently serves as editor of Western ACDA’s Tactus publications and previously served as editor of AzACDA’s Antiphon. Her writing has appeared in these journals as well as the Choral Journal and the Choral Scholar. She has presented posters and interest sessions for NCCO, NAfME and College Music Society conferences. Dr. Dunsavage’s primary research interests are secular music of the German Baroque era, and the application of Alexander Technique to choral and conducting pedagogy.
Dr. Dunsavage has served in church, community, and public-school teaching positions in the Arizona, Ohio and Pennsylvania areas, and remains in demand as a clinician, vocal teacher, professional chorister, and mezzo soprano soloist.
To get in touch with Angelica, you can find her on Facebook (@a.m.dunsavage) or send her an email at adunsavage@gmail.com.
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"Let's celebrate the choral art form in all of its varieties. What you do does not have to look like everyone else. Your choir and your community are going to look and feel and sound very different than other communities."
Amanda Hanzlik is the Director of Choral Activities at Edwin O. Smith High School in Storrs, Connecticut. She currently serves as Immediate Past-President of the Connecticut Chapter of The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and was a Semifinalist for the 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Mrs. Hanzlik is co-chair of the Connecticut CMEA High School All-State Choirs and is a member of the Interest Sessions & Insight Choirs subcommittee for the 2023 ACDA National Conference. Mrs. Hanzlik frequently appears as a clinician and ensemble conductor for regional and all-state music festivals. Under her direction, The E.O. Smith Chamber Singers performed as a Selected Choir at the 2020 ACDA Eastern Regional Conference in Rochester, NY - and in 2016 and 2019, were featured as the Connecticut CMEA Conference High School Showcase Choral Ensemble. 2021-2022 marks Mrs. Hanzlik’s 23rd year as a music educator, teaching in K-12, early childhood, college, community and senior-citizen ensembles, in both urban and rural settings. Amanda Hanzlik is a graduate of the University of Iowa and Teachers College, Columbia University. She resides in Storrs, CT, with her husband, Louis Hanzlik, and their children, Ethan and Grace.
To get in touch with Amanda, you can find her on Instagram (@amandahanzlik) or on Facebook (@amanda.hanzlik).
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"A retreat sets the tone, sets the table, but throughout the year, whether it's a little sprinkle of a community-building activity, an exercise that is reflective, or a revisit to something that they did at the retreat, that's even more important. The retreat is just the first step... then we maintain that culture in our ensembles."
Melanie Brink grew up and began her career in South Dakota, U.S.A. prior to teaching abroad. Her undergraduate degree in vocal music is from Augustana University and she holds a Master's in Educational Leadership from Southwest Minnesota University.
She moved to the Sultanate of Oman 20 years ago to begin a choral music program at The American International School of Muscat (TAISM). There she teaches about 200 choral students in grades 6-12. She prioritizes developing heart within her ensembles through retreats and inclusion activities that help her students learn how to be adaptive collaborators and leaders. Melanie designs activities and themes that promote a sense of belonging; promoting community, healthy singing and a meaningful experience. The selection of repertoire and telling a story through connection and design in the performance is a process she deeply enjoys.
Melanie applies her training of the Mindfulness in Education Institute, a practice of centering - paying attention to the present in her rehearsals. She has also completed the Thinking Collaborative (Adaptive Schools) Seminar which presents a productive, practical set of strategies for developing collaborative groups in becoming effective and better equipped to resolve complex issues around student learning. She has presented workshops for both AMIS and ACDA music educator conferences. Melanie has been a guest conductor for the AMIS Middle School Mixed Honor Choir, the ASIAC Choir Festival in Chennai, and the MESAC Senior Fine Arts Chorus in Abu Dhabi.
Since March 2004, she has served as the founder and Artistic Director of TAISM’s annual Festival of Choirs. She oversees the coordination of the event and works closely with each year’s guest conductor from the United States. Over 2,500 students have participated in the TAISM festival. Melanie is also a member of American Choral Directors Association and serves the South Dakota chapter as the R&R Chair for Global Music.
To get in touch with Melanie, you can email her at brinkm@taism.com or find her on Facebook (@MelanieReneeBrink) or Instagram (@melanie.brink28).
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"I'm really into using music to teach culture and life lessons... It's like cuisine. With different tastes come different etiquettes. It's the same thing with music. You want to show respect for how the music was written and try to have it sound that way."
John Stafford II is the Associate Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Co-Coordinator of the Music Department at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC). Professor Stafford was a 2015 recipient of the John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award for outstanding teaching and leadership at the community college level. Also, Stafford was the recipient of the Henry Louis Award for Teaching Excellence at KCKCC in 2020 (our Faculty of the Year award). He has also received two other teaching awards from KCKCC for Recruitment and Teaching Excellence.
Previously, he was appointed at Millikin University, Eastern Illinois University, and Danville Area Community College teaching composition, theory, orchestration, history, and vocal jazz. He holds degrees from Millikin University (music business), Bowling Green State University (composition), and has done additional doctoral studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (choral conducting).
To get in touch with John, you can email him at jstafford@kckcc.edu .
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"In the context of talking about the value of choral music, are you acknowledging the identity of the person in front of you? Does the beauty of what we do require components of strict uniformity in which that person has to forget themselves, or does it speak to an amplification of self?"
Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan serves as the Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Dr. Saplan teaches courses in undergraduate and graduate choral conducting and pedagogy, conducts the Concert Choir and the University of Hawai'i Chamber Singers, and oversees the graduate choral conducting program.
Dr. Saplan received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University-Portland, Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Oregon, and Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting with cognates in Music Education and Ethnomusicology from the University of Miami Frost School of Music.
Known for work in celebrating the intersection between Hawaiian music and choral performance, Dr. Saplan is the artistic director of Nā Wai Chamber Choir, a professional vocal ensemble based in Hawaiʻi dedicated to the preservation and propagation of Hawaiian choral music. Under Dr. Saplan's direction, Nā Wai has commissioned and mentored emerging Native Hawaiian composers and conductors, toured throughout rural Hawaiian communities, and led workshops on the performance of Hawaiian choral music at schools and universities throughout the country.
Prior to this appointment to the University of Hawai’i, Dr. Saplan served as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Hamilton College and the Artistic Director of the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble. Dr. Saplan also was the chorus master for the Frost Opera Program at the University of Miami and prepared a number of contemporary works such as Golijov’s Ainadamar, Kuster’s Old Presque Isle (done in collaboration with the John Duffy Composer’s Institute and the Virginia Arts Festival), and a premiere work by Grammy-nominated composer Shawn Crouch.
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Visit Jace's website at www.jacesaplan.com if you'd like to get more info or get in contact.
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"Working with different people on the podium has given me a lot of skills I can take back to my classroom. It's just a matter of reaching out. If you have one connection, you have 25. If you have 25, you have 1000."
Katherine Rosenfeld graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2019 with a degree in choral music education. Her time at NAU was marked by leadership roles including serving as the President for both the NAU chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and the Shrine of the Ages Choir. Rosenfeld grew up in Arizona and is an alumna of the Phoenix Children’s Chorus and Horizon High School in Scottsdale. She has sung with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, the Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers, Quartz Ensemble, Canto Vivo, was the soprano soloist for the Pinnacle Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, and has sung backup for touring acts including Roger Waters and the Eagles. Rosenfeld loves sharing her passion for music through education. She currently teaches choir and guitar at Rhodes Junior High in Mesa, runs a private voice studio in North Phoenix, and serves on the Arizona state board of the American Choral Directors Association. She currently sings soprano with the Grammy Award-winning professional choir, the Phoenix Chorale.
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You can find Katherine on TikTok and Instagram: @ms.rosenfeld. You can also email her at ms.rosenfeld23@gmail.com.
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"One of the real benefits from being away from music is that you really appreciate it more. I understand what it's like to live without that opportunity to make music. Now I'm immersed in what I always wanted to do."
Coreen Duffy is director of choral activities at the University of Montana School of Music, where she conducts Chamber Chorale and University Choir, teaches conducting, choral methods, and supervises student teachers. Under her direction, the UM Chamber Chorale has earned invitations to perform at the NW American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Conference in 2022, as well as from Vox Anima to perform at Cadogan Hall and Southwark Cathedral in London (2022), and the Montana International Choral Festival (2019, 2022). Duffy is an active clinician and composer; her works are published by Walton Music, ECS, and Pavane Publishing. A specialist in Jewish choral music, Duffy has presented sessions at national conferences for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and at the international conference of the European Center for Jewish Music in Hannover, Germany. Duffy serves several national choral organizations, including as Co-Chair for World Musics and Cultures for Northwest ACDA, as well as Northwest Division Representative on the NAfME Council for Choral Education, and on the Editorial Board for The Choral Scholar, a publication by the National Collegiate Choral Organization. In Missoula, Duffy is the Artistic Director of the Missoula Community Chorus, and serves on the board and the Artistic Committee for the Montana International Choral Festival.
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You can email Coreen at coreen.duffy@umontana.edu or find her on Facebook or on Instagram: @coreenduffy .
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"I have a strong connection with treble ensembles because of our shared experiences. It feels safer to make a mistake. I feel I can take more risks with them."
Dr. Dominique Petite serves the faculty of Ohio University as Visiting Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education. Prior to her appointment at Ohio, while pursuing her doctorate at Louisiana State University, she directed choirs (both mixed and treble ensembles), coached undergraduate conducting, and taught Music Theory for Non-Majors. Her research interests include rehearsal pedagogy, fostering musicianship in ensemble settings, mentorship across the teaching continuum, and utilizing energetics in choral rehearsals.
Before beginning her doctoral work, Petite taught middle and high school music for fourteen years, specializing in Women’s Choir and AP Music Theory. Her ensembles consistently received superior ratings for performance and sight-singing at district choral adjudications, and her students had high participation in Southern Division and National ACDA Honor Choirs, GMEA Sight-Reading Choir, and Georgia All-State Chorus.
Dr. Petite has maintained an active performance schedule, including singing in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and ASO Chamber Chorus and solo work as a blues and acoustic rock artist in the Atlanta area. She is currently performing with Red Shift Choir. Dr. Petite is a member of ACDA, NCCO, NAfME, and CMS.
Petite has a doctorate in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University, where she studied with John Dickson, Ann Marie Stanley, and James Byo. She earned a BME and MME in Choral Music Education from Florida State University under Judy Bowers, Kevin Fenton, and André Thomas.
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You can email Dominique at petite@ohio.edu .
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"Whether you're looking to be a teacher or a vocal performer, to be marketable, you have to be able to do more than one thing. Healthy singing is healthy singing regardless of the genre."
Courtney Evans is in her third year as choir director at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Arizona, where she directs four choral ensembles and serves as the faculty advisor for students in the Vocal Performance and Musical Theatre pathways in the Marcos Fine Arts Academy. In 2019, Courtney was recognized as Future Choral Educator of the Year by Arizona Choral Educators and the Arizona Music Educators Association. Courtney is passionate about providing students with opportunities for performance in various musical styles. Along with directing choirs, Courtney works as a freelance pianist and choreographer for choral programs throughout the Phoenix area. Outside of teaching, she performs as a professional singer with various choirs throughout Arizona. She also serves as a clinician and adjudicator for choral festivals and conferences in the Southwest, including the Acapalooza festival in Las Vegas and a cappella tournaments in Arizona. Courtney graduated summa cum laude from Northern Arizona University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education.
You can get in contact with Courtney via email: courtney.evans621@gmail.com or on Instagram: @courtneyevans2
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"People at all levels can be advocates for music education. It's telling stories. It's educating people that don't have the same experiences that we do."
Dr. Lynn M. Brinckmeyer is Professor of Music, Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication and Director of Choral Music Education at Texas State University. During 2006-2008 she served as President for The National Association for Music Education (formerly MENC). Other past offices include: President for the Northwest Division of MENC, Music Educators Journal Editorial Board, and Washington Music Educators Association General Music Curriculum Chair. In addition to chairing the Eastern Washington University Music Department for six years and conducting the EWU Concert Choir, Dr. Brinckmeyer received the Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame, the MENC Northwest Division Distinguished Service Award and Eastern New Mexico University’s Outstanding Alumni Award.
Dr. Brinckmeyer’s research initiatives focus on developing young voices, music from across the globe and music advocacy. She recently published Wander the USA with Warm-Ups! Other books include: The Wonder of Music with John Jacobson, Rhythm Rescue!, Wander the World with Warm-ups with Hal Leonard Publishing and Advocate for Music with Oxford University Press. She founded the Eastern Washington University Girls’ Chorus while teaching at EWU. She also served as Artistic Director for the South Hill Children’s Chorus in Spokane, Washington. Dr. Brinckmeyer is a co-founder and Artistic Director for the Hill Country Youth Chorus in San Marcos, Texas.
Dr. Brinckmeyer’s degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Music Education from Eastern New Mexico University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from The University of Kansas. In New Mexico she taught elementary music and middle school choir, then moved to higher education in the Pacific Northwest. At Texas State University Dr. Brinckmeyer teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral music education, and she directs the Texas State treble ensemble, Aurora Voce. Each summer Dr. Brinckmeyer serves as a long time staff member for the World Music Drumming workhsops. She has conducted all state choirs and honor choirs, lectured, presented master classes and performed in forty-nine states in the United States and 20+ countries, including China, Brazil, South Africa, Cuba, Peru and Australia.
To get in contact with Dr. Brinckmeyer, you can email her at lb44@txstate.edu or connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynn.brinckmeyer .
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"There was a line of places where doors just opened up, and I went through. I believe I'm meant to be here... The challenges you're provided will prepare you for what's to come in your future."
Dr. Dean Luethi serves as the Director of the School of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Associate Professor at Washington State University. He received his BM in Vocal Music Education from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, his MM in Choral Conducting from the University of South Florida in Tampa, and his DMA in Choral Music from the University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign. Before working at WSU, Dean was a high/middle school choir and musical theatre director in the Green Bay area. He also served as a visiting instructor at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Known for his work as a choral pedagogue, Dean has presented research, workshops, or conducted choirs at festivals, conferences, and competitions in the US, India, China, Cuba, Canada, Austria, Poland, and Germany. He is published in Choral Journal and Music Educator’s Journal. As part of his service to the National Choir Council of NAFME, Dean works with and has prepared a virtual choral conducting series for choral conductors in India. Dean’s book Aligning Voices: Exercises to Build Choral Musicianship is available through GIA Publications.
Dean lives with his wife, Ruth Boden, in Pullman, WA. In his free time Dean enjoys amateur photography and spending time with their two cats.
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You can contact Dean at dean.luethi@wsu.edu or find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dean.luethi .
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"I will always be able to pivot from now on. There will always be Plan B and C in my head… I learned a lot of flexibility in that COVID year of teaching."
Dr. Matthew Myers serves as assistant professor of choral music education at WSU. He conducts the University Singers and Treble Choir and teaches courses in music education methods, conducting, and voice. He earned his DMA in choral conducting at Louisiana State University, his master’s degree in choral conducting from Northern Arizona University, and his bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and music education from Luther College. After completing his degree at Luther, he taught grades 6-12 choir at The American International School of Muscat in Oman. For the following five years, he worked as director of choirs and musical theatre at Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois. In addition to conducting five choirs, he taught AP music theory, class piano, and critical thinking and coordinated a middle school choral program at four of Boylan’s constituent grade schools. He has served as conductor of the NAU Men’s Chorale and Chamber Singers, the LSU Chamber Singers, the Master Chorale of Flagstaff, and the Flagstaff Youth Chorale and has held church music positions in Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, and Alabama. Prior to his time at WSU, Dr. Myers taught at the University of Alabama, where he conducted two choirs and taught courses in music appreciation, choral literature, vocal pedagogy, and diction.
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You can find Matthew on Instagram at @myerma01 and @wsuchoralmusic.
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