Podcasts about choral music education

Whether you're an artist, a creative, or just someone looking for a bit of inspiration, this episode is packed with real talk and motivational vibes. I am thrilled to have the incredibly talented Alexis Tidwell Bailey on the show. Alexis took a pretty unique path into the theater world, jumping into acting with zero preconceived notions or baggage from traditional training. Her journey underscores the importance of diverse pathways into the arts. As an aspiring choir teacher who was encouraged by her then boyfriend, now husband, and theater mentors, Alexis took bold steps, moving to New York and taking risks to chase her new found dreams.  We'll dive into Alexis's experiences, discussing the importance of representation, the power of self-discovery, and the significance of staying open to possibilities. Alexis shares her insights on learning through self-teaching, tackling societal pressures, and the value of flexibility while pursuing one's dreams. Join us as we explore how listening to your heart and not being limited by fear can lead to remarkable pivots in your artistic journey, which without Alexis won't be the star of the children's show Mimi's Costume Closet today.   Alexis Tidwell is a New York based entertainer from Memphis, TN who received her Master and Bachelor of Music degrees in Choral Music Education from the University of Tennessee. Some of her favorite credits include Little Eva in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical First National Tour, Joanne in RENT, Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, Marvina in Shout Sister Shout! (Sister Rosetta Tharpe musical), Camae in The Mountaintop, Dorothy in The Wiz, Lorrell in Dreamgirls, and Charlotte in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. You can currently catch her on tv as Miss Mimi in Miss Mimi's Costume Closet, streaming now on Peacock Kids. Patreon: http://patreon.com/theartistpivotpodcast Podcast merch: https://www.ayanabey.com/merch Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheArtistPivotPodcast Alexis Tidwell Bailey  Website: https://alexistidwell.com/ Instagram: @tinytidwell  Ayana Major Bey  Website: www.ayanabey.com Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot  Show Sponsors:  WeAudition: Get 25% off your membership when you use the code PIVOT, join at https://www.weaudition.com/ Host & Exec. Producer: Ayana Major Bey  Editor: Kieran Niemand  Theme Song: Lyrics co-written by Ayana Major Bey and Melissa Victor, with performance by Ayana Major Bey   Part of the Boundless Audio Network

Tune in to help us celebrate 4 years since his last chemo session. Host Vincent A. Lanci met today's guest through Tampa General Hospital. They take annual trips to the State Capitol yearly to share their stories. Today, you learn his. Welcome, Sean Barnette. He shares: His battle with cancer, throughout treatment and post-treatment. How that has affected not only physical health but also mental health, especially post-treatment. How being a young man has affected his journey in destigmatizing mental health. Welcome back to A Mental Health Break! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe for weekly episodes and rate the show 5 stars to help others join our conversations!Sean Barnette (b. 2003) is an undergraduate at Florida State University studying Choral Music Education. In January 2020, Sean was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer in his left tibia and fibula, at age 16. Sean underwent nine months of intense chemotherapy and a limb salvage surgery in April 2020, where 13 centimeters of bone was removed and replaced with an endoprosthesis. He has been involved with the Junior Advisory Board of the MIB Agents, the leading pediatric osteosarcoma research and nonprofit organization, a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council at Tampa General Hospital, and the founder of the Harmonies for Health project, a series of charity concert to raise money for the Children Cancer Center in Tampa. Inspired by his battle with cancer, Sean believes in the transformative nature of music and hopes to inspire audiences through his composition and inspire his students as an educator. Some additional areas of discussion:Making time for yourselfSelf-care checks throughout the day Planning, without planningBenefits of being in a communityKnowing he's making a differenceFavorite parts of We Are TGH Day in Tallahassee We would love to stay connected. You can subscribe for more shows on all podcast platforms and join our vibrant community on social media! For more about our show and our esteemed guests, visit www.vincentalanci.com. Question for the host of guest? Email Danica at PodcastsByLanci@Gmail.com. We can't wait to connect with you!Episode Music Credits: Adventure by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyadenCRISIS LINE: DIAL 988Have a question for the host or guest? Are you looking to become a show partner? Email Danica at PodcastsByLanci@gmail.com to get connected.

“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. Nápoles led the writing team of the ACDA COVID-19 task force that drafted a document to assist choral directors at all levels during the pandemic.To get in touch with Jessica, you can email her at jessica.napoles@unt.edu or find her on Facebook (@jessica.napoles.1).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.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

“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 .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.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

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 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.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

“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. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

"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 StricklinMatthew 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).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.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson from Pexels

"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.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson from Pexels

"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.Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson from Pexels

Today on conduct(her) Kyra and McKenna interview Dr. Jessica Nápoles, Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of North Texas. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/conducther/support

Today on conduct(her) Kyra and McKenna interview Dr. Kari Adams. Adams is an Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University and conductor of FSU's treble chorus Levana (Women's Glee Club). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/conducther/support

This Week Phil and Adam talk about Adam's time at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. He gives some background on the Russian Education System. Adam reflects on the Choral Music Education student and faculty conservatory experience. He shares the big takeaways from her trip and one on vibrato that could be the subject of many masterclasses. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/pawpod/message

"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.Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to get in contact with our hosts.You can email Dominique at petite@ohio.edu .Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson from Pexels

"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: @courtneyevans2Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson from Pexels

"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 .Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson from Pexels

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Rollo Dilworth -- the Vice Dean and Professor of Choral Music Education at Temple University and world-renowned conductor and composer of African American music and whose original compositions feature poetry from African American writers. Rollo and I talk about how he sees music as a medium for how we teach and how we practice social justice. We talk about DEI--Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the commitment to it that we must take in our schools, our workplaces and our personal lives. Even if you can't carry a tune, you'll be inspired by Rollo's passion for music education and social justice.

This episode of The Choral Project's

In this episode, Chantae and I discuss the many ways that students can have ownership of the music process in the choral classroom. This conversation led to topics such as sight reading, independence, and giving students leadership opportunities. Chantae D. Pittman is the Director of Choral Activities at Campbell High School in Smyrna, GA. Ms. Pittman is passionate about all forms of music. She is deeply committed to serving her community through music, and is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University having received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 2010. She has since earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education at VanderCook College University (Chicago, IL, 2013). She is currently working toward her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Choral Music Education at the University of Georgia. Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie HemedingerFor more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton @bethphilemon Music by: Scott HolmesTo join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here.To learn more about my new course on Pandemic Choir Planning, visit here.To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here.

Praise & Worship... what does that really mean?? Are you engaging in it correctly? What is the one thing that is "key" in correlation with worship? Find out all of that and more in this episode! Please join MJ and Pastor Anthony & Lady Brytish as they break down the true essence of praise and worship. I guarantee this is going to bless you!ABOUT THE GUESTSAnthony R. Thomas lives by his personal motto, “Live-Learn-Grow-Lead!”He is a husband, father, educator, counselor, and forward thinker. As a teacher, public speaker and workshop facilitator, Thomas is characterized by most as passionate, clear to understand and practical. In January 2019 Anthony established Thomas Consulting and Counseling Service, Inc. Thomas CCS houses author services, public speaking, general consultation and more. A skilled communicator who is effective in building collaborative relationships. He has spent nearly 20 years working with adults and youth as a counselor, educational leader and community liaison. He is the recipient of various awards and certificates for his diligence in education and ministry. Thomas has served in multiple capacities of during his more than 20-year tenure in ministry. He has served as Sunday School instructor, Director of Children’s Ministry and Youth Pastor, to name a few. Pastor Anthony, with the support of his wife, founded Spoken Word Fellowship Church in 2015. On July 1, 2020, Pastor Anthony became the Senior Pastor of Calvary Covenant Church. Pastor Anthony teaches under the vision, Love people, connect them to Christ, and teach them how to live. Calvary Covenant Church seeks to a people and place of reconciliation, restoration, and clarity for the people of God.Brytish C. Moore-Thomas, a respected musician, educator, and advocate for Education and the Arts deems herself blessed to have been born into a gifted family. She accredits Her faith in God, personal life triumphs, mentors, and musical genes as sources that have shaped her into the woman she is today. Brytish founded B Moore Productions, a music and arts company that offers comprehensive services that include performance opportunities, private music instruction, and developmental consultation in the arts for individuals, religious and secular organizations. Her musical prowess has placed Brytish on numerous platforms as Ravinia, Black Ensemble Theater, Orchestra Hall, DuSable Museum, and the Auditorium Theater to name a few. A lover of visual arts, she enrolled into Curie High School for the Performing Arts as a scenic designed major, transitioned and graduated as music major. Brytish earned a Master’s degree in Choral Music Education from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, IL and a Bachelor’s degree in General Music Education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, in addition to a certificate in Worship Studies from The Worship Arts Conservatory, founded by Vivien Hibbert. She loves to fuse classical, jazz, and gospel styles to produce heart-warming sounds that soothes hearts of people. She is currently enrolled in a dual program, a pursuing her Master’s and Doctorate in Christian/Pastor Counseling .Pastor Anthony & Lady Brytish are happily married. They are proud parents of 3 beautiful gifts who also display both academic and musical talents. The Thomas family enjoys spending quality time together traveling, watching family movies, engaging in extra-curricular activities, and establishing the vision of Calvary Covenant Church and Spoken Word Fellowship Ministries as senior leaders. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mjfave)

Listen to this episode to hear all of the ways Kaitlin Simonson has been creatively overcoming virtual learning as a barrier and engaging students in singing in new ways! Kaitlin Simonson teaches music at The Brearley School in Manhattan, and is the conductor of the Lux Mea Women’s Chorus. She relocated to New York four years ago after teaching choir at Canarelli Middle School in Las Vegas, NV. Under her direction, the six choirs performed throughout the southwest earning superior ratings at festivals and competitions. As an associate conductor for the National Children's Chorus in Manhattan, Kaitlin works with the junior division students ages 4-6, and 10-12. She is trained in the Kodàly Method, an experience based pedagogy method that efficiently instills excellent musicianship in singers of all ages. Kaitlin has been a guest conductor of honor choirs in Nevada and Arizona. Her rapport with students, and focus on the human connection through music make her rehearsals unforgettable. As a classically trained soprano, Kaitlin has performed as a soloist with the Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra and the San Diego Pro Arte Voices. She is an experienced choral singer praised for her sight reading abilities, preparation and collegiality. Kaitlin holds a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she studied with Dr. Linda Lister. In addition, she holds a B.M.E. in Choral Music Education cum laude from Northern Arizona University where she studied with Dr. Edith Copley and Dr. Ryan Holder. Kaitlin has completed three years of coursework in the Kodàly Methodology with Susan Brumfield at Portland State University. She serves on the KONY board as a general member. She is a member of ACDA, OAKE, and NAfME. Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie HemedingerFor more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton @bethphilemon Music by: Scott HolmesTo join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here.To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here.

Randy interviews Rollo Dilworth, composer, Professor of Choral Music Education and Chair of the Department of Music Education and Therapy at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia. In this rich interview, we discuss the role of the arts in the struggle for racial equality and justice in the United States. Dr. Dilworth describes his own growing up experience and what propelled him to become one of the leading authorities across North America in choral education and the arts. Tune in to hear Rollo’s story and his commitment to the choral idiom as a means of changing the world through its beauty, collaboration, and mutual understanding.

Dr. Marshaun R. Hymon asked the question, “How does choir impact young Black men?” based on his life experience and the impact choir had on him. What Dr. Hymon found provides us with tangible things we can do to create the space, respect, opportunities, and experiences to allow for our singers to be their most authentic selves. This episode is designed to give you time to think and find ways to implement “catalysts of change” in your choir classroom. As Dr. Hymon says towards the end of this episode - “You have the power!” Read more about Dr. Hymon: www.marshaunrhymon.com Sign up for Teacher PD Week: Patreon.com/MusicEdMatters *Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell **Show photography provided by Dr. Dan Biggerstaff Dr. Hymon’s Bio: Dr. Marshaun R. Hymon currently serves as Program Manager and Regional Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for Year Up. In this role, Marshaun works to "close the opportunity divide" by overseeing organizational performance and staff professional coaching. Additionally, in collaboration with the region’s DEI Leadership Teams, he works to create more inclusive spaces and equitable practices within the region. Most recently, Marshaun was invited to deliver a DEI training for the California All-State Educator’s Association conference, and was featured on the Los Angeles based Podcast, Motivation for Black People. Prior to joining Year Up, he served as a Student Success Advisor in the office of Student Onboarding at Florida State College at Jacksonville, where he worked with students as they transitioned into post-secondary education. Marshaun began his career as a music educator, and has served in many capacities with the Tallahassee, Savannah and Jacksonville Children's Choir. Marshaun also served as a Director of Choral Activities for the Flagler County School District. Outside of his current work with Year Up, Marshaun is the Principal Consultant for Hymon Consulting Group, LLC. He most recently finished a consulting contract with the Getty Museum & Trust where he develop equity-focused programming for their summer internship programs. He is now on contract with One Workplace supporting in developing organizational DEI strategy. Marshaun is an Assistant Professor at West Los Angeles College, where he teaches college, career and employment readiness courses.

Dr. Hymon earned a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education from Florida State University and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida. Marshaun received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles. His research interests are race in America, identity development and the impact of music on the schooling success of young Black men. Marshaun looks forward to presenting his research at the 2021 American Choral Directors Association National Conference.


In this interview, I had the privilege of chatting with Dr. Philip Silvey. In addition to being an acclaimed composer and arranger, Dr. Silvey is Associate Professor of Music Teaching and Learning at the Eastman School of Music where he directs the Women’s Chorus and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. Highlights from our conversation include Philip’s ideas on composing, teacher training, student motivation, and assessment strategies.    Topics include: (02:33) Philip talks about his background as an educator and composer (12:49) How being a composer influences Philip’s work as an educator (18:09) Balancing a career as an educator and composer (27:12) The role of arrangements in repertoire selection (32:23) Skills needed for teachers entering the profession (36:43) Student motivation  (47:45) Current challenges in the music education profession (53:52) The role of assessment in performance based classrooms (1:01:03) Music advocacy (1:08:15) Favorite rehearsal tactics (1:09:59) Why do we teach music?  (1:11:36) Philip discusses leaders that have made an impact on his life  (1:14:18) Advice for music educators   Links: Philip’s website: https://philipsilvey.com/ Philip’s page at the Eastman School Of Music: https://www.esm.rochester.edu/faculty/silvey_philip/   Bio:  Philip Silvey is Associate Professor of Music Teaching and Learning at the Eastman School of Music where he directs the Women’s Chorus and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education.  Previously he served as Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of Maryland where he directed the Women’s Chorus, the Maryland Boy Choir, and the College Park Youth Choir. He has been invited to serve as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in numerous states and directed state honors choruses in Maryland, Virginia, New York and New Jersey.  He has served as president of the Maryland-DC chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA) and as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Women’s Choirs for the New York state chapter of ACDA. He has presented interest sessions at national, regional, and state ACDA and NAfME (National Association for Music Education) conventions. He has contributed to two textbook series, Experiencing Choral Music and Teaching Music through Performance in Choir, Volumes II and III.  His scholarly writings have appeared in the Journal of Research in Music Education, Music Educators Journal, Choral Journal, and the Arts and Learning Research Journal.  His original choral compositions and arrangements, published by Santa Barbara Music, Carl Fischer, and Boosey & Hawkes, have been performed by all-state and national honors choruses.

André Thomas is Professor of Choral Music Education, Director of Choral Activities, and the Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music at Florida State University. He is the conductor of a variety of choral organizations throughout the country and served as the artistic director for the Tallahassee Community Chorus. He is in demand as a choral adjudicator and clinician and has conducted 48 Honor and All-State Choirs, as well as the World Youth Choir. As a composer, his works have been published by seven publishing companies, and he is the author of the book "Way Over in Beulah Lan’: Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual." He earned a B.A. from Friends University, an M.M. from Northwestern University, and a D.M.A. from the University of Illinois.

Dan Monaco is a keyboardist and music educator originally from Chicago, Illinois. Dan realized his passion for music at an early age, as teaching piano lessons, playing in church, and involvement in school jazz bands propelled him to earn a B.A. in Choral Music Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dan leapt to Nashville, Tennessee in July of 2015 to be among the most elite musicians and opportunities in the music industry. Dan currently supports local artists and bands while also contributing full-time to the premiere general music digital curriculum provider as a Teacher Training Specialist.

This week Dr. Ken Elpus joins the show to talk about productivity apps and utilities that he uses to get his busy and multifaceted job done. Ken is the Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of Maryland College Park. He is an absolute power user when it comes to leveraging his computer in amazing ways to better do his job! Note: Around the 49 minute mark, Ken’s voice gets weird. Sorry. Dr. Ken Elpus Website | Twitter | UMD Show Notes: Apps Mentioned.. Audio Hijack - tool for rerouting the audio of your apps | Ulysses - Writing tool for Mac and iOS | Google Photos | Dropbox | Evernote | Waze - maps app with crowd sourced traffic data | Fantastical on Mac and iPhone - natural language input calendar app | OmniFocus - Robby and Ken’s task app of choice | Things - a beautiful and intuitive task app | Keynote | Canvas | Wuphf! | Unibox - organizes email by contact | AirMail - powerful mail client for Mac and iOS | Spark - Robby and Ken’s iOS mail client of choice | SaneBox - service that automatically sorts and organizes your mail | Slack - team communication tool | Remind - app for messaging students | Google Voice | Spotify | forScore | Notability | GoodNotes - note taking app for the iPad with presentation features | iAnnotate | Goodreader | Papers - Reference management software | Scrivener - authoring tool for Mac and iOS | DevonThink | Amphetamine - keeps your Mac awake | 1Password | Magnet and Moom - Window management utility for Mac | Roku | Plex | Boxer - MS Dos Machine | Dorico | MindNode | Alfred/Launchbar - Powerful Spotlight replacements | Screenflow/Tapes - screencast tools | Yoink | Transcribe App/Amazing Slow Downer - tools for slowing down, speeding up, transposing, and looping audio recordings | Taskclone - service that links your Evernote account with your task app Keyboard shortcut for hide everything except active window: Option+Command+H.  

Few loom as large in influence as Dr. Judy Bowers, former professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University and soon to be Biedenharn Chair in Music at at University of Louisiana Monroe. A humble southerner with impeccable credentials, her influence on the training of choral music educators in the United States is close to unparalleled. Josh talks to her at his old place of work, and with a wicked cold, but the conversation manages to shed some light on Judy’s path, her grounded focus on work and family, and inevitably, what it means to be a woman in this profession. Listen to this fascinating conversation with another huge influence in the choral world.

[et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="Section" transparent_background="off" background_color="#ffffff" allow_player_pause="off" inner_shadow="off" parallax="off" parallax_method="off" custom_padding="20px|||" padding_mobile="off" make_fullwidth="off" use_custom_width="off" width_unit="on" custom_width_px="1080px" custom_width_percent="80%" make_equal="off" use_custom_gutter="off" fullwidth="off" specialty="on" parallax_1="off" parallax_2="off" parallax_method_1="off" parallax_method_2="off" disabled="off"][et_pb_column type="2_3" specialty_columns="2"][et_pb_row_inner admin_label="Row" padding_mobile="off" use_custom_gutter="on" make_equal="off" column_padding_mobile="on" parallax_1="off" parallax_method_1="on" parallax_2="off" parallax_method_2="on" parallax_3="off" parallax_method_3="on" disabled="off"][et_pb_column_inner type="4_4" saved_specialty_column_type="2_3"][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" src="http://choir.ninja/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Braeden-Ayres-1-1.png" show_in_lightbox="off" url_new_window="off" use_overlay="off" sticky="off" align="left" force_fullwidth="off" always_center_on_mobile="on" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_style="solid" disabled="off" animation="left" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Podcast Exerpt" background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" use_border_color="off" border_style="solid" disabled="off"] In today’s episode we sit down with composer Braeden Ayres to talk about common misconceptions about copyright and rules to avoid cheating the composer and all those who make a living in the music publishing industry. [/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider admin_label="Divider" color="#bfbfbf" show_divider="on" height="2" divider_style="solid" divider_position="top" divider_weight="1px" hide_on_mobile="on" disabled="off" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Podcast Embed Code" background_layout="light" text_orientation="center" use_border_color="off" border_style="solid" disabled="off"]   [/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider admin_label="Divider" color="#bfbfbf" show_divider="on" height="2" divider_style="solid" divider_position="top" divider_weight="1px" hide_on_mobile="on" disabled="off" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Show Notes" background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" use_border_color="off" border_style="solid" disabled="off"] Show Notes Sheet music as a consumable product Octavos in library falling apart. Would like to perform, but need durable copies. What can I do? It probably isn’t public domain You can make 3 archival copies for each individual title (for reference, not performance) Talk the publisher first Copies to avoid giving out the real ones? That’s a “no-no”! Sheet music is consumable. Just like a pen. If the ink is out, buy a new one. Public Domain Copying things in public domain? Yes - A long as they’re actually in public domain You may copy an old edition, as long as it’s not currently available Is editing public domain allowed? No problemo! Editing non-public domain? It may not edit the fundamental character of the work. Listen to episode for examples of yes, no, and grey areas Arranging non-public domain? You need permission of the person who owns the rights Emergency situations Music is on order, but hasn’t arrived Lost copy Page turn Making recordings Recording a piece for sale vs archival recording Acquire mechanical rights if selling to make profit Avoiding purchasing music Copying if you are going to memorize… Is it legal for me to create and use a PDF copy of an octavo that I legally own on my personal iPad (forscore)? Copying out of print music? Buying music online through e-print publishers Other If you want a song arranged for your group. Where do you go to secure the rights? Penalties minimum $750 per infringement; if you make money off your infringement in any way, it’s astronomically higher Why should you avoid copyright infringement? 3 Key Takeaways: If you’re copying music to avoid paying for it, it’s illegal. When in doubt, contact the publisher Ignorance of the law is no excuse Resources/links Mentioned: NAfME page on copyright law Tresona Music Harry Fox IMSLP (International Music Score Library Project) CPDL (Choral Public Domain Library) Fair Use [/et_pb_text][et_pb_cta admin_label="Call To Action" title="Support the Show on" button_url="#" url_new_window="off" button_text="Become a Patron" use_background_color="on" background_color="#092d4f" background_layout="dark" text_orientation="center" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_width="1px" border_style="solid" custom_button="on" button_text_size="20" button_text_color="#ffffff" button_bg_color="#209aaf" button_border_color="#ffffff" button_border_radius="5" button_letter_spacing="0" button_use_icon="default" button_icon_placement="right" button_on_hover="on" button_text_color_hover="#ffffff" button_bg_color_hover="#f08530" button_letter_spacing_hover="0" disabled="off"] [/et_pb_cta][et_pb_divider admin_label="Divider" color="#bfbfbf" show_divider="on" height="2" divider_style="solid" divider_position="top" divider_weight="1px" hide_on_mobile="on" disabled="off" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" background_layout="light" text_orientation="center" use_border_color="off" border_style="solid" custom_padding="20px|||" disabled="off"] Sponsored by Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column_inner][/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner admin_label="Row" use_custom_gutter="off" make_equal="off" parallax_1="off" parallax_method_1="on" parallax_2="off" parallax_method_2="on" parallax_3="off" parallax_method_3="on" disabled="off"][et_pb_column_inner type="1_2" saved_specialty_column_type="2_3"][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" src="http://choir.ninja/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Copy-of-Your-Choral-Experience-is-Your-Fault.jpg" show_in_lightbox="off" url_new_window="off" use_overlay="off" sticky="off" align="left" force_fullwidth="off" always_center_on_mobile="on" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_width="1px" border_style="solid" disabled="off" /][/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type="1_2" saved_specialty_column_type="2_3"][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" src="http://choir.ninja/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TPT-Canva-Webinar-Cover.png" show_in_lightbox="off" url_new_window="off" use_overlay="off" sticky="off" align="left" force_fullwidth="off" always_center_on_mobile="on" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_width="1px" border_style="solid" disabled="off" /][/et_pb_column_inner][/et_pb_row_inner][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3"][et_pb_text admin_label="Author or Guest Bio" background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" use_border_color="off" border_style="solid" custom_padding="20px|20px|5px|20px" custom_css_main_element="box-shadow: 0 0 20px rgba(0,0,0,.1);||" disabled="off"] Braeden Ayres Braeden Ayres is a composer, conductor, and instructor of vocal music. Ayres’s repertoire varies widely, with pieces written especially for the developing voice, high school choirs, and collegiate/professional ensembles. In the past year, Ayres was a finalist in the Raymond S. Brock Student Composition Competition, and took 2nd place in the SWACDA Graduate Choral Conducting Competition. He is an inaugural board member of the Colorado Middle School All-State choir, and his works have premiered at local, state, and international choral festivals. Ayres was recently named the University of Northern Colorado's "Student Innovator of the Year" and awarded the UNC Spark Prize for his design of a new "'intelligent' rhythm-teaching smartphone app," which is currently in development. Ayres graduated cum laude in 2011 from the Baylor University School of Music in Waco, Texas with a Bachelor’s of Choral Music Education degree, and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado. Ayres is a member of the national and state-level chapters of ACDA, NAFME, ASCAP, and the Society of Composers, Inc. Follow them on [icon name=social_facebook] [icon name=social_twitter] [icon name=social_pinterest] [icon name=social_linkedin] [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_section]

Dr. Andre J. Thomas drops in on Patrick D. McCoy, The African-American Voice in Classical Music to discuss his journey as one of the most sought after choral conductors in the world.  André J. Thomas, the Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music, is Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Choral Music Education at The Florida State University. A previous 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 the United States, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.  Dr. Thomas has conducted choirs at the state, division,and national conventions of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and 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, winter residency of the World Youth Choir in Europe, and a premier performance by an American choir (The Florida State University Singers) in Vietnam. He has been the guest conductor of such distinguished orchestras and choirs as the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England, and guest Conductor for the Berlin Radio Choir in Germany. Since 1988 he has also served as Artistic Director of the Tallahassee Community Chorus.  Thomas has also distinguished himself as a composer/arranger. Hinshaw Music Company, Mark Foster Music Company, Fitzsimmon Music Company, Lawson Gould, Earthsongs, and Heritage Music Company publish his compositions and arrangements.